ML20056H200
| ML20056H200 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/24/1993 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Mccain J SENATE |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9309080372 | |
| Download: ML20056H200 (6) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20 2 5-0001 g se j August 24, 1993 The Honorable John McCain United States Senate l
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator McCain:
I am responding to your letter of July 9,1993, in which you forwarded a letter from Mr. David Matthews of Tempe, Arizona, regarding Thermo-Lag fire
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barriers. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is pursuing technical and regulatory issues pertaining to the use of Thermo-Lag fire barriers in commercial nuclear power plants.
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The need to ensure the long-term adequacy of Thermo-Lag fire barriers is a serious issue. The NRC staff understands the safety and technical issues and has established action plans to address each issue. We have issued guidance 1
and generic information to the industry, sponsored tests at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and reviewed.in detail the information i
submitted by licensees with Thermo-Lag installed in their plants.
j The NRC assessed the safety significance of the Thermo-Lag issues and ensured that compensatory measures have been taken by the utilities to maintain plant safety and protect the public health and safety until the deficiencies are corrected. Compensatory measures, such as fire watches, provide a level of
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safety equivalent to that provided by fire barriers which meet NRC fire protection regulations. The NRC also recognizes that testing criteria are needed to determine if the standards are met. Upon reviewing the test methods and acceptance criteria used by licensees, vendors, and testing facilities to qualify Thermo-Lag fire barriers, the NRC determined that the existing NRC guidance for qualification testing needed clarification. On July 23, 1993, the NRC published the revised guidance in the Federal Reaister for public comments. We are confident that the proposed criteria will enable us to better assess the current capabilities of Thermo-Lag as installed in plants throughout the industry.
The Nuclear Management and Research Council (NUMARC) is conducting additional Thermo-Lag fire bam ~;r tests on behalf of the industry. The NRC staff reviewed the test program proposed by NUMARC, witnessed initial construction activities, and will continue to closely monitor all phases of the program.
The NRC staff and the industry will use the results of these tests to assess further corrective actions, which may range from upgrades and repairs of current barriers to replacement of some barriers.
Recent plant-specific tests performed by two licensees, Texas Utilities Electric Company and Tennessee Valley Authority, have demonstrated that Thermo-Lag fire barriers can be configured and upgraded to meet the NRC fire protection requirements.
I 9309080372 930824 f5 g
PDR-ORG NE E
The Honorable John McCain l The NRC Chairman and Commissioners appeared before the Congressional Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on March 3, 1993. Thermo-Lag issues, as they relate to safety in i'
commercial nuclear power plants, were discussed in detail during the hearing.
Reports on the progress of NRC and industry actions to resolve these issues have been and will be submitted quarterly to the Subcommittee.
The NRC staff and industry continue to devote significant amounts of resources and attention to the resolution of the Thermo-Lag issues. The Commission places high priority on the timely resolution of_these issues.
The staff has determined that the compensatory measures taken by licensees are adequate for the immediate future, and therefore that the use of Thermo-Lag does not pose an immediate threat to public health and safety. The Commission will continue to take all actions necessary to ensure that the public health and safety are l
protected.
l Sincerely, l
l an f c
ames M. Taylor
'I d
xecutive Director for_0perations i
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s August 24, 1993 The Honorable John McCain The NRC Chairman and Commissioners recently appeared before the Congressional Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Thermo-Lag issues, as they relate to safety in commercial nuclear power plants, were discussed in detail during the hearing.
Reports on the progress of NRC and industry actions to resolve these issues will be submitted quarterly to the Subcommittee.
The NRC staff and industry continue to devote significant amounts of resources and attention to the resolution of the Thermo-Lag issues.
The Commission places high priority on the timely resolution of these issues.
The staff has determined that the compensatory measures taken by licensees are adequate for the immediate future, and therefore that the use of Thermo-Lag does not pose an immediate threat to public health and safety. The Commission will continue to take all actions necessary to ensure that the public health and safety are protected.
Sincerely, Onginal signed by jycr m.-h3 t
James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations DISTRIBUTION Central File KBohrer (GT 0009210)
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Department of Energy I
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JUL 2 8-1993 7
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The Honorabl John McCain l
United Sta s Senate l
Washington' D.C.
20510 l
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Dear Senator McCain:
i This will acknowledge your recent letter in which you referred a' letter from -
f your constituent:
l David Matthews r
Because the subject of your constituent's' letter does not fall within the purview of the Department of Energy,' we have forwarded your letter to:
k Joseph J. Fouchard l
Director Office cf Public Affairs Nucient Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Sincerely,
.I
./ ?W7W g,; q 'g<? f,f, Bonnie Betancourt Director of Special Projects Office of the Executive Secretariat l
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JOHN McCAEN an.
?JCnifeb Sfales Senafe W ASHINGTON O C.
1051D l
July 9, 1993 Ms.
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Ann Cecchetti Ofc. of Congressional Affairs U.S. Department of Energy Forrestal Building, Rm. #7B138 l
1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C.
20585
Dear Ann:
I have enclosed an inquiry which I have received from David Matthews of Tempe, Arizona.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would reviev this material and provide me with a prompt response addressing this issue.
PLEASE MARK THE ENVELOPE TO THE ATTENTION OF:
Walter Lohman l
in my Washington office, 111 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C.
20510.
Thank you very much for your kind assistance and cooperation.
Sincerely,
.vCain 4.
United States Senator JM/wl Enclosure 1
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