ML20024H936

Submits Info Re June 1989 NSAC-125, Guidelines for 10CFR50.59 Safety Evaluations

ML20024H936
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/25/1993
From:	Grimes B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Tipton T NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE (FORMERLY NUCLEAR MGMT &
References
FACA, NUDOCS 9308300234
Download: ML20024H936 (3)

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UNITED STATES gy lj NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION w

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 June 25,1993 Mr. Thomas E. Tipton, Vice-President and Director Operations, Management, and Support Services Division Nuclear Management and Resources Council 1776 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 300 Washington, D.C.

20006-2496

SUBJECT:

NSAC-125, " GUIDELINES FOR 10 CFR 50.59 SAFETY EVALUATIONS,"

JUNE 1989 In June 1989, NUMARC issued NSAC-125 for industry trial use. After two years, both industry and NRC commented on NSAC-125 with the anticipation that the comments would be incorporated into a revision which would be considered for endorsement by the NRC staff. However, in the NUMARC letter of November 12, 1991, from W. J. Hall to C. E. Rossi, NRC, NUMARC concluded that NSAC-125 should not be revised at that time, but that the comments would be addressed in workshops.

In the NRC letter of December 26, 1991 from C. E. Rossi to W. J. Hall, the NRC staff indicated that it would further consider NSAC-125 and would be pleased to participate in workshops.

In the interim, the NRC staff has continued to evaluate industry use of NSAC-125 and to consider an NRC endorsement.

The NRC staff has observed that many licensees have improved the quality of their 10 CFR 50.59 safety evaluations over the past few years.

We believe that industry use of NSAC-125 has been one of the significant contributors to this improved quality. However, because some of the guidelines in NSAC-125 go beyond the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59, we do not believe the guidelines are appropriate for endorsement as regulatory guidance.

We encourage you to continue with your plans to hold workshops to address issues raised by comments from the industry and NRC staff as a result of the experience they gained from using NSAC-125.

For your information, we have enclosed a copy of a recent addition to the NRC Inspection Manual, Inspection Procedure 37001, "10 CFR 50.59 Safety Evaluation Program," dated December 29, 1992. This inspection guidance contains no new staff positions; g } p) 7 LWNO NRC RE CENTHI CSP! x d / "2 4N M.

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Mr. Thomas E. Tipton June 25, 1993 however, we would be glad to answer questions about the guidance.

Please coordinate your workshop plans with Craig Harbuck of my staff; he can be reached at 301-504-3140.

Sincerely, p'

w Brian K. Grimes, rector Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Enclosure:

As stated

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Mr. Thomas E. Tipton June 25,1993 however, we would be glad to answer questions about the guidance.

Please coordinate your workshop plans with Craig Harbuck of my staff; he can be reached at 301-504-3140.

Sincerely, Original ki ne 59 i

Nn K. Grimes ~

Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Enclosure:

As stated DISTRIBUTION: w/o enclosure TEMurley Central Files DORS R/F FJMiraglia PDR CERossi JGPartlow OTSB R/F BABoger BKGrimes GHMarcus CIGrimes AEchaffee RHLo SAVarga FMReinhart JWRoe CCHarbuck SATreby - OGC JLieberman - OE ELJordan - AEOD SHWeiss DOCUMENT NAME:

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• See previous concurrence OTSB: DORS OTSB: DORS C:0TSB: DORS C:0GCB: DORS Tech Editor DJ S JRR CCHarbuck* FMReinhart* CIGrimes*

GHMarcus*

RSanders*

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wAssincTou. o. c. rosss June 25,1993 t

i Mr. Thomas E. Tipton, Vice-President and Director Operations, Management, and Support Services Division 1

Nuclear Management and Resources Council 1776 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 300 Washington, D.C.

20006-2496

Dear Mr. Tipton:

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SUBJECT:

NSAC-125, " GUIDELINES FOR 10 CFR 50.59 SAFETY EVALUATIONS,"

JUNE 1989 i

1 In June 1989, NUMARC issued NSAC-125 for industry trial use. After two years, both industry and NRC commented on NSAC-125 with the anticipation.

that the comments would be incorporated into a revision which would be i

considered for endorsement by the NRC staff. However,.in the NUMARC letter-of November-12, 1991, from W. J. Hall to C. E. Rossi, NRC, NUMARC concluded that NSAC-125 should not be revised at that time, but that the comments would be addressed in workshops.

In the NRC letter of December 26, 1991 from C. E. Rossi to W. J. Hall, the NRC staff indicated that it would further -

consider NSAC-125 and would be pleased to participate in workshops.

In the

-interim, the NRC staff has continued to evaluate industry use of. NSAC-125 and r

to consider an NRC endorsement.

I The NRC staff has observed that many licensees have improved the quality of l

their 10 CFR 50.59 safety evaluations over the past few years. We believe that industry use of NSAC-125 has been one of the significant_ contributors to i

this improved quality. However, because some of the guidelines in NSAC-125 go beyond the requirements of 10 CFR 50.59, we do not believe the guidelines are

.l appropriate for endorsement as regulatory guidance.

We encourage you to continue with your plans to hold workshops to address issues raised by comments from the industry and NRC staff as a-result of the 4

experience they gained from using NSAC-125.

For your information, we have

-i enclosed a copy of a recent addition to the NRC Inspection Manual, Inspection i

Procedure 37001, "10 CFR 50.59 Safety Evaluation Program," dated December 29, 1992..This inspection guidance contains no new staff positions; i

i r

h

O m

w

/

Mr. Thomas E. Tipton June 25, 1993 however, we would be glad to answa: questions about the guidance.

Please coordinate your workshop plans with Craig Harbuck of my staff; he can be reached at 301-504-3140.

Sincerely,

%~

Brian K. Grimes, rector Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Enclcsure: As stated

O Mr. Thomas E. Tipton June 25,1993 however, we would be glad to answer questions about the guidance.

Please coordinate your workshop plans with Craig Harbuck of my staff; he can be reached at 301-504-3140.

Sincerely, OTI inal Eign&d Ef E

Brian K. Crimes Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Enclosure:

As stated DISTRIBUTION: w/o enclosure TEMurley Central Files DORS R/F FJMiraglia PDR CERossi JGPartlow OTSB R/F BABoger BKGrimes GHMarcos CIGrimes AEChaffee RHLo SAVarga FMReinhart JWRoe CCHarbuck SATreby - OGC JLieberman - OE ELJordan - AE0D SHWeiss DOCUMENT NAME: C:\\FMR\\LTRNSAC2.FMR

• See previous concurrence OTSB: DORS OTSB: DORS C:0TSB: DORS C:0GCB: DORS Tech Editor D[ S r4RR CCHarbuck* FMReinhart* CIGrimes*

GHMarcus*

RSanders*

$3ri.es 04/02 04/02/9 04/02/93 04/05/93 04/29/93 0//75793 sd ADThRR ADP:NRR\\

WTRussell JgPartloh 05/g/93 Opq) /93 G

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