The RB must verify compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and with the license terms and conditions during each phase in the life of the NPP. Such verifications are achieved through regulatory inspections, oversight procedures, and analysis of the multiple progress and evaluation reports provided by the licensee.

20.6.1 Regulatory inspections

Regulatory inspections are carried out during each phase in the life of the NPP with the aim of checking the safety compliance of the NPP, through physical verification of the condition of its SSCs and by auditing of opera­tional records. In many countries, the RB keeps resident inspectors in a given plant or clusters of plants to continually oversee the safety of the installation. The RB should specify the frequency, lay down formal procedures and authorize appropriate staff for carrying out these inspec­tions. However, special inspections can be conducted when considered necessary.

The inspection findings should be discussed with senior managers of the NPP to resolve any anomalies and thereafter the inspection report should be submitted for review by the appropriate safety committees. RBs have established formal procedures on how to write inspection reports and how to formally include in such reports the licensee observations and claims to be considered before any regulatory action is taken.

The recommendations arising from the inspections and from a review of the inspection reports should be categorized according to their importance to safety following the criteria specified by the RB. Implementation of the recommendations should be done according to the schedule agreed upon between the RB and the operating organization, and the RB staff should follow this up.