ML20210U486
| ML20210U486 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/17/1999 |
| From: | Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Mariotte M NUCLEAR INFORMATION & RESOURCE SERVICE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210U490 | List: |
| References | |
| RULE-PRM-50-65, RULE-PRM-50-66, RULE-PRM-50-67 NUDOCS 9908200134 | |
| Download: ML20210U486 (3) | |
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. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION UNITED STATr?
2 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20666 4001
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August 17, 1999 y
Mr. Michael Mariotte, Executive Director Nuclear Information and Resource Service 142416* St., NW, Suite 404 Washington, DC 20036
Dear Mr. Mariotte:
I am responding to the three related petitions for rulemaking that the Nuclear Information and Resource Service subrnitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on December 10,1998. The petitions requested that the Commission amend its regulations to require that nuclear facilities be shut down if systems relevant to safety are not compliant with Y2K issues (PRM-50-65), that nuclear power plants develop and implement adequate contingency plans and conduct emergency planning exercises to address potential system failures (PRM-50-66), and that additional reliable back-up sources of power be provided for nuclear facilities (PRM-50-67).
The NRC agrees that Y2K issues are significant and acknowledges the importance of the issues raised by the petitions. However, the NRC has concluded that the requirements in the three rules proposed by NIRS are not necessary to ensure that these facilities will continue to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection to public health and safetv. The NRC's judgement in this regard is based upon: (i) licensee activities to identify and addrete Y2K problems, including the development of contingency plans where appropriate, (ii) NRC oversight of the implementation of licensee actions (which includes inspections, audits, and review of licensee responses to NRC requests for information on licensee Y2K activities - the results of the most recent review is documented in the enclosed NRC staff report of July 19,1999), (iii) NRC's current regulatory requirements, which require reliable power where necessary and (iv) existing NRC authority under the Atomic Energy Act to take all r ecessary actions necessery to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection to public health and safety, including issuing order to shutdown a facility if warranted. A detailed discussion of the NRC's reasoning in this matter are contained in the enclosed Denials of Petition for Rulemaking, which will be published in the FederalRegister.
The NRC concludes that the rules which NIRS has proposed are not necessary to provide reasonable assurance of adequate protection to public health and safety. Accordingly, the petitions have been denied.
i Sincerely, D k34 990st7 William D.j7pverh t
50-65 PDR Executive Birector k-15 v 4 for Operations
Enclosures:
See next page hI d
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_f M. Mariotte
Enclosures:
- 1.. FederalRegisterNotice 50-65 2.'
FederalRegister Notice 50-66 3.
FederalRegister Notice 50-67 4.
Preliminary Report on Nuclear Power Plant Year 2000 Readiness
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1 DISTRIBUTION FOR LETTER DATED: August 17,1999
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO M. MARIOTTE, NIRS -- DENIAL OF PETITIONS t-MKnapp.......
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