ML21215A329
| ML21215A329 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/03/2021 |
| From: | Lundy Pressley NRC/NRR/DRA/APOB |
| To: | Antonios Zoulis NRC/NRR/DRA/APOB |
| Pressley L | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML21215A384 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML21215A329 (5) | |
Text
August 3, 2021 MEMORANDUM TO: Antonios Zoulis, Chief PRA Oversight Branch Division of Risk Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: Lundy Pressley, Reliability and Risk Analyst /RA/
PRA Oversight Branch Division of Risk Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JUNE 22, 2021 PUBLIC MEETING TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY RISK-INFORMED STEERING COMMITTEE On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a public meeting between the NRC and industry Risk-Informed Steering Committee (RISC). The Observation type meeting was conducted virtually. The meeting notice is available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), at Accession Number ML21141A269.
The NRC presentation used to facilitate discussions during the meeting is available in ADAMS at Accession Number ML21172A234. The industry representatives that participated in the meeting did not use presentations to support their topics. The list of meeting participants is provided as an enclosure to this document. Staff did not receive any public meeting feedback forms related to this meeting.
Both the NRC and industry provided opening remarks and discussed the agenda. During the meeting the staff provided status updates on High Energy Arc Faults (HEAFs), Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Acceptability, Expanded Integration of FLEX, Future RISC Focus Areas, and the Fall Risk Forum. Details on each of these topics are described on the following pages. The meeting was approximately 1.5 hours5.787037e-5 days <br />0.00139 hours <br />8.267196e-6 weeks <br />1.9025e-6 months <br /> in length.
Enclosures:
List of Meeting Attendees CONTACT: Lundy Pressley, NRR/DRA/APOB 404-997-4621
A. Zoulis High Energy Arc Fault Update The NRC provided the status on the Aluminum (Al) HEAF issue, building on a previously communicated resolution path, (ADAMS Accession Number ML20336A228). The NRC stated that the Al HEAF issue continues to be a high priority item and that the joint NRC/EPRI Working Group is close to completing several technical products. The NRC reiterated the benefits of continued and additional industry collaboration for timely and satisfactory resolution of the issue.
The NRC mentioned that the latest EPRI industry survey report on Al HEAF identified a subset of operating plants that would need further evaluation. An anticipated schedule for resolution, based on the expectation of industry collaboration in assessments, was also provided.
NEI expressed concern that the NRC is expending resources on an issue they perceive as not safety significant. The NRC responded that while Al HEAF is not an immediate safety concern, it is premature for the NRC to draw regulatory conclusions on the issues safety significance.
PRA Acceptability Update The NRC discussed the ongoing work managing PRA Configuration Control. Specific to this discussion was an emphasis to continue to work with the industry regarding assessments of the gap between plant modifications and PRA maintenance and upgrades.
Industry representative emphasized the importance to work with and coordinate with the industry. Industry representative also stated that Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.200, revision 3, (ADAMS Accession Number ML20238B871), compliance was the preferred method for the fleet.
NRC staff agreed that licensees could benefit in moving to RG 1.200, revision 3, however, there is no requirement to move from RG 1.200, revision 2, (ADAMS Accession Number ML090410014) to revision 3.
NRC staff stated that at present, PRA acceptability outreach has been performed at one site with the desire to understand how the process is currently conducted. At present there are no issues identified or an increased need for urgency, however, NRC staff considers this a proactive effort.
Expanded Integration of FLEX The industry representative discussed the derecho event associated with Duane Arnold and specifically emphasized the Safety benefits FLEX can provide. The industry noted there is still work to do to finalize reliability data but noted that it appears that reliability is on an improving trajectory.
The industry noted that most utilities have taken one of three approaches; those that are proactively implementing flex, those that have implemented flex and are meeting the requirements but without additional actions, and finally those that taking a mixed, middle ground approach somewhere between proactive and meeting the requirements. The industry asked what insights NRC has obtained from integrating FLEX into SPAR models. NRC staff responded that NRC staff conducted some analysis using the FLEX SPAR information and is open to sharing that information in future meetings, however, the hazards are very site specific and cannot be applied generically. However, NRC staff are generally seeing an order of magnitude improvement in risk.
A. Zoulis Future RISC Focus Areas The industry discussed opportunities to engage and share information both with the NRC and industry on future risk-informed topics and emphasized the continuation of working collaboratively. The industry identified the following specific areas: risk-informing 50.59 screenings, ultimate heat sink technical specification limits, risk-informing the review of topical reports and emergency planning zones.
NRC staff commented that the outcome of continued engagement via workshops and public meetings has been positive and progress has been made in enhancing risk-informed decision making at the agency and industry. NRC staff also discussed that the best way to work through issues and to continue the work described above is likely via a workshop forum.
Fall Risk Forum Discussion The NRC staff discussed the tentative dates for the Fall Risk Forum, of September 23, 2021.
The virtual meeting will be an internal forum with invited stakeholders. The meeting will be an opportunity to hear from both NRC staff and external stakeholders about the operating fleet status and current PRA practices.
Closing Remarks The public was given an opportunity to ask questions or make comments, and no one chose to do so. The NRC RISC chair then thanked the participants for the good discussion and detailed how the meeting was an opportunity to hear and understand each others perspectives. The industry representatives commented that they appreciated the interaction. The meeting was then closed.
ML21215A329 via email NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DRA/APOB NRR/DRA/APOB: BC*
NAME LPressley AZoulis DATE 8/02/2021 8/03/2021 LIST OF MEETING ATTENDEES Attendee Affiliation Anderson, Victoria NEI Araguas, Christian NRC Basso, Thomas NEI Brackbill, Anneli NRC Church, Chris Xcel Energy Williams, Cindy BWXT Nuclear Energy Franovich, Mike NRC True, Doug NEI Coffin, Stephanie NRC Stein, Adam Eklund, Gunnar NRC Ferrante, Fernando EPRI Uhle, Jennifer NEI Julka, Anil K. NextEra King, Mike NRC Voelsing, Kelli EPRI Lacal, Maria L. APS Nicholson, Larry NextEra Leech, Matthew NRC Linthicum, Roy R. Exelon Nuclear Melly, Nick NRC Miller, Ed NRC Nolan, Chris Duke Energy Burg, Robert EPM Rafferty-Czinila, Shannon B. Exelon Nuclear Gaston, Ron Entergy Rosenberg, Stacey NRC Stone, Jeffrey L. Exelon Nuclear Lawrence, Svetlana INL Thaggard, Mark NRC Vanover, Donald Vasavada, Shilp NRC Salley, MarkHenry NRC Vaughan, Jordan L. Duke Energy Walker, Shakur NRC Weerakkody, Sunil NRC Whitman, Jennifer NRC Zach, Andrew EPW Zoulis, Antonios NRC Bergman, Jana Curtis Wright Powell, Michael E. APS