Press Release-12-097, NRC Finalizes Guidance Documents for Post-Fukushima Requirements

Press Release-12-097: NRC Finalizes Guidance Documents for Post-Fukushima Requirements

ML12244A072
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Issue date:	08/31/2012
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-12-097
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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.12-097 August 31, 2012 NRC FINALIZES GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS FOR POST-FUKUSHIMA REQUIREMENTS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) to U.S.

nuclear power plants to ensure proper implementation of three Orders the agency issued in March, in response to lessons learned from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident.

The ISGs represent acceptable approaches to meeting the Orders requirements before their Dec. 31, 2016, compliance deadline. The ISGs are not mandatory, but U.S. nuclear power plants would have to seek NRC approval if they wanted to follow a different compliance approach. The NRC issued draft versions of the ISGs on May 31 and asked for public input; the final ISGs reflect information gained from the month-long comment period and subsequent public meetings.

The first Order requires all U.S. plants to better protect portable safety equipment put in place after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and to obtain sufficient equipment to support all reactors and spent fuel pools at a given site simultaneously. The ISG for this Order endorses the industrys updated guidance for dealing with a scenario that knocks out all of a plants alternating current electric sources. The updated approach includes the use of backup power supplies for devices that would burn off accident-generated hydrogen before it could accumulate to explosive levels.

The staff concludes the updted approach will successfully implement the Order. The ISG is available in the NRCs electronic document database, ADAMS, under accession number ML12229A174; the associated industry document is available under accession number ML12242A378.

The second Order applies only to U.S. boiling-water reactors that have Mark I or Mark II containment designs. Mark I reactors must improve installed venting systems that help prevent core damage in the event of an accident; Mark II reactors must install these venting systems. The ISG for this Order provides more detailed technical information on the vents, as well as how vent designs and operating procedures should avoid, where possible, relying on plant personnel taking actions under hazardous conditions. The second ISG is available in ADAMS under accession number ML12229A475.

The third Order requires all plants to install enhanced equipment for monitoring water levels in each plants spent fuel pool. The ISG for this Order largely endorses an industry document that the staff concludes will successfully implement the Order. The ISG defines in

more detail the water levels the new equipment must accurately report, as well as standards for equipment mounting, powering and testing, personnel training and other criteria. The final ISG notes several areas, including instrument qualifications and instrument protection from falling debris, where the industry revised its initial approach. An exception in the staffs endorsement sets specific seismic criteria to ensure the instruments will survive an earthquake. This ISG is available in ADAMS under accession number ML12221A339; the associated industry document is available under accession number ML12240A304.

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