ML20207M881
| ML20207M881 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/05/1999 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | J. J. Barton, Domenici P, Inhofe J, Packard R HOUSE OF REP., APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE, SENATE, APPROPRIATIONS, SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20207M885 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9903190243 | |
| Download: ML20207M881 (10) | |
Text
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na crog 4r UNITED STATES
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e ((" 4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMiviiOSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 g
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CHAIRMAN March 5, 1999 The Honorable James M. Inhofe, Chairman Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-206, directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide a monthly report on the status of its icensing and regulatory duties. I am pleased to transmit the third report which covers the t
monn of February (enclosed).
In my letter to you of January 29,1999, I highlighted several noteworthy improvements completed by the agency in recent months. Since that letter, I am pleased to report to you that the staff continues to complete milestones within the improvement initiatives outlined in the ,
Tasking Memorandum, as well as make progress on other important initiatives. We continue to ;
maintain our focus on meeting targets for licensing action age and completion rates, and the license renewal process for Calvert Cliffs remains on schedule. I am particularly pleased to inform you that, during this reporting period, we issued on time the proposed rule change to designate high level waste transportation as a generic environmental impact and issued the draft environmental impact statement for renewal of the Calvert Cliffs license.
In the month of February, the Commission also:
- approved a change in the enforcement policy for Severity Level IV violations that will significantly reduce unnecessary burden on licensees without compromising NRC oversight,
// /
> approved the draft Standard Review Plan for Foreign Ownership and Control that will facilitate timely review of license transfers, .
approved the draft NRC guidance for updating FSARs by endorsing industry's guidance document, hhf]/
i
> approved application of the backfit rule to reactors in the decommissioning phase,
- approved additional risk-informed technical specification amendments to allow greater flexibility in maintenance planning,
- approved the NRC draft Y2K Contingency Plan,
- issued a proposed rule to establish risk-informed, performance-based requirements for j a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in 10 CFR Part 63, and
- approved the rulemaking plan for modifying 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K,"ECCS Evaluation Models," to facilitate small, but cost-beneficial, power uprates. While all plants could conceivably benefit from this risk-informed rulemaking, if only 50 plant licensees pursue power uprate, they could share an annual benefit of about
$205 million.
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9903190243 990305 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR n m,
. _ _ _ . . . _ _ . . . . _ . _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ . _ . . _ . _ . _ . . _ . - _ . - _ _ . . _ _ . . _ _ . _ . _ . . _ . . = . _ - _ _ _ . . _ . . .
l
)
i i
I have enclosed the February update to the Tasking Memorandum which delineates the specific )
initiatives completed by the agency since August 1998. j 1
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may provide additional information. i i
Sincerely, -
l Shirley Ann Jackson cc: Senator Bob Graham
Enclosures:
- 1. February Monthly Report
- 2. Tasking Memorandum i
1 i
i
. _ . . _ . - - . _ . . . _ . _ _ a
f % UNITED STATES
,y .% NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
g ) ( WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555-0001
(-***** /
March 5, 1999
! CHAIRMAN The Honorable Joe Barton, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Power Committee on Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-206, directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide a monthly report on the status of its licensing and regulatory duties. I am pleased to transmit the third report which covere the month of February (enclosed).
In my letter to you of January 29,1999, I highlighted several noteworthy improvements completed by the agency in recent months. Since that letter, I am pleased to report to you that the staff continues to complete milestones within the improvement initiatives outi.jed in the Tasking Memorandum, as well as make progress on other important irZatives. We continue to maintain our focus on meeting targets for licensing action age and completion rates, and the license renewal process for Calvert Cliffs remains on schedule. I am particularly pleased to i inform you that, during this reporting period, we issued on time the proposed rule change to l designate high level waste transportation as a generic environmental impact and issued the draft environmental impact statement for renewal of the Calvert Cliffs license. ]
In the rnonth of February, the Commission also:
- approved a change in the enforcement policy for Severity Level IV violations that will significantly reduce unnecessary burden on licensees without compromising NRC oversight,
- approved the draft Standard Review Plan for Foreign Ownership and Control that will facilitate timely review of license transfers,
- approved the draft NRC guidance for updating FSARs by endorsing industry's guidance document,
- approved application of the backfit rule to reactors in the decommissioning phase,
- approved additional risk-informed technical specification amendments to allow greater flexibility in maintenance planning,
- approved the NRC draft Y2K Contingency Plan,
- issued a proposed rule to establish risk-informed, performance-based requirements for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in 10 CFR Part 63, and
> approved the rulemaking plan for modifying 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K,"ECCS Evaluation Models," to facilitate smi . but cost-beneficial, power uprates. While all plants could conceivably benefit froi.,2 is risk-informed rulemaking, if only 50 plant licensees pursue power uprate, they could share an annual benefit of about
$205 million.
