NEA Mandates and Structures


Working Group on Policy and Licensing (WGPL)

Chair(s): Michael WENTZEL, United States
Secretary:  Redouane EL GHALBZOURI
(redouane.elghalbzouri@oecd-nea.org)
Member(s):All NEA member countries*
Russia (Suspended*)
*Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council.
Full participant(s): European Commission
Under the NEA Statute
Participant(s): India
Observer(s)(International Organisation): International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
By agreement
Date of creation:01 January 2023
End of mandate:31 December 2025

Mandate (Document reference):

  • Participant Status of India in the CNRA and its subsidiary bodies: 2018 Update of the NEA Participation Plan [NEA/NE(2018)8] and official letter received from India on 15 October 2018 confirming its acceptance of Participant Status in the CNRA and its subsidiary bodies
  • Summary Record of the 41st CNRA meeting held on 3-4 June 2019 [NEA/SEN/NRA(2019)1]
  • Summary Record of the 42nd CNRA meeting held on 2-3 December 2019 [NEA/SEN/NRA(2019)2]
  • Summary Record of the 43rd CNRA meeting held on 2-3 June 2020 [NEA/SEN/NRA(2020)1]
  • Summary Record of the 44th CNRA meeting held on 30 November – 1 December 2020 [NEA/SEN/NRA(2020)2]
  • Summary record of the 47th Meeting of the of the Committee of Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA) held on 2-3 June 2022 [NEA/SEN/NRA(2022)1]
  • Mandate of the Working Group on Policy and Licensing (WGPL) [NEA/SEN/NRA(2022)4]

Mandate (Document extract):

Extract of document NEA/SEN/NRA(2022)4

Background

Effective policy development and implementation ensures that the regulator and the industry it regulates meet the expectations of society at large. Policy decisions can span multiple disciplines and can often involve complex technical, organizational and social issues that affect many stakeholders.  The amount of discretion granted to regulatory bodies to set policy varies from country to country and in all cases, nuclear policies must fit within the boundaries established by the country’s legal framework.

Examples of policy questions faced by regulators include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Prescriptive vs “goal-oriented” or “performance-based” regulation and the use of codes and standards in regulatory frameworks;
  • Balancing deterministic and risk-informed aspects in regulatory decision making, including the application of defence-in-depth principles and graded approaches; and 
  • Balancing the needs and expectations of all stakeholders in society (e.g., members of the public, licensees).

In the context of this mandate, “licensing” refers to the act of a regulatory body determining whether a request from a licensee or applicant complies with all applicable requirements (e.g., laws, regulations, policies).  When making a licensing decision, the regulatory body must decide whether to permit an action or set of actions by a licensee or applicant.

Examples of licensing decisions faced by regulators (include, but are not limited to) determining:

  • whether to allow an operating reactor to increase its power level;
  • whether to allow an operating reactor to temporarily operate without a safety-related system; and
  • whether a vendor’s proposed reactor design meets all applicable requirements.

In the context of this mandate, “policy” refers to regulatory positions on important safety and regulatory matters. Policy development is a strategic function typically performed by the most senior levels of regulatory bodies. 

Mandate

The WGPL is responsible for supporting and advising the Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities (CNRA) in carrying out its programme of work areas related to regulatory activities in the area of policymaking and licensing methods.

Scope

The WGPL provides a mechanism for nuclear safety regulators and Technical Support Organizations (TSOs) to share their experiences in making policy and licensing decisions. 

Focusing on issues related to policy and licensing for both operating nuclear reactors and proposed new reactors (including those under construction) in NEA member and partner countries, the WGPL aims to facilitate an active and timely exchange of commendable practices, as well as lessons learned to help regulators perform their policy and licensing functions more effectively and efficiently. 

Objectives

The WGPL will collect and analyse information so that it can develop and disseminate:

  • state of the art tools and methods to enhance regulatory effectiveness and efficiency to meet changing operating and societal environments; 
  • methods that encourage consistency among regulatory practices of NEA member countries and partners;
  • recommendations for regulatory positions on globally significant policy issues affecting the safety of nuclear reactors and/or the effectiveness and efficiency of regulatory activities;
  • methods to help regulatory bodies make policy decisions based on scientific knowledge and supported by the best available technical information; and
  • improved licensing frameworks to facilitate timely and robust licensing decisions.

Working methods

The WGPL will:

  • be led by a Bureau (consisting of a Chair and at least one Vice Chair).  The Bureau will be designated in accordance with the OECD guidelines;
  • charter and oversee the work of targeted, limited-term subsidiary bodies to conduct analyses and develop reports on subjects of particular interest;
  • organise, on a regular basis, meetings, workshops and conferences; and
  • report to the CNRA and assist the Committee with its work. The WGPL programme of work will be approved by the CNRA.

Membership

The WGPL will be comprised of senior international experts from regulatory bodies and TSOs.

Interactions

The WGPL will closely co-ordinate with and provide input to other NEA bodies, especially other CNRA working groups. It will work closely with the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI), the Committee on Radiological Protection and Public Health (CRPPH), and other NEA groups (e.g., Forum on Stakeholder Confidence) to deeply investigate specific technical, organizational or societal issues that are identified during the WGPL analysis.

The WGPL will co-ordinate as appropriate with other international organisations [e.g. the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Commission, standards development organisations, etc.) and international non-governmental organisations (e.g. World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), Western Europe Nuclear Regulators’ Association (WENRA), the WNA Cooperation in Reactor Design Evaluation and Licensing Working Group (CORDEL) etc.].

Deliverables

The WGPL will produce guidance documents for nuclear safety regulators and other stakeholders interested in commercial nuclear power. Examples include, but are not limited to, green booklets, proceedings of seminars and workshops, collections of commendable practices implemented by regulatory bodies, case studies, and summaries of operating experience.