ML20039C824
| ML20039C824 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/11/1981 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUREG-BR-0031, NUREG-BR-0031-V01N50, NUREG-BR-31, NUREG-BR-31-V1N50, NUDOCS 8112300280 | |
| Download: ML20039C824 (11) | |
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NUREG/BR-0031 Vol.1, No.so l
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Weekly News Summary l
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This Summary is Circulated Weekly for General Information of NRC Staff t
WEEK ENDinG December 11, 1981
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OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS
SUMMARY
DECEMBER 7, 1981 1
1 In an editorial this morning, the New York Times says:
"Mr. Palladino is evidently as committed to nuclear energy as anyone. Just as evidently, he appears committed to doing it right. His frank expression of dismay at what he has seen may not endear him to those he chides. But it will gain for his cannission the credibility it needs if it is to guide the industry out of the slough of despond that stretches from Three Mile Island to Diablo Canyon." 12/6.
WASHINGTON--Proposed OMB cuts in the Department of Energy's budget for the next fiscal year a
include shifting much of the cost of researching a permanent solution for " storing nuclear wastes" to the nation's utilities. Reportedly, COE has been given 30 days to draft a i
legislative proposal which would accomplish this goal. Funds for a second-generation breeder reactor also would be eliminated. The Washington Post, 12/5.
WASHINGTON--The vulnerability of non-safety grade control systems in nuclear power plants to failures caused by, among other things, fire or earthquakes is of growing concern to Failure some members of the NRC staff and the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
of such systems could lead to overcooling transients which, in turn, could crack an older, embrittled pressure vessel. The New York Times, 12/6.
The ALBUQUERQUE, NM--A test shaft sunk in a salt bed in New Mexico has encountered water.
find casts doubts on the suitability of the site for disposing of low-level radioactive wastes generated in the nation's military programs. The New York Times, 12/6.
SAN CLEMENTE, CA--The community of San Clemente is seeking part of the $12.6 million in property taxes paid by the San Onofre nuclear power plant. Currently, the taxes are paid to San Diego county and to taxing bodies in the county. The New Yo k Times, 12/7.
NEW YORK--San Antonio, Texas, City Public Services is "'under special surveillance'" by Standard and Poor's Corporation for possible credit rating changes. San Antonio's 28 percent share in the South Texas nuclear facility was cited as the reason for the special watch. The Wall Street Journal,12/7.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON--Directors of Washington Public Power Supply System have postponed plans to sell bonds to finance continued construction of three nuclear plants. The sale will be postponed until plans are formalized for "mothballing" two other units currently under construction. The Wall Street Journal,12/7.
OTTAWA, CANADA--Eldorado Nuclear Ltd. will close its uranium mine at Beaverlodge Lake in Saskatchewan in June because of declining concentrations of ore. The Wall Street Journal, 12/7.
GOLFECH, FRANCE--The French government--which during the election campaign called for reconsidering nuclear power--has ordered construction to begin on six new power reactors in the next two years. Sources say the decision reflects a hard look at the country's energy needs and fears that delaying the nuclear p ogram would increase unemployment.
The Washington Post, 12/7.
OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS
SUMMARY
DECEMBER 8, 1981 WASHINGTON--Excerpts from Chairman Palladino's remarks at the Atomic Industrial Forum meeting in San Francisco last week form the basis for an "op-ed" piece in this morning's Washington Post- " Cleaning Up Our Nuclear Act."
12/8.
The city of Austin, Texas, still is looking for a buyer for its 16 percent interest in the South Texas nuc?cte project. However, Houston Lighting and Power reports it doesn't have the flexibility to pick up additional capacity. Another partner, the city of 1
'us Christi, Texas, doesn't want to increase its participation and the city of San Ari s io doesn't either. Austin has retained a Michigan law firm to represent its i
interests in the matter. The Wall Street Journal, 12/8.
WASHINGTON--Energy Secretary Edwards has appealed to the President to restore about $1 billion in budget cuts proposed by the OMB. He asked for more money for breeder development, for plutonium research at the Barnwell, South Carolina, facility and for The lashington Post, 12/8.
nuclear safety work.
j The Chinese mission to the United Nations has refuted reports that China was the source of a shipment of enriched uranium for South Africa's nuclear program. The Washington Post,12/8.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN--Western intelligence sources now believe Pakistan is in a position to detonate an atomic device as early as the end of 1982. Previously, Pakistan was believed to be some two years away from any nuclear explosion. The Washington Post, 12/8.
