ML20035D937
| ML20035D937 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/19/1993 |
| From: | Shewmon P NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| ACRS-SL-0401, ACRS-SL-401, NUDOCS 9304140133 | |
| Download: ML20035D937 (8) | |
Text
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'o UNITED STATES I
~g SL-0401 NUCLEAR SEGULATORY COMMISSION o
[MN O
WASHINGTON D.C.20555 January 19, 1993 P
f The Honorable Ivan Selin Chairman t
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
[
Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Chairman Selin:
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
REPORT - THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY SECOND MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS, DECEMBER 9-11, 1992, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE l
During its 392nd meeting, December 9-11,
- 1992, the' Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) discussed several matters l
and completet.i the following reports and memoranda:
j Reports i
e NRC Staff Response to the Petition Submitted by Richard Grill for Rulemakina on Electrical Transients. PRM-50-56 (Report to Ivan Selin, NRC Chairman, from Paul Shewmon, ACRS Chairman, dated December 17, 1992) f i
e Resolution - of Generic Safety' Issue B-56.
" Diesel Generator Reliability" (Report to Ivan Selin, NRC Chairman, from Paul l
Shewmon, ACRS Chairman, dated December 18, 1992) l Memoranda I
e Task Action Plan for Generic Issue I.D.3.
" Safety System l
Status Monitorina" (Memorandum for Warren Minners, Director, i
Division of Safety Issue Resolution, Office of Nuclear Recrulatory
- Research, from Raymond F.
- Fraley, Executive i
Director, ACR3, dated December 18, 1992)
{
i e
Proposed Amendments to 10 CFR Parts 50 and 52 Related to the l
Trainina and Oualification of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel l
(Memorandum for James M.
- Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from Raymond F. Fraley, Executive Director, ACRS, dated December 18, 1992) e Proposed Final Amendment to 10 CFR Part 72 To Add Two Spent Fuel Storace Casks to the List in 10 CFR 72.214 (Memorandum for Eric S. Beckjord, Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, from Raymond F.
Fraley, Executive Director, ACRS, dated December 18, 1992) 130140 mm l
9304140133 930409 l
PDR ACRS SL-0401 PDR co;.m g py
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e Proposed Modifications to Fitness-For-Duty Program Reauirements (Memorandum for James M.
- Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from Raymond F.
Fraley, Executive Director, ACRS, dated December 22, 1992) j e
Apoointment of ACRS Members (Memorandum for Ivan Selin, NRC Chairman, from Raymond F.
Fraley, Executive Director, ACRS, i
dated December 16, 1992)
HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.
Station Blackout Rule Representatives of the NRC staff and industry discussed the staff's proposed amendment to the station blackout rule on diesel generator reliability.
The Committee prepared a report on this matter to you, as noted above.
In addition, the Committee directed Mr. Fraley to send a letter to Mr. Alex Marion, NUMARC, requesting that Mr., Marion clarify some information that he had sent to the Committee.
2.
Technical Specification Improvement Program The NRC staff gave its periodic briefing on the status of the Technical Specification Improvement Program.
It discucsed activities pertaining to this program that had occurred since the last Committee briefing on this matter in December 1991.
This was an information briefing only.
No Committee action was taken.
3.-
Advanced Boilina Wacer Reactor Desian Mr. Michelson, Chairman of the Advanced Boiling Water Reactors Subcommittee, briefed the Committee on the status of the Subcommittee's review of this matter.
The Committee is ready to complete its review as soon ns the work of the staff and General Electric Company (GE) is reasonably complete and the staff ar.d GE are ready to support the required meetings.
Mr.
Micnelson noted that it is the GE ABWR Subcommittee's view that the remaining chapters of the Final Safety Evaluation Report and other items that are needed by the Subcommittee must be reasonably completed and provided to the Committee during the March 1993 ACRS meeting so that the Committec can issue its final report in June 1993.
No Committee action was taken.
i i
3 j
4.
River Bend Nuclear Plant Reliability Monitorina Procram l
1 l
Representatives of Gulf States Utilities briefed the Committee l
on their River Bend Nuclear Plant Reliability Monitoring Program.
A pilot System Reliability Program was started in 1988 to optimize the maintenance program on the feedwater system.
A probabilistic risk assessment analysis and cost study were performed, showing how changes in the feedwater system affect reliability and availability.
Management was pleased with the results and added more systems to the pilot program (presently 24 systems are included in the program).
l This was an information briefing only.
