ML20217J214
| ML20217J214 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/13/1997 |
| From: | Larkins J Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Togo Y JAPAN |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20217J161 | List: |
| References | |
| ACRS-3063, NUDOCS 9708140075 | |
| Download: ML20217J214 (1) | |
Text
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,f %, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMIS$10N
, g i ADVISORY oOMMITTEE ON RE ACTCR SAFE 0VARD8 WASHINGTON,0. c. so665 May 13, 1997 ,
Dr. Yasumasa Togo Chairman, Nuclear safety Commission science and Technology Agency 2-2-1 Kasumigasaki, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100, Japan Dear Dr. Togo We recently talked to representatives from the German RSX Committee and the French GPR Committee, and we agreed that
-the preferred dates for the Quadripartite Meeting should be January 19-23, 1998.
We would appreciate being kept advised of your progress in develo; ping a final agenda for this meeting. It is important for us to xnow what items will be on the agenda in order to determine which of our members should attend. We anticipate that a ma-}ority of our ACRS members (approximately 7-8) may want to attend. In addition, we will require some time to prepare for the meeting and get the requests approved, sincerely, Es / bt a- .
John T. Larkins F.xecutive Director cc: Dr. A. Birkhofer Dr. A. Cogne' .
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9708140075 970612 l PDR ACRS 3063 PDR l i
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,A o o o ' ,- May 28. 1997 i
R. L Seele, Chairman Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 0001
SUBJECT:
ESTABUSHING A BENCHMARK ON RISK DURING LOW POWER AND SHUTDOWN OPERATIONS
Dear Chairman Seale:
Thank you for youf letter of April 18,1997, in which you raised a number of concems related to the risk posed by low power and shutdown operations at nuclear power plants. You recommended that the staff undertake a well planned, deliberate eMort, with extensive peer review, to develop technologies needed to benchmstk risk, and address in the benchmarking a representative range of plant types as well as all phases of low power and shutdown operations.
I share the concems you raised regarding repeated events during shutdown operations and the changes being made in plant operations due to economic forces. The staff is being guided by nsk insights in its eMorts to develop a rule to address shutdown operations. I
, intend to forward a proposed rule to the Commission by the end of July 1997 and have directed the staff to meet with the ACRS following resolution of public comments to discuss the final rule in addition, substantial domestic and intemational work has been done in this ares that can provide valuable input to our future course of action. In determining whether further work is needed, we have looked at what was leamed from the two NRC studier, (see References 1 and 2) and other NRC activities. We have concluded that the timely issuance of a rule addressing shutdown nsks is warranted To that end, we are developing a revised proposed I
shutdown rule that will account for public comments received on the previously proposed rule The considerable effort entailed in developing a benchmark for shutdown risk would expend !
c signdicant agency resources. Further, we believe that more detailed benchmarking is not necessary to support a rulemaking on shutdown.
Finally, the staff has concluded that a new rulemaking on the risk dunng low power l operations is not warranted, because existing regulations and technical specifications already ensure the availability of critical systems during low power coerstions.
Sincerely, L. .hseph Callan l Exq cutive Director to Operations ,
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