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OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS
SUMMARY
DECEMBER 10, 1981 1
PARSIPPANY, NJ--General Public Utilities said Metropolitan Edison plans to seek $50.5 million annually as " extraordinary rate relief" to avoid deterioration of customer service and to help insure that GPU's banks would continue to advance money to the utility.
Wall Street Journal,12/10.
SYDNEY--The Australian Council of Trade Unions voted to temporarily lift a ban on handling exports of nuclear fuel. The lifting of the ban will be considered again at the council's February meeting. Wall Street Journal,12/10.
TOKY0--Protesters clashed with riot police in a third day of demonstrations against a proposed nuclear power plant near Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido. New York Times, 12/10.
A New York City law that requires the installation of smoke detectors in an estimated two million apartments by January I has elicited complaints from some owners and an endless stream of questions. An aide in-the Mayor's office, who is coordinating the effort, said "we've been getting calls at a rate of about 200 a day." New York Times,-12/10.
Secretary of Energy Edwards meets with President Reagan today to ask for restoration of
$920 million in 1983 budget cuts proposed by the Office of Management and Budget.
Secretary Edwards said he earlier had asked OMB to restore $279 million for nuclear-waste-handling pilot projects and $203 million for conventional nuclear research and the Clinch River Breeder Reactor. Washington Post, 12/10.
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0FFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS
SUMMARY
DECEMBER 11, 1981 KING OF PRUSSIA, PA--The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has proposed a $40,000 fine against Consolidated Edison for not protecting workers from radiation at Indian Point 3.
A Con Ed spokesman said the company would pay the fine and that it already had taken steps to prevent a recurrence. New York Times, Wall Street Journal, 12/11.
MEXIC0 CITv--Representatives of firms from five nations--the U.S., France, Canada, Sweden and Vast Germany--have entered the race to supply reactors for Mexico's plan 3
to build a chain of 20 nuclear power plants across the country. The value of the new nuclear energy plan is put at $25 billion. Washington Post, 12/11.
Business prospects of companies engaged in maintenance and modification of nuclear power plants has brightened. An official of Ebasco Services said that since the accident at 4
Three Mile Island, the NRC "has come out with a laundry list of you-gottas, you-oughtas and you-betters that has turned the maintenance and modification business into a multibillion-dollar industry." Wall Street Journal, 12/11.
A group of senators on a Governmental Affairs subcommittee charged that the Reagan Administration is promoting a lopsided energy program favoring nuclear power and is acting illegally to drastically cut the conservation program of the Department of s ing to have to forget conservation Energy. Senator Percy said the administration is o
cuts of 97% or "we are going to have s bloody battle." Washington Post, 12/11.
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[ %e m-UNITED STATES j
!.Wf.i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISS!ON W ' /!
Office of Public Affairs
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Washington, D.C.
20555 i
NUREG/BR-0G12
_Vol. t, No. 4s WEEK ENDING ofcfmfR s, nai 2
NEWS RELEASES v
No.81-201 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The NRC is seeking comments on the Draf: Envirenmental Tel.
301/49;-7715 Ikednesday, December 2, 1981)
Statement from Federal and state agenc6es as well as interested members of the public. After consideration of the comments, a rinal invironmental Statement will be issue 9 which will NRC STAFT PROPOSES $$0,000 pf NALTY AQ:NST CP(L contain a staf f ccnclusion as to whether, and under what IOR ALLEGfD VIOLATION AT ROBINSON PLANT conditions from the standpoint of environmental effects, an operating license shoulJ be issued.
The Nuclear Regula tory Comnsission sta f f has proposed a comeents on the statement are due by January 18, 1982 I50,000 civil penalty against Carolina Power & Light Company and should be sent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, for alleged violation of hRC radiation protection requirements washington, D.C.
20555 Attention: Director Division of at the company's H.
- 8. Robin on nuclear plant near Hartsville, Licensing.
Copies of the Draft Statement, designated NUREr.0848, NRC's enforcement action was taken because of alleged will be available for public inspection at the,NRC Public overeuposures to an employee on August it. 1981, and because Document Room, 1717 H Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C., and of the company's alleged fatture t.o follow revised radiation the liockford Public Library, 215 N.
nyman Str'eet.
Single protection procedures established after CP6L was fined for copies may be obtaineJ by writing to the Nuclear Regulatory similar violations an May of 1981.
Commission, Washington, D.C.,
20555, Attention: Director, Technical Information and Document Control.
In a letter to the company, Richard DeYoung, Pirector of the hRC Of fice of Inspection and Inforcement, said a special inspection on August 25-26 of this year also found that CP6L was using a raJtation control technician who lacked the minimum emperience level required by the plant's license.
No.
81 201 10R bfMrDI ATE RFLEASE Tel.
301/492 7715 (Friday, December 4, 1981)
"hhile the magnitude of the radiation dose received by the caplovce only slightly exceeded the regulatory limit in this instance," PeVoung salJ in his letter, "we are con-NRC ADOPTS FINAL RUlf ON HYDPOCI N CONTROL FOR N'JCLE AR
<erncJ that, notwithstaaling the previous civil penalty for POWER RfACTCRS a similar problem, you did not adequately evaluate radiological conditions, establish effective protective measures, and implement applicable plant procedures.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is amending its regulations to trprove methods of controlling hydrogen DeYoung sa1J the base proposed penalty of $40,000 was generated during nuclear power reactor accidents.
increased to $50,000 because CPr.L "could have reasonably been espected to have taken effective preventive measures" The accident at Three Mile island 2 in March 1979 af ter the inc id en t in May, resulted in the release of raJioactive material to the coolant system and the generation of hydrogen f rom fuel James P. O'Reilly, Administrator of the NRC's Region !!
cladding + water reaction well in excess of amounts required office in Atlanta, said the special August 25-26 inspection to be assumed for reactor design purposes.
was conduc ted af ter CTEL notified the regional of fice of the overemposure. He also said that no discernibles aJverse As part of its response to thst accident, the NBC has health effect to the employee is espected as the result of initiated a long-term rulemaking proceeding to determine to the exposure, what citent nuclear power reactors should be designed to deal effectively with damaged and melted fuel accidents.
CP4L has 30 JJVs to pay the fine or to protest it, in In the interim, the Commission has determined that whole or in part.
changes covered by this rule are of such safety significance that they should be implemented pending completion of the see long-term rulemaking.
Consequently, the Commission has set out specific hyJrogen cont rol requirement s in a f f pFRAL REGISTER notice Na, 81 202 10R IMMIDIATI RFil ACl.
published on Deeceber 2 tel.
kt/442 Mli (Fridae, Desecher 4,
1981)
The new rules, which amend Part 50 of NRC regulations, require that:
NFC IN5Ul5 DR AFT LWlROWrNTAL ST4flMI NT ON l
BYRON MCLIAR STATION IN ILLINGIS effective May 4, 1982, or six months af ter initial criticality, an inerted atmosrhere fremoril of oxygen) be providc3 for boiling water reactors having Mark i or !!
Co**l s% ion staff has assued a i, on t a inmen t s to protect against hydrogen burning and en-The % clear Regulatc v i
Draft inviron-ental Statement en the environment al cmsiders-plosions during accidents involving the generation of largt tions associated with the application cf Commonwealth Fdison amounts of hydrogen.
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C"ranv for licenses to operate the two-unit Byron nuclear by the end of the first scheduled outare after July statten in Ogle County, Illinois-5, IM2, nuclear power reactors whic h rely on ve ting have l
either anternal recombiners or the ripab'tity to install I
The sonstrustion permits for the station were issocJ in esternal hydrocen rec abiners, so that means other than Dece=her 19'5.
Commorwealth FJi un is building the station ing w au t lable f o r b d.rmn c a t rol.
about l' miles southwest of Rockford, Illinois, rach unit c uld use a pressurared water reactor with an elec t ric al by the end of the first schedulcJ outare after July generating capacity of about 1,120 megawatts cath' 1, 1982. all nuelcar power reac tors be provided with high-u,W h n u m c M ant mtm ad reacm Although a full environmental assesseent wis made pin unt s nssel ca s.
. e sents wm W te n W elv muted b W before t he c on s t ruc t ion permits were issued, W regulations control room and would provide m erattensi capability, when require a se(end assessaent at the operating Incense staec neelcJ. to enhance core cooling under accident conditions by l
of the licensing process to co. sider any informatten which entang noncondensible gases.
is ne. or different from that considered at the tonstruction permit stage as well as the license conJitions and enytren-Th mMe s u n puhlished in proposed form on mental protection plan under which the plant should be October., D90.
operated.
see
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- 1-JCl i ct f wvl DI11r af LF Att Tel.
