ML19309D591
| ML19309D591 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane, Arkansas Nuclear  |
| Issue date: | 03/27/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Bradshaw M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19309D597 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004100581 | |
| Download: ML19309D591 (1) | |
Text
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MAR 2 71980 Ms. Madge Bradshaw 5341 Coulbus Road Quincy, Illinois 62301
Dear Ms. Bradshaw:
This is in reply to your letter of December 12, 1979, to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission asking about computers and safety standards used in nuclear power plants.
Digital computers are used in nuclear power plants for monitoring operations, giving alarms, and recording data, but not in process controls. With regard to safety systems, the first nuclear power plant in the United States to include stored-program digital computers in a portion of the reactor pro-tection system is Unit 2 of Arkansas Nuclear One, which received an operating license in 1978. Two of the fourteen protective functions are provided by a core protection calculator system. The safety evaluation by NRC staff has considered the results of extensive performance tests to validate the program and has found it to be acceptable.
As to safety standards and precautions, the Three Mile Island accident resulted in a need for changes in the approach to safety. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found that actions recommended by its own staff and by the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island in the areas of human factors, operational safety, emergency planning, nuclear power plant design and siting, health effects, and public infomation are necessary and feasible.
Interim measures have been taken, and under review is an Action Plan that will include new or improved safety objectives, detailed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines.
I assure you that every effort is beina made to protect the public health and safety at all nuclear power plants currently in operation or that may begin operation in the future.
Sincerely, i
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Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l
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