The basic purpose of the Unreviewed Safety Question Determination (USQD) process is to ascertain if a change to a facility can be made without a prior safety review and approval by the original approving body. The USQD process judges whether the change could result in the facility being outside its authorization basis. If the change could result in the facility being outside its authorization basis, the change involves an Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ). The authorization basis consists of those aspects of the facility design basis relied upon by the original approving body to authorize operation. The authorization basis would typically include the facility Safety Analysis Report, Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), Operational Safety Requirements (OSRs), Technical Specifications, DOE-issued Safety Evaluation Reports, Safety Analysis Report Update Program documents, Safety Studies, Safety Assessments, Risk Assessments, Facility Safety Evaluations, and any applicable commitments made to comply with Department of Energy (DOE) orders or policies. Steps in the USQD process include defining the changes being evaluated; evaluating the process by which the change is accomplished; then the potential effects of the change are compared to the authorization basis for the facility to determine if the change could result in the facility being outside is authorization basis. The USQD will provide input to the change control board for facilities placed under configuration management to aid their understanding of the extent of a proposed change and whether or not the change should be authorized. The USQD will also provide input to the categorization of reportable occurrences under DOE Order 5000.3A, Occurrence Reporting and Processing of Operations Information. This report provides an overview of the steps in the USQD process and detailed instructions and examples intended primarily for use by the personnel who perform, review, and approve the USQDs. 3 refs., 3 figs.
