ML031490749
| ML031490749 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 04/17/2003 |
| From: | Sheppard J South Texas |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| RIC 2003 | |
| Download: ML031490749 (5) | |
Text
RIC 2003 Risk-Informed Activities, Session T3 South Texas Experience Implementing an Option 2-type Process for Categorization and Treatment Mr. J. Joe Sheppard President and CEO South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company April 17, 2003
2 Proto-type Pilot for Option 2:
Strengthening Nuclear Safety While Reducing Costs
- STP sought, received an exemption from certain special treatment requirements of 10CFR Parts 21, 50, and 100 for components categorized as Low and Non-Risk Significant
- Exemption granted 08/03/01
- based on an approved risk-informed categorization process
- this was the proto-type for the industrys 50.69 activities
- Experience to date has shown good coherence for enhanced nuclear safety through risk-informed regulation
- reduced burdens on both STP and NRC
- allows better focus on safety significant SSCs
- strengthens safety culture
3 Categorization & Implementation Status
- 43 systems (over 51,000 components) categorized to date
- Only 22% of safety-related SSCs have been determined to be safety significant (Box 1)
- About 1% of non-safety related SSCs have been determined to be safety significant
- Implementation proceeding deliberately on strategically selected programs
- LLRTs: 57% reduction in required testing
- Maint. Rule: 15 systems removed from scope
- Valve Stroke Time Testing: 70 tests eliminated in U-2 outage
- Relief Valve Testing: 162 valves eliminated from scope of IST
4 Implementation / Insights Gained
- PM activities: 5 man-year labor savings, $60K in parts
- Procurement: $261K savings noted in 2002
- These savings on Low Safety Significant SSCs has allowed stronger focus on High Safety Significant SSCs
- culture becoming risk-fluent - recognizing appropriate treatments based on risk insights
- PRA Model changes must be carefully controlled
- Risk rank changes now directly impact treatment of SSCs
- Categorization decisions must be clearly documented
- Need to guard against mis-applications of component categorizations
5 Closing Thoughts
- STP continues to cautiously and deliberately implement the Exemption allowances - still early in the process
- Intended STP objectives are being achieved, that is, to enhance safety focus while reducing burden STP approach has demonstrated that a coherent risk-informed program can be mutually beneficial by enhancing safety while reducing burden
- Current industry Option 2 offers a significant opportunity to enhance nuclear safety while improving cost performance