ML052140185
| ML052140185 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Quad Cities  |
| Issue date: | 03/08/2005 |
| From: | Lochbaum D Union of Concerned Scientists |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML052140185 (6) | |
Text
RIC 2005 Session T-H1 Power Uprates Power Uprates Amidst Chaos David Lochbaum Nuclear Safety Engineer Union of Concerned Scientists March 8, 2005
Nuclear Safety Trends Slide 2 NRC and industry often cite improving safety trends over past two decades, like:
Foundation for Nuclear Safety Trends Slide 3 Improving safety trends are a byproduct of prescriptive regulatory process and plethora of measures like worst-case calculations, ample margins for uncertainties, single-failure criterion, maximum credible accident design basis, etc.
Challenge to Nuclear Safety Trends Slide 4 Extended power uprate is just one of many concurrent regulatory changes. Others:
o Reduced testing/inspection scopes &
frequencies o Longer limiting condition of operation (LCO) durations o Best-estimate calculations
Concern Power uprates are but one of many concurrent initiatives that reduce safety margins.
Justification for each initiative is based on improving trends achieved using a regulatory process that is being sacked wholesale.
Quad Citiess shaky experience demonstrates that we simply do not know enough to undertake so many concurrent margin reducing initiatives - so why are we doing it?
Slide 5
Reversal of Nuclear Safety Trends?
Slide 6 NRC and industry often cite improving safety trends over past two decades, like: