ML20137P478
| ML20137P478 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/26/1985 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Boehlert S HOUSE OF REP., SCIENCE, SPACE & TECHNOLOGY (FORMERLY |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8602050138 | |
| Download: ML20137P478 (8) | |
Text
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The Honorable Sherwood Boehlert Ranking Republican Member Subcomittee on Science, Research j
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Committee on Science and Technology United States House of Representatives
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Dear Congressman Boehlert:
In response to your letter of November 8,1985, to Chairman Palladino I submit the following information. As you are aware, the U.S. Geological Survcy (USGS),
not the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), has primary responsi,ility for seismic research in the United States.
The NRC is, however, conducting limited research to augment the data available from the USGS and others to provide information needed to make decisions on the safety of nuclear power plants.
This research consigts primarily of topical seismologic and geologic programs and the operation of seismic networks in the Centrai and Eastern United States.
The pattern of networks reflects the location of nuclear power plants in the Central and Eastern United States. We are presently negotiating an Interagency Agreement with the USGS to upgrade the seismic networks presently being sponsored by the NRC and to broaden the coverage to provide a national network using broadband seismic instruments that will be operated by the USGS.
If successfully negotiated this approach will be more economical for all concerned, will provide a broader scope of data and therefore generally better serve the national interests.
In response to your specific questions:
Exactly what changes is the NRC seeking in the seismic program?
The NRC is seeking to come to an agreement with the USGS whereby over the next few years, the seismic networks currently being operated by the NRC would be superseded by new broadband instruments which would be integrated into a national network. The USGS would own and operate these instruments in the national interest.
Thus the responsibility for the gathering and processing of seismic data would be centralized.
This would also ensure that such data would continue to be developed, whereas the NRC plans to discontinue operation of the networks within the next few years.
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Representative Boehlert 2
What is the status of your talks with the USGS and other agencies that conduct earthquake research or monitoring?
At present there are active on-going discussions between the NRC and the USGS and an Interagency Agreement is being developed between the agencies. The basic agreement will provide for establishing the Central and Eastern United States segments of what will become a national seismegraphic network. The NRC will provide initial financial support, and the USGS will provide the manpower to design and install the network and will support its operation and maintenance thereafter. We are optimistic that an Interagency Agreement between the NRC and the USGS will be signed within the next few months. Discussions have been conducted with representatives of DOE, D00, and FEMA, but they have all declined participation in this program.
Has the Office of Management and Budget been involved in your discussions?
The NRC/USGS agreement was discussed on September 20, 1985, at the briefing of the OMB staff by the Director of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research on the FY 87 budget request.
I can assure you that the NRC/USGS agreement under consideration could only increase, and not decrease, the level of earthquake research and monitoring and the attention paid to that research in designing and assuring the continued safe operation of nuclear power plants.
If you have any further questions about the NRC's seismic research program, please contact us.
Sincerely, (Signed William J. Din:ks William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations cc:
Dr. W. Hays, USGS Note: This closes out green ticket RES.85 2031 (EDO.001177).
A copy of the incoming and response were sent to the USGS on 11/21/85 for review and they had no objections.
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE J
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- 11/22/85
- 11/22/85
- 11/)b/85 0FEICIAL RECORD COPY
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The Honorable Sherwood ehlert Ranking Republican Member Subcomittee on Science, search and Technology Committee on Science and Tec ology Suite 2321 Rayburn House Offic Building United States House of Represen tives Washington, DC 20515
/
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Dear Representative Boehlert:
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In response to your letter of Novembe 8[1985,toChairmanPalladinoIsubmit the following information. As you are ware, the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS),
not the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commiss n (NRC), has primary responsibility for seismic research in the United States./
e NRC is, however, conducting limited research to augment the data availabid fro the USGS and others to provide informationneededtomakedecisions/onthe afety of nuclear power plants.
This research consists primarily of/ topical ismologic and geologic programs and the operation of seismic networks in the C tral and Eastern United States.
The pattern of networks reflects the location o nuclear power plants in the Central and Eastern United States'. We are presen ly negotiating an Interagency Agreement with the USGS to upgrade the seismic net rks presently being sponsored by the NRC and to bro den the coverage to rovide a national network using broadband seismic instru ents that will be oper ted by the USGS.
If successfully negotiated this 9 proach will be more eco mical for all concerned, will provide a broader scope of data and ther fore generally better serve the national interests /
In response to your specif questions:
Exactly what ch nges is the NRC seeking in the seismih program?
