ML051180469
| ML051180469 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/29/2005 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Anderson J, NSIR/DPR/EDP 415-4114 | |
| References | |
| RIS-03-018, Suppl 2 | |
| Download: ML051180469 (6) | |
See also: RIS 2003-18
Text
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001
DRAFT B FOR INFORMATION ONLY
NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARY 2003-18, SUPPLEMENT 2,
USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE (NEI) 99-01, METHODOLOGY
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGENCY ACTION LEVELS, REVISION 4,
DATED JANUARY 2003
ADDRESSEES
All holders of operating licenses for nuclear power reactors and licensees that have permanently
ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor
vessel.
INTENT
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is providing this regulatory issue summary (RIS) to
supplement previously issued information in RIS 2003-18, Use of NEI 99-01, Methodology for
Development of Emergency Action Levels, Revision 4, dated January 2003 and Supplement 1 to
RIS 2003-18 dated July 13, 2004.
The purpose of this supplement is to:
_ Supercede previously issued information in RIS 2003-18 and Supplement 1 of the RIS
regarding obtaining and documenting state and local governmental authority agreement
of EAL changes.
_ Provide more examples of emergency action level (EAL) differences and deviations, as
identified in reviews of EAL submittals, in order to ensure the consistency of future
licensee EAL submittals and/or the consistency of licensee documentation when making
EAL changes under 10 CFR 50.54(q).
_ Provide additional guidance related to EAL upgrades from NUMARC/NESP-007 EALs to
This RIS requires no action or written response on the part of an addressee.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The rule change to Section IV.B to 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix E, (effective 4/26/05), removed
the requirement to obtain state and local governmental authority agreement of EAL
changes except when the EALs are initially implemented. However, licensees must
continue to review EALs with state and local governmental authorities on an annual
basis.
The NRC has become aware that licensees are considering seeking NRC prior approval for
EAL upgrades from the NUMARC/NESP-007 scheme to NEI 99-01 rather than using the
10 CFR 50.54(q) process as referenced in RIS 2003-18. In a public meeting with NEI on
January 26, 2005, industry representatives informed the NRC that licensees are reluctant
to use the 10 CFR 50.54(q) process for EAL upgrades due to some confusion as to what
constitutes a deviation or difference.
The regulations governing the development and implementation of EALs for nuclear power
licensees are contained in 10 CFR Part 50. Guidance documents used to review EAL
schemes are identified in Regulatory Guide 1.101, Emergency Planning and
Preparedness for Nuclear Power Reactors, Revision 4 dated October 2003.
RIS 2003-18 describes the 10 CFR Part 50 sections and guidance references in detail, as
they pertain to EAL revisions. RIS-2003-18 Supplement 1 clarifies the technical positions
regarding the revision of emergency action levels (EALs). The guidance contained in
these documents remain applicable except as otherwise indicated.
SUMMARY OF ISSUE
State and County Approval
Per rule change to 10 CFR 50 Appendix E, (effective 4/26/05), the licensee is only required to
obtain state and local governmental authority agreement of EALs during initial
implementation. Subsequent changes to the EALs do not require state and local
governmental authority agreement prior to implementation. However, licensees must
continue to review EALs with state and local governmental authorities on an annual
basis.
Generic Guidance
When licensees are considering revising their Initiating Conditions (IC) or EALs, the following
guidelines should be addressed:
_ As stated in NEI 99-01 (emphasis added):
The guidance presented here is not intended to be applied to plants as-is.
The generic guidance is intended to give the logic for developing site-
specific IC/EALs using site-specific IC/EAL presentation methods. Each
utility will need to revise the IC/EALs to meet site-specific needs with
regard to instrumentation, nomenclature, plant arrangement, and method
of presentation, etc. Such revision is expected and encouraged provided
that the intent of the generic guidance is retained. Deviations from
the intent may be acceptable, but will need to be justified during
regulatory review. Items associated with presentation, e.g., format,
sequencing of IC/EALs, IC numbering, recognition categories are at the
option of the utility.
The generic guidance includes both ICs and example EALs. It is the
intent of this guidance that both be included in the site-specific
implementation. Each serves a specific purpose. The IC is intended to
be the fundamental criteria for the declaration, whereas, the EALs are
intended to represent unambiguous examples of conditions that may meet
the IC.