301/492 11 (MonJay, pec,*be r ',198 3)
Astb SLl%tili C Ap rofv t trcluPip le IN pepir m, Maa LAso t
IN DI ABlD (WON s.UCLL AR PL t%f FRNFLDlW the prestJing stoelc $4f et a and I trensing Poa rJ has sc heduled a conf erence of counsel en Pacember !? in Betheeds, l'a r k t a D J, in the \\uslear kegulatere emissioP p r oc eeJ 6 Mg on Pa c i fi c Cat ard flestrir ro*-any*.Dia:la Can on *uclear
,.t: cation for nperating lic e nse t for l' nits I ar l ef the fouer riant locat*J near san luts obispa, talifernia.
a the conference mill ierin at 9 r" a.m. on PedecaJay, Des ce+e r 16, in t he W Put. l s r alca r ing h om. *th floor, tant nest fewe,s kullding, 4 Slo fast nest Pf i s h. s v, PethesJa.
At the conf erente the ttrerming en4rJ will turther consider toant Inter enoes revised totitent6% <n envern-montal qualific at ion of safety relateJ eiertetral roie.pment and allt heat di stin s ton on ans pertanent Je s e t opawn t s regarding ot>cr sententions.
ftoint lis t e r v e nai s a nt iuJe san i
luts Ohsspo Motl1ers for Peace, M enet Shaletine Pfeiervaiton
)
fonfers.m *, Inc., lioleyv At t n on a le h, innJra Nilver, CorJon i
Sliver, lliteheth Apf elberg, and 8chn J.
totstrr.)
l Ihe i SCef6 sing Peard consis t s of f > s-f a l l s,e l nr 44 mints-l trative Judges:
1sThn I, halt, tsq., s. l e n te D.
Preght, and Dr. Jerry e. 516ne.
Mr. malf, a ereher of the fiistract of Colummia Bar, as (hairman at the RasrJ.
fuJec Brtrht, an ensincer, and Judge Fline, an cnwtrenmental ulentist, are full time AJm6ntstrative Judges on the Nkt Atomic %sfety and Licensing Board Panel.
ene No.
81 in6 ing l yMi pl a g t pllFAsl Tel.
301/492.??ll (Monday. December 7, 1981) hl(C PilBLisifl % 44tf M LVAICA!!ON OF P%ld VIRDE hUC Lf AR t.I NL RAT!hG ST AllON IN AalIGNA The Nucicar #cgulatory (omanssnon staff has published the results et les safety reviem of t he applic a t ion sub-mitteJ by Artsons Puhlis Servite iompany for latenses to 1
operate the Palo Verife Nuclear Generettna Statton, Units I, 2 and 3 in Attrona.
Each unit =Lil use a p.e uuritcJ water reactor and prowlJe a net elec t ric als out patt of shout 1t04 megawatts enth.
Artsnna Public %erv4;e is t-u l lJ 6 n g the plants in Maricopa (nunty, shout 16 miles mest of Phoents. Construction peretts were issued in May 1976.
The Safety ivaluation Peport ( sl a) for Pale berde i.
summarites t he restalt s to date of the NRC staf f technic al evaluation of t he plant. Based on the evaluatton, the staff concludes that, subjett to favorable resolution of a number of outstanding items ident ified in t he tePort, and a fsading by the Of fice of Inspection and Inforcement that the plant has been sattsfactornly rempleted, the plant can be operated without undue risks to t he public health and safety.
the sa fet y aspec t s of t he plant are reviencJ by the inJependent AJytsory (ommittee en Drae tor Saf eguards (ACR5).
The advice of the ACh4 as well as resolution of the nut-standing matters f or which the staf f review has not ret been complet ed util t e adJressed on supplement s to the
'.l R.
Copies of the 5IR will be asallable for public in-spection at the het Public Doc umen t Room, 1717 11 Street, N,W., Washington, D.C.
and the Phoenia Public Library, Sciense and Industry 5ertion, 12 West M( Dowell Road, Phoemia.