The NRC is seeking to come to an agreement with the USGS whereby over the next few years, the seismic networks currently being operated by the NRC would be superseded by new broadband instruments which would be integrated into a national network.
The USGS would own and operate these instruments in the national interest. Thus the responsibility for the gathering and processing of seismic data would be centralized. This would also ensure that such data would continue to be developed, whereas the NRC plans to discontinue operation of the networks within the next few years.
Representative Boehlert 2
What is the status of your talks with the USGS and other agencies that conduct earthquake research or monitoring?
At present there are active on-going discussions between the NRC and the USGS and an Interagency Agreement is being developed between the agencies. The basic agreement will provide for establishing the Central and Eastern United States segments of what will become a national seismographic network. The NRC will provide initial financial support, and the USGS will provide the manpower ta design and install the network and will support its operation and maintenance thereafter. We are optimistic that an Interagency Agreement between the NRC and the USGS will be signed within the next few months.
Discussions have been conducted with representatives of 00E, D0D, and FEMA, but they have all declined participation in this program.
Has the Office of Management and Budget been involved in your discussions?
The NRC/USGS agreement was discussed on September 20, 1985, at the briefing of the OMB staff by the Director of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research on the FY 87 budget request.
I can assure you that the NRC/USGS agreement under consideration could cnly increase, and not decrease, the level of earthquake research and monitoring and the attention paid to that research in designing and assuring the continued safe operation of nuclear power plants.
If you have any further questions about the NRC's seismic research program, please contact Mr. Robert B. Minogue, Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. His telephone number is 301-427-4341.
Sincerely, William J. Dircks Executive Director for erations cc: Dr. W. Hays, USG Note: This closes o t green ticket RES-85-2031 (ED0-001177).
A copy of the incor ng and response were sent to the USGS on 11/21/85 for review and they ha no objections.//6 Distribution /R-281/1:
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NOV 2 61985 The Honorable Sherwood Boehlert Ranking Republican Member Subcomittee on Science, Research and Technology Comittee on Science and Technology United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Boehlert:
In response to your letter of November 8, 1985, to Chairman Palladino I submit the following information. As you are aware, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
not the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), has primary responsibility for seismic research in the United States. The NRC is, however, conducting limited research to augment the data available from the USGS and others to provide information needed to make decisions on the safety of nuclear power plants.
This research consists primarily of topical seismologic and geologic programs and the operation of seismic networks in the Central and Eastern United States.
The pattern of networks reflects the location of nuclear power plants in the Central and Eastern United States. We are presently negotiating an Interagency Agreement with the USGS to upgrade the seismic networks presently being sponsored by the NRC and to broaden the coverage to provide a national network If using broadband seismic instruments that will be operated by the USGS.
successfully negotiated this approach will be more economical for all concerne.d, will provide a broader scope of data and therefore generally better serve the national interests.
In response to your specific questions:
Exactly what changes is the NRC seeking in the seismic program?
The NRC is seeking to come to an agreement with the USGS whereby over the next few years, the seismic networks currently being operated by the NRC would be superseded by new broadband instruments which would The USGS would own and be integrated into a national network.
Thus the operate these instruments in the national interest.
responsibility for the gathering and processing of seismic data would This would also ensure that such data would continue be centralized.
to be developed, whereas the NRC plans to discontinue operation of the networks within the next few years.
2 Representative Boehlert 5
What is the status of your talks with the USGS and other ag that conduct earthquake research or monitoring?
At present there are active on-going disc h
The basic agreement will provide for establishing the Central and Eastern United States segments of what will become agencies.
The NRC will provide initial national seismographic network. financial support, and th and install the network and will support its operation and We are optimistic that an Interagency Agreement between the NRC and the USGS will be sig maintenance thereafter.
Discussions have been conducted with representatives DOE, D0D, and FEMA, but they have all declined participa few months.
program.
Has the Office of Management and Budget been involved in your discussions?
20,1985, at the The NRC/USGS agreement was discussed on S Regulatory Research on the FY 87 budget request.
I can assure you that the NRC/USGS agreemen d
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the attention paid to that research in designing and assuring the con safe operation of nuclear power plants.about the NRC's seismic re Sincerely, (Signed William J.Dircks William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations Dr. W. Hays, USGS cc:
This closes out green ticket RES-85-2031 (E00 001177).
Note:
11/21/85 for A copy of the incoming and response were sent to the USGS on review and they had no objections.
- SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE 3
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DATE :11/22/85
- 11/22/85
- 11/22/85
- 11/22/85
- 11/10/85 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY