ET-NRC-93-3988, Requests Exemption from Metrication Policy Re AP600 Application

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Requests Exemption from Metrication Policy Re AP600 Application
ML20058P897
Person / Time
Site: 05200003
Issue date: 10/12/1993
From: Liparulo N
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP.
To: Hasselberg F
NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
References
ET-NRC-93-3988, NUDOCS 9310250285
Download: ML20058P897 (2)


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Westinghouse Energy Systems Ba sss '

Pmsbu@ PennsWyania 15230 0355 Electric Corporation ET-NRC-93-3988 NSRA-APSI 93-0390 Docket No.: STN-52-003 October 12,1993 Document Control Desk U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,

Washington, D.C. 20555 ATTENTION: Mr. Frederick Hasselberg i

SUBJECT:

REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM METRICATION POLICY

Reference:

" Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Metrication Policy," Letter from F. Hasselberg, NRC, to N. J. Liparulo, Westinghouse, July 6,1993.

Dear Mr. Hasselberg:

On October 7,1992, the NRC adopted the metrication policy which was published in 57 Federal Register 46202. The NRC metrication policy is in response to the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 which designates the metric system as the preferred system of weights and measures for the United States trade and commerce. Beginning January 7,1993, the policy states the NRC will publish new regulations and regulatory guides in both metric and English units.

Additionally, the policy encourages the use of the metric system by licensed nuclear industry.

Regarding the licensing of new applicants in the industry to be in either dual units or in metric units, 57 Federal Register 46203 states "for the NRC to require this type of action, it would need to show that the benefit of the action, such as the reduction of risk or improvement in admir.htrative efficiency, would outweigh its costs."

The Westinghouse AP600 advanced light water reactor design was initiated in 1984. A contract wnn the Department of Energy and EPRI resulted in completion of a conceptual design in 1989, ,

Westinghouse was awarded a second contract in 1989 by the Department of Energy to further develop l the AP600 conceptual design into a certified nuclear power plant design. The Standard Safety Analysis Report (SSAR) and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Report, written in the English system, were submitted to the NRC for review in June 1992. The present schedule outlined in i SECY-93-097 is for the NRC to issue the draft AP600 Safety Evaluation Report (SER) in May 1994. .

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ET-NRC-93-3988 NSRA-APSL 93-0390 October 12,1993 The conversion of the AP6(X) application to the metric system would provide neither benefits nor enhancement of public health and safety; however, it would impose significant costs and serious schedular delays. Asca Brown Boveri-Combustion Engineering requested and was granted an exemption from the NRC metrication policy for System 80+. The referenced letter from .Mr. Frederick llasselberg inquired as to whether Westinghouse would be requesting a similar exemption. By copy of this letter, Westinghouse is requesting a similar exemption for the AP600 application such that Westinghouse is relieved from performing conversions to metric units, providing dual units in any AP600 documents, and from verifying the accuracy of any conversions done by the NRC staff in the Enal Safety Evaluation Report.

Please contact Mr. Brian A. McIntyre (412) 374-4334 of my staff if you have questions or would like to discuss this issue further.

dr #'

Nicholas . Liparulo, Manager of.

Nuclear Safety and Regulatory Activitics

/nja cc: B. A. McIntyre Westinghouse

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