ML19261B549
| ML19261B549 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/07/1978 |
| From: | Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| References | |
| ACRS-1579, NUDOCS 7902280174 | |
| Download: ML19261B549 (22) | |
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- mt MINUTES OF THE ACRS SUBC0tWITTEE ON REACTOR SAFETY RESEARCH MEETING OF gg jg 7 9 SEPTEMBER 6, 1978 WASHINGTON, DC j) 3 The ACRS Subcomittee on Reactor Safety Research met in executive session to discuss the status of Subcommittee activities in gathering information for the ACRS annual report to Congress on the status of research by the Nulcear Regulatory Commission.
The notice of the meeting appeared in the Federal Register of August 22, 1978. A copy is included as Attachment A.
The Committee received no request to make an oral statement nor did it receive a written statement.
A list of attendees is included as Attachment 8.
The Subcommittee did not prepare any documents during the meeting.
OPEN SESSION (2:00 cm - 4:30 cm)
Dr. Siess, the Acting Subcommittee Chaiman, called the meeting to order, explained the purpose of the meeting and identified the principal partici-pants.
Dr. McCreless was named as the Designated Federal Employee.
Dr. Siess outlined the topics to be discussed.
These included: general content of this year's report to Congress, the scoce and tone of the report.
identification of items to be reviewed by each Subcommittee, identifica-tion of items for full Committee review and scheduling of milestones.
Dr. Siess noted that John Austin had proposed a table of contents for the report.
Copy attached, Attachment C.
Dr. Siess said that last year's report was organized around the functions perfomed by the various branches of the Office of Research and that this year's report should be organized around specific subjects.
He suggested the follow-ing chapter organization:
79022801W
RSR Meeting 9/6/78 Chapter Subject 1
Introduction 2
LOCA/ECCS 3
Fuel Behavior 4
Primary System Integrity 5
Operational Safety 6
Advanced Reactors 7
Extreme External Phenomena 8
Radiological Effects 9
Fuel Cycle FOOTNOTE 10 waste Ma
- ement PAGE 7 11 Safeguards and Security 12 Risk Assessment 13 Improved Safety Research 14 Research Management In response to a question from Dr. Shewmon concerning the apparent discrepancy between the large Fuel Behavior budget and the limited Fuel Behavior program, R. Scroggins of the NRC Staff, explain that the Fuel Behavior budget included the funding for the Power Burst Facility (s $14-15 million) and for develop-ment and verification of fuel related codes ($8-9 million).
Mr. Scroggins explained that budget do?lar values provided to the ACRS (Attachment D) were contract dollars and did not include cost for NRC Staff personnel required to oversee the programs.
Capital equipment costs are separately lis ted. Dr. Siess sa1d that he would include budget information in '.ne first chapter of the report.
Dr. Siess suggested that this year's report might be concentrated on major items such as those specified in the May 30 memorandum from Saul Levine (Attachment E).
He discussed the pros and cons of such an approach and
RSR Meeting 9/6/78 the impact on the reader if lesser programs were not included in the report. He said he would leave it up to the author of each chapter to dec.ide how to handle programs of lesser importance.
It was noted that last year's report called for the assignment of priorities of research programs.
Dr. Siess suggested that the priorities assigned might be restricted to absolute priorities on general areas rather than relative priorities within given areas.
Dr. Okrent said that he thought that both types of priorities might be desirable.
He suggested a possible way of doing it..He said that a particular Sub-committee might include priorities in its area as a principal topic and then bring them to the full Committee along with recommenda-tions.
Dr. Siess noted that of the twelve areas listed in the budget data (Attachment D), eight areas have budgets between $2-8.5 million and four have budgets $12.5-84 million.
He suggested that this year's report might concentrate on the largest programs.
Dr. Lawroski noted that changes in some small programs might be more significant than changes in larger programs. He cited the added interest in research on Waste Management as an example. Dr. Siess agreed and said that changes, either up or down, should be a flag for consideration and comment.
Dr. Siess reminded everyone that information should be prepared for inclusion into an Executive Summary. He suggested, instead of writing the first and last paragraph of each Chapter for inclusion within the Executive Summary, that the people preparing each Chapter prepare a short summary for compilation into the Executive Summary.
This information should include the scope of the work being done and the conclusions reached.
Dr. Siess told the group that he saw no need for a very strict chapter format. He said the first paragraph should tell the reader the meaning
RSR Meeting 9/6/78 of the chapter and the Branch in Research that is involved, the last paragraph should include recommendations,and the paragrachs in be-tween arranged in any logical manner. He mentioned a July 24 memo (Attachment F) in which Tem McCreless had summarized suggestions received for this year's report.
Dr. Siess recommended that each Subcommittee review SECY 78-270.
(This is the NRC Staff report to the Commission on the Staff's views of last year's report by the ACRS to Congress.)
