Press Release-11-202, NRC Takes Action on Japan Near-Term Task Force Safety Recommendations
| ML11293A030 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/20/2011 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
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| Category:Press Release | |
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| Press Release-11-202 | |
| Download: ML11293A030 (2) | |
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NRC TAKES ACTION ON JAPAN NEAR-TERM TASK FORCE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has directed the agencys staff to begin immediately implementing seven safety recommendations from the NRCs Near-Term Task Force on lessons learned from the reactor accident at Fukushima. The seven recommendations are among 12 comprehensive safety recommendations presented by the Task Force to the Commission in July.
I am pleased that the Commission has taken this first step in responding to and implementing the safety recommendations of the Task Force, said NRC Chairman Gregory B.
Jaczko. My colleagues and I expect that within five years, and significantly sooner in some cases, the staff will have enhanced our already robust safety standards by carrying out these recommendations.
The NRC staff reviewed the Task Forces July 12 report and provided a proposal to the Commission that selected the seven recommendations as most appropriate for immediate action.
The recommendations cover issues including the loss of all A/C electrical power at a reactor (also called station blackout), reviews of seismic and flooding hazards, emergency equipment and plant staff training.
In keeping with the agencys regulatory actions over the past few years, such as mitigation strategy requirements, the Commission called on the staff to utilize performance-based standards in any new or revised regulations wherever possible. Performance-based requirements specify the objective or result to be attained, rather than prescribing to licensees how the objective or result is to be attained.
For the recommendation calling for a new station blackout rule, the Commission set a goal of completing the rulemaking process by April 2014.
The station blackout rulemaking is an achievable goal, said Chairman Jaczko. It will, however, be complicated by the Commissions direction to initiate the rulemaking through an advance notice of rulemaking, rather than as a proposed rule. This will add an extra step to the process. Nevertheless, addressing station blackout is a high priority, and I will do my best to lead the staff in accomplishing this effort.
NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov No.11-202 October 20, 2011
In its reports to the Commission in September, and again in early October, the staff endorsed virtually all of the Task Forces recommendations. The October staff review also proposed additional steps beyond the Task Force recommendations, which touch on safety issues such as spent fuel storage and emergency planning. The remaining Task Force recommendations, along with the additional recommendations, are currently pending with the Commission.
The Commissions memo to the staff is available on the NRCs website.
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