ML20149G428
| ML20149G428 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/28/1994 |
| From: | Thadani A Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9410210072 | |
| Download: ML20149G428 (14) | |
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NRC PERSPECTIVES ON ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT Ashok C. Thadani, Associate Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Prepared for Presentation at the Severe Accident Management implementation Workshop Alexandria, Virginia September 28,1994 200037 .
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7 DISCUSSION TOPICS
- 1. Overview and Background
- 2. Definition of Accident Management (A/M)
- 3. Fundamental Program Objective ,
- 4. NRC Philosophy on A/M
- 5. Expected utility steps in implementing A/M
- 6. NRC Views on implementation
- 7. Plans for Monitoring implementation
- 8. Remaining NRC Actions 3
l OVERVIEW o Accident Management (A/M) is an essential element of the i NRC Integration Plan for Closure of Severe Accident issues (SECY-88-147, May 1988) e o Other key elements of the plan include: ,
- Individual Plant Examinations (IPEs)
- Containment Performance improvement program !
- Severe Accident Research Program o Existing regulations can be broadly interpreted to include A/M, however, there is no explicit regulatory requirement to address severe accidents ,
1 o in view of industry support for A/M and lack of clear ,
requirement, NRC has pursued A/M as a voluntary industry initiative i i
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BACKGROUND l
o A/M was to be part of the Individual Plant Examination in '
original IPE planning o A/M was subsequently separated from the IPE, citing work with industry (NUMARC) to: i
- Define scope and content of utility A/M plans
- Develop guidance for utility implementation o Dialog with industry was considered essential to program success and initiated early in the program
- Industry acceptance of A/M goals and objectives
- Industry perspectives in defining program scope and ;
content l
- Industry-supported initiatives to develop technical i guidance 5 l l
BACKGROUND (continued) o Extensive interactions between industry and NRC since 1988 has led to development of guidance and products for use by utilities
- Statement of program scope and content (" formal industry position")
- Methods for systematically evaluating A/M capabilities
- Severe accident management guidelines (SAMG) and related training materials
- Additional information from NRC and EPRI research '
programs o Although some development efforts still ongoing, industry products considered technically sound and sufficiently complete to begin implementation 6
l ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT:
A DEFINITION o Actions taken by the plant staff during the course of an l accident to:
- Prevent core damage l
- Terminate progress of core damage and retain the core l within the vessel l l
- Maintain containment integrity as long as possible i
- Minimize offsite releases l l
l 0 involves pre-planning and preparatory measures, e.g.:
- Accident managentent procedures
- Minor equipment modifications to facilitate procedure implementation ;
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A FUNDAMENTAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVE i o To have each NRC licensee implement an A/M plan which l provides a framework for:
- Evaluating information on severe accidents ;
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- Preparing and implementing severe accident operating procedures and guidance
- Training operators, technical support staff, and managers in the procedures o As part of implementation, major areas or " elements" of A/M response would be assessed and enhanced:
- Accident management procedures which extend beyond design basis into severe fuel damage regimes
- Training in severe accidents for operators, technical staff, and managers, commensurate with roles / responsibilities
- Computational aids for use in assessing plant damage and planning /prioritizing responses
- Instrumentation to respond to a spectrum of accidents
- Delineation of decision-making responsibilities 8
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NRC PHILOSOPHY REGARDING ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT o A/M capabilities currently exist to varying degrees. NRC !
seeks:
- Incremental improvements in good programs
- High quality across the industry 1
o No major hardware changes
- Minor modifications to take advantage of existing equipment
- No major equipment upgrades, such as severe accident simulators l l
l 0 Minimal burden i
- No major reporting requirements
- No review to prescriptive requirements
- Performance versus compliance 9
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EXPECTED UTILITY STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING A/M
- 1. Implement industry products
- A/M guidelines (and EPG changes) developed by owners groups
- Severe accident training / lesson plans
- Process for systematically evaluating A/M capabilities
- 2. Institutionalize the A/M plan to maintain capabilities and accept new information should it become available
- 3. Perform periodic A/M drills and self-assessments i
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NRC VIEWS ON UTILITY IMPLEMENTATION o Completed industry products are technically sound and can be implemented
- Statement of program scope and content (" Formal Industry Position")
- PWR Severe Accident Management Guideline (SAMG) documents
- Method for systematically evaluating A/M capabilities (NUMARC Report 92-01, NUREG/CR-6009, or equivalent)
I o Where development effort is not yet complete, NRC does not foresee major technical concerns or implementation i difficulties
- BWROG methodologies for flexible assignment of A/M strategies, and for prioritizing training / examination on severe accident material
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- BWROG SAMG document and related EPG changes
- INPO severe accident training materials 1
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1 NRC VIEWS ON UTILITY IMPLEMENTATION (Continued) !
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o SER on SAMG or other industry products not planned l 0 Utilities can implement industry A/M products under 10 CFR 50.59 without prior staff approval o Concerns identified by licensees during implementation for i which further NRC evaluation is desired should be elevated for consideration on a case-by-case basis ,
o No utility submittals requested other than schedule and estimated completion date for A/M implementation f
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l NRC PLANS FOR MONITORING ,
IMPLEMENTATION o Limited number of sites to be visited to audit plant-specific implementation. Emphasis on:
- Interface of SAMG with EOPs and Emergency Plan, and 3
- Incorporation of SA materialinto personnel training o Audit most efficiently performed through observation of :
SAMG application during EP exercise or A/M drill o Evaluation criteria still to be determined, but may resemble criteria outlined in July 21,1991 letter to NUMARC o Findings from audit would not result in EP " weaknesses" !
unless implementation decreases effectiveness of EP o Further dialog planned with industry /NEl to define specific process for confirming adequate implementation
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l REMAINING NRC ACTIONS l
0 Develop comprehensive description of A/M program and l expectations / perspectives for dissemination to Commission l and Regions o Continue dialog with industry on specific process for evaluating A/M implementation, and develop " Inspection Guidance" as appropriate o Review BWROG A/M products when submitted
- Continue to work with industry on methodology implementation details
- Clarify guidance to inspectors regarding training and examination on severe accident material (revisions to examiner standards, workshops) o Complete Severe Accident Research Program
- Utility A/M Plan to provide framework for incorporating any major new results 14
SUMMARY
l O A/M program will enhance capabilities to prevent and to mitigate severe accidents .
I o Closure will be achieved on a plant-by-plant basis
- On a voluntary basis, in accordance with industry ,
initiative i i
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- Using industry- and NRC-developed guidance and methods o A/M capabilities will be maintained "living"
- Periodically exercised by conducting utility A/M drills
- Periodically updated by utility to incorporate new information o NRC approach for maintaining oversight of utility capabilities still to be determined 15 1
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