ML19330B930
| ML19330B930 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/16/1980 |
| From: | Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19330B931 | List: |
| References | |
| ACRS-1745, NUDOCS 8008070231 | |
| Download: ML19330B930 (14) | |
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/7</f Date of Mtg: 4/30/80 Date Issued:
6/16/80 MINUTES OF ACRS PROCEDURES SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING April 30, 1980 Washington, D. C.
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Purpose:
This meeting was held to discuss:
I.
ACRS Fellowship Program Accomplishments and future plans for ACRS Fellowship Program a.
b.
ACRS policy / procedures re performance evaluation and promotion of ACRS Fellows c.
Career planning for ACRS Fellows d.
Coordination and supervision of Fellows' activities II.
Proposed Realignment of ACRS Staff Assignments III. ACRS Procedures a.
More effective use of members' time IV. Nomination of New Members V.
Designation of Acting ACRS Chairman VI. Reduction of ACRS Travel Funds VII. Duties of Emeritus ACRS Members
Participants:
M. S. Plesset, Chairman Staff J. C. Mark, Vice-Chairman M. Bender, Member R. F. Fraley, Designated Government M. W. Carbon, Member Employee J. C. Ebersole, Member M. W. Libarkin S. Lawroski, Member M. C. Gaske D. Okrent, Member R. E. McKinney Fellows W. Kastenburg E. Abbott 8008070 D 'I
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2-Discussion:
I.
ACRS Fellowship Program The accomplishments of and future plans for the Fellowship Program (see ) were discussed briefly.
Items of specific interest were:
(a) Publication of Fellows' Reports More widespread presentation / publication of ACRS Fellows' reports -
Fellows' reports are prepared for internal ACRS use only, although they have been made available to other organizations / individuals (e.g., Staff of the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Office of the NRC Chairman, etc.) on a case-by-case basis. William Kastenburg proposed that more widespread distribution of Fellows' reports would make this information more widely available to the nuclear community and provide a visible indication of the contributions of the Fellowship program.
It was also noted that a procedure is needed whereby ACRS Fellows can obtain approval for preparation and presentation of reports at technical society meetings and in professional journals.
It was agreed that publication of papers at technical society meetings and in professional journals should be encouraged. Dr. Okrent noted, however, that some degree of management control is needed in the distribution of Fellows' reports prepared for ACRS use. Mr. Bender suggested that the need for designated ACRS members to review Fellows' reports which are to be published, is troublesome.
This is an area which appears to warrant further consideration.
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. (b) Policy / procedures regarding performance evaluation and promotion
'of ACRS Fellows The policy regarding performance evaluation and promotion was reviewed.
The Subcommittee agreed that procedures for review of performance and promotion for ACRS Fellows should be based on merit, the same as evaluation of permanent NRC employees.
In ad-dition, for-those Fellows who are in their first job assignment, a performance evaluation should be done within 6-9 months after re-porting to the ACRS Office.
(c) Career planning for ACRS Fellows Additional guidance is needed regarding potential and procedures for transfer to the ACRS/NRC permanent staff or other future positions.
(d)
Coordination and Supervision of Fellows' Activities It was agreed that a senior ACRS Staff engineer should be assigned to coordinate and provide day-to-day supervision of the Fellows' activities.
Dr. Tom McCreless was endorsed by the Subcommittee for this as-signment.
Mr.~ Gary Quittschreiber was endorsed to assume the responsibilities of Branch Chief for Branch #2.
It's anticipated that these. assignments will begin about mid-June.
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II)
Proposed Realignment of ACRS Staff Assignments A proposed. reassignment of duties among ACRS project engineers to pro-vide for more topical workload assignments was discussed and endorsed by the Subcomittee.
This is based on an anticipated increase of three technical Staff positions (1 in FY 1980 and 2 in FY 1981).
III) ACRS Procedures The need for more effective use of Committee members' time was dis-cussed.
Problems identified had to do with:
Members who do not participate in Subcommittee meetings should not expect comparable detailed treatment of their EuestionsduringfullCommitteemeetings.
t The need for Subcommittees to bring problems to a con-clusion within a reasonable period of time (e.g., periodic status reports was suggested as one possibility).
On occasion Subcommittees begin their activities too early in the process (e.g., before substantive documents are avail-able for study).
The need for better, more precise presentations by NRC Staff representatives.
The need for better identification of comments by members during Committee meetings which warrant formal follow-up (e.g., the interested member should call out such items so they can be endorsed, supplemented, etc.
by the full Com-mittee).
Mr. Bender agreed to prepare a list of proposed procedures for discussion at a future meeting.
IV)
Nomination of New Members I
A panel was designated as noted below, to screen nominees proposed for' appointment.
Screening Panel D. W. Moeller, Chairman l
S. Lawroski M. Bender (Note:
M. C. Gaske will assist the panel.)
V)
Acting ACRS Chairman It was agreed that an Acting Chairman should be designated for the period of May 12 - May 30,1980 when the ACRS Chairman and Vice-Chairman will be in Europe.
M. Bender was asked to accept this assignment.
VI)
Reduction of ACRS Travel Funds (Attachment 3)
Dr. Plesset noted a reduction of approximately 35% in ACRS travel funds for the last six months of FY 1980 as follows:
ACRS Travel Budget for April 1 - September 30, 1980 Original authorization = $201,000*
Currenly proposed = $131,000 Best est. of funds needed to support ACRS activities
= $177,000
(* Funds remaining from original authorization of $340,000 for FY 1980 travel minus $139,000 already expended.)
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-o-Subcommittee members discussed the need for the ACRS meeting with the RSK and GPR in May and concluded that these contacts were im-portant sources of safety related information directly applicable to the Committee's statutory function.
It was agreed, however, to try and reduce the number of members participating to the degree prac-ticable consistent with accomp1.ishment of the mission.
VII) Duties of ACRS Members Emeritus There was a brief discussion of the duties of ACRS Members Emeritus.
The Subcommittee members endorsed the following:
Emerit'us members should be invited to participate in those areas where they can best contribute to ACRS activities and should be encouraged to attend and participate in both Subcommittee and full Committee meetings in designated areas.
Emeritus members are to be encouraged to participate in Com-mittee discussion, questioning of those making presentation, etc.
but should refrain from taking part in the final decision making process (e.g. voting).
Emeritus members will be assigned to work with designated Sub-committees but will not be designated as Chairman.
o00 Attachments:
1.
Purpose and Accomplishments of Fellowship Program 2.
Proposal for Reorganization and Establishment of New Functions dtd. 4/23/80 3.
Memo dtd. 4/29/80 to L. Barry, " Limitations in 1980 Travel Funds"
i PURPOSE The ACRS Fellowship Program was established by Congress:
"To assist the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards in carrying out its functions, the Committee shall establish a fellowship program under which persons having appropriate engineering or scientific expertise are assigned particular tasks relating to the functions of the Committee."
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ATTACHMENT 1
COMPLETED WORK MAJOR REPORTS Event Tree Analysis of TMI-2, RS, DB Events Licensee Event Report Study Comparative Risk Assessment NRC Safety Research Program and Report to Congress B&W Sensitivity Report Low Level Waste Disposal Feed and Bleed Reactor Fluid Systems INDIVIDUAL REPORTS Clad Ballooning 1979 LER Study Comments on Regulatory Guidcs Action Plan German Reactors Comparison Hydrogen Generation and Containment Mathematical Aspects of Risk Assessment Nuclear Data Link Various Metting Summaries About 100 ino;vidual reports have been written Future Reports j
Electrical Interaction Study Crystal River-II Analysis BWR High Pressure ECCS Probabilistic Analysis Decay Heat Removal Systens Safety and Control Grade Electrical Systems Risk Assessment and Risk Acceptance Criteria Research Budget and Report to Congress Recommendations were included in ACRS, letters.
In progress.
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'The Follows have assisted the ACRS by 1) briefing individual members on key safety issues 2) participating in subcommittee meetings 3) assisting in the fonnulation of ACRS letters and recomendations The Fellows can be of greater value to the ACRS by 1) presenting the Fellows' work formally to the Commission, the Staff, and to the public without necessarily having ACRS endorsement 2) using the Fellows to evaluate independently of the Staff, significant safety issues (e.g., ATWS, containment inerting, risk, etc.)
3) increasing the personal contact between the Fellow, the sponsoring Member, and the Members of the Committee in general Administrative Goals 1)
Adopt appropriate policies for a) re-appointment after one year b) evaluation of performance c) pay raises d) conversion to NRC's staff (including ACRS) e)
publication of work in outside journals and presentations at professional meetings f) initial orientation and settlement (both professionally and personally) 2)
Transfer of Fellowship Program from the Administrative side of the ACRS Office to the Technical side of the ACRS Office.