The report, destensted NUulG-04%?, wall he available for purehate at current rates at the National Technic al Informa-4 tion Service, Springfield, Virglnta 22161 or from the CPO l
$ ales Program Division of Technical Informatloe and Document Cont rol, Nuc lear Regula tory Commission, Washington, D.C.
20555.
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SPEECHES 1
Mi-8 4 *81 FOR !*IDIATI RELEA$g Second, is the pressing need to make sense-.in terms of Tel. 301/493 7715 utablishing priorities and realistic schedules--out of the mass of requirescats imposed on the nuclear industry or l'
backlogged la the aftermath of the Three Mile Island accident.
j we must also make sure that future regulatory requirements are worth doing in terms of safety. A major reorganization Remarks by i
Nunzio J. palladino. Chairman within NRC has recently taken place in an effort to meet U. f. Nuclear Regulatory Commission these needs.
at the Atomic Industrial Forum Annual Conference 1981 Third. is the matter of streamlining the reactor licensing San Francisco. California process for the long term, beginning with the near ters December 1. 1981 steps we are taking to try to make this possible. I want to i
3 take advantage of previous studies and proceed to is.plement streamlining features already well recogni ud as potentially NUCLEAR REGUI.ATORY REFORM effective. I have established an internal NRC task force to take the first steps toward achieving these goals.
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Fourth, is the concern I feel about the slow progress Good morning. 1.adies and Centlemen. I am Pleased to in nuclear waste management, and aise in the cleanu of Thesearesituationswhichsimpfymust I
speak to you to4ay about nuclear regulatory reform.
Three Mile Island.
I want to talk about regulatory reform as it involves l
h the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the nuclear The fifth these involves the development of tools for ustry. I will discuss actions we have taken and tan to more effective management of our regulatory efforts. A key ta so t t nuclear regulation can work to the net enefit to regulatory reform is that the regulatory body operate j
o on.
I w!!1 be talking about some of the major along clearly defined lines. guided by specific goals and ssues we, and you, have to deal with at this point in time.
priorities. My associatmens with the NRC staff have convinced a that they are t W oughly c a petent and conscientious.
Before I address specific actions and issues, however This staff can do the job if there is leadership and clear I want to make a point of fundamental and critical importance*
policy guidance from the top level of management. My personal j
goal as Chairman of the NRC is to provide that leadership.
l Regulatory reform is not..! re est is not" reform of the regulatory autheitty only. It avobesindustryaswell*
Sixth is the role of industry. As I have already Regulatory reform cuts both ways. It has to if $t is going stated, the NRC alone cannot carry the burden of regulatory to succeed, When we in regulation have done everything we reform. The industry must bear its share of the weight, can to expedite our processes, remove needless regulatory burdens, and widen our perspective to account for all the War Tna peactor hnsing Chalbngn ef fects of our decisions, only half the battle, or less than half will be won. The rest involves you.
1.et me turn now to my first named themes preventing a possible near-term reactor licensing legjam.
If the nuclear industry does not de its part. no amount of regulatory reform will save it from the consequences of If plants are completed on the dates now projected by its own failures to achieve the quality of construction and their owners, the Commission will be faced with waking final plant operations it must have for its own well-being and for decisions on applications for as many as 33 full power the safety of the public it serves.
operatsng licenses by the end of 1983. TLis would represent.
Based on quality assurance failures that have recently as I said before, an unprecedented rate of licensing activity i
come to light. I am not convinced that all of the industry for the NRC.
Even if schedules for some plants slip, as has been doing its part.
they have a way of doing, the NRC would be faced with a challenging licensing load.
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Safety From Quality Assurance We have taken Steps to meet this challenging schedule l
Some utilities fall short of protecting their own best while at the sane time ensuring that each application receives interests and meeting the high star.dards expected for nuclear a careful, professional review. The increased pace will not.
power. Ilnfortunately, the poor performers are the ones who b3 allowed to force the licensing of hearing staffs into impact most adverselv en the safety and credtbility of the Performing cursory reviews.
l industry. Thwir deficiencies in quality assurance are t
inescusable.
An area that has proved a very time. consuming phase of q
the licensing review is emergency preparedness. It is a i
There have been lapses of many kinds-*in design anairs,s complex and difficult task for all concerned. It has become resulting in built in design errors; in poor construction' a potentially serious source of delay.
