ML20209D062
| ML20209D062 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/28/1999 |
| From: | Mcgaffigan E NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Vietticook A NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20209D007 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-99-135-C, NUDOCS 9907130020 | |
| Download: ML20209D062 (2) | |
Text
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NOTATION VOTE 1
RESPONSE SHEET s
TO:
Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary FROM:
COMMISSIONER MCGAFFIGAN
SUBJECT:
SECY-99-135 -INTERIM ENFORCEMENT POLICY REGARDING ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS DURING THE YEAR 2000 TRANSITION i
1 Approved Y
Disapproved Abstain Not Participating COMMENTS:
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. Continued safe operation of nuclear power plc,. during Y2K transition or rollover periods will play a major role in maintaining stable and reliable electrical power supply systems, providing necessary reserve power if there are major losses at other generating facilities. The NRC staff is proposing interim staff guidance on the process for the NRC to exercise enforcement discretion in certain situations where power reactor licensees encounter Y2K-associated compliance problems in the Y2K transition period (December 31,1999, through the first few days of 2000) or in other key rollover periods. The exercise of enforcement discreten may support a licensee decision to keep the plant in operation, if the licensee has determined that safety will not be unacceptably affected, in order to help maintain electrical grid stability act reliabliity. The NRC Headquarters Operations Center and the NRC Region IV incident F hWs AA4msnTED Response Center wil staff %during the key transition from December 31,1999, to January 1,2000, to ensure that appropriate actions can be taken for any regulatory issues that arise.
Scope This proposed interim enforcement policy would provide for the exercise of enforcement discretion to address noncompliance with license conditions, including TSs, because of Y2K i
transition or rollover issues. The interim enforcement policy would apply to situations in which plant operation is needed to help maintain the stability and reliability of the electrical power supply system, even when license conditions, including TSs, would require a plant shutdown. If such situations occur, licensees would be expected to follow the existing guidance in NRC Inspection Manual Part 9900 for Notices of Enforcement Discretion
<http*l/www.nrc. gov /NRC/IM/noed.html> to the maximum extent practicable, particularly regarding a safety detsrmination and notification of NRC. Licensees may make the decision to continue operations upon making a determination that it is safe and prudent to do so to help
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UNITED STATES f
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
g WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555-0001
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July 8,1999 SECRETARY MEMORANDUM TO:
William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations FROM:
Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary g-
SUBJECT:
STAFF REQUIREMENTS - SECY-99-135 -lNTERIM ENFORCEMENT POLICY REGARDING ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS DURING THE YEAR 2000 TRANSITION The Commission has approved issuance of the interim Enforcement Policy with the following exceptions.
I i
l 1.
The provision that allows a licensee to make the decision to continue plant operation in viola". ion of license condit.ons when communication with the NRC staff is not possible should be deleted from the Policy.
T;le f4 2.
Criterion c. should be revised to add a concurrent requirement which asserts that the licensee has also determined that raasonable assurance G public health and safety, the environment, and security is maintained with the enforcement discretion.
On page 4 of the FRN, paragraph 1, revise line 11 to read '.. Response Center will have-be staffed augmented during the key...'
. Appendix E to the Enforcement Policy should be published in the Federal Reaister for a 30-day comment period, after which it should become effective.
(EDO)
(SECY Suspense:
7/30/99)
The Commission noted that, as described in SECY-99-134, the NRC has developed an extensive contingency plan associated with telecommunications which makes the loss of communications between licensees and the NRC extremely unlikely. In the event that licensees cannot establish communications with NRC headquarters or any cf the NRC regional offices through established communications channels, NRC resident inspectors will have satellite communications capability and licensees should avail themselves of this opportunity. If prior NRC approval of requests for enforcement discretion ennnot be obtained, licensees should conform to the requirements of their licenses.
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cc:
. Chairman Dieus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield l
.CIO CFO OCA OlG OPA Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (via E-Mail)
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