ML20207F392
| ML20207F392 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/30/1986 |
| From: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20207F391 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-86-849 NUDOCS 8701060005 | |
| Download: ML20207F392 (2) | |
Text
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s APR 3 0 ME ME.SiORANDUM FOR:
Samuel J. Chilk Secretary FROM:
Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations
SUBJECT:
REPORT REQUESTED BY COMMIS510NERS ASSELSTINE AND BERNTHAL In. response to your memorandum of November 20, 1985, enciesed is a report as requested by Comissioners Asselstine and Bernthal on research projects which f.,r budgetary reasons were deferred or could not be accomplished. This report also addresses the impact of the deferred and cancelled research projects.
In prioritizing research activities, the staff has attempted to provide for a stable, prcperly balanced research program focused on supporting regulatory activities to ensure safety at operating facilities. There is clear
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recognition in this prioritization that industry must assume the burden of fLnding research where industry is the primary benefactor.
I do not articipate that the deferred or cancelled projects will have an adverse impact en the health and safety of the public. However, the effect of the erosion of easearch capabilities and the resultant inabilities to provide necessary ir. formation to answer safety questions cannot be under.eitimated for the future.
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Y/I' VfctorStello,Jr,./
Executive Director for Operations'
Enclosure:
Impact of Budget Cuts on NRC's Ability to Assure Safety cc: Chairman Palladino Comissioner Roberts Comissioner Asselstine Comissioner Bernthal Comissioner Zech OGC OPE 05 861021 87010 gb.A-e' PDR 1
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_Real-Time Atmospheric Dispersion, Plume Rise and Washout Podel Evaluation (Frogram Terminated in FY 1984 with a recuction of 5900K.
The out year projections had been $350K for each of FY 1985,1986, and 1987.)
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Safety issue:
The currently available real-time atmospheric dispersion, precipitation washout and plune rise models for dose projections in emergency response situations have not been adequately validated.
Accordingly, there is the potential for an inappropriate, unreliable or inaccurate model being used in an emergency response situation and which would produce incorrect dose projections. Washout of radionuclides due to precipitation fa111ng through the plume and carried to the ground has not been accurately quantified.
Risk assessments and other licensing evaluations in which the models are used have large uncertainties.
2.
Current Treatment by NRC:
The currently available models are necessarily used for emergency response dose projections by licensees and the NRC, pending further information on their performance under different meteorological and other terrain conditions and their accuracy and reliability. NRC staff risk assessments involving plume washout continue to have large uncertainties in a scenario that contributes significantly to calculated potential prompt fatalities.
Conservative assumptions are used to compensate for uncertainties in licensing evaluations using those models.
t 3.
Role of Deferred Research:
The deferred research was to validate models used for emergency response dose projections and other licensing actions to ensure that they are reliable and accurate under all meteorological and terrain situations in which they will be applied.
This validation can be accomplished only by comparing model results frcm data collected during field tests.
4 Prospect of Work Being Performed by Industry:
Essentially none.
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