ML20210H399

Ack Receipt of Which Transmitted Copy of JOG AOV Program Document.Nrc Recognizes Significant Effort Put Into Preparation of Document by Individual Group Members & Will Review Document

ML20210H399
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/23/1999
From:	Imbro E NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Modeen D NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE (FORMERLY NUCLEAR MGMT &
References
NUDOCS 9908030356
Download: ML20210H399 (2)

Text

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'A L [ . , " Mr. David J. Modeen July 23,1999 Director, Engineering .

, Nuclear Generation Division -

? Nuclear Energyinstitute , ,

!- 1776 i Street, NW; Suite 400 .

L Washington, DC 20006-3708 , J - .

SUBJECT:

ISSU' ANCE'OF JOINT OWNERS' GROUP AIR OPERATED VALVE PROGRAM l: .g DOCUMENT; -

., e ~

L >

Dear Mr. Modeen:

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This is to acknowledge the receipt of"your July'19,1999, letter, transmitting a copy of the Joint

Owners' Group Air Operated. Valve (JOG AOV) program document. As was stated by the NRC K = staff in the June 3,1999, public ' meeting discussing AOV design, performance, and

! - maintenance issues, the NRC recognizes the significant effort that has gone in the preparation

.of the. document by the individual members of each owners' group. I have asked my staff to review the JOV AOV program document that you provided to us and will forward any comments

' to NEl.

Your letter indicates that INPO will make the JOG AOV program document available to licensees by' publishing it in the INPO " Nuclear Exchange," a vehicle that provides INPO l members with information that may be useful in supporting station activities. During the June 3,

[ - 1999, public meeting, the staff expressed a concem regarding the extent of implementation of l the JOG AOV program document, however, your letter stated that the industry does not desire l credit for this as a " Voluntary Iriitiative". as described in SECY 99-063, "The Use of Voluntary

Industry initiatives in the Regulatory Process," dated March 2,1999. The NRC remains I

interested in developing an approach that assures that the guidance contained in the JOG AOV program will be imp!emented by licensees. The staff is continuing to evaluate the need and the extent of any additional regulatory action that may be necessary with regard to AOVs. An l

'important consideration in this regard are the actions that licensees will take in response to the JOG AOV program document. I would like to continue to discuss this with you as the staff

l. proceeds with their evaluation of AOV issues.

L j'  ; Once again, I would like to thank NEl for organizing the industry's presentation at the June 3, 1999, public meeting. It was clear that all parties in attendance regarded the meeting as a useful and beneficial exchange of information. The NRC looks forward to continuing to work with NEl, industry groups, and all utilities to address AOV issues. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 301-415-3288, or an appropriate member of my staff.

l .

Sincerely, j *Previously concurred I Eugene V. Imbro, Chief P RMGPER C Mechanical & Civil Engineering Branch C PDR g Dmsson of Engineering ,,

. _ Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation /

Distribution: PUBLIC/F%' 'EMEB RF PCWen JERosenthat DLSkeen AWSerkiz pI W HLOmstein DOCUMENT NAME: G:\EMEB\COLACCINO\NEIAOV799.WPD .

INDICATE 98 BOM:"C" SCOPY WO ATTACHRIENTENCLOSURE *E"= COPY W/ATTENCL "N"mNO COPY y

OPricE EMEB:DE - EMEB:DE EMEB:BC DD:DE O D:DE 0 NAAIE JCOlaccino' - DTerso* Elmbro N RW ,

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,. DATE 7/22/99 7/23/99 7 /8/ N ~ 7/N9 N/U99 -

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 030073 ._ pfy m

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A "" Mr. David J. Modeen Director, Engineering Nuclear Generation Division Nuclear Energy Institute

.1776 i Street, NW, Sui 400~

Washington, DC 20006- 708

SUBJECT:

~ ISSUANCE . F JOINT OWNERS' GROUP AIR OPERATED VALV PROGRAM DOCUMENT' L

Dear Mr. Modeen:

This is to acknowledge the receipt your July 19,1999, letter, transmitting copy of the Joint Owners' Group staff in the June Air Operated 3,1999, public eetin V Ive ( 'g discussing AOV design, ce,and performG AOV) maintenance issues, the NRC recognizekthe significant effort that has g ne in the preparation of.the document by the individua members %f each owners' group. I ha e asked my staff to

. review the JOV AOV program do ument that 'you provided to us and w' forward any comments to NEI. 'N

\

Your letter indicates that INPO will make the JOG AOV program do ment available to licentces by publishing it in the INPO "The Nuclear Eicchange" a v hicle that provides INPO mem'o ers with information that may be usefulin supportk}g statio activities. During the June 3, 1999, public meeting, the staff expressed a concem reg ing tpe extent of implementation of the JOG AOV program document. Given the method of di .ution of the JOG AOV program document by INPO and the statement in your letter that the 'ustry does not desire credit for this as a ." Voluntary initiative" as described in SECY 99-063, he Use of Voluntary Industry Initiatives in the Regulatory Process," dated March 2,1999 th NRC has no assurance that the guidance contained in the JOG AOV program will be impi ent d by licensees. The staff is continuing to evaluate the need and the extent of any ad itional egulatory action that may be necessary with regard to AOVs. An important consider ion in th regard are the actions that licensees will take in response to the JOG AOV progra docume t. I would like to continue to

. discuss this with you as the staff proceeds with their e aluation of OVs.

Once again, I would like to thank NEl for organizing e industry's p sentation at the June 3, 1999, public meeting. It was clear thaf all parties ; attendance rega ded the meeting as a useful and beneficial exchange of information. T NRC looks forwahd to continuing to work with NEl, industry groups, and all utilities to addr s AOV issues, if y have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 301-415 3288, or an appropria member of my staff.

S' cerely, ugene V. Imbro, Chief Mechanical & Civil Engineerin Branch Division of Engineering -

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regul tion Distribution: PUBLIC/ File Center EMEB RF PCWen JERosenthal DLSkeen AWSerkiz HLOmstein DOCUMENT NAME: G:\EMEB\COLACCINO\NEIAOV799.WPD SIDICATE IN BOK: "C"= COPY W/O ATTACHIRENTENCLOSURE "E"= COPY W/ATT/ ENCL, *N"=NO COPY OPPICE EMEB:DE C, EMEB:DE . C- EMEB:BC DD:DE D:DE NAaAE JColeccino h DTerao Elmbro RWessman JStresnider DATE MN 9 /N/ % / / / /99 / /99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY ,

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