ML20132B194
| ML20132B194 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/19/1982 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20132B198 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-85-363 NUDOCS 8204020112 | |
| Download: ML20132B194 (4) | |
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UNITED sTATEf' e"
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MEMORANDUMh0R:Chajrman Palladino FROK:.
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations 1
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
.0F MEETING HELD AT USGS bn March 1,1982, Harold Denton, Jim Knight and I met with Dallas Peck, Director, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and members of his staff.
I requested this meeting in a letter of December 14 1981 to Dr. Peck for the purpose of discussing the continutng need for review assistance from the USGS and' to assure continued coordination of r'eview schedules necessary to meet plant licensing requirements. A list of attendees k-is attached.
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The interaction between NRC and USGS continues to be effective.
Con-duct of : cciaprehensive safety review requires input from USGS' research in.both specific site and regional ma.tters as wel.1 as topical issues such as earthquake hazard estimation. Close coordination between the USGS and NRC staffs assure that pertinent information flowing frem
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USGS research programs is brought into NRC safety e. aluations in a timely
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v fashion. The particularly rapid development'of information in the area g.
of strong ground motion that has occurred in the past few years has made this coordination all the more necessary.
Better understanding of the geologic basis for certain eastern seismic events such as the New Madr'id and Charleston earthquake has been gained through USGS research. The geological process occurring in the New' Madrid region is now considered to be well understood. We spent considerable tim ~e on the Charleston issue. The geologic features related to the Charleston, So'uth Carolina event under current hypoth-esis may not be unique to the Charleston area. The cumulative displace-ments over geologic time are small on these features.
In light of todaf's-knowledge, it may not be appropriate to fix a single location for the Charleston event but to express the probability, albeit low, of such an earthquake occurring anywhere in a large region. Probabilistic charac-terizations may also be more appropriate for some western sites of complex geology such as the Hanford, Washington area. The USGS and NRC staffs j will work closely on these developments to assure effective communication.
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Cha.irman Palladino -
March 19,1982
$ther parts of interest resulting frcm the meeting included:
- A briefing on the proposed safety goals for nuclear power plants
.would be useful as one means of assisting communication between the USGS and NRC staffs with r.egard to the evaluation and use of probabilistic methods in seismic hazard and safety evaluation.
This briefing will be arranged at the earliest opportunity.
- Probabilistic characterization of seismic activity may appear to conflict with the approach of Appendix-A to 10 CFR 100. The l
need for revision of Appendix A is well recognized and is planned
N to st&t when NRC staff resources are available. USGS assistance in this effort will help assure the application of best available technology.
" The use of peak "g" values is inappropriate for setting design
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seismic input because there is little, if any, correlation to damage. Cooperative efforts between USGS, NRC and.the National Science Foundation in the field of engineering seismol.ogy are desirable and could lead. to the development of appropriate conservative yet rational design input param~eters.
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- Continued NRC support for the state geologic agencies is desirable, particularly in light of reductions in the USGS budget for funding seismic instrument networks.' Seismic. networks in the. region of several operating plants have provided the information necessary,
for. timely and accurate interpretation of actual ground motion by both the NRC staff and the state agencies during recent small earthquakes.
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Finally, Dr.' Peck and Jim Devine stressed a point that they wished us' to bring to the Ast.B Panel's attention. The duration and scope of the NRC hearing process often makes USGS planning for NRC assistance difficult.
In some cases, the Hearing Boards have been issuing subpoenas directly to individual USGS staff. members.~These individuals, many times, have been pursuing research that is on the fringes of generally accepted geologic f
.or seismic science and do not represent USGS position. Dr. Peck emphasized that'the Boards should attempt to use proper channels and procedures when seeking USGS views. He recognizes and respects the right of intervenors to seek out and subpoena USGS individuals to support.a particular position
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l Cha.irman Palladino
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March 19,1982 staked out in a case but he felt that if the Boards wanted official USGS positions, they should useacifepted chabnels that exist through-the Director's office.
I have discussed this with Tony Cotter and provided him with the contact po, int at USGS.-
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William J. Dircks f.i '
Executive Director
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. Enclosure l.ist of attendees ~
CC: Comissioner Gilinsky
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Commissioner Ahearne
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Comissioner Roberts SECY
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OGC OPE l5 HRDenton/NRR BPCotter/ASt.BP RBMinogue/RES
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Distribution WJDircks/ED0 EKCornell/ DEDO TARehm/A0 00 EDO R/F
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.es e ATTENDEES NRC/USGS MEETING - MARCH 1,1982
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.NRC
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W. Dircks, Executive Director for Operations.
H. Denton, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation J. Knight, Assistant Director for Components & Structures Engineering
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D. Peck, Director, USGS '
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D. Frederick,* Associate ' Dir'ector, USGS
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J. Devine, Assistant Director'for Engineering Geology
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'R.' Hamilton, Ch,ief Geologist s'.
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