Dr. Siess discussed the content of the first chapter of this year's report.
Dr. Siess said that he would write it.
It is expected to be somewhat similar to the introduction in last year's report and will contain a budget summary.
Chapter 2 will be devoted to LOCA/ECCS. The budget for this area is the largest.
Dr. Siess noted that the NRC Staff has recently changed its views and is talking a :ut phasing out this research by not starting 5
new research in this area.
He said that the ACRS has supported this trend in a letter to the NRC.
Dr. Siess said that the ACRS should discuss thoroughly many of the significant areas with the goal of answering some of the hard questions such as what would be the effect of stopping ECCS research now instead of two years from new.
He out-lined the topics and speakers for the presentation on ECCS research scheduled for Friday, September 8,1978.
Dr. Mark asked if NRC ECCS research efforts differ significantly from those of the Germans or French.
Dr. Okrent said that he thought that the trend in both countries was for a decrease in such research.
Chapter 3 will be devoted to fuel behavior.
Dr. Shewmon questioned which group would be reviewing research concerning molten core behavior. He said that he was interested in whether anyone was looking at the credibility of the molten core model.
Dr. Okrent suggested that molten core research
RSR Meeting 9/6/788 might be reviewed in the context of improved safety research.
Dr. Siess said that the identification of the best subcommittee to review this would be considered later.
Chapter 4 will be en primary system integrity.
(This chapter was called
" Metallurgy and Materials" last year.) Dr. Siess suggested a division of topics which are within the Mechanical Engineering Branch of the Division of General Reactor Safety Research.
He said that the Extreme External Phenomena Subcommittee would review those topics concerning the seismic resistance of components, pumps, valves, etc. and suggested that the non-seismic items be reviewed by the Subcommittee on Primary System Integrity.
Chapter 5 will be on operational safety. Mr. Etherington has provided Dr. Siess with a " mock-up" of this chapter. Mr. Etherington explained that this chapter will cover, to a large degree, programs arising from problems experienced in operating plants. Mr. Scroggins explained that the chapter of the Research Support Branch includes:
research support of the licensing staff; technical support (e.g. support of the Nuclear Safety Information Center at Oak Ridge and the Argonne Ccde Center);
and operational safety research (e.g. cable connectors and fire pro-tection). Dr. Okrent suggested that the Subcommittee might censider a recommendation for the development of a list of topics that might fall within the area of operational safety.
Dr. Siess suggested that this might be included in a letter to the NRC Office of Research rather than in the Report to Congress.
Chapter 6 will be on advanced reactors; Dr. Siess read the following statement from last year's Report to Congress:
RSR Meeting 9/6/78 "It is recommended, therefore, that the NRC continue its efforts to re-orient the Advanced Reactor Safety Research Program in an anticipatory direction, even at some risk of doing unneeded work."
and from NRC Staff report, SEC 78-270:
"While Research agrees with the ACRS that the NRC safety research program in FAST reactors should continue to be re-oriented, in order to be most responsive to new admini-strative initiatives, significant expansion of this research area would have to await these initiatives by DOE."
and from the report of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (AttachmentG):
"The Committee is concerned about the Commission's decision to forego requests for funds to continue regulatory research on breeder reactors and fuel reprocessing on the basis of a Presidential decision and in advance of a final resolution
.of these issues by the Congress.
"As an independent agency, the NRC has the responsibility to make individual decisions regarding matters within its jurisdication, and should pursue those issues which are deserving of its consideration and which it can reasonably-expect to come before it.
"In the future, the Commission should independently determine the wisdom and merits of proceeding with research on regulatory issues and include funds for the continuation of such programs in its budget request, and leave the decision as to the appropriateness of such requests to the Congress."
RSR Meeting 9/6/78
-o-which are the primary responsibility of the Probabilistic Analysis Staff.
Several suggestions were made for a more descriptive title for the Chapter.
A decision was not reached.
Chapter 13 will be on Research to Improve Safety. Dr. Siess said that Dr. Okrent had volunteered to be chair aan of a new subcommittee that would have t.o be appointed.
Dr. Siess asked that Dr. Lawroski be informed.
In response to a question, Mr. Scroggins explained that funds had not been recrogrammed to cover the projects proposed by the Staff in its long range plan for research to improve reactor safety.
He said that final Commission decision was not reached until August. The decision
' called for reprogramming of FY 79 funds.
Chapter 14 will be on Research "anagement. Dr. Siess indicated that he expects this chapter to be si:
to that of last year, but that it may r
be omitted if the material car-
. included elsewhere.
Dr. Siess outlined some possible courses of actions that the Comittee might follow in the preparation of this year's report.
He suggested that several items might be selected for ACRS, discussion such as advanced reactors, waste management, probabilistic risk assessment, improved safety systems,and priorities.
