Information Notice 2010-19, Updated Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Estimates in Central and Eastern United States
| ML102160735 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/16/2010 |
| From: | Marissa Bailey NRC/NMSS/FCSS |
| To: | |
| Tiannging C., 301-492-3568 | |
| References | |
| IN-10-019 | |
| Download: ML102160735 (4) | |
ML102160735 UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001
September 16, 2010
NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 2010-19: UPDATED PROBABILISTIC SEISMIC HAZARD
ESTIMATES IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN UNITED
STATES
ADDRESSEES
All licensees, applicants, and holders of a construction authorization and/or certificate issued by
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), for fuel cycle facilities including Fuel
Manufacturing Facilities, Mixed Oxide facilities, and Uranium Enrichment Facilities licensed
under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 70, Domestic Licensing of
Special Nuclear Material; Gaseous Diffusion Plants Certified under 10 CFR Part 76, Certification of Gaseous Diffusion Plants; and Uranium Conversion/De-conversion Facilities
licensed under 10 CFR Part 40, Domestic Licensing of Source Material (i.e., Honeywell
Metropolis Works).
PURPOSE
NRC is issuing this Information Notice (IN) to inform addressees about the NRCs findings
relating to higher estimated seismic hazards in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS)
according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)s 2008 seismic hazard model. The seismic
hazard is usually described by the seismic hazard curve or the annual exceedance frequency as
a function of ground motion level (peak ground acceleration or spectral accelerations at certain
frequencies). The increase is due to the updates to ground motion models and seismic sources
in the regions around Charleston, South Carolina, New Madrid, Missouri, southern Illinois and
southern Indiana. The increase is mostly from the comparison between the 1989 Electric Power
Research Institute-Seismicity Owner Group (EPRI-SOG) study, which was updated in 2009, and
the USGS 2008 seismic hazard model.
Licensees, applicants, and holders of a construction authorization and/or certificate should
review this IN and consider actions, as appropriate. However, the suggestions contained in this
IN are not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written response is required.
BACKGROUND
In support of early site permits (ESP) for new reactors, the NRC staff reviewed updates to the
seismic source and ground motion models provided by applicants, which identified higher
estimate seismic hazards at operating facilities in the CEUS where ESPs were sought. This
finding was addressed in a July 2006 memorandum (ADAMS accession number ML052360044)
to the NRCs Commissioners from the NRCs Executive Director of Operations, and identified
the impact of a higher seismic hazard on currently operating nuclear power plants in the CEUS
as Generic Issue 199. The seismic update information from ESP applicants included new EPRI
models to estimate earthquake ground motion and updated models for earthquake sources in
seismic regions such as eastern Tennessee, and around both Charleston, South Carolina, and ML102160735 New Madrid, Missouri. The NRC staff reviewed and evaluated this new information along with
similar USGS seismic hazard estimates in 2008. From this review, the NRC staff concluded
that the likelihood of exceeding the seismic hazard values used in plant design and in previous
evaluations may be higher than previously understood for some currently operating CEUS sites.
The NRC staffs conclusions were discussed in an NRC public meeting in 2008 that included
many operating reactor licensees and EPRI representatives.
Because many fuel cycle facilities are located in the CEUS, with some located in the above
mentioned seismic source regions, the updated seismic hazard information should be reviewed
and actions be considered as appropriate.
Seismic hazards are considered as natural phenomena hazards (10 CFR 70.64, Appendix A to
Part 70, and 10 CFR 76.87) and may initiate potential accident sequences in a fuel cycle facility.
The new fuel cycle facility designs are required to provide for adequate protection against these
natural phenomena hazards (10 CFR 70.64); all licensed fuel cycle facilities are required to
meet the performance requirements of §70.61 through consequence evaluation as part of the
Integrated Safety Analysis. The increased seismic hazards in the CEUS may have some
impact on the existing and new fuel facilities for these seismic safety evaluations. This focus of
this IN is to: (1) raise attention to potential concerns that not all addressees have considered the
increased USGS 2008 seismic hazard results; and (2) suggest that appropriate actions being
taken.
The USGS 2008 seismic hazard model is available online at
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/. By utilizing the interactive seismic hazard maps, a user
can calculate the ground motions for any site by inputting the latitude and longitude of the site.
For soil response of a site, the user can input appropriate shear wave velocities for the top 30
meters.
Due to the estimated seismic hazard increase, the NRC encourages fuel cycle facilities in CEUS
to consider the USGS updated seismic hazard estimates to assess the potential for exceeding
the licensing basis on design of the structures, systems, and components and the event
consequences initiated by seismic events, and consider actions as appropriate.
CONTACT
This IN requires no specific action or written response. Please direct any questions about this
matter to the technical contacts listed below or to the appropriate project manager in the Office
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards.
/RA/
Marissa Bailey, Acting Director
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety
and Safeguards
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical contacts:
Tianqing Cao
Osiris Siurano
301-492-3568
301-492-3117
E-mail: Tianqing.Cao@nrc.gov
Osiris.Siurano-Perez@nrc.gov
CONTACT
This IN requires no specific action or written response. Please direct any questions about this
matter to the technical contacts listed below or to the appropriate project manager in the Office
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards.
/RA/
Marissa Bailey, Acting Director
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety
and Safeguards
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards
Technical contacts:
Tianqing Cao
Osiris Siurano
301-492-3568
301-492-3117
E-mail: Tianqing.Cao@nrc.gov
Osiris.Siurano-Perez@nrc.gov
ML102160735 OFFICE
FCSS/UEB
NMSS/DHLWRS
FCSS/UEB
FCSS/AFCB
FCSS/FMB
NAME
OSiurano
TCao
TRichmond
THiltz
PHabighorst
DATE
8/5/2010
8/5/2010
8/11/2010
8/23/2010
8/20/2010
OFFICE
FCSS/UEB
QTE
FCSS/SPTSD
FCSS
NAME
BSmith
CHsu (via e-mail)
MBailey
DATE
9/16/2010
8/31/2010
9/16/2010
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY