ML20148E128
| ML20148E128 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/20/1997 |
| From: | Mcgaffigan E NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hoyle J NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20148E047 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-97-088-C, SECY-97-88-C, NUDOCS 9706020289 | |
| Download: ML20148E128 (2) | |
Text
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NOTATION VOTE RESPONSE SHEET TO:
John C. Hoyle, Secretary FROM:
COMMISSIONER MCGAFFIGAN
SUBJECT:
SECY-97-088 - NRC STAFF'S POSITION ON AUGMENTED EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR BOILING WATER REACTOR PRESSURE VESSELS PURSUANT TO 10 CFR 50.55A(g) (6) (ii) (A)
Approved Disapproved Abstain Not Participating Request Discussion COMMENTS:
SIGN # RUNE Release Vote
/ 2(/
!i7 DATE Withhold vote
/
/
Entered on "AS" Yes
[
No
- lR'!8ER?s7J88 CORRESPONDENCE PDR
Comissioner McGaffiaan's Coments on SECY-97-088 I agree with Comissioner Rogers and neither approve nor disapprove the staff's conclusion on technical issues in the paper.
I do not approve issuing the proposed response to the BWRVIP at this time.
Rather. I concur with the second and third paragraphs of the Chairman's vote and, in particular, believe that the staff should complete development of a safety evaluation report (SER) on the BWRVIP proposed alternative on an expedited basis.
I agree with the spirit of Commissioner Diaz's vote including his view that the staff should
'q consider the results of any future ASME code committee decisions. but I am not)
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ready to reach a technical conclusion at this time that no circumferential weld examinations should be performed.
Nonetheless, both the staff and the BWRVIP agree that there are clear technical reasons to differentiate between PWR and BWR reactor vessels and between longitudinal and circumferential vessel welds, with the BWR vessel circumferential welds having clearly the lowest risk. With an Agency goal of risk-informed regulation. I cannot overlook a difference in risk of tens of orders of magnitude for any regulatory activity, especially one which may result in substantial unnecessary radiation exposure and significant financial burden. The BWRVIP stated that its proposal to examine 100% of the l
longitudinal welds would include examinations of some circumferential weld lengths near the intersections of the two weld types.
I request that the staff explore that aspect of the BWRVIP proposal to determine if it could provide the level of sampling of the circumferential welds needed.
In any event, the staff should directly address the probability analysis that the BWRVIP provided when the staff completes its SER.
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