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| issue date = 07/21/1999
| issue date = 07/21/1999
| title = NRC Response to Nuclear Energy Institute on September 14, 1998, Concerning NRC Enforcement Guidance Memorandum 98-008, Disposition of Violations of Appendix R, Sections Iii.G and Iii.L, Regarding Circuit Failures.
| title = NRC Response to Nuclear Energy Institute on September 14, 1998, Concerning NRC Enforcement Guidance Memorandum 98-008, Disposition of Violations of Appendix R, Sections Iii.G and Iii.L, Regarding Circuit Failures.
| author name = Collins S J
| author name = Collins S
| author affiliation = NRC/NRR
| author affiliation = NRC/NRR
| addressee name = Colvin J
| addressee name = Colvin J
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=Text=
=Text=
{{#Wiki_filter:4H (4 ! i, ; ,- , "::; ,:, )UNITEDsttES NUCLEAR, REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. ="-m&Oi July 2 .1.99.9 MrJoseph Ivln 4......, I
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* r , '' .-I ' l .. .7,. + + ., .., .-, : < + + .+ .; , + + , -+ .r + ' .P resdent&#xfd;andCEO
4H UNITEDsttES NUCLEAR, REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. ="-m&Oi July 2               . 1.99.9 MrJoseph 4.....Ivln
,........The Nguclear y EneryInstitute,.
                            . , I r *     ,         ''* .- ..       .7,.
17761 .t ret, NW, SuiteAQ .-, +.&#xa3;erM.Colvin*:, .3 ,r 0 I am aespondirgto the, letter .....iebran, ffice.of Enf ..,nt'(OE);,fh, 1 on Setehmer1,4  
I ' l              +     +.
.1.998,,coneihg AheUS:uc~(Rib~~y~imsin's (NRC's)_:Enforcbmen Guidance,, n,"~g ~ .S NDeaiespi uy Cm:~Secton~ll. , ,Meoraidun (GM)987Q02' pipo~t6nf Violations.
P resdent&#xfd;andCEO ,........                                                        , * .             . , . -,   :   < + + .+   .       ;   , +         + , *              -
6f Appedndix R,..Ill. .Regarding Citc~it Failures., 'Y6..sugjestd  
* The Nguclear                    EneryInstitute,.y
'that "he t NR:old in abeyance enforcerment ,action~s per~tain~ing to vioI~tibnr'o 6fAppendix R stemtTiinig from fire-induce circuit failure vulnerabilities until the NRC revises the regulatory requirements or accep~ts an I~ndustry approach.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                + . r   + * ' .
You, further. stated ~that if &#xfd;enforcement.
17761.t             ret, NW, SuiteAQ                                       .     -,           +.
action is deemed necessary; te N Ush exercise o ntil a: +p-e u' ; ' '+gui anc,+ is establis.hed'andythat th-e JMJCsho'6Ld b us a, risk infeomtirn lafin-,0+fnftorcement iC .. ..R om Fre. ......dl~e s'esth~..
                                        &#xa3;erM.Colvin*:,                   . ,r                                             0 3
th. B.rui *i .... ....e wit ........ moor r'2Eno~eae.vaemen, t~u dance+deo asndu(Gl) 98-002,c~
I am   aespondirgto the, letter                                           .....                        . iebran,     .                 ,ntirect*o,
h~sotshUon of ula~esut in as o puenous permiSsiesignal.G and a I.LZega~rdated Jan'cutar tec hnica isses NRha1dlng IN 921 :.ya~nd, contaceirns' pthatithestaf rview1aindinsf of the~ technica aird cca' iit. I Mequrepontse d*.++ acrcepts an997,ein teaprat he u staoti that thepren foreet ieionu circt fues t o'frrotec iosary, glhe lo sC Th~olexet rcmeasrtionncude n the a eneclosreso ton oothelter aprovidesthe' Isuda -.setbsed Ea8-0 nd Marha2198 toeRC shoude ue nsformenttuidnc concearnig inspctiont
                          '(OE);,fh,   1on Setehmer1,4 .1.998,,coneihgAheUS:uc~(Rib~~y~imsin's ffice.of Enf
:'requ"remntso.In thre,, aeMthicenseets st that-the ECMrlO 'soultedbeth certains i tor-geneic6m lette w'asI no ete' iss ed. ja Th.gerstdvaff uedWt Post-F oire SfeSutdownCiruitinasuos,':
_:Enforcbmen Guidance,,                                                       n,"~g ~ .S NDeaiespi                                                                                                         (NRC's)
onJnep3199ss.vs as y ioauknowr i , respoy6unetrtaisedefforts a o t uclregardlngyi IN a2-18 and expressed concefrs that the staff reviewanderic lepedin. the.echnican aodfhs safety Issues addressed in-iN,92-18"may constitutea p~ant-ispe..f `,&#xfd;, " -soonse ated'.+,MAirdh,1,!
Secton~ll. ,Meoraidun, (GM)987Q02' pipo~t6nfuyViolations.                                             Cm:~
11," f997,. ..reiterated the staff" ... o ition, that. th6, tnll.f rfr'd c dcic i alr s..., .. .... I, .,',".+ ,,+ ..+,,'rnui the acApbiility.
                        ..                     "he                    Ill. .Regarding Citc~it Failures., 'Y6..sugjestd                                                                                           6f    Appedndix R, abeyance enforcerment ,action~s per~tain~ing                                                                                                                   'that                  t NR:old                  in induce circuit failure vulnerabilities until the                                                to   vioI~tibnr'o         6fAppendix R stemtTiinig from fire-NRC revises the regulatory requirements or iC..accep~ts     .. Ranom      I~ndustry Fre. .approach.                       You,     further.
tr toachieve and aintain safe shutcown was withinte st e rco e of the eistlng pproprtein'ulatr ons, The Information .yncluded I n th nclosure to the letter provides the rgRC statf postoreqirtemardengtr heglardgtheprosetonffire-indused cirto sfailuppre.
r'2Eno~eae.vaemen,                                          . dl~e .      s'esth~..
Spbsequently,OE S II .issued EGM 98'-002 0n March 2;, 1998j"oipi6V~de enforcement guidance concerning inspection
                                                                                                  ...                    th.stated ~thatB.rui      if&#xfd;enforcement. action                                   is deemed necessary; te N                 t~udance+deo        Ush exerciseasndu(Gl) o 98-002,c~ *i .... e.... wit ntil a: h~sotshUon of
:
                                                                                                                                                                                              . .......                 moor permiSsiesignal.G gui anc,+is establis.hed'andythat and I.LZega~rdated                                                                                                        u' ula~esut +p-e              in o aspuenous  ; ' '+
drrispertaining to the inability to achieve and maintaih safe shutdown conditions due to..... .i+p. o shutdntia cieitye cinthe aintrm Itn the EGiMp the staff stated its intentions to issue an tote i..,+, nformation, notice followed by a generic letter to address questions about the regulatory
a                      th-eJan'cutarJMJCsho'    14lu99.7*Yyou.asued 6 Ld    us  b risk IN     921
,++-.requ.1remerts.
:.ya~nd, cca'    I iit. exrsedf*                                                                                