ML20044B768
| ML20044B768 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/23/1993 |
| From: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Kress T, Lewis H, Wilkins J Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20044B769 | List: |
| References | |
| ACRS-GENERAL, NUDOCS 9303040103 | |
| Download: ML20044B768 (2) | |
Text
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vi UNITED STATES
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. jj i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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g February 23, 1993 CHAIRMAN Dr. Harold W. Lewis Dr. Thomas S. Kress Dr. J. Ernest Wilkins Members, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Drs. Lewis,
Kress, and Wilkins:
On behalf of the Commission, I am responding to your letter of December 11, 1992, in which you commented on the staff's regulatory program plan for digital instrumentation and control (I&C) systems in nuclear plants. The Commission shares the view that the staff should take advantage of a broad range of expert opinion in formulating policy on the safety of digital I&C systems. The staff has informed the Commission that they will sponsor a workshop this year involving both domestic and international experts from a number of industries, including nuclear, aerospace, defense, and telecommunications. The workshop will focus on digital systems and software reliability related to nuclear safety, including issues such as verification and validation techniques, fault avoidance techniques, and functionally diverse designs.
As planning for the workshop proceeds, the staff is obtaining suggestions for the program from internationally recognized people in this field.
The staff has benefited from the advice from industry experts involved with computer system reliability and will continue to interact with experts in both the nuclear and other industries.
In July 1992, the staff and the contractor held a workshop with an expert panel consisting of Bev Littlewood, City University, London; Nancy Leveson, University of California; John Rushby, Stanford Research Institute; and Ricky Butler, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to discuss the development of highly reliable software.
In addition to the planned workshop, the staff plans to conduct a session on the regulatory aspects of digital systems during the May 1993 Regulatory Information Conference. The staff will also hold further discussions
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9 9303040103 9'3d223 PDR COMMS NRCC i
i CORRESPONDENCE PDR I
. f with NASA and the Department of Defense to resolve digital system design issues, particularly issues related to electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference (EMI/RFI).
We appreciate your comments and welcome your continued advice in this area.
Sincerely, (w
E Ivan Selin 4
._