No Committee action was taken.
j 5.
Protection Acainst Lichtnina and Electrical Transients for j
Nuclear Power Plants The NRC staff discussed a petition _ submitted by Mr. Richard Grill for rulemaking on electrical transients, requesting that it issue regulations requiring licensees to take measures to protect their plants from the adverse effects of lightning and other electrical transients. The staff's conclusion, after an analysis of the need for further regulations in this area, was 3
that the petition should be denied.
i The staff also described its plan to produce a regulatory 3
guide on electromagnetic interference. In addition, it stated I
that it was' reconsidering the need for a regulatory guide on lightning protection.
l The Committee provided a report to you on this matter, as noted above.
\\
6.
Election of ACRS Officers i
i Results of the election of Committee officers for Calendar l
Year 1993 are as follows:
}
l Chairman - Dr. Shewmon (Note:
The ACRS Bylaws require that another election be held within two months of the time that Dr.-Shewmon's term expires on May 31, 1993, to elect a new Chairman.)
Vice Chairman - Dr. Wilkins l
Member-at-Large - Mr. Carroll i
^
j 4
l 7.
Generic Safety Issue-120. "Online Testability of Protection Systems" The NRC staff discussed the proposed resolution for Generic Safety Issue 120 (GSI-120).
It has recommended closure of GSI-120, indicating that it is satisfied that licensed plants have testing programs.
'l i
The Committee was not satisfied with the information provided and asked the staff to discuss further several itens relating to this matter at the January ACRS meeting.
i This matter was completed during the ACRS meeting on January l
7-8, 1993.
i 8.
Activities of ACRS Subcommittee and Members i
e Report of ACES Plannina and - Procedures Subcommittee i
Meetina on December 9,1992 - The. discussions during the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee meeting on December 9,
1992, were summarized, including discussion of the impact of ACRS budget and staff resources on Committee j
work and the qualifications of candidates nominated for appointment to the ACRS.
p i
e Report on the NRC Senior Manacement Meetino on the Orcanizational Factors Research Procram - Mr. Carroll
[
reported on the NRC Senior Management meeting on November l
12, 1992, on the status of the RES Organizational Factors Research Program, noting that this program is being terminated.
The Committee agreed to schedule a briefing on the prooram for the meeting on February 11-13, 1993.
l 1
9.
Future ACRS Activities i
The following activities were scheduled for the 393rd ACRS j
meeting, January 7-9, 1993.
t t
t Performance Indicator Report - The NRC staff will brief
]
e the Committee on proposed revisions to the NRC performance indicator report.
A discussion will follow.
d Representatives of the nuclear industry will participate, as appropriate.
i e
Kev Policy Issues for Advanced Reactor Desians The Committee will review and report on key policy issues i
applicable to MHTGR, PIUS, PRISM, and CANDU 3 advanced I
reactor designs. Representatives of the nuclear industry
[
will participate, as appropriate.
l
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l 5
e deplacement of Analoa Instrumentation with Dioital Instrumentation - The NRC staff will brief the Committee on its proposed generic letter on the replacement of analog instrumentation with digital instrumentation in operating plants.
A discussion will follow.
Representatives of the nuclear industry will participate, as appropriate.
Annual Report to the U.
S.
Conaress on the NRC Safety Research Procram and Budaet - The Committee will discuss its annual report to Congress on the NRC safety research program and budget.
e Reactor Operatina Experience - The NRC staff will brief the Committee on reactor operating events and occurrences, including an incident at the Barseback Nuclear Plant in Sweden, which involved the dislodging of thermal insulation material inside the containment, resulting in partial clogging of two of five emergency core cooling system strainers. A discussion will follow.
Representatives of the nuclGar industry will participate, as appropriate.
ACRS Subcommittee Activities - The Committee will hear and discuss reports of designated subcommittees regarding the status of assigned activities, including the conduct of ACRS business by the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee.
The NRC staff will participate, as appropriate.
Future ACRS Activities The Committee will discuss topics proposed for consideration by the full Committee.
e Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and Recommendations The Committee will discuss replies from the NRC staff regarding staff reaction to recent recommendations of the Committee.
e Generic Issue 120, "Online Tectability of Protection Systems" - The Committee will comple.te its review of and report on the proposed resolution of this generic issue.
Representatives of the NRC staff and the nuclear industry will participate, as appropriate.