Dr. Okrent said that he felt that all of these topics were likely candidates and he reces..anded that a lot of time be set aside for these discussions.
Dr. Siess asked Dr.
McCreless to request that a day and a half be reserved for the research report during the October meeting.
It was decided that discussions would be planned for advanced reactors, waste management, and priorities, for the October meeting, and for probabilistic risk assessment for the November meeting.
Dr. Siess asked that each disciplinary chapter be submitted in advance of the November meeting so that copies can be provided to all members
1 RSR Meeting 9/6/78 Dr. Siess recomtended that in view of these three viewpoints, the ACRS should consider a recommendation in this area.
It is planned for the full Committee to discuss the Advanced Reactor Research Program dur-ing the 222nd ACRS meeting in October.
Chapter 7 will be on Extreme External Phenomena.
Dr. Siess will prepare this Chapter.
It will include the new seismic safety margins research program and the previous geology-seismology study of the eastern U.S.
In response to a question from Dr. Okrent concernit,g which subcommittee will review research on hydrology, Dr. Siess said research on flooding would be in Chapter 7 and groundwater movement somewhere else, probably Chapter 8.
Radiological Effects and Fuel Cycle will probably be combined into a single chapter, but are presently designated as Chapter 8&9, respectively, in Attachmen:
C.
Radiological Effects are those effects associated with reactors and Fuel Cycle are those effects other than reactors or waste storage.
Research concerning Emergency planning will be included in Chapter 8.
Dr. Moeller will consider the effect of combining the two chapters into a single one.*
Chapter 10 will be on Waste Management.
It will include also uranium mill tailings, and decommissioning.
Chapter 11 will be on Safeguards and Security.
Dr. Siess suggested that a goal for this chapter might be to relate what NRC is doing and should be doing to what DOE is doing. Dr. Mark indicated that the Sub-committee would be following up on the reccmmendations concerning physical security of nuclear power plants that were included in last year's Report to Congress.
Chapter 12 will be on Risk Assessment.
Dr. Siess explained that the Subcommittee on Risk Assessment might limit its review to those projects
- Subsequent to the meeting, these subjects were combined as Chapter 8.
RSR Meeting 9/6/78 prior to the meeting, reviewed and discussed during the meeting.
He said that final drafts would be due prior to the Decembe: meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.
NOTE: A transcript obtaining additional details of this meeting is available in the NRC Fublic Document Room, at 1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
A copy of the transcript can also be obtained from Ace-Federal Reporters, 444 North Capital St.,
N.W., Washington, D.C.
NOTICES
[7590-01]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFE-GUARD 5; SU8 COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFETY RESEARCH Meetlag The ACRS Subcommittee on Reac-
. tor Safety Research will hold an open meeting on September 8,1973. In roont 1046.1717 H Street NW., Washington, D.C. 20555. Notice of this meeting was published on July 17 and August 15, 1978 (43 FR 30631 and 36152 respec-t!vely).
In accordance with the procedures out!!ned in the FrmtAL RrczsTra on October 31.1977 (FR 40 56970) oral or written statements may be presented by members of the public, recordings will be permitted only durmg those portioru of the meeting when a t.%
script is being kept, and questions may be asked only by members of the Sub-committee, its consultants, and staff.
Persons dest. ring to make oral state-ments should notify the designated Federal employee as far in advance as practicable so that appropriate ar-rangements can be made to allow the necessary time dunng the meeting int such statements.
The agenda for subject meeting shall be as follows:
Wednesdav, September 6,19n-2 :1,m. mn tti IAe concl:Aston of Otusness. The Subcom-mittee unil meet is executive session to discuss review efforts for the. ACRS 1573 seport to Cocgress on.NRC reac.or salety research.
Fitrther information regarding topics to be discussed, whether the -
meeting has been canceled or r? sche-duled, the chair..an's ruling on re-quests for the opportunity to present oral statements and the ti=e allotted therefore can be obtained by a prepaid telephone call to the designated Fed-eral employee for this neeting. Dr.
Thomas C. McCreless (telephone 202-634
- ST) between 3:15 a.m. and 5 4
p.m e.d.t.
- Dated: August 16.1978.
Jown C. Horu.
Adchory Committee ofanogenent Officer.
Tiit Doc.18-23316 FUed 8-2t-78; 8 t3 aml FEDERAt REGl5 Tit. VOL. 43. NO. 43--TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1978 ATTACHMENT A
REACTOR SAFETY RESEARCH SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING SEPTEMBER 6, 1978 WASHINGTON, D.C.
ATTENDEES LIST ACRS INTERNATINAL ENERGY ASSOC. LTD.
