ML20206S725
| ML20206S725 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/27/1999 |
| From: | Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| ACRS-SL-0467, ACRS-SL-467, NUDOCS 9905210204 | |
| Download: ML20206S725 (7) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 8
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION pg o
ADVISORY COMMITTEE oN REACTOR SAFEGUARDS WASHINGTON, D. C. 20606 January 27,1999 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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Washington, D.C. 20555-0001
Dear Chairman Jackson:
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
REPORT - FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-ElGHTH MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS, DECEMBER 3-5,1998, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE During its 458th meeting, December 3-5,1998, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) discussed several matters and completed the following letters. In addition, the Committee authorized Dr. Larkins, Executive Director, to transmit the memorandum noted below:
LETTERS Options for incorporatina Risk Insiahts into the 10 CFR 50.59 Prarass (Letter to
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William D. Travers, Executive Director for Operations, NRC, from R. L. Seale, Chairman, ACRS, dated December 11,1998)
Proposed Commission Paoer Concemina Options for Risk-Informed Revisions to 10 CFR Part 50 " Domestic Licensina of Production and Utilization Facilities"(Letter to William D. Travers, Executive Director for Operations, NRC, from R. L. Seale, Chairman, ACRS, dated December 14,1998)
Proposed Imorovements to the NRC Inspection and Assessment Proarams - Interim Report (Letter to William D. Travers, Executive Director for Operations, NRC, from R. L. Seale, Chairman, ACRS, dated December 16,1998)
MEMORANDUM Rulemakina Plan - Protection Aaainst Discrete Radioactive Particle (DRP)
Exoosures (10 CFR Part 20) (Memorandum to William D. Travers, Executive Director for Operations, NRC, from John T. Larkins, Executive Director, ACRS, dated December 14,1998) fi
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HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE 1.
Proposed Ootions to Make 10 CFR Part 50 Risk Informed The Committee heard presentations by and held discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding proposed options to make 10 CFR Part 50 risk informed.
The staff presented the objectives and desired outcomes of modifying Part 50, the j
elements of the modification, and the criteria for assessing options. The staff presented the policy and implementation issues associated with modifying Part 50, and summarized the benefits and impacts of the proposed options. The staff recommended implementing a phased approach for modifying Part 50, issuing exemptions to pilot plants, and developing a detailed rulemaking plan.
The ACRS Members and the staff discussed safety considerations such as fission product release, operational safety, and defense-in-depth; the reasons and objectives for modifying Part 50; the relationship between Part 50 and other regulations; and the definitions of safety, adequate protection, and defense-in-depth.
Conclusion The Committee issued a letter to the Executive Director for Operations, dated December 14,1998, on this matter.
2.
Proposed Ootions to Make 10 CFR 50.59 Risk Informed The Committee heard presentations by and held discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding proposed options for incorporating risk insights into the 10 CFR 50.59 process. The Committee discussed a draft paper from the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) to the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation l
(NRR) that provides a summary of options for making 10 CFR 50.59 risk informed, examples of changes that consider the use of risk criteria, and a test case regarding j
the reclassification of the South Texas Project essential cooling water screen wash booster pump.
Conclusion The Committee issued a letter to the NRC Executive Director for Operations, dated December 11,1998, on this matter.
c The Honorable Shirley Jackson 3
3.
Intearated Review of Assessment Proarams The Committee heard presentations by and held discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) regarding proposed changes to the NRC Assessment Programs, including initiatives related to the i
development of performance indicators and a risk-based inspection program. The staff utilized a top-down structure to develop a proposed assessment process.
Three Task Groups (Framework, Risk-Informed Baseline Inspection, and Assessment) were formed to propose improvements to the inspection and Assessment Programs by making them more objective and risk informed. The staffs work is not yet complete and the Committee plans to continue its review of i
this matter during its February 1999 meeting.
Conclusion The Committee issued an interim letter to the Executive Director for Operations, dated December 16,1998, on this matter.
4.
Election of Officers for Calendar Year 1999 The Committee elected Dr. Dana A. Powers as Chairman and Dr. George Apostolakis as Vice-Chairman to the ACRS, and Dr. Thomas S. Kress as Member-at-Large for the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee.
5.
Report on Plant License Renewal Subcommittee Meetina The Acting Subcommittee Chairman briefed the Committee regarding the November 18,1998 meeting of the Plant License Renewal Subcommittee. The focus of this meeting was in three areas: the status of staffs review of the applications for renewing licenses for the Calvert Cliffs and Oconee nuclear power plants, the ongoing and planned reviews oflicense renewal technical reports, and the process for prioritizing and resolving license renewal generic issues.
The Committee discussed future plans for reviewing the license renewal applications and related matters.
6.
ACRS Report to the Commission on the NRC Safety Research Proaram The Committee discussed the format and content for its 1999 report to the Commission on the NRC Safety Research Program. Some proposed candidate areas of focus include:
The Honorable Shirley Jackson 4
PRA research for risk-informed and performance-based regulation High-bumup fuel performance and core-power uprates Thermal-hydraulic code integration Advanced instrumentation and controls Plant life extension and decommissioning The Committee plans to continue its discussion of this matter during future meetings and complete a report to the Commission during the May 1999 ACRS meeting.
RECONCILIATION OF ACRS COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee discussed the response from the NRC Executive Director for Operations (EDO) dated November 19, 1993, to the ACRS comments and recommendations included in the ACRS letter dated October 14,1998, concerning the risk-informed pilot application for hydrogen monitoring at Arkansas Nuclear One, Units 1 and 2.
The Committee decided that it was satisfied with the EDO's response. With regard to the recommendation that the staff explore the impact of recombiners on accidents that, while resulting in release of radionuclides to containment, do not progress to j
severe-accident status, the Committee decided to pursue this issue in the context of its review of the proposed elimination of hydrogen recombiners at San Onofre Units 2 and 3.
The Committee discussed Chairman Jackson's response dated November 10, 1998, to the ACRS comments and recommendations included in the ACRS report dated September 30,1998, concerning the impact of PRA results and insights on the regulatory system.
The Committee decided to continue its review of this matter during future meetings.
The Committee discussed the response from the EDO dated November 13,1998, to the ACRS comments and recommendations included in the ACRS letter dated i
October 20,1998, concerning NEl Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 10 CFR 50.54(a), Conditions of Licenses.
The Committee decided that it was satisfied with the EDO's response.
The Committee discussed the response from the EDO dated November 27,1998, to the ACRS comments and recommendations included in the ACRS letter dated October 16,1998, concerning Proposed Priority Rankings of GSIs, Tenth Group.
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The Committee decided to continue its discussion of several issues (e.g.', resolution i
of the Multiple System Responses Program issues and reevaluation of the GSI process) at future meetings.
OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE During the period from November 5,1998 through December 2,1998, the following Subcommittee meetings were held:
Plant License Renewal - November 18,1998 The Subcommittee discussed generic issues related to license renewal activities and the schedule for their resolution, selected technical and topical reports and the associated safety evaluation reports, status of the staff's review of the applications for renewing licenses for Calvert Cliffs and Oconee Nuclear Power Plants, and related matters.
Thermal Hydraulic Phenomena - November 19,1998 The Subcommittee reviewed the Westinghouse methodology for best-estimate small-break, loss-of-coolant-accident analysis, using the WCOBRA/ TRAC code.
Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment. Plant Operations. and Reaulatory Policies and Practices - November 19-20,1998 On November 19,1998, the Subcommittees discussed proposed options to make 10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR 50.59 (Changes, tests, and experiments) risk informed.
On November 20,1998, the Subcommittees reviewed proposed changes to the NRC inspection and assessment programs, including initiatives related to development of a risk-based inspection program and performance indicators.
Plannina and Procedures - December 2,1998 The Planning and Procedures Subcommittee discussed proposed ACRS activities, practices, and procedures for conducting Committee business and organizational and personnel matters relating to ACRS and its staff.
LIST OF FOLLOW-UP MATTERS FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS The Committee plans to continue its discussions on the " Perry Pilot Plant Review -
Implementation of the Revised Source Term" during its review of the proposed
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Regulatory Guide and final Rule pertaining to use of the revised source term by licensees of operating nuclear power plants. ACRS review of the Rule and Regulatory Guide is currently scheduled for mid-1999.
Chairman Jackson responded on November 10,1998, to the ACRS report dated l
September 30,1998, concerning the impact of probabilistic risk assessment results and insights on the regulatory system. The Committee plans to continue its review of this matter during future meetings.
The Committee plans to continue its review of the proposed improvements to the NRC Inspection and Assessment Programs at the February 1999 meeting.
The Committee plans to continue its discussion of various issues associated with the GSI process after receiving the staff's summary report on the adequacy of the resolution of MSRP issues by the licensees in the IPE/IPEEE programs and also the staff's report on the reevaluation of the GSI process.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR THE 459TH ACRS MEETING The Committee agreed to consider the following during the 459th ACRS Meeting, February 3-6,1998:
Status of the Proposed Final Revision to 10 CFR 50.59 (Chanaes. tests and experiments)
The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the 4
NRC staff regarding the status of the proposed final revision to 10 CFR 50.59 and related matters.
Proposed imorovements to the NRC Inspection and Assessment Proarams The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding proposed improvements to the NRC Inspection and Assessment Programs, including initiatives related to development of performance indicators and a risk-based inspection program.
Preparation for Meetina with the NRC Commissioners The Committee will discuss the following items during a meeting with the Commissioners:
(1) Proposed Revisions to 10 CFR 50.59 (Changes, tests and experiments); (2) Options to Make 10 CFR Part 50 Risk Informed; (3) Status of ACRS Activities Associated with License Renewal; (4) Proposed Rulemaking on the Use of Revised Source Term ; (5) Use of PRA Results and Insights in the Regulatory Process; (6) Elevation of CDF to a Fundamental Safety Goal and Possible Revision of the Commission's Safety Goal Policy i
Statement; and (7) NRC Safety Research Program.
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The Honorable Shirley Jackson 7
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Proposed Final Revision to 10 CFR 50.65 (aM3) of the Maintenance Rule
- The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and the NEl regarding the proposed final revision to the Maintenance Rule, l
which would require the licensees to perform safety assessments prior to performing I
maintenance activities.
l SECY-98-244. NRC Human Performance Plan The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding the NRC Human Performance Plan.
Proposed Resolution of Generic Safety issue (GSI) B-61. Allowable ECCS Eauioment Outage Penods The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding the proposed resolution of GSI B-61.
Fire Protection issues The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding fire protection issues, including the results of the pilot fire protection functionalinspections.
NRC Safety Research Proaram Report The Committee will discuss the draft ACRS report to the Commission on the NRC Safety Research Program.
Sincerely,
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ow Dana A. Powers Chairman 1
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