1 practices; in falsified documents; in harassment of quality l'nder an arrangement existing since early 19so, the NRC control personnel; and in inadequate trats.ing of reactor works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in operators, deciding on the adequacy of emergency preparedness for a Finding problems may imp 1r good inspection but not nuclear facility. I have met with the Director of FEMA.
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necessarily good quality. Quality cannot be inspected into and our staffs are working together to map out the full a plant. It must be built into the plant. All of you. I an dimensions of the problem and find a way to deal with it.
proposals for alleviating potential schedule delays from sure, would say that you know this, but the practices at some plants do not confirm that the importance of this principle emergency preparedness are now before the Commission for 3
action.
is always well understood. These practices must change if true regulatory reform is to take place.
On the whole. I feet we can deal successfully with the i
Refers must be a joint undertaking by both the regulators kinds of complications we can now foresee. Our licensing and those being regulated. Certainly, we in regulation can staff has been mobilized for many months to bring down the i
do our job better than before. and we are trying to do that, backlog of impacted plants. So far they have had good But regulation alone cannot assure good plants; industry plays success. The Commission also charged the hearing boards to the major role, he, as regulators can only prevent inadequate take firm hold of the hearirgs and keep them moving. I hope plants from being built or from operating, and we will not this step will also be successful.
I shy away from doing that. Whatever changes reform will bring.
We intend to continue to search for innovative solutions l
the paramount mission of the NRC remains the protection of the health and safety of the public. It is your mission to when sources of delay can be identified. Nuclear regulation butid the olants well and operate them property so nuclear simply cannot beccee a procedural bottleneck to the Nation's ability to bring new sources of energy on line, especially power can be provided safety, those ready to come on line in the near future.
i I.et me now turn tot Cettleg Cont rol of Requirements e'
specifie aerulatory Actions and Issues My second specific theme is the vital business of in a talk earlier this year. 1 identifieJ five themes that getting the imposition of new requirements under control.
require implementation if regulatory reform is to be achieved.
To these, based on my foregoing comments. I have added a sixth.
I have no doubt that nuclear power plants are safer now It is these six themes that I want to discuss with you and than they were before the TM1 accident. NRC requirements report on now. In all six areas action is already under and inspections, as well as industry initiatives, have had way, but in each area more must'be done.
a great deal to do with that.
But I also believe that our safety priorities have not been made clear, and that our The first theme involves the potential for a near term demands on licensee resources have sometimes been excessive reactor licensing togjam and our efforts, within the NRC, to and ill. coordinated. The licensees maintain, with seme review license applications at an unprecedented pace in the Justification 1 believe, that the sheer volume of new safety
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next two years, require,ents const a tutes a sa fety concern in itself.
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- th a rayer recrgannastica was l';le ented within grinding to a talt beca25e cf ;ach of fi.:ds is, a..te s; tFe agen:e practsely te bring a5 cat the needed refore in this unacceptable. ! Srpe that the recent int:1stives Of th area-de haVe Creat,*} a Ceeeric Detairements Feries CC" !ttee ITelldent, the fdisca flectric Institute, 451 Cther.
17h to ett as a focal twint fit centrelling the 1stsan:e of both the beginning of a *:re deter *!ned cc*-it e.? to tra nn.
nem r epa i r em en t s a id t a c k f:t t in g req ai r ea'en t s to be placci of Three Mlle Island, on e asting nuclear plants.
It will also erable us to focue cut after.ticri en wa+: to espedite tre precessteg of bacblogged Tols f"r " n a a f 17 Feh ata Iffert.
l licensing actions, ti set praorities among regatrerents ac "rding in their reat demenstrable safety signifacance, and As a fifth s #;ect, I war.t te discu<s cer:itt m c rt -
to IJentsfy those which can be deferred er droppel entirely, related te actisaties within the V C t'ei ira c' -
1ame valuable in the setting of priaraties e ressier e-f' aa '
't intend to sherMn &ar re wiremer.ts, redr:e them to clarifying the purpcse Schint tiet.
a e ntoakle sets, and estotlasb reaun.dle tiectahles fe-tiplementation.
In return w-expect a full and prerpt
,ne of these at the for=ulation of 2-cveral' *ifttv W 11ae,ee 'n the licensees. Jmt a*
the regulater s*rsqd goal f o r nu: lea r c; era t ions.
