Is the IP-71003 review an inspection or an audit, as if NRR was conducting an onsite application review?
The IP-71003 review is an inspection, in the sense that the staff compares the licensee’s activities against standards (commitments) or requirements (license conditions). Inspection results are processed and documented using processes that are as similar as possible to those established for the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP). The related assessment or effectiveness review depends on the inspection phase during which an issue was identified (i.e., when requirements or commitments are in effect). In the interest of safety and public confidence, obvious technical issues raised in the early phases of the inspection need to be addressed by licensees before the PEO begins. For additional detail, see the Questions About Inspection Results on this page. Moreover, for the purposes of the NRC inspection program, Section 0030-03 of IMC 0030 , “Guidance for NRC Review of Licensee Draft Documents,” defines an “audit” as an activity that gathers information for the purpose of making decisions relat
