ML15258A242
| ML15258A242 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 11/30/2015 |
| From: | Stephen Burns NRC/Chairman |
| To: | Lochbaum D Union of Concerned Scientists |
| Pickett D, NRR/DORL, 301-415-1364 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML15244A036 | List: |
| References | |
| CORR-15-0089, LTR-15-0437, LTR-15-0437-1 | |
| Download: ML15258A242 (2) | |
Text
November 30, 2015 Mr. David Lochbaum, Director Nuclear Safety Project Union of Concerned Scientists PO Box 15316 Chattanooga, TN 37415
Dear Mr. Lochbaum:
In your letter of August 31, 2015, you discussed the management of risks from natural gas pipelines located near nuclear power plants and suggested that the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) review the process and criteria that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) uses to assess these potential hazards. Specifically, your letter requested that the ACRS review Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.91, Evaluations of Explosions Postulated to Occur at Nearby Facilities and on Transportation Routes near Nuclear Power Plants,1 which contains the NRCs guidance for assessing hazards from natural gas pipelines.
The ACRS is given an opportunity to review all RGs as part of the RG development process. The NRC last revised and updated RG 1.91 in April 2013, at which time the ACRS declined the opportunity to review the RG in both draft,2 and final form.3 The ACRS noted that there was no objection to the staffs proposal to issue the Regulatory Guides as final. While the ACRS declined to review the RG, the RG still received the appropriate level of technical review to ensure adequate protection when the acceptance criteria are met by an applicant or licensee.
The NRC staff is confident that the analyses and calculations for plants that have been performed in accordance with RG 1.91 remain valid, and are appropriate to ensure adequate protection of the public health and safety, and the common defense and security.
The ACRS was informed of your suggestion for their review of RG 1.91, and the methods used by the NRC staff to conduct reviews of the hazards posed by natural gas pipelines near nuclear plants. The ACRS discussed this request during the full committee meeting held the week of October 5, 2015. While the ACRS decided not to specifically review RG 1.91 as suggested in your letter, they decided to initiate a working group to gather and 1 RG 1.91, Revision 2, Evaluations of Explosions Postulated to Occur at Nearby Facilities and on Transportation Routes near Nuclear Power Plants, dated April 2013 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) No. ML12170A980).
2 Memorandum from Edwin M. Hackett, NRC, to R. W. Borchardt, NRC, Proposed Regulatory Guide DG-1270, dated July 20, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11199A166).
3 Memorandum from Edwin M. Hackett, NRC, to R. W. Borchardt, NRC, Draft Final Regulatory Guides, dated September 17, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12261A314).
review information on risks from external man-made hazards at nuclear power plants. This working group will include gas pipeline hazards as a subset.
Thank you for contacting the NRC to discuss your safety concerns. We appreciate, and share, your interest in protecting nuclear power plants from external hazards.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Stephen G. Burns