1he prctect 15 u 4*' t t ia th asaid unnecenar/ dees tJ s on licens es, so a s t the licensee undertaktec, regairn.g a p a i r s t a k a n t; eva it.t in avoid a wrer f ic ial cmaplianc e t hat falls short of the i n t et.d e d viens cf a great m t r.d t v i d u a l s udt r o n::atte.n hat sn:rement in safety takes tee, bu* the benefit tc ut and to lier **." i well Ja te cc rs.1 pe lt., s tm i d t e m.nsi: i P lc t rea* t ie t y tha ftreneinL ~prm ess~~~
Given recent prigress.ithin MJ in artt;alatinc i sitet.
goal, f sense tta! me c a r, na see the l i r *. t at tte md cf I want rm to take up mv third there, ene mhnch is really t he t urne l for this e r.d e av o r.
4 Levstene of regulatory reform--streamlining of the lic en s t r g Ancther factor that I hope can brinc new crder tc g
gic,:ess, reculatory reqaareeents is pr # ats t1 L u t ic risk a r csrent. It it na-been w ite i while sin (c.e as re Niators stecd is a developing area, rut e r.
f ull '. pot ential usc fulnes s back and teok a lcng hard lack at the way nuclear power Pcth for weighing risks against cne another and for defining plants are lacensed. htth that reall ation, as indicated achieved safety levels.
I believe ap;Itcation of the earlter, we have establashed a task force at t!.e NRC to methodology -for tsaeple, in connection.ith steps we are cylore ways to undertake a bas;. overha'21 of the process.
tahing to cvatrol reautrements--can 40 a great ceal to 1 am not talking here about another study of ways to imprave dispel the murkiness that surreands so wir reculaterv licensing.
We have had enoJah stadies. We naed action.
decastens.
Just to give voa at indication of the direction of our it is essential that we brara an terreved Inct of thlaking, let me mentien one step licensing. One ster logst, discipline and clarity to the identificatarn of risk licensing, when accompanied by standardtaation and early and the attendant reauirements. lhese tools -the stfety siting, :t-e r i t s t he mos t serious censideration. It makes goal and probabilistic risk assesweent -will, as they devetep, good sense to move as many issacs as possible forward to the help make that possible.
construction permit stage for thorough revici before design and construction commitments are made.
To eake this work.
Consistent with the logne me seek in a safety goal ar4d applicant. will have to submit essentially final designs at in risk assessment. I t elieve we must review the priority the wtset.
StanJardlaatton by permittint attention to a for the development cf a new siting rule.
htthout belahariu limited set e T de* 1gns cot.1d f acilitate tais process-the subject, I than) we are proceedi g on it in a way thtt is the reverse of what logic would dictate.
Without estensive standardization of entire plant systems, one-step Itcensing may (ifer no adiantages in tiec Rather than rushing to develop a new siting rule now, I saved since applicants an each case would nave to submit at believe that we ought to first develer a safety goal and the outset designs much closer to completion than they now also gain a better understanding of the source term.
Better do.
Standardization would also facilitate high quality con-understanding of the source term--that is, the types and structaon and safe operation of specific plant designs.
amounts of radioactivity that might be dispersed in natious nuclear accident scenarios--is important because recent pre-he will be giving attention to modifying other aspects itstnary studies suggest that less radioactivity may be of streamlining the process, such as NRC's role in need for-dispersed than was once generally believeJ.
pewer determinations, anti-trust considerations, and alterns-tives to the adjudicatory hearing format.
I will not try to Finallv, consistent with the nueter ene priority to elaborate on the various options now.
We will give consideration make sure that nuclear plants are eparated saf ely, a subject to t he whole spect ru's, including the certification of designs of particular importance is operating experience. I rcier and sites as well as possible measures to control additaonal
.pe;;ifically to assuring that all concerned learn the lessons requirements after designs are approved-that only emperience can teach.
Nuclear haste Disposal and Three '4tle Island he are giving the operating emperience of licensed reactor facilities closer surveillince than ever before, and for the fourth topic, I want to raise some concerns I bope pou are doing the ssme.