_ Verbatim compliance with the wording provided in the basis section of each IC is not
necessary as long as there is enough information to support the IC and associated EALs
and the intent of the EAL is maintained. Information contained in NEI 99-01 that is
primarily used to assist licensees in the development of their EALs and EAL Basis
Document does not need to be incorporated into the licensee=s EAL Basis Document
unless the licensee chooses to.
_ Verbatim compliance with the wording provided in Sections 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 of NEI 99-01
is not necessary as long as there is enough information to:
o Support the scheme
o Explain the layout of the EAL Basis Document
o Explain the treatment of multiple events and emergency class upgrading
o Explain the treatment of emergency class downgrades
o Explain classifying transient events
o Discuss operating mode applicability, and other information deemed necessary by
the licensee to support emergency event classifications.
Differences and Deviations
From RIS 2003-18 (emphasis added):
A difference is an EAL change where the basis scheme guidance differs in wording but agrees in
meaning and intent, such that classification of an event would be the same, whether using the
basis scheme guidance or the site-specific proposed EAL. Examples of differences include the
use of site-specific terminology or administrative re-formatting of site-specific EALs.
Expanded clarification:
Administrative changes that do not actually change the textual content, are neither differences nor
deviations. Likewise, any format change that does not alter the wording of the IC or EAL is
considered neither a difference nor a deviation.
The following are examples of differences:
_ Choosing the applicable EAL based upon plant type (i.e., BWR vs. PWR).
_ Using a different numbering scheme than that provided via NEI 99-01, that does not
change the intent of the EAL overall scheme. However, licensees are encouraged to
adopt the NEI 99-01 numbering convention for ease of communication amongst
licensees, between licensees and state/local governmental authorities (particularly when
a state deals with multiple licensees), and between the licensees and the NRC.
_ Where the NEI guidance specifically provides an option to not include an EAL if
equipment for the EAL does not exist at the site (e.g., automatic real-time dose
assessment capability and telemetered perimeter rad monitoring systems) and the
licensee therefore does not include the EAL.
_ >Pulling= information from the bases section up to the actual EAL that does not change the
intent of the EAL.
_ Choosing to state ALL Operating Modes are applicable instead of stating N/A for the
ISFSI EALs, or listing each mode individually under the Abnormal Rad Level/Radiological
Effluent and Hazard and Other Conditions Affecting Plant Safety sections.
_ Using synonymous wording, for example:
o rising or lowering vs. increasing and decreasing
o greater than or equal to vs. at or above
o less than or equal vs. at or below
o greater than or less than vs. above or below
_ Adding site-specific equipment/instrument identification and/or noun names to EALs.
_ Changing the format of the EALs to conform to site-specific writers guides (i.e.,
numbering individual EALs, re-ordering individual EALs within an IC that does not affect
the logic, etc.).
_ Combining like ICs that are exactly the same but have different operating modes as long
as the intent of each IC is maintained and the overall progression of the EAL scheme is
not affected.
_ Any change to the IC and/or EAL, and/or basis wording, as stated in NEI 99-01, that does
not alter the intent of the IC and/or EAL, i.e., the IC and/or EAL continues to:
o Classify at the correct classification level,
o Logically integrate with other EALs in the EAL scheme,
o Ensure that the resulting EAL scheme is complete (i.e., classifies all potential
emergency conditions).
From RIS 2003-18 (emphasis added):
A deviation is an EAL change where the basis scheme guidance differs in wording and is altered
in meaning or intent, such that classification of the event could be different between the basis
scheme guidance and the site-specific proposed EAL. Examples of deviations include the use of
altered mode applicability, altering key words or time limits, or changing words of physical
reference (protected area, safety-related equipment, etc.).
Expanded clarification:
The following are examples of deviations:
_ Eliminating an IC. This includes the removal of an IC from the Fission Product Barrier
Degradation category as this impacts the logic of Fission Barrier ICs.
_ Changing a Fission Product Barrier EAL from a LOSS to a POTENTIAL LOSS, or vice-
versa.
