At the meeting, the following four agenda items were discussed, each accompanied by proposals from nuclear operators:
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Partial revision of the Limiting Conditions for Operation (LCO) concerning severe accident (SA) countermeasure facilities known as specific safety facilities (tokujū shisetsu).
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Efforts to enhance safety through proactive use of specific safety facilities during severe accidents.
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Extension of the grace period for installation of specific safety facilities.
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Decommissioning of nuclear power plants.
Following the report, NRA commissioners exchanged views on how to handle these four issues going forward.
For agenda items (1) and (4), both sides shared a common understanding, with the commissioners noting that they “intend to proceed in a positive manner.”
Regarding (2), it was pointed out that situations vary by operator, requiring individual review. Still, the commissioners generally agreed that the matters to be confirmed during safety reviews have already been defined, and that “these should be addressed through individual examinations and medium-term goals.”
In contrast, discussion of item (3)—requests from operators for a three-year extension of the deadline to install specific safety facilities—elicited a range of opinions among the commissioners. Operators explained that the request was due to changes in the labor environment in the construction sector, including the amended Labor Standards Act introducing stricter limits on overtime work, which has also caused delays in projects such as condominium construction.
Some commissioners argued that the NRA should take a flexible approach given these industry-wide challenges. Others, however, stressed that extending the installation deadline from five to eight years could alter the risk profile and would require thorough explanation to the public. They emphasized that any decision should be based on comprehensive information, not limited solely to construction-sector circumstances.
It was also noted that the scope of applicability for such deadline extensions remains unclear, and that further clarification from operators is necessary. The NRA therefore decided to conduct additional hearings with utilities, including Tohoku Electric Power, to gather more detailed information.