C. P. Siess, Acting Chairman D. Okrent, Member L. D. senworthy D. W. Moeller, Member P. G. Shewmon, Member NRC W. Kerr, Member S. Lawroski, Member R. Scroggins M. S. Plesset, Member J. C. Mark, Member H. Etherington, Member I. Igne, Staff P. Boehnert, Staff-R. Major, Staff J. C. McKinley, Staff J. Austin, Staff M. C. Gaske, Staff R. Muller, Staff T. G. McCreless, Staff *
- Designated Federal Employee ATTACHMENT B
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 5a WAsilmGTON. D. C. 205t5 '
g August 4,1978 ACRS MEMBERS SEC0fiD AtitiUAL REPORT TO C0 iGRESS 0:1 RESEARCH l
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON n$gj.j 3._i j'l WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 s, v j AUG 2 31978 MEM0RAtlDUM FOR:
Thomas G. McCreless, Chief Project Review Branch tio. 2, ACRS FROM:
Ronald M. Scroggins, Acting Assistant Director Administration and Project Control, RES
SUBJECT:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH'S RESOURCES FOR FY 1979 and FY 19E0 Attached per your request, is the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research's resources for FY 1979 and FY 1980
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h Ro al
. Scrog. ins,c wA ing Assistant Director Admini tration and P oject Control, RES
Attachment:
as stated above cc:
J. Austin D
NUCLEAR REGULAT0kV RESEARCH (Based on old format (NUREG-0392, Table 1)
PROGRAM SUPPORT FY 1979 (in millions)
Systems Engineering & Analysis
$ 69.1 Development Fuel Behavior 23.6 Metallurgy and Materials 8.7 Site Safety & Eng.
8.3 Advanced Reactors 15.0 Fuel Cycle & Enviror. mental 12.8 Safegua rds 6.2 Risk Assessment 3.4 Subtotal 147.1 Equipment 8.4 TOTAL
$155. 5
II. New ACRS Report Outline Format PP.0 GRAM SUPPOPT FY 1979 FY 1980_/
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($ in millions)
LOCA/ECCS
$ 67.2
$ 84.3 Fuel Behavior 23.6 23.5 Primary Systems Int.
10.1 12.4 Operational Safety 1.9 2.5 Advanced Reactors 15.0 17.1 External Phenomena 6.8 8.5 Radiological Effects 4.5 5.5 Fuel Cycle 4.2 4.0 Waste Management 4.2 8.5 Safeguards Security 6.2 5.0 Risk Assessment 3.4 5.7 1/
4.3 Improved Reactor Safety 0.0 Subtotal
$147.1
$181.3 Equipment 8.4 10.8 TOTAL
$155.5
$192.1 1/ It is planned to reprogram approximately $1.5M in FY 1979 to initiate this effort.
-2/ These figures are based on Comission submission to CMB.
This information should be considered for internal comittee use only and not for public dissemination.
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 RECEIVED Hay 33, 1973 meTon$Ec UIsMaC p
JUN 291978 P?.
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MEtiORANDU:1 FOR:
R. F. Fraley, Executive Director 7 Si t9 0tUL Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards FROM:
Saul Levine, Director Office of fluclear Regulatory Research
SUBJECT:
ACRS 1978 REVIEW 0F NRC SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAM We have noted that the ACRS Safety Research Subcoarnittee will be meeting in Executive Session on May 31, 1978, to discuss plans for the review efforts necessary for the ACRS 1978 Report to Congress on NRC's Safety Research Program. We would like to offer some corinents and suggestions for consideration by the Subcommittee in planning the 1978 review in this area.
1.
An initial meeting (possibly late June or early July) with the full Research Subcommittee to review NRC coments and actions resulting from the 1977 ACRS Report to Congress (NUREG-0392) and to present to the Subcomnittee an overview of the current status of the research programs.
In this regard, attached for your information, is a copy of an Information Paper recently submitted.
2.
We suggest that a suitable, and perhaps, more efficient, approach to the preparation of this year's ACRS report would be for the various working groups to hold appropriate meetings on specific topics of interest in contrast to conducting complete detailed reviews of each working group area in view of the extensive effort that was performed by the ACRS in preparation of the 1977 Report to Congress.
For example, these topics could consist of major new program initiatives; programs that have undergone significant change since 1977 and research topics for which the ACRS had noted significant interest in the 1977 report.
Some examples of specific topics that meet these criteria aYe:
3-0 Flow Distribution Program (NRC, Germany and Japan), Loft, BWR-ECCS Research, Advanced Code Development, In-Pile Fuel Behavior Studies, Seismic Margin Investigations, Waste Manage-ment, etc.
m
R. F. Fraley May 33,1973 3.
Prior to final preparation of the 1978 Report to Congress, we would suggest an additional ove. view presented to the Subcocnittee updating the status and current plans for the NRC's Safety Research Programs.
We hope that you find the above suggestions useful and we would be most happy to discuss these with you if you so desire.
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Y Saul Levine, Director Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Enclosure:
Information Report, SECY-78-270 sc: LGossid:
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