ML20210Q450
| ML20210Q450 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/26/1986 |
| From: | Grimsley D NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM) |
| To: | Murphy S NUCLEAR INFORMATION & RESOURCE SERVICE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210Q455 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-86-621 NUDOCS 8610060945 | |
| Download: ML20210Q450 (2) | |
Text
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4EP 26 1986 Ms. Stephanie Murphy Nuclear Information and Resource Service 1616 P Street, NW Suite 160 IN RESPONSE REFER Washington, DC 20036 TO F01A-86-621
Dear Ms. Murphy:
This is in response to your letter dated August 13, 1986, in which you requested, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (F01A), records pertaining to GA0's report, " International Reponse to Nuclear Power Safety Concerns," dated September 30, 1985.
With respect to item 1 of your request, my staff has been informed that the NRC does not assess the precise significance of each foreign incident, particularly the extent and seriousness of the i:,cident as it relates to the site and country of origin. The focus of NRC assessment of foreign data is on the applicability of the lessons learned to the U.S. program. Of the foreign incidents reviewed, two events were categorized as being of obvious safety significance warranting immediate further review by the NRC (referred to as "significant" in the GA0 report), and 149 events were categorized as appearing to have potential implications warranting further review by the NRC (referred to as "potentially significant" in the GA0 report). The sum of these is the 151 incidents referred to in the report.
The record from the May 8,1986, hearing on International Nuclear Safety Concerns before the Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Government Processes of the Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, particularly the responses of the NRC to written questions submitted by Senators Cochran and Glenn (starting on page 43), contains additional information on the process of NRC review of foreign incident data.
With respect to item 2, my staff has been informed that the information on the 151 incidents was given to NRC in confidence, either bilaterally under information exchange agreements or through the Incident Reporting Systems of the NEA and IAEA, with the stipulation that NRC use it, as necessary, in safety and licensing activities but that it be protected from public disclosure.
Any unauthorized disclosure, besides violating the international agreements, could seriously jeopardize NRC's access to similar information in the future, information which is factored into the data base to increase the margins of safety of domestic plants. Therefore, country-specific information and details of individial events are being withheld from public disclosure pursuant to Exemption (4) of the FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)) and 10 CFR 9.5(a)(4) of the Commission's regulations.
8610060945 860926 PDR FOIA PDR MURPHY 86-621
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Ms. Murphy Enclosed is a table showing a breakdown of the plant systems involved in the 151 incidents that was released by GA0 with NRC approval.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 9.9 of the Commission's regulations, it has been determined that the information withheld is exempt from production or disclosure and that its production or disclosure is contrary to the public interest. The persons responsible for this denial are the undersigned and Mr. James Shea, Director, Office of International Programs.
This denial may be appealed to the NRC's Executive Director for Operations within 30 days from the receipt of this letter. As provided in 10 CFR 9.11, any such appeal must be in writing, addressed to the Executive Director for Operations, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, and should clearly state on the envelope and in the letter that it is an
" Appeal from an Initial F0IA Decision."
Sincerely, M
Donnie H. Grimsley, Director Division of Rules'and Records Office of Administration
Enclosure:
As stated
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