General Process for Graded Approach

DOESTD107393

The graded approach should be applied using the following process:

The general program criteria (provided in section 1.3) should be adjusted to become appropriate

facility program criteria, which should be satisfied when the program is fully implemented.

The upgrade actions necessary to attain the facility program criteria should be identified. The

existing programs and procedures should be evaluated to determine which already provide

configuration management functions adequately, which can provide a configuration management

function if modified, and where new activities need to be developed. A fundamental premise of

the CM program is that it should take advantage of existing programs and procedures to the

maximum extent practicable. The difference between the extent of the existing programs and

procedures and the facility program criteria defines the upgrade actions that are needed to fully

implement the CM program.

A schedule should be developed for implementation of the CM upgrade actions. The facility

program criteria, upgrade actions, phased-implementation schedule, the bases for these items,

and other pertinent considerations should be described in the CM program plan.

The general process recommended for applying the graded approach to the development and

implementation of a CM program is depicted in Figure 1-3. The order of the considerations is

optimized for program planning efficiency and fits most facilities. Each consideration is discussed

below.

1.4.2.1 Facility Type and Technical Characteristics

Facility type and technical characteristics relate to the particular technical nature and design

characteristics of a facility. For example, a nuclear hot cell facility is different from a nuclear reactor

and would not be expected to implement piping code design criteria for high-pressure primary reactor

piping systems. As another example, a waste tank farm would not be expected to meet the same

technical criteria as a uranium enrichment facility. Similarly, a facility being designed and constructed

to handle the decontamination and environmental restoration of, and the waste storage and disposal

for, an old retired nuclear facility would not be expected to meet the same criteria as the facility being

cleaned up. Furthermore, even facilities of the same technical type may have unique technical

characteristics. For example, a plutonium-fueled critical facility has different characteristics than a

uranium-fueled critical facility.

This consideration is used to determine what types of implementation actions would be technically

appropriate for the facility when the CM program is fully implemented. The general program criteria

should be reviewed in light of the facility type and technical characteristics to determine which are

appropriate, which need adaptation, and which are not applicable. This step establishes the foundation

for evaluating other graded-approach considerations that are used subsequently to make program

criteria adjustments. Implementation of the CM program, a management system, is influenced less by

facility type and technical characteristics than a program of technical (i.e., hardware) criteria would be.

1.4.2.2 Facility Desired/Remaining Lifetime

The facility remaining lifetime is the period of time that the facility is expected to retain the capability of

performing its intended functions (i.e., meet its design requirements) without applying life extension

techniques. If DOE has formally notified the contractor that the facility is to be operated for only a

specified period, or that the facility is to be shut down at a specified date and there is no intent to

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