This scrutiny should help that lie somewhat outside the specific realm of reactor both the NRC and the industry see precursors that signal licensing but are certainly not unrelated to it.
problems before they become serious. In that way changes to our requirements, as well as to ycar procedures and equipment, One of these concerns is waste management, especially can be focused on areas that have a direct and empirically high-level waste management. The developent and demonstration determined safety pavoff, of a high level waste repository is, of course, a task in the hands of the Department of Energy, or its successor-In stdition, what I would like to see develop as a The MtC ha s licensarg responsibilities for the facility result of our emphasis on operating experience is a pervasive eventually proposed, and we want to be of assistance to DOE diagnostic skill at every level of plant operations. Plant in the test and evaluation steps leading to a final repository.
managers and supervisors, as well as operators, should be able to diagnose and deal with off normal conditions. The The ARC staff has wo r k e s, diligently over the past abilit y to do that with skill and speed is the product of seseral years, on its own and with DOE officials, to acquire emperience. It is an inpertant angredient for safety.
the expertise and estabitsh the procedural and technical requirements from which to make the necessary licensing decisions. We will continue to consudt wit h DOE ~ moving ledustry's Dole in Regulatory R e fo rm forwarJ wi h them in the chosen direction and, if necessary, at an accelerated pace.
My sixth and final topic r? turns to you.
Indastry has the key role in the construction and safe operation of nuclear power plants. Public h=alth and safety considerations I welcome the recent initiatives of the Congress to as well as economic imperatives dictate use of the higtsest relieve the uncertainty surroundint the long untesolved profusional standa ds in NMng and gnatN a n u
spent fuel and waste ransgement questions. This uncertainty ant.
Whn unstruction or pat bn Ws Ma t e fighest undermines the confidence of the general public, the utilities, standards, the entire industry is hurt.
and financial institutions in the viability of nuclear Power.
During my first five months as NRC Chairman, a number of deficiencies at some plants have come to my attention e
Neat, I hope that the Cosusission can begin to pick up w-hich show a surprising lack of professionalism in the the pace of its cwn proceeding to determine, as required by construction and preparation for operation of nuclear facili the courts, whether it has confidence that radioactive waste The responsibility for such deficiencies rests marely ties.
ccn be disposed of safely and in a timely manner.
on the shoulders of management. Avoidance and correction of 0
such deficiencies in turn can ccee about only from effective It is also important to me--and, I hope, to all of attention of management in all organizations involved-you to see some real progress soon in developing the means utilities as well as their contractors.
to finance and carry out an expeditious and complete cleanup cf Three Mile Island, Unit 2.
Conditions persisting on that I don't mean to absolve the NRC of its portien of site since tha accident took place can only be regarded as very serious. Most disturbing is the uncertainty about the responsibility at all.
(In a sense, every deficiency t ;n' is identified or that finds its way into a plaat or its availability of resources to continue and complete the job operation can be viewed as an NRC failure as well as an of decontaminativn. Progress has been agonisingiv slow thus far.
The prospect of its becoming slower still, or even industry failure.)
4
I intend that NRC esamine regulatory policies toward quality assurance. The industry would also do well to catmine its managerial policies toward quality assurance (QA). One can ask a number of quettions about management attention to QA, but the most important is, does senior canagement back up the QA staff in a way that lett everyone concerned understand that it means business?
! suggest that, just as all utilities have certified independent financial audits of their fiscal activities, so should they have certified independent performance audits of their QA a:tivities. This may b2 an activity on which thPO, the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations, can provide help, if utilities don't do these audits themselves, we may have to require them.
J Some utilities and their contractors are well managed and adhere to high standards for construction and operation of their nuclear facilities, but some is not enough. The g
good performers cannot afford to let the poor performer
- jeopardine public safety and undermine public confidence in the industry.
A New Dialogue In closing, let me offer you an invitation.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, like the nuclear industry, has come through a stormy period since the Three Mile Island accident. It has been a period of searching analysis, fact-finding, and inevitably -fault-finding. The industry and -he NRC have suf fered a loss of credibility that can only be regained over time.
I believe that credibility will be regained if the future brings safe and economic nuclear power along with elimination of shoddy workmanship and poor practices. But that kind of stable nuclear operation is not the result of actions that can be taken only by the regulator, or only by the licensee. It is time now to move to a shared understanding of what has to be done.
We in regulation are trying to get our act together.
We need and want the well considered input of the industry in our planning. You in industry need to grab hold firmly i
of those aspects of your operation that are in troubt s, and straighten them out.
so I invite and welcome you to a new recognition that we hoth have some hard work ahead of us to solve our respective probices. An all out effort for reform on both our parts will confirm our common interest in our nation's future and the crucial role of nuclear energy in that future.
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