_ Not using NEI definitions as the intent is for all NEI 99-01 users to have a standard set of
defined terms as defined in NEI 99-01. Differences due to plant types are permissible
(BWR or PWR). Verbatim compliance to the wording in NEI 99-01 is not necessary as
long as the intent of the defined word is maintained. However, licensees are encouraged
to use the wording provided in NEI 99-01 since the intent is for all users to have a
standard set of defined terms as defined in NEI 99-01.
_ Any change to the IC and/or EAL, and/or basis, wording as stated in NEI 99-01 that
DOES alter the intent of the IC and/or EAL, i.e., the IC and/or EAL:
o Does not classify at the classification level consistent with NEI 99-01,
o Is not logically integrated with other EALs in the EAL scheme,
o Results in an incomplete EAL scheme (i.e., does not classify all potential
emergency conditions).
Use of 10 CFR 50.54(q) when upgrading from NUMARC/NESP-007 to NEI 99-01 EALs
As discussed in RIS 2003-18, the staff recognizes that certain EAL changes do not warrant NRC
review and approval, and that licensees may make changes to EALs without prior NRC approval
when changes do not decrease the effectiveness of the emergency plan and continue to meet
the standards of 10 CFR 50.47(b) and the requirements of Appendix E. This supplement
specifically provides clarification for the following statement from RIS 2003-18:
NUMARC/NESP-007 users implementing shutdown EALs or ISFSI EALs or updating EALs to include
lessons learned from NEI 99-01, Revision 4, should implement changes under 10 CFR 50.54(q)
since these changes are enhancements to the existing classification scheme.
Licensee=s that decide to upgrade their NUMARC/NESP-007 EALs to NEI 99-01 EALs via 10 CFR
50.54(q) may determine that there are a few ICs or EALs from NEI 99-01 that cannot be
implemented at the site as intended in NEI 99-01. Licensee=s can submit these specific ICs to
the NRC for approval and update the remaining ICs/EALs in accordance with 10 CFR 50.54(q).
However, the NRC would expect the following information:
_ The other corresponding ICs in the applicable IC logic grouping, if applicable, should be
provided to the NRC to ensure that the emergency class escalation logic is properly
evaluated. (For example, if a licensee desires to submit IC SS2 for prior approval, the
NRC would also need to evaluate corresponding ICs SA2 and SG2 to determine the
overall impact on the group of ICs.)
_ All supporting information related to why the IC/EAL could not be implemented as
intended in NEI 99-01 shall be provided to the NRC (i.e., plant system simplified
drawings, Technical Specification references, simplified electrical power drawings, etc.)
as well as any supporting information for determining an alternate IC/EAL as applicable.
Submittals should follow the guidance contained in RIS 2003-18 Supplement 1.
Good Industry Practices:
The use of good industry practices in the preparation of EAL change documents is encouraged by
the NRC. As EAL changes occur, licensees are expected to gain experience and share
information with the industry. Expectation of the content of EAL change packages can be
provided by the NRC during pre-submittal conferences, and may be beneficial in reducing
regulatory burden through the consistent incorporation of acceptable practices by the licensee.
BACKFIT DISCUSSION
This RIS requires no action or written response. Any action on the part of addressees to adopt the
information contained in this RIS is strictly voluntary and, therefore, is not a backfit under 10 CFR
50.109. Consequently, the staff did not perform a backfit analysis.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION
A notice of opportunity for public comment on this RIS was not published in the Federal Register
because it is informational. NRC worked with NEI, industry representatives, members of the
public, and other stakeholders to obtain information which was used in the development of this
RIS. A public meeting was held February 10, 2005 to discuss this supplement to RIS 2003-18.
(Meeting summary available at ML050450434).
SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT FAIRNESS ACT OF 1996
The NRC has determined that this action is not subject to the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT NOTIFICATION
This RIS does not request any information collections and, therefore, is not subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Action of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
If you have any questions or wish to provide any feedback, please call the technical contact, listed
below.
Patrick L. Hiland, Chief
Reactor Operations Branch
Division of Inspection Program Management
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Technical Contact: Don A. Johnson, NSIR/DPR/EPD
301-415-4040
Email: daj3@nrc.gov
Attachment: List of Recently Regulatory Issue Summaries