ML25196A126
| ML25196A126 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/08/1978 |
| From: | Lawroski S Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Udall M US HR, Comm on Interior & Insular Affairs |
| References | |
| Download: ML25196A126 (1) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS WASHINGTON, O. C. 20555 June 8, 1978 The Honorable Morris K. Udall, Chairman Corranittee on Interior and Insular Affairs United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congress~an Udall:
The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has considered the suggestion in your letter of January 27, 1978 for establishrrent of an independent, quasi-judicial board,. patterned after the National Trans-portation Safety Board (NTSB), for accident analysis within the con-text of the current nuclear regulatory process.
The Committee considered also the questions which you raised concerning the role of the ACRS vis-a-vis such a Board, should it be created.
Discussions with representatives of the NTSB's Bureau of Accident Investi-gation have indicated that, although the NTSB is responsible for investi-gating accidents in surface, air, and marine transportation, the criteria, procedures, and scope of the investigations vary depending on the specific mode of transportation involved. Air transport events, however, represent the bulk of NTSB work and range from minor incidents to serious accidents.
It probably is the most well established area of NTSB's responsibility.
In response to your inquiry the ACRS compared the nuclear power program requirements with air transportation investigation procedures.
While the NTSB reports on all aviation accidents, the bulk of the investi-gations, which are concerned with minor accidents or incidents, are dele-gated to the FM, the involved regulatory agency.
NTSB investigations are reserved for major accidents, generally involving fatalities.
Analo-gous major accidents have not occurred in corrnnercial nuclear power plant operation.
Indeed, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the ACRS devote a significant effort to reviewing operational experiences, proposed changes in operating procedures, and plant design features intended to forestall such accidents and continuing discussion of this process with the NRC Staff is planned.
For this reason, the ACRS believes that exist-ing institutional arrangements are adequate for the range of incidents thus far experienced in nuclear power plant operation.
Should there be 1885
The Honorable Morris K. Udall 2 -
June 8, 1978 an accident comparable in magnitude and significance to those now investi-gated by NTSB, it is within the mandate of the ACRS to conduct a compre-hensive and independent investigation of it.
Therefore, our opinion is that no need exists to establish an independent board to carry out this function.
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Stephen Lawroski Chairman 1886