NRC Generic Letter 84-03, Availability of NUREG-0933, "A Prioritization of Generic Safety Issues"

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WASHINGTON. D. C. 20553

January 13, 1984

TO ALL LICENSEES OF OPERATING REACTORS, APPLICANTS FOR OPERATING LICENSES, AND HOLDERS OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITS

Gentlemen:

SUBJECT: AVAILABILITY OF NUREG-0933 "A PRIORITIZATION OF GENERIC SAFETY ISSUES" (Generic Letter 84-03)

This letter is to inform you that NUREG-0933, "A Prioritization of Generic Safety Issues," will be published in January, 1984, and may be purchased by calling (301) 492-9530 or by writing to the NRC/GPO Sales Program, Division of Technical Information and Document Control, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, or purchased from the National Technical Information Service, Department of Commerce, 5258 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. This report presents the priority rankings for a large number of generic safety issues related to nuclear power plants. The purpose of these rankings is to assist in the timely and efficient allocation of NRC resources for the resolution of those safety issues that have a significant potential for reducing risk. The safety priority rankings of HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW, and DROP have been assigned on the basis of risk significance estimates, the ratio of risk to costs and other impacts estimated to result if resolutions of the safety issues were implemented, and the consideration of uncertainties and other quantitative or qualitative factors, as discussed in the Introduction of the report. To the extent practical, estimates are quantitative.

The report does not contain any new requirements or guidance for licensees or applicants but does list and briefly describe, for the purpose of completeness, some of the safety issues that have been resolved and were previously issued as requirements or guidance. Although changes to nuclear power plant designs or operation are assumed, the sole purpose in prioritizing the issues is to estimate costs and other impacts that might result if such changes were implemented.

It is suggested that you review the safety issues listed in the report that have been removed from further consideration by the NRC (i.e., those issues with LOW or DROP priority rankings) or are in the process of resolution (i.e., those issues nearly resolved or with a HIGH or MEDIUM priority ranking). The purpose of your review would be to identify those issues that may have particular significance for your nuclear power plants. The priority rankings in the report are based on generic assessments, i.e., assessments of plants thought to be typical of a class of,plants. Thus, the safety significance of an issue might be greater or less) for a specific plantbecause of features of the design or operation that are different from those assumed in the generic assessments. Based on your review, you may decide that some actions may be appropriate pending resolution by the NRC.

No reply to this letter is required, except in those instances where you may decide that action related to some safety issue is needed and would requite a modification of your Technical Specifications, license, or application in accordance with Paragraphs 50.90 and 50.91 of 10 CFR Part 50.

Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director Division of Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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