ML20215G098
| ML20215G098 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/10/1987 |
| From: | Kerr W Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| ACRS-R-1257, NUDOCS 8706230125 | |
| Download: ML20215G098 (1) | |
Text
E fh~ l0b m ucoq'o f " ', "[g UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 7,
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g WASHINGTON, D. C 20555 June 10, 1987 4
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The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.
Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission j
Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Chairman Zech:
SUBJECT:
PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON QUALITY IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS I
We believe that the present hiatus in licensing actions and the near completion of construction of the present generation of nuclear power plants provides an excellent opportunity for the NRC.to reexamine the question of how best to achieve quality ~in design, manufacture, and construction.
Because of the great reliance placed by the NRC Staff on extensive and 1
expensive formal quality assurance (QA) programs, it is important that we attempt' to determine whether these QA programs deserve credit for actually achieving quality in the constructed plant.
It now is assumed that programmatic or implementation deficiencies in the QA '
program are indicative of corresponding deficiencies in the quality of the plant.
Conversely, it is assumed that if there are no defi-ciencies found in the QA program, the plant quality will be very high.
Unfortunately, we have been unable to determine that either of these assumptions is valid.
Because other countries with substantial nuclear power programs seem to have achieved levels of quality even higher than we have in the United States, and because most of those countries do not require or utilize the kind of quality assurance programs that we do, it would be informative to review and discuss with them their philosophies, procedures, and practices to achieve quality in their plants.
We recommend, therefore, that you consider the organization and sponsorship of an International-Wnrkshop on Quality in Design and Construction.
We would be happy-to provide. further thoughts on the-agenda for such a workshop and would be willing to participate in the planning to the extent that our resources permit.
Sincerely, bO1<vvb William Kerr Chairman 7706230tvfyA-