RIS 2002-01, Changes to NRC Participation in the International Nuclear Event Scale
| ML013200502 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/14/2002 |
| From: | Cool D, Matthews D NRC/NMSS/IMNS, Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs |
| To: | |
| Fields, E, NRC/NRR/DRIP/REXB, 415-1173 | |
| References | |
| TAC MB2864 RIS-02-001 | |
| Download: ML013200502 (6) | |
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, DC 20555-0001 January 14, 2002 NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARY 2002-01:
CHANGES TO NRC PARTICIPATION IN THE
INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR EVENT SCALE
ADDRESSEES
All NRC licensees and certificate holders.
INTENT
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this regulatory issue summary (RIS)
to inform addressees of impending changes in the NRCs level of participation in the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES). This RIS does not transmit any new requirements or staff positions and does not require any specific action or written response.
BACKGROUND
The INES promotes prompt and consistent communication regarding the safety significance of reported events at nuclear installations by defining a consistent framework and common terminology for describing events to the nuclear community, the media, and the public. The INES was designed and developed by an international group of experts convened jointly by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The group was guided in its work by the findings of a series of international meetings held to discuss general principles underlying such a scale. The INES also reflects the experience gained from the use of similar scales in France and Japan, as well as consideration of possible scales in several other countries.
The INES classifies events at several levels. Events of greater safety significance (levels 4-7)
are termed "accidents," while events of lesser safety significance (levels 1-3) are termed
"incidents," and those of no safety significance (level 0 or below) are termed " deviations." A
description of the INES, including an explanation of the various classification levels, can be found at <http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/inforesource/factsheets/ines.html>.
The NRC has participated in the INES in a limited fashion since 1993. The NRC issued Generic Letter 92-09, Limited Participation by NRC in the IAEA International Events Scale, dated December 12, 1992, to inform licensees that the agency had agreed to use the INES to rate all reactor events that result in the declaration of an Alert or higher emergency classification. Pursuant to that decision, from February 1993 through September 2001, the NRC transmitted a total of 32 reactor-related INES reports to the IAEA.
SUMMARY OF ISSUE
In order to be even more responsive to international stakeholders, the NRC has elected to increase its participation by evaluating all reported nuclear events (reactor, fuel cycle, materials, and transportation events) for possible rating on the INES. Medical misadministrations are outside the scope of the INES and will not be reviewed by the NRC for possible rating. Only events rated at Level 2 or higher will be reported to the IAEA, unless another member country specially requests the rating of a particular event. The NRC estimates that this reporting threshold will result in approximately one reactor report and fewer than five materials reports being filed per year. The NRC staff is unaware of any negative impact upon licensees as a result of the NRCs participation in the INES to date, and the agency expects that its increased level of participation in the INES will have a negligible effect on licensees or State and local governments.
Licensees should continue to report events in accordance with the regulations. The change in policy regarding the NRCs level of participation in the INES is merely a response to increasing interest by foreign government agencies and media in events occurring at facilities in the United States. The INES is not intended to supersede the existing four-tiered emergency classification system described in NUREG-0654, Revision 1,Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants, February 2001. Nonetheless, many countries throughout the world have adopted the INES as a consistent framework for communicating the significance of events involving nuclear facilities.
BACKFIT DISCUSSION
This RIS does not require any action or written response, or any modification to plant structures, systems, components, or facility design; therefore, the staff did not perform a backfit analysis.
FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION
This RIS is informational and pertains to a staff position that does not represent a departure from current regulatory requirements and practice. Consequently, the staff did not publish a notice of opportunity for public comment in the Federal Register.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT
This RIS does not request addressees to collect any information and therefore is not subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. If you have any questions about this matter, please telephone or e-mail the technical contact listed below.
/RA/ /RA/
Donald A. Cool, Director David B. Matthews, Director Division of Industrial and Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards Technical contact: Robert J. Stransky, Jr., IRO
301-415-6411 E-mail: rjs3@nrc.gov Attachment: List of Recently Issued NRC Regulatory Issue Summaries
ML013200502 OFFICE IRO IRO IRO TECH EDITOR D:IRO
NAME RJStransky* NLMamish* JJHolonich* 0 RHWessman*w/comments DATE 09/25/2001 10/04/2001 10/18/2001 09/10/01 11/23/2001 OFFICE SP NMSS D:NMSS SC:REXB RORP
NAME PLohaus* MASitek* DACool* JRTappert* WBeckner*
DATE 12/07/2001 01/02/2002 01/03/2002 12/12/2001 01/10/2002 OFFICE D:DRIP
NAME DBMatthews*
DATE 01/14/2002
Attachment LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED
NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARIES
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Regulatory Issue Date of Summary No. Subject Issuance Issued to
_____ _______________________________________________________________________________
2001-25 NEI-099-02, Revision 2, Voluntary 12/12/2001 All holders of operating licenses Submission of Performance for nuclear power reactors, except Indicator Data those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel.
2001-24 Status of Receipt of NRC Mail 12/06/2001 All NRC licensees Following the Closing of the Brentwood Postal Facility
2001-23 Resetting Fault Exposure Hours 12/03/2001 All holders of operating licenses for Safety System Unavailability for nuclear power reactors, except Performance Indicators those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel
2001-22 Attributes of A Proposed No 11/20/2001 All holders of operating licenses Significant Hazards Consideration for nuclear power reactors, Determination including those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel
2001-21 Licensing Action Estimates for 11/16/2001 All power reactor licensees, Operating Reactors including those that have elected to permanently cease operations and have submitted certifications pursuant to Title 10, Section
50.82(a)(1), of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR
50.82(a)(1))
2001-20 Revisions to Staff Guidance for 11/14/2001 All holders of operating licenses Implementing NRC Policy on for nuclear power reactors, except Notices of Enforcement Discretion those who have permanently ceased operations and have
______________________________________________________________________________________
OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit