en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 27th, The inspection plan of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plays a key role in overseeing the construction of new nuclear power reactors. Recently, the agency updated its construction inspection guidance, aiming to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of the regulatory process for both existing and new nuclear reactor technologies. This revision streamlines oversight before new reactors enter operation, making it better aligned with the agency's continuously improving construction oversight framework.
On February 5, 2026, the NRC issued Inspection Manual Change Notice No. 26-004. The notice states that the NRC has deleted the previously applicable Inspection Manual Chapters (IMCs) and related inspection procedures for power reactor construction. These old regulations were part of the "Construction Reactor Oversight Process" (cROP) and were last applied during the construction of Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4; these two units began commercial operation in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
The same notice also announced that the NRC will issue a series of new Inspection Manual Chapters (IMCs) under its "Advanced Reactor Construction Oversight Program" (ARCOP):
IMC 2570: Advanced Reactor Construction Oversight Program Foundational Document
IMC 2571: Advanced Power Reactor Construction Nonconformance Handling
IMC 2572: Advanced Reactor Construction Project Assessment
IMC 2573: Advanced Power Reactor "Reactor Building Construction Quality" Strategic Performance Area Inspection
IMC 2574: Advanced Reactor Construction Oversight Program (ARCOP) "Operational Readiness" Strategic Performance Area Inspection
Scope of Application for the New IMCs under ARCOP
ARCOP replaces the previously implemented cROP. The NRC aims to establish ARCOP as a risk-informed, performance-focused, technology-inclusive, and scalable oversight process. This process is applicable to various reactor technologies, including small modular reactors, microreactors, non-light water reactor technologies, and large light water reactor technologies with advanced safety features. When drafting these IMCs, the NRC fully considered the flexible implementation pathways for nuclear power reactors and their related structures, systems, and components (SSCs) during manufacturing, fabrication, and construction.
The new IMCs cover the following three reactor scenarios: first, reactors fully manufactured off-site under a manufacturing license; second, reactors partially manufactured off-site under a supplier contract with a construction permit or combined license holder; and third, reactors constructed on-site by a construction permit or combined license holder, but whose SSCs are fabricated off-site.
Inspection Process Framework
The ARCOP framework consists of three tiers: (1) the NRC mission as the overarching guidance; (2) Strategic Performance Areas; and (3) Foundational Elements. Specifically, there are three Strategic Performance Areas, with their corresponding Foundational Elements as follows:
Reactor Building Construction Quality
Reactivity Control
Heat Removal
Radionuclide Retention
Security and Safeguards
Security Plan
Operational Readiness
Operational Plan
This new inspection plan implementing ARCOP covers a broad range of activity phases: (1) pre-construction activities; (2) foundational inspections during fabrication, manufacturing, and construction; (3) supplemental inspections; and (4) responsive inspections. The NRC will select and execute inspection samples for each of the aforementioned Foundational Elements to verify the licensee's performance from the pre-construction phase, through the construction phase, and until final operational readiness is achieved.
Implementation of the ARCOP Construction Inspection Plan
First, the ARCOP inspection plan covers pre-construction activities, including the implementation of quality assurance programs. Subsequently, the ARCOP foundational inspection plan will assess whether the facility is being constructed strictly in accordance with its licensing basis and ensure its future operation complies with licensing requirements. The NRC emphasized flexibility and scalability when designing the ARCOP foundational inspection plan.
Regarding flexibility: Staff plan to develop an "Inspection Scope Matrix" for each advanced reactor design, systematically identifying inspection areas for SSCs based on applicable suppliers, manufacturers, and construction activities.
Regarding scalability: The NRC will dynamically adjust the number of inspection areas and sample sizes based on the reactor's scale and technology type. After implementing the foundational inspection plan, supplemental inspections will be initiated if safety-significant issues are identified; responsive inspections will be triggered if safety-significant events occur.
The new IMCs detail how the ARCOP foundational inspection plan covers the three Strategic Performance Areas mentioned above:
Reactor Building Construction Quality: NRC inspectors will execute IMC 2573 to ensure that activities by project suppliers, manufacturers, and at the construction site meet the cornerstone objectives. The forthcoming Inspection Procedure (IP) 75001 – Inspection of Manufacturing and Construction Quality for Advanced Power Reactor Structures, Systems, and Components, will standardize the specific inspection work under this Strategic Performance Area.
Security and Safeguards: The forthcoming IMC 2203 – Advanced Power Reactor Construction Security Inspection Program, will guide the NRC in conducting inspections to ensure cornerstone objectives are met.
Operational Readiness: The NRC will implement IMC 2574 – Advanced Power Reactor "Operational Readiness" Strategic Performance Inspection, to verify whether the licensee meets the conditions for power operation. Appendix 1 of IMC 2574, Operational Plan Inspection Procedures, lists the inspection procedures (IPs) and regulatory requirements applicable to various plans under this area. Appendix 1 either directly references applicable IPs from the aforementioned IMC 2573 and IMC 2203, or indicates that relevant IPs are still under development.
Inspection Result Evaluation
The NRC will evaluate the results of the ARCOP inspection plan according to the guidelines of IMC 2572, adjust the inspection scope as needed, and communicate the findings. Per IMC 2572, NRC staff will conduct ongoing assessments for each inspection area. If a nonconformance is identified in an inspection area, the NRC will handle it according to IMC 2571. If the nonconformance is determined to be safety or security significant, the NRC will evaluate it using either the "Significance Determination Process" or traditional enforcement actions, as appropriate.
For significant nonconformances (i.e., issues identified by ARCOP), the NRC's evaluation approach will depend on whether the responsible entity is an NRC licensee: For significant nonconformances caused by non-licensees, the NRC plans to issue a "Notice of Nonconformance" without a violation record. Simultaneously, the NRC will continue its Supplier Inspection Program to screen for traditional supplier issues outside the scope of ARCOP.
Based on the "Issue Response Table" shown in Appendix 1 of IMC 2572, the NRC may conduct additional inspections and further communication regarding issues identified by ARCOP. The NRC's Office of Advanced Reactors and Non-Electric Production and Utilization Facilities will submit an annual report to management summarizing the assessment results from the previous year regarding fabrication, manufacturing, and construction activities. Referencing the ongoing assessment results from ARCOP, the NRC will, in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50.57 (10 CFR 50.57), formally confirm before the reactor oversight transitions to the operational phase that the facility has been constructed as required by the construction permit, operating license, or combined license, and that its future operation will comply with licensing provisions.
The NRC has taken concrete steps to update its construction inspection plan for new reactors. However, the specific scope of this construction inspection plan revision and its far-reaching impact are still being dynamically refined. More details regarding the underlying inspection procedures and inspection scope matrices are forthcoming. The forthcoming inspection procedures (IPs) will further clarify the specific scope of the ARCOP inspection plan.