___...___._m.____ _ . _ _ _ . _ _ .
f j
I I I have enclosed the February update to the Tasking Memorandum which delineates the specific .
initiatives completed by the agency since August 1998. !
1 Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may provide additional information. I i Sincerely, i
1 (M
Shirley Ann Jackson cc: Ralph M. Hall
Enclosures:
- 1. February Monthly Report
- 2. Tasking Memorandum i
i i
1 i
i
. . , _ . , - _ - ~ - - . . . _ - _ . . . ., - - - - - . - - - _
/ % UNITED STATES e# 4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ,
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001
,o
- e* March 5, 1999 ;
CHAIRMAN i
l The Honorable Ron Packard, Chairman -
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development ,
Committee on Appropriations United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Developreent Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-206, directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commissnn to provide a monthly report on the status of its licensing and regulatory duties. I am pleased to transmit the third report which covers the month of February (enclosed).
In my letter to you of January 29,109, I highlighted several noteworthy improvements completed by the agency in recent months. Since that letter, I am pleased to report to you that the staff continues to complete milestones within the improvement initiatives outlined in the ;
Tasking Memorandum, as well as make progress on other important initiatives. We continue to maintain our focus on meeting targets for licensing action age and completion rates, and the license renewal process for Calvert Cliffs remains on schedule. I am particularly pleased to inform you that, during this reporting period, we issued on time the proposed rule change to designate high level waste transportation as a generic environmental impact and issued the draft environmental impact statement for renewal of the Calvert Cliffs license.
In the month of February, the Commission also:
- approved a change in the enforcement policy for Severity Level IV violations that will significantly reduce unnecessary burden on licensees without compromising NRC oversight,
- approved the draft Standard Review Plan for Foreign Ownership and Control that will facilitate timely review of license transfers,
- approved the draft NRC guidance for updating FSARs by endorsing industry's guidance document,
- approved application of the backfit rule to reactors in the decommissioning phase,
- approved additional risk-informed technical specification amendments to allow greater flexibility in maintenance planning,
> approved the NRC draft Y2K Contingency Plan,
- issued a proposed rule to establish risk-informed, performance-based requirements for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in 10 CFR Part 63, and
- aoproved the rulemaking plan for modifying 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K,"ECCS Evaluation Models," to facilitate small, but cost-beneficial, power uprates. While all plants could conceivably benefit from this risk-informed rulemaking, if only 50 plant licensees pursue power uprate, they could share an annual benefit of about
$205 million.
i
___.-i-<-
I have enclosed the February update to the Tasking Memorandum which delineates the specific initiatives completed by the agency since August 1998.
Please do not hesitate to cortact me if I may provide adc'itional information.
Sincerely, 4~
Shirley Ann Jackson cc: Representative Peter J. Visclosky I
Enclosures:
l
- 1. February Monthly Report l
- 2. Tasking Memorandum j I
1 I
1
e N UNITED STATES
[- 4, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055H001 U jj
%,,8 March 5, 1999 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Pete V. Domenici, Chairman Subecmmittee on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-206, directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provids a monthly report on the status of its licensing and regulatory duties. I am pleased to transmit the third report which covers the month of February (enclosed).
