(327e) Challenges and Effective Methods for Implementing Full ASME Nqa-1 2008, 2009 Requirements on the Biggest, First-of-a-Kind Nuclear Projects.

little or no direction is given to effective implementation including the

graded approach to quality. These requirements can become overwhelming to process engineers in the

design of new plants. Using experience from large, complex nuclear plants like the Waste

Treatment Plant (WTP) in Hanford Washington and the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) in Oak

Ridge, TN, the authors present an evaluation of the challenges and interpretations in implementing

various requirements of NQA-1. While each site is unique, there are significant similarities

including that much of the existing historical data will not have been gathered as part of an NQA-1

testing program. Crediting current operations, historical data, and gathering new data for process

design represent major challenges to process designs invoking the consensus standards of NQA-1.

In the United States, customer interpretations by regulatory agencies often differ. The Nuclear

Regulatory Committee, Dept. of Energy Environmental Management, Dept of Energy-NNSA and

the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) all have different interpretations of the graded

approach and quality expectations to the processes defined within the standard.

This paper/presentation presents practical applications designed to overcome these challenges,

what has worked, what has required rework, and best-in-class practices to avoid QA surprises

toward the end of a project.