ML19248D734
| ML19248D734 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/14/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19248D732 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7908170299 | |
| Download: ML19248D734 (4) | |
Text
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UNITdD STATES 2
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f
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WASHINGTON, 0. C. 20555
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V
't, MEMORANDUM FOR:
Distribution FROM:
Harold R. De.7:en, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
NRR OFFICE LETTER NO. 23 NRR REVIEW OF RESEARCH INFORMATION LETTERS (Rlls)
Comission Action Paper SECY 77-130, cecember 6,1977, "Procedurer for Processing User Office Research Requirements," sets forth a procedure for the transfer ano review of research information. The action paper identifies critical points in the process at which specific acticos should be taken by RES and the user office.
This office letter provides further guidance on the procedure to be fc i l owed by the NRR s ta f f.
The purpose of this guidance to the staff is to establish earlier, better staff coordination on the use of the research resul ts.
Guidance is also provided below for completing the form, " Official Program Office Comments on Utilization or Value of Rll to the Regulatory Process," which accompanies the Research Infor-mation Letters (RILs). A copy of this form is encicsed.
Initiation of RIL The action paper states that upon ccmpletion of a substantial, cenerent and reasonably complete body of research work, representatives of RES and the user office will meet to evaluate the work.
I have been in-formed that RES will generally plan to have a draf t r s L ready for re-view at this meeting and NRR staff will be expected to provide appro-priate ccmments or. the draf t RIL at the meeting. At this time i t is the responsibility of the appropriate NRR Assistant Di rector to pro-vide RES with our position on whether or not the Rll should be finalized.
Based on thIs meeting RES wi1I decide whether or not the research results
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me ri t the preparation of a Ril.
This determination should be made only on the technical merits of the work as it relates to the licensing process.
I n sore cases, a R i L can have d i rect a pp l i cab i l i ty to the licensing process; in others it can provide valuable background infor-mation or enhanced understanding of various safety, safeguards or envi ronmental aspects of our regulatory process.
The section of the draf t All which discusses the applicability of the results and their impact on the regulatory process should be carefully reviewed by NRR and RES staff at this time prior to preparation of the final version of the Ril.
Since the commitment of NRR resources for the review of a RIL is essentially made at this time, the decision to proceed with a RiL should be made known to the appropriate NRR Assistant Di rector.
When it is decided that a RiL is in order, RES will prepare the Re-search information Letter and send i t to the user of fice for review an d commen t. At this time an NRR staf f member, preferably an NRR member of the appropriate Research Review Group, should be designated as the point of contact for NRR.
Review of Rll and Final Action i
Upon receipt of a formal RIL by NRR i t is assigned to the appropriate division for action.
Each RIL should be reviewed for accuracy and comp l etenes s.
During the sa.ne period that the Rll is being reviewed, any discussions needed to clarify technical matters or to followup on speci fic technical issues should be held.
Finally, decisions will be made by the Assistant Directors from RES and NRR concerning proceeding with position papers, ACRS briefings and press releases.
Comoietion of Research Results Utilization Fo rm A.
Application to Regulatory Process This section should contain a brief technical discussion of the purpose of the research and hcw the research relates to a regu-latory requi remen t.
The discussion should contain sufficient detail that reference to supporting documentation is not needed.
A description of the application of the research results should follow and it should include a characterization such as:
(1) The results were used in a particular environmental or safety review, an SER, or a hearing.
(2) The resul ts ei ther con fi rmed or showed a need to revise our technical basis used in licensing reviews, Regulations, Regul atory Gui des, SRPs, Techn i ca l Spe c i f i ca t i ons,
etc.
(3) The research produced a code, seismotectonic provinces r;9 8 f)98
Distribution FEB 1 1 A.
Application to Regulatory Process (continued) map, etc., to be used in licensing reviews and provided the staff independent audi t capab ili ty.
(4) The results added to the general knowledge of the staf f even though it may not be di-rectly applicable to the licensing process.
B.
Impact of Results This section should describe the impact of the esearch results and it should include a characterization such as:
(1)
The re-sults either confirmed the margin of safety in our current li-censing assumptions or increased our data base or our under-standing of a phenomenon but have no di rect impact on licensing.
(2) The results led to a relaxation of an existing requirement or showed there is additional margin in the operating limits of certain reactors.
(3)
The results led to a new requi rement or the tightening of an existing requi rement.
For those cases which lead to a change in our requi rements, the magnitude of tne change should be speci fled, i f possible.
Comments on Style in completing these forms it should be remembered that they represent NRR's comments on the research results. They should therefore be ob-jective and technical in nature and be written in a tone which applies generally to NRR.
Personal references should be avoided.
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Harol d R. Denton, Di rector Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
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