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o Difference from an Academic Fellowship Program a) an ACRS. Fellow's work is separate from any advanced degree research b) an ACRS Fellow works on many projects and for more than one member c) an ACRS Fellow's working time is structured to the needs of the ACRS d) an ACRS Fellow receives little direct day-to-day supervision e) for some Fellows, this is a* first career position and requires extra attention Recommendation for the Short Term 1)
Evaluate a Fellow's performance within 1 month prior re-appointment 2)
If the evaluation is satisfactory reappoint the Fellow 3)
G, rant a grade increase in salary (e.g., from GS-12 to GS-13) on rb-appointmen t i
April 23,1980:MWL:bjw t
Proposal for Reorganization and Establishment of New Functions i
background:
It is expected that, at most, 2 new technical positions will be made In addition, by reassigning available to the ACRS Staff beginning in FY "81.
some functions the Engineering Aide position, previously held by Jean Al so,
Robinette, can be converted to a professional engineering position.
imminent) and the the current vacancy in Branch #1 will be filled (this is three fellowship positions assigned to Project Review will also be filled by late June,1930.
The Project Review Organization will then be:
1 Management 2
Supervisory 5
Secretarial Prof. Engineering (FT P) 11*
3 Fellows This assumes the formation of a pos5 tion for the full-time coordination of the activities of those Fellows assigned to work primarily with
- NOTE:
ACRS members, which would reduce the PR org by one.
ATTACHMENT 2,
A.
Proposed Functional Organization A Branch will be established to deal with operating reactors and licensing actions (including the preparation of periodic summary reports of,g[1, incoming Category B items).
It will consist of a Branch Chief and 6 Engineers, assigned as follows:
2 GE Reactors Westinghouse Reactors 2
B&W Reactors 1
1 CE Reactors 6
This group would also be responsible for Committee activities in connection with evaluation of LERs, Requests and Retommendations and Reactor Operations.
The remaining 8 professional staff ( 5 permanent, full-time; 3 Fellows) would be assigned as follows:
(assignment would include preparation of periodic status reports covering areas assigned, handling all Subcommittee Meetings in In the event of a conflict, Branch Chief, areas assigned, etc.
The existing standing and ad hoc Sub-etc. could cover meeting.
committee functional assignments have been divided in some cases) 1.
Concrete and Concrete Structures Metal Components Spent Fuel Storage and Design (structural)
Safeguards and Security (structural) 2.
ECCS ATWS Fluid Dynamics Combination of Dynamic Loads 3.
Reactor Fuel i
Core Performance Spent Fuel Storage and Design (physics) l
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4.
Power and Electrical Systems Plant Arrangements Fire Protection Safeguards and Security (dedicated shutdown / cooling, separation, other design features) 5.
Radiobiological Effects and Site Evaluation Extreme External Phenomena Transportation of Radioactive Materials
- Reactor Safety Research (include LOFT reactor) 6.
Improved Safety Systems Advanced Reactors Generic Items (Include Task Action Plans for dealing with Generic Items)
Regulatory Activities 7.
Waste Management Enrichment Plants 8.
Reliability and Probabilistic Assessment Consideration of Class 9 Accidents Single - Failure Criterion
)
While this scheme could offer the advantage of detailed follow-up and l
increased expertise in specific areas which were hoped for from the Committee's initial request for an addition to Staff of 10 full-time permanent personnel, it also has several potential pitfalls, as it would now have to be implemented.
Foremost is the fact that it does not allow for any increase in secretarial support within the office, although the additional professional personnel will The burden on the project review secretarial certainly require such support.
i staff can probably be made manageable by a change in the format of Subcommittee meeting minutes to something more nearly like the meeting summaries which are While they might require some currently being prepared following each meeting.
This would not include the primary responsibility for coordination of That responsibility would remain with cNOTE: the Annual Report to Congress.
Dr. McCreless in his role as the Coordinator of Fellows' activity.
4 amplification in certain areas, they can certainly be made to meet the require-ments of the FACA; it remains to be decided whether they would also meet the needs of the Committee members in that streamlined form. Other expedients which could be used are increased use of CRESS and of copying facilities outside of the ACRS office for bulk copying jobs.
Both of these carry with them penalties in terms of an increase in the time required to complete any given job.
Also, a substantial fraction of the personnel of the " Generic" Branch, In being Fellows, may be in a less than-fully-effective stance at any time.
addition, by the nature of its work, it will require increased supervision and coordination, at least early in its life. This could require a Branch Chief /Section Leader supervisory scheme, which could further reduce the efficiency of the Branch.
Finally, it may not prove possible to do the work of the " Reactors" Branch with the structure outlined.
Based on the latest MPS output, the ACRS Staff is currently expending more than 6 man-years of effort per year in this activity; it is expected, however, that increased efficiencies will be possible by increasing specialization.
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