ML20134K811
| ML20134K811 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/15/1996 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Diaz N, Dicus G, Shirley Ann Jackson, Mcgaffigan E, Rogers K, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20007D155 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9611200041 | |
| Download: ML20134K811 (3) | |
Text
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' 1" NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 7
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 4001 4- o 9*****y November 15, 1996 i MEMORANDUM T0: The Chairman Commissioner Rogers Commissioner Dicus
! Commissioner Diaz
- Commissioner McGaffigan
, FROM: James M. Taylor Executive Direc r-for 0 erations
SUBJECT:
REPORT ON THE S ATUS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUAllFICATION TASK ACTION PLAN ( TS ITEM 9300107)
The purpose of this memorandum is to update the Commission on the status of I the Environmental Qualification Task Action Pian (EQ-TAP), to communicate j insights obtained from the August 1996 public meeting on' EQ, to discuss the differences in EQ requirements for older and newer nuclear plants, to describe future staff activities regarding condition monitoring (CM) of EQ equipment,
, and to provide a schedule of future EQ-TAP activities that reflects the i transfer of the EQ function to the Division of Engineering (DE) of the Office
- of Nuclear Reactor Regulatian (NRR). The EQ-TAP was established to evaluate i and resolve existing environmental qualification concerns and to identify and
, resolve any other EQ issues that may exist. In a staff requirements
- memorandum of June 28, 1993, the Commission directed the staff to treat i
' environmental qualification of electric equipment as a potential safety issue within the existing regulatory process for operating reactors and to periodically inform the Commission of the staff's efforts. The last EQ-TAP update was issued on August 22, 1996.
Attachment 1 is a report on the status of the EQ-TAP. The report discusses completed actions, continuing actions, .ind schedular changes. The followina paragraphs provide a .nmary of EQ-TAP activities since the last update.
On August 6-7, 1996, the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) sponsored a public meeting to discuss the results of NUREG/CR-6384, " Literature Review of Environmental Qualification of Safety-Related Electric Cables," Vols. I and 2. During the meeting, industry representatives committed to provide additional the 19 outstanding data andtechnical industry issues reportsthat thatthe they believe staff will resolve is currently several evaluating as of v @/
part of the EQ-TAP cable research program. RF.S is working with industry to obtain the data and reports so that they can be evaluated.
The staff continues to make progress in the cable research program (EQ-TAP l Item 7). RES continues to interact with licensees and industry groups to (
obtain aged and unaged cables that are representative of those in use at i nuclear power plants. Baseline testing of the cable samples obtained to date l CONTACT: C. Gratton Ok 301-415-1055 y.ei Ab' 'f)'/'~
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began in May 1996. Accelerated aging of the cable samples will begin in Novembei 1996 and will continue for several weeks. Loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) testing will begin in January 1997. If industry provides additional data and reports as a result of the public meeting 6.scussed above, the scope of the cable test program may be modified. Results from the cable testing program are expected in fiscal years 1997 and 1998.
I Attachment 2 is a discussion of the staff's findings regarding the differences
, in EQ requirements between older and newer plants. While the staff recognizes that the methodology and requirements imposed on licensees differ according to the original licensing requirements of the plant, the staff concluded that actions taken by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and licensees since the implementation of the EQ rule and the margins inherent in the qualification process itself ensure an acceptable level of safety independent of which qualification requirement was implemented. The staff believes, however, that because of uncertainties in predicting age-related degradation, condition monitoring (i.e., an inservice inspection program) provides the simplest and most effective approach to escring environmental qualification for the license renewal term. For the same reason, the staff believes that it would be prudent to establish some form of condition monitoring in the current licensing term as an alternative to sole reliance on EQ testing. In the interim, based on the results of the EQ-TAP to date, the staff does not believe there is a significant safety concern that requires immediate regulatory action.
On May 12, 1996, an NRR reorganization transferred the equipment qualification function from Plant Systems Branch (SPLB) to the Electrical Engineering Branch (EELB). EELB has worked closely with SPLB staff since May to minimize the impact of the reorganization on EQ issues. H1 wever, the responsibility for managemerit of the EQ-TAP and the preparation o' this report has remained within SPLB. Over the next several months, SPL3 will work to close out certain items in the EQ-TAP and transfer the ren.aining open items to RES for J resolution. RES responsibilities will include can'inuing the ongoing investigation of promising condition monitoring teceniques.
4 The staff will update the Commission on its progress ic completing the EQ-TAP i,
actions, and inform the Commission of any significant f'ndings and of any obstacles to the timely completion of the actions descriced in the 4
attachments.
I Attachments: cc: SECY, OGC, OCA, OPA i 1. Status Report on the Environmental 4
Qualification Task Action Plan
- 2. Differences Between EQ Requirements for
- Older and Newer Plants
- See Attached Concurrence Sheets SPLB:BC* AD:DE* D:DSSA* AADT:NRR* AD :tRR D:NR LBMarsh GLainas GHolahan BSheron AThadani FMipgli a 11/04/96 11/04/96 11/04/96 11/05/96 // /f/96 g/(f/96 Tech Ed.* RES* DEDO FKleene DMorrison JMilhoan T y or 11/03/96 11/05/96 / /96 / [(j 96