l In my letter to you of January 29,1999, I highlighted several noteworthy improvements I
completed by the agency in recent months. Since that letter, I am pleased to report to you that the staff continues to complete milestones within the improvement initiatives outlined in the Tasking Memorandum, as well as make progress on other important initiatives. We continue to maintain our focus on meeting targets for licensing action age and completion rates, and the license renewal process for Calvert Cliffs remains on schedule. I am particularly pleased to inform you that, during this reporting period, we issued on time the proposed rule change to designate high level waste transportation as a generic environmental impact and issued the i draft environmental impact statement for renewal of the Calvert Cliffs license. j in the month of February, the Commission also: !
l l
- approved a change in the enforcement policy for Severity Level IV violations that will significantly reduce unnecessary burden on licensees without compromising NRC oversight, i
- approved the draft Standard Review Plan for Foreign Ownership and Control that will facilitate timely review of license transfers,
- approved the draft NRC guidance for updating FSARs by endorsing industry's guidance document, .
- approved application of the backfit rule to reactors in the decommissioning phase, l
- approved additional risk-informed technical specification amendments to allow greater flexibility in maintenance planning,
. approved the NRC draft Y2K Contingency Plan,
- issued a proposed rule to establish risk-informed, performance-based requirements for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in 10 CFR Part 63, and
- approved the rulemaking plan for modifying 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K, *ECCS Evaluation Models," to facilitato small, but cost-beneficial, power uprates. While all plants could conceivably benefit from this risk-informed rulemaking, if only 50 plant licensees pursue power uprste, they could share an annual benefit of about
$205 million.
t
. . . . . . - . - . - - - . . ..-.-- . ... ..-. - - ...,..--- - ... - . .. .- - ~ - - - - -. - -
l l
l l l have enclosed the February update to the Tasking Memorandum which delineates the specific initiatives completed by the agency since August 1998 Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may provide additional information.
Sincerely, M
Shirley Ann Jackson ec: Senator Harry Reid
Enclosures:
- 1. February Monthly Report 2 Tasking Memorandum i
i l
I I
e~
/ *k UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSlON g WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 g
- . +
CHAIRMAN March 5, 1999 I
The Honorable Pete V. Domenici !
United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 ,
l
Dear Senator Domenici:
The Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-206, directed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide a monthly report on the status of its licensing and regulatory duties. I am pleased to transmit the third report which covers the month of February (enclosed).
In my letter to you of January 29,1999, i highlighted several noteworthy improvements completed by the agency in recent months. Since that letter, I am pleased to report to you that the staff continues to complete milestones within the improvement initiatives outlined in the Tasking Memorandum, as well as make progress on other important initiatives. We continue to l maintain our focus on meeting targets for licensing action age and completion rates, and the license renewal process for Calvert Cliffs remains on scheoale. I am particularly pleased to inform you that, during this reporting period, we issued on time the proposed rule change to designate high level waste transportation as a generic environmentalimpact and issued the draft environmentalimpact statement for renewal of the Calvert Cliffs license, in the month of February, the Commission also:
- approved a change in the enforcement policy for Severity Level IV violations that will significantly reduce unnecessary burden on licensees without compromising NRC oversight,
- approved the draft Standard Review Plan for Foreign Ownership and Control that will facilitate timely review ci license transfers,
- approved the draft NRC guidance for updating FSARs by endorsing industry's guidance document,
- approved application of the backfit rule to reactors in the decommissioning phase,
> approved additional risk-informed technical specification amendments to allow greater flexibility in maintenance planning,
- approved the NRC draft Y2K Contingency Plan,
- - issued a proposed rule to establish risk-informed, performance-based requirements for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain in 10 CFR Part 63, and
- approved the rulemaking plan for modifying 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K, *ECCS Evaluation Models," to facilitate small, but cost-beneficial, power uprates. While all plants could conceivably benefit from this risk-intormed rulemaking, if only 50 plant licensees pursue power uprate, they could share an annual benefit of about
$205 million.
l :.*.
l l have enclosed the February update to the Tasking Memorandum which delineates the specific initiatives completed by the agency since August 1998.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may provide additional information.
Sincerely, L
Enclosures:
- 1. February Monthly Report
- 2. Tasking Memorandum t
l