The use of a single infobase to capture and store large text documents (e.g. the UFSAR) or large groups of related text-based documents (e.g., all docket correspondence and inspection reports) is the ideal electronic storage and retrieval medium. Unlike text documents, word-processed files, and image-based applications, this medium allows access to the entire document or group of documents for the purpose of performing searches. Our licensing basis document solution has a full range of capable and cost-effective off-the-shelf software products that have all of the features to build, maintain, and use. These products can be set up with levels of security to protect the integrity of the stored data, and can be customized to local, site-wide, company-wide, or any web-based users. The Living UFSAR and Other Licensing Bases Applications further explain the attributes of a capable and flexible electronic storage and search system that are available today at an affordable cost.

The Living UFSAR

The application is built using a fully pre-indexed version of the document files stored in high-level markup language. In addition to supporting rapid search and drill-down capability. This allows text attributes and document building blocks such as style sheets, fonts, formatting, Table of Contents marking, and table structure to be directly incorporated and displayed on the screen. If desired, these style features will allow the computer screen and printed copy to look like the published copy. The following features of a living UFSAR can be implemented using the packaged features of inexpensive commercially available infobase products:

• Multiple simultaneous user access
• Lightning-fast intelligent searches
• Display search "hits" in context
• Mask out all but records with "hits"
• Alert user of pending changes
• Post and highlight approved changes
• Cross-reference to change documents
• Provide source (validation) reference(s)
• Incorporate or externally link graphics for FSAR figures
• Incorporate hyperlinks within UFSAR
• Provide hyperlinks to outside documents
• Publish docketed UFSAR and revisions
• Support electronic docket submittals

Other LicensingBases Applications

The licensing basis for a nuclear power plant is comprised of many text-based documents, such as the FSAR, NRC SER and supplements, docketed correspondence, Operating License and Tech Specs, the UFSAR, and other referenced documents. Maintaining the licensing basis in electronic format is a cost-effective and convenient means of providing access to this information. Using this information as part of design, operation, and maintenance of the plant is important to assuring that the plant is being maintained and operated in accordance with the licensing basis. The accuracy, speed, and completeness of 10 CFR 50.59 evaluations for proposed changes to the facility and procedures are greatly enhanced by electronic licensing basis applications. Certain licensing basis documents unlike the UFSAR, OL, and Technical Specification are historical document, and do not require some of the updating and change tracking attributes that living documents require. The ability for quickly searching the entire licensing basis enhances productivity and quality of change management. The ease of developing infobases for licensing basis documents, including the UFSAR, depends on the availability of the document and its storage format. Documents in certain electronic formats will convert automatically using the Builder utilities; other documents may have to be converted to text-based electronic documents by scanning or validated rekeying.