ML20155F177
| ML20155F177 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/08/1986 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Specter A SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8604210386 | |
| Download: ML20155F177 (4) | |
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The Hcnorable Arlen Specter U. S. Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Specter:
In a letter dated February 27, 1986, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) forwarded to you a report prepared by them entitled " Safety Risks at Babcock & Wilcox Reactors: A Brief Summary." Your note of March 12, 1986 requested our views on this letter. Our comments are provided below.
Following the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident, the NRC staff did intensify its review efforts for all nuclear plants. That effort resulted in a sub-stantial number of improvements in those plants designed by Babcock & Wilcox (B&W). Additional plant modifications resulting from the TMI accident, along with those resulting from other events (at both B&W and other vendor-designed reactors), are being incorporated at the facilities.
In order to ensure they are done effectively, appropriate implementation schedules are developed to assure proper design, review, purchase, installation, testing and training of operators.
There was also a growing realization, following the Three Mile Island accident, of the sensitivity of B&W plants to operational transients. A number of recent events at B&W-designed reactors have reinforced our awareness of the sensitivity of B&W plants. While modifications have been made to these facilities, the staff is concerned that the number and complexity of opera-tional transients has not decreased as expected. As a result of these concerns, we have concluded that there is a need to reexamine the basic design requirements for B&W reactors. This effort has been initiated and is expected to be complete about the end of 1986. We will incorporate the issues in the UCS report into our reassessment effort.
The B&W Owners' Group (BWOG) was informed of the staff's reassessment effort on January 24, 1986. The BWOG is currently developing a plan for addressing our concerns related to the frequency of trips and the complexity of post-trip response in B&W plants. We are also sending the UCS report to the BWOG for their consideration and use in developing their plans.
It is the NRC's belief that the B&W plants have an improved safety performance as a result of our measures.
For example, the total number of reactor trips for B&W plants has decreased from an average of about 45 in 1981,1982, and 1983 to an average of 27 over the past 2 years. This reduction in challenges to the plants indicates that actions taken by the NRC staff and the utilities to improve performance have begun to take effect. Complete elimination of transients cannot be expected to occur. However, the NRC staff and the utilities have ongoing programs aimed at further reducing the frequency of transients as well as improving the effectiveness and ease of the plant opera-lg tor's response to them.
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The Honorable Arlen Specter U. S. Senate Washington,\\D. C. 20510
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Dear Senator Specter:
In a letter dated February 27, 1986, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) s forwarded to you ax\\ port prepared by them entitled " Safety [ Risks at Babcock &
re Wilcox Reactors: A Brief Summary." Your note of March 12 1986 requested our views on this letter Our comments are provided below. /
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Following the Three Mil Island accident, the NRC staff did intensify its review s
efforts for all nuclear plants. That effort resulted in a substantial number of improvements in those plants designed by Babcock & Wilcox (B&W). Additional plant modifications resulting,from the TMI accidsnt, along with those resulting from other events (at both B&Wsand other vendor-designed reactors), are being appropriate implementation sche \\ln order to ensure they are done effectively incorporated at the facilities.
dules are developed to assure proper design, review, purchase, installation, testin d training of operators.
There was also a growing realization \\g an
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, following the Three Mile Island accident, of the sensitivity of B&W plants to op'erational transients. A number of recent events at B&W designed reactors has reinforced our awareness of the sensitivity of B&W plants. While modifications' have be'en made to these facilities, the staff is concerned that the number and comple'x{ty of operational transients has not decreased as expected. As a result of these concerns, we have concluded s
that there is a need to reexamine the basic design requirements for B&W reactors.
s This effort has been initiated and is expected to be complete about the end of x
1986. We will incorporate the issues in the UCS report into our reassessment affort.
j The B&W Owner's Group (BWOG) was informed of the staff's reassessment effort on January 24, 1986. The BWOG is currently developing a plan 'for addressing our concerns related to the' frequency of trips and the complexity'of post-trip response in B&W plants: We are also sending the UCS report to the BWOG for their consideration and use in developing their plans.
It is the NRC's belibf that the B&W plants have an improved safet sperformance as a result of our measures. For example, the total number of reactor trips for B&W plants has/ decreased from an average of about 45 in 1981, 1982, and 1983 to an average of 27 over the past two years. This reduction in challenges to the plants indicate that actions taken by the NRC staff and the utilities to, improve performance have begun to take effect. Complete elimination of transients cannot be expected to occur. However, the NRC staff and the utilities hade ongoing programs aimed at further reducing the frequency of transients as well as improving the effectiveness and ease of the plant operator's response to them.
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The Honorable Arlen Specter We note that the UCS report does not provide any information which causes us to alter our conclusion that continued operation of the B&W plants, during the time it takes to complete our reexamination, does not pose any undue risk to the public health and safety.
Sincerely, Original signed by Victor Stello Victor Stello, Jr.
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The Honorable Arlen Specter We note that the UCS report does not provide any information which causes us to alter our conclusion that continued operation of the B&W plants, during the time it takes to complete our reexamination, does not pose any undue risk to the public health and safety.
Sincerely, Victor Stello, Jr.
Acting Cxecutive Director for perations
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DISTRIBUTION Central File JSniezek NRC PDR w/ incoming JTaylor L PDR w/ incoming GCunnirrgham ED0'#001546 JHeltemes ED0 Reading File
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