NRC Procedures for Incident Investination - che Committee e
will discuss an NRC staff proposal for changing the existing procedures for the NRC investigation of incidents at licensed facilities.
The NRC staff will participate, as appropriate, liiscellaneous - The Committee will discuss miscellaneous e
matters related to the conduct of Committee activities
J 6
and complete its discussion of topics that were not completed during previous meetings as time and availability of information permit.
10.
Appointment of New Members The Committee directed Mr. Fraley to send a memorandum to you nominating three candidates for consideration, as noted above.
11.
seetina with the Director.
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Mr. Eric S.
Beckjord, Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, briefed the Committee on the status of RES efforts.
Topics discussed by Mr. Beckjord included:
accomplishments and plans e
research priorities e
severe accident issues for advanced light-water reactors e
Organizational Factors Research Program e
international research programs o
Discussion on the details of the RES budget was deferred because of lack of time.
This was an information briefing only.
No Committee action was taken.
12.
Meeting with NRC Commissioners The Committee met with the Commission and discussed the following matters:
e the status of ACRS review of advanced reactor designs, including design acceptance c_'iteria and inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria digital control and protection systems e
the transition to risk-based regulation e
implementation of the license renewal rule e
In a staff requirements memorandum to Dr. Paul Shewmon, dated December 24, 1992, Mr. Samuel Chilk notes that the Commission would like the Committee to consider how the maintenance rule might be used as a means to address the activities required of licensees by the license renewal rule, so that the maii tenance program would sunolant much of the component-by-component analysis expected as a result of the license renewal rule, i
l
7 13.
Uparade of ACRS Conference Room Several of the ACRS staff members discussed the current proposal for the layout and the auf.lo/ visual and computer support facilities in the ACRS/ACNW spaces and conference rooms at the new Two White Flint North facility that the Committee expects to occupy in late 1993 or early 1994.
14.
Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and Recommendations A letter from Mr. James Taylor dated December 2, 1992, that responded to the Committee's report of October 16, 1992, on SECY-92-287,
" Form and Content for a Design Certification Rule," was scheduled for Committee discussion at this meeting.
However, because there was not enough time, this matter was not discussed but was rescheduled for the January 1993 ACRS meeting.
15.
Miscellaneous e
computers in Nuclear Power Plant Operations - Dr. Lewis discussed the need for a workshop to be held by the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering to discuss the relationship between digital systems reliabil(ty and nuclear safety.
The Committee discussed a proposed letter but did not endorse it.
Drs. Lewis, Kress, and Wilkins did send a personal letter on this matter to you, dated December 11, 1992.
16.
Preparation of Other ACRS Memoranda In addition to those matters discussed with representatives of the NRC staff and industry during this meeting, the members discussed and completed the following memoranda:
Safety System Status Monitoring - The Committee directed e
Raymond F. Fraley to send a memorandum to Warren Minners, Director, Division of Safety Issue Resolution, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, as noted above.
The Committee decided not to review the Task Action Plan for Generic Issue I.D.3,
" Safety System Status Monitoring."
e Trainina and Oualification of Nuclear Power Plant Personnel - The Committee directed Raymond F.
Fraley to send a memorandum to James M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, as noted above.
The Committee decided not to review the final version of the proposed amendments.
Spent Fuel Storace Casks - The Committee directed Raymond e
F.
Fraley to send a memorandum to Eric S.
- Beckjord, l
1 1
8 Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, as noted above.
The Committee decided not to review the proposed final amendment to 10 CFR Part 72.
Fitness-for-Duty Procram - The Committee directed Raymond e
F.
Fraley to send a memorandum to James M.
- Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, as noted above.
The Committee decided not to review the proposed modifications to fitness-for-duty program requirements that are intended to reduce the random testing rate for licensee employees.
17.
Su_bcommittee Meetinas During the period between the November 5-7 and the December 9-11, 1992 ACRS meetings, the following Subcommittee meetings were held:
Advanced Boilina Water Reactors - November 19-20, 1992 e
The Subcommittee continued its review of the Draft Final Safety Evaluation Repw L for the GE ABWR design and other residual issues.
Plannina and Procedures - December 9, 1992 The Subcommittee discussed proposed ACRS activities, practices, and procedures for conducting Committee
- business, and related matters.
Qualifications of candidates nominated for appointment to the ACRS were also discussed.
Sincerely,
\\a Paul Shewmon Chairman