CNSC Staff Integrated Safety Assessment of Canadian Nuclear Power Plants: FAQ

Q1. What is the CNSC Staff Integrated Safety Assessment of Canadian Nuclear Power Plants for 2008?
Q2. What is a “safety area”?
Q3. What are the ratings based on?
Q4. How are the program and safety area ratings determined?
Q5. What is new in the 2008 report?
Q6. What is a “risk-informed” approach?
Q7. How is the integrated plant rating determined?
Q8. How are the ratings communicated?
Q9. What does the 2008 NPP report conclude?
Q10. There are a few “Below Expectations” ratings in the report. Does that mean there is a risk to public safety?
Q11. Is the NPP Report the first time licensees have been notified if their performance is below expectations?

---

Q1.  What is the CNSC Staff Integrated Safety Assessment of Canadian Nuclear Power Plants for 2008?

A1. Every year, the CNSC publishes its report on the safety performance of Canadian nuclear power plants (the “NPP Report”). This report summarizes the performance of Canada’s seven nuclear power plants in nine safety areas, eight of which are reported publicly.

Q2. What is a “safety area”?

A2. A safety area is a category under which the CNSC evaluates a licensee’s performance. There may be one or more programs within a given safety area. Together, the program ratings provide an overarching safety area rating. Full descriptions of the safety areas are included in the report and on the Web site.

Q3. What are the ratings based on?

A3. Ratings are based on CNSC staff monitoring, inspections, event reviews, general surveillance, document assessments and performance indicators.

Q4. How are the program and safety area ratings determined?

A4. Facts and findings are reviewed and analyzed by CNSC technical specialists, inspectors and analysts. The analysis results in a program rating which in turn stands by itself, or is combined with other program ratings to produce a safety area rating.

Q5. What is new in the 2008 report?

A5. The 2008 NPP Report has undergone some changes aimed at making the report clearer and the underlying assessment more process-based. This year and going forward, the CNSC is adopting a risk-informed decision making approach. This approach better integrates all the findings over the year and introduces an integrated plant rating, which will allow the CNSC to better identify and monitor performance trends over time. 

Q6. What is a “risk-informed” approach?

A6. The term “risk-informed” means that the risk to safety is considered together with other inputs—such as regulations, licence conditions, and professional judgment—to confirm the safety of the operation. 

Q7. How is the integrated plant rating determined?

A7. To establish the integrated plant rating, the CNSC ranked the safety significance of each of the eight safety areas (security excluded) to determine the relative weight of each on overall plant safety. Over time, having an integrated plant rating will allow the CNSC to better identify and monitor performance trends. 

Q8. How are the ratings communicated?

A8. Rating categories in this year’s report have been renamed. Previously, the NPP Report used a five-level letter grading system: A, B, C, D, and E. Starting with the 2008 report, there are four levels and ratings are expressed as “Fully Satisfactory (FS)”, Satisfactory (SA)”, “Below Expectations (BE)” and “Unacceptable (UA).” 

The new categories correspond to the previous ratings as follows:            

Previous rating	New rating
A  Exceeds Requirements	FS  Fully Satisfactory
B  Meets Requirements	SA  Satisfactory
C  Below Requirements	BE  Below Expectations
D  Significantly Below Requirements	UA  Unacceptable
E  Unacceptable

Q9. What does the 2008 NPP report conclude?

A9. CNSC staff concluded that nuclear power plants in Canada operated safely during 2008:

• There were no serious process failures at the NPPs.
• No workers at any NPP, or a member of the public, received a radiation dose above the regulatory limits.
• No environmental releases from the plants were above regulatory limits.
• Canada met its international obligations regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Q10. There are a few “Below Expectations” ratings in the report. Does that mean there is a risk to public safety?

A10. No. While performance in the particular safety area or program may have fallen below expectations, there is no immediate safety risk. However, improvements are required to fully meet CNSC requirements.  CNSC staff monitors closely any nuclear power plant that has received a “Below Expectations” rating, in any of the safety areas or programs, to ensure that the licensee is taking appropriate action.

Q11. Is the NPP Report the first time licensees have been notified if their performance is below expectations?

A11. No. The NPP report is a roll up of annual performance based on staff monitoring, inspections, event reviews, general surveillance, document assessments and performance indicators. Any issues or concerns identified by the CNSC are communicated to the licensee without delay and action is taken, as required.