Spotlight
Operating Reactor Oversight
On this page:
Power Reactors
The reactor oversight process for power reactors uses a variety of tools to monitor and evaluate the performance of commercial nuclear power plants. The process is designed to focus on those plant activities most important to safety.
For more information on this process and plant assessment results see:
About Reactor Oversight
- Inspection Basics
- Performance Assessment Basics
- Enforcement Basics
- Detailed ROP Description
- ROP Program Documents
Recent Results
- Inspection Findings Summary
- Performance Indicator Summary
- Action Matrix Summary
- Inspection Reports
- Assessment Reports and Inspection Plan
- Industry Trends
- Results of Licensee Survey
Background
Research and Test Reactors
Research and test reactors operate at power levels that are small fractions of the power of large commercial nuclear power reactors (most are less then 1/1000th the power levels). Because of their low power levels, these reactors are much less complex in design and in the need for safety systems and programs. This smaller size and reduced complexity result in less risk to the public health and safety. Therefore, the safety oversight program for these reactors requires fewer resources. All research and test reactors can automatically shut down if an unsafe condition occurs. Research and test reactor licensees also follow detailed radiation safety and operational requirements.
NRC completes the inspection program every 2 years for research or test reactors licensed for less than 2 Mw, and every year for those reactors licensed for more than or equal to 2 Mw. The inspections cover such areas as reactor operations, organizational structure, operator qualifications, design, review and audit functions, radiation and environmental protection, maintenance, fuel handling, experiments, and others.
As with power reactors, NRC may take enforcement actions, including Notices of Violation, fines, or orders, for certain types of violations. See our Enforcement page for additional information.
High-Value Datasets
Consistent with our Open Government Plan, the NRC has issued the following high-value datasets (with accompanying data dictionaries) to expand the public’s knowledge about the agency’s oversight of operating reactor facilities. These datasets and data dictionaries are provided in open format (Microsoft Excel or pipe-delimited, raw data text files):
- Demographic Data on U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Reactors | Data Dictionary
- U.S. Nuclear Power Reactor Plant Status Report | Data Dictionary
- U.S. Nuclear Power Reactor Event Notification Report (Last Month) | Data Dictionary
- U.S. Nuclear Power Reactor Inspection Reports for the Last Year | Data Dictionary
- Power Reactors Formerly Licensed to Operate | Data Dictionary
- Canceled U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Reactors | Data Dictionary
- Fire Events Data from Licensee Event Reports | Data Dictionary
- Findings from Fire Inspections | Data Dictionary
- Reactor Materials Embrittlement Data | Data Dictionary
- Demographic Data on U.S. Research & Test Reactors | Data Dictionary
- Research & Test Reactors under Decommissioning | Data Dictionary