ML20216C936
| ML20216C936 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/22/1998 |
| From: | Mcgaffigan E NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Cotter B Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9805190449 | |
| Download: ML20216C936 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES
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g NUCLEAR RF.GULATORY COMMISSION COMSECY-98-010 5
l ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD PANEL WASHINGTON D.C. 20555-0001 s
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April 7,1998
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e MEMC'?ANDUM TO: Chairman Jackson Chief Administrative Judge
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B. Paul Cotter, Jr. j date Initials
SUBJECT:
EXPERTS NEEDED FOR PLANT LIFE EXTENSION CASES..........,,
Pursuant to our April 3,1998 discussion, I asked three technical members of the Panel, Judges Kline, Kelber and Murphy, to consider whether the ASLBP needs additional expert membere to adjudicate the technical issues that could arise in the upcoming plant life extension caser.
They concluded that:
1.
The existing members of either the full-time or part-time groups have sufficient expertise to resolve the majority of potential issues; 2.
Resolution of one class of issues, those related to material aging, such as polymers, and corrosion, could benefit from assistance in such disciplines as materials science or materials engineering; and 3.
A materials scientist would be of important assistance in the forthcoming high-level waste (HLW) case because of the recent developing interest in the long term integrity of waste packages under corrosive conditions.
in reaching their conclusions, the judges consulted all of the full-time technical members, reviewed the expertise available from the full-time and part-time rosters, reviewed issues in the Diablo Canyon license ree?pture case, and reviewed applicable portiocs of the regulations goveming plant life extension.
All of the technical members believe that our existing capabilities are adequate to handle plant life extension cases because of their similarity to reactor licensing cases. However, none disagreed that a materials scientist could be useful in these cases and would be helpful in the HLW case. The expertise currently available from full-time panel members is probably adequate to adjudicate license extension cases, but the absence of any one of several members would lead to a serious gap. Broad scale engineering expertise resides as well within several part-time members.'
'In addition, there are individuals on our Register of candidates qualified for appointment to the Panel with chemical engineering expertise which might include corrosion chemistry and
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