ML20217C786
| ML20217C786 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/08/1999 |
| From: | Brach E NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Combs F, Hayden E, Portner L NRC, NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9910140050 | |
| Download: ML20217C786 (5) | |
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4 UNITED STATES g'
j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001
- * *,o October 8, 1999 MEMORANDUM TO:
Elizabeth A. Hayden, Deputy Director, OPA Linda E. Portner, Deputy Director, OCA i
Frederick C. Combs, Deputy Director, OSP
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Glenn M. Tracy, Regional Operations Staff Chief, EDO
' John T. Larkins, Executive Director, ACNW Donald A. Cool, Director, IMNS, NMSS John T. Greeves, Director, DWM, NMSS i
Elizabeth O. Ten E 'ck Director, FCSS, NMSS
~
FROM:
E ire or Spent Fuel Project Office, NMSS
SUBJECT:
INVITATION TO PUBLIC MEETINGS ON SPENT FUEL SHIPPING CASK ACCIDENT STUDIES (MODAL STUDY 2) i The purpose of this memo is to inform you of two upcoming public workshops being sponsored by the Spent Fuel Project Office and to request your assistance. The workshops are the first step of a multi-year project SFPO is initiating, called Modal Study 2 on the performance of spent fuel transport casks in accidents. NRC previously studied this issue in the 1987 ' modal
- study,' that concluded that spent nuclear fuel cask designs would survive nearly all transportation accidents without releasing radioactive material to the environment. In the n9xt few years we will sponsor a follow-on study to assure the continued validity of the modal study i
conclusions. The goal of the workshops is to have roundtable discussions so that we can listen to and better understand any public concerns regarding spent nuclear fuel transport package safety.
Attached is an invitation to the meetings. SFPO intends to mail this invitation to several stakeholders and interested members of the public. As we have discussed with your staff, we are requesting your assistance in ensuring that we provide notifications to any and all appropriate parties. I would ask that your staff work with Robert Lewis of my staff to accomplish the notifications and to avoid duplication.
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, please contact Robert Lewis or Patricia Eng of my staff at (301) 415-8527 and (301) 415-8577, respectively.
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Attachment:
Draft invitation Letter cc: see attached list.
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9910140050 991008 PDR ORG NOMA
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O October 8, 1999 MEMORANDUM TO:
Elizabeth A. Hayden, Deputy Director, OPA Linda E. Portner, Deputy Director, OCA -
Frederick C. Combs, Deputy Director, OSP Glenn M. Tracy, Regional Operations Staff Chief, EDO
' John T. Larkins, Executive Director, ACNW Donald A. Cool, Director, IMNS, NMSS John T. Greeves, Director, DWM, NMSS Elizabeth O. Ten Eyck, Director, FCSS, NMSS FROM:
E. William Brach, Director (Original Signed by Spent Fuel Project Office, NMSS S. Shankman for:)
SUBJECT:
INVITATION TO PUBLIC MEETINGS ON SPENT FUEL SHIPPING CASK ACCIDENT STUDIES (MODAL STUDY 2)
The purpose of this memo is to inform you of two upcoming public workshops being sponsored by the Spent Fuel Project Office and to request your assistance. The workshops are the first step of a multi-year project SFPO is initiating, called Modal Study 2, on the performance of spent fuel transport casks in accidents. NRC previously studied this issue in the 1987 ' modal study,' that concluded that spent nuclear fuel cask designs would survive nearly all transportation accidents without releasing radioactive material to the environment. In the next few years we will sponsor a follow-on study to assure the continued validity of the modal study 3
conclusions. The goal of the workshops is to have roundtable discussions so that we can listen I
to and better understand any public concerns regarding spent nuclear fuel transport package safety.
Attached is an invitation to the meetings. SFPO intends to mail this invitation to several stakeholders and interested members of the public. As we have discussed with your staff, we
- are requesting your assistance in ensuring that we provide notifications to any and all j
appropriate parties. I would ask that your staff work with Robert Lewis of my staff to accomplish the notifications and to avoid duplication.
Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, please contact Robert Lewis or Patricia Eng of my staff at (301) 415-8527 and (301) 415-8577, respectively.
Attachment:
Draft invitation Letter
- cc: see attached list QLSTRIBUTION:
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NRC File Center PUBLIC SFPO rif NMSS r/f G:\\ Lewis \\transitr.wpd OFC:
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10/h/99 10/ f/99 10k/99 10/h9 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY j
f; cc:
M. Landau, OPA l
G. Smith, OEDO T. Madden, OCA L
C.W. Reamer, DWM. NMSS
' J. Kotra, DWM, NMSS S. Droggitis, OSP C. Haughney, IMNS, NMSS L Deering, ACNW J. Craig, RES T. King, RES E. Rossi, RES l
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p UNITED STATES y
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. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C.,30e86 4001 h
. INVITATION TO MEETINGS ON SPENT FUEL SHIPPING CASK ACCIDENT STUDIES p
(MODAL STUDY 2):
w The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Spent Fuel Project Office is initiating a study L
on spent nuclear fuel cask responses to severe transportation accidents. NRC would like to
^ inform you of the study and invite you to two public meetings that will launch the study.
NRC previously studied this issue iri the 1980s (see NUREG/CR-4829 and NUREG/BR-0111,z called the ' modal study *). The modal study looked at possible rail and highway accidents and concluded that spent nuclear fuel cask designs would survive nearly all transportation accidents without releasing radioactive material to the environment. About 1300 shipments of spent nuclear fuel have been made in NRC-certified packages,'with an exceptional safety record of no releases from~ accidents. However, a near-term increase in the number of shipments is likely, and this has focused increased attention on spent nuclear fuel shipment safety. Despite the previous studies and very good safety record, some stakeholders have questions or concerns regarding spent nuclear fuel transport package safety.
NRC used the original modal study as part of the evidence that NRC's regulatory approach and requirements in 10 CFR Part 71 are sufficient to provide for adequate protection of public health and safety. The results of the modal study are often used in documents that support NRC
< decisions including environmental impact statements that deal with the risks of accidents during
. spent fuel transportation.
Over the next few years we will revisit the conclusions of the,1987. modal study to assure their' j
continued validity. Risk insights obtained using modern analysis techniques, physical testing, and through interaction with stakeholders and the public, will support NRC's ongoing efforts to
- assure that its regulatory actions are risk-informed and effective. Ongoing public interactions throughout this project will help ensure that public concerns are effectively identified and understood, and that the project is designed considering _these issues.
As the first step, NRC will conduct public meetings with the goal of having open, constructive
. discussions by stakeholders so that we can listen to and better understand any public concerns i
regarding spent nuclear fuel transport package safety. Information obtained will be used to
' further develop this project. The first meeting will be held on November 17,1999, at the Bethesda Hyatt Hotel, One Bethesda Metro, Bethesda, MD, from 8 AM to 6 PM. ' A second i
' meeting will be held on December 8,1999, at the Henderson Convention Center,200 Water i
Street. Henderson, NV from 8 AM to 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM to' TO PM.
~
The public meetings will be conducted in a "roundtable" format. - In order to have a manageable
- discussion, the number of participants around the table will, of necessity, be limited. NRC, through the facilitator for the meeting, will. attempt to ensure broad participation by the broad spectrum of interests at the meeting, including citizen and environmental groups, nuclear industry interests, state, tribal, and local govemments, experts from academia, or other agencies. Other members of the public are welcome to attend, and the public will have the opportunity to comment on each agenda item to be discussed by the roundtable participan's.
Attachment
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A World Wide Web site is being established for dissemination of project information to the l
. stakeholders and interested members of the public. This site can be found at htto://ttd.sandia.oov/nrc/ modal.htm. Additionalinformation on the public meetings can currently
' be found on the NRC's site, http://www.nrc. gov!NRC/PUBLIC/ meet.html) or by calling Mr.
Robert Lewis on (301) 415-8527 '
Sincerely,
- E. William Brach, Director Spent Fuel Project Office Office of Nuclear Material Safety j
and Safeguards i
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