Regulatory Requirements and Documentation
Domain 7 tests the regulatory frame: what must be done, by when, and in what document. The exam expects specific citations and deadlines.
Core rules
- 10 CFR 20 sets radiation protection limits and ALARA. 10 CFR 50 contains licensing, technical specification, and reporting requirements; 10 CFR 50.72 covers immediate and prompt notifications, and 50.73 covers licensee event reports (LERs).
- Technical Specifications (TS) are mandatory requirements, not guidance. Limiting conditions for operation (LCOs) define operability; required actions and completion times control what happens when a component is inoperable.
- The FSAR describes the design basis and safety analysis. Changes may require a license amendment; a 10 CFR 50.59 screening determines whether prior approval is needed.
- GDC and 10 CFR 50.46 define design and ECCS acceptance criteria. Documentation must be timely, accurate, and retrievable.
Worked example
A redundant safety injection pump is declared inoperable. The TS action says restore within 72 hours. At hour 72, if it is still inoperable, the plant must enter the specified shutdown action; it cannot simply remain at power because the other pump works. If the condition also meets a 10 CFR 50.72 reporting threshold, notify within the required hour. If it is an LER issue, submit within 60 days. The clock for each requirement runs independently.
Traps
Treating a completion time as a target rather than a limit. Missing the 1-hour, 4-hour, or 8-hour notification categories. Filing an LER late because the event was already reported by phone. Assuming a 50.59 screening is a license amendment. Using the FSAR as if it overrides the TS.