ML20024E992
| ML20024E992 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/31/1983 |
| From: | Fehringer D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Bell M NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| REF-WM-1 NUDOCS 8309080076 | |
| Download: ML20024E992 (2) | |
Text
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AUG 311983 Ds i ti n 3406.3.3/DJF/83/08/30/0 j
WMHL r/f NMSS r/f REBrowning MEMORANDUM FOR:
Michael J. Bell, Chief DJFehringer & r/f l
High-Level Waste Licensing nNn"g Management Branch us Division of Waste Management e s R
FROM:
Daniel J. Fehringer High-Level Waste Licensing Management Branch Division of Waste Management
SUBJECT:
TRIP REPORT - EPA SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING - JUNE 23 AND 24, 1983 The Risk Assessment and Engineering subgroups met in San Francisco June 23 and 24 to discuss the technical basis for EPA's propsosed HLW standard.
The Engineering subgroup completed its session in the early afternoon of the 23rd, about the time I arrived, so I have nothing to report on their meeting.
The Risk Assessment subgroup (primarily Larry White and Jack Parry) heard presentations by EPA staff and DOE contractors. The EPA staff presentations described the supporting analyses for the standard and EPA's intent regarding implementation of the standard.
The DOE contractors primarily argued that the release limits of the standard are too low, both because of overly conservative supporting analyses by EPA and by comparison with other risks experienced by society.
I talked for about 10 minutes on the NRC's opposition to numerical probability definitions in the standard.
I tried to make two major points:
The NRC is not oppcsed to numerical probability estimates as one of the bases for evaluating the likelihood of disruptive events, and plans to use numerical estimates to the extent that available data will permit.
The NRC considers that qualitative definitions would more appropriately match the qualitative and judgmental nature of the data and analyses which will be used to determine event WM Record File WM Project
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3406.3.3/DJF/83/08/30/0 AUG 311983 probabilities. Many events (especially human-induced) cannot be predicted by known laws of physics, and therefore judgment will be required.
A licensing board might be able to agree that such events are " reasonably foreseeable" er "very unlikely" even though the 4
board was unable to determine a numerical probability value.
While R. Budnitz and M. Okrent seemed to understand the NRC position, they also seemed to be sticking to the view that numbers give the designer a target to design for, and that the value of this target' affects any problems in demonstrating compliance during a licensing 4
review.
Daniel J. Fehringer High-Level Waste Licensing
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Management Branch Division of Waste Management i
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NAME :DJFehringer:lmc 8/,3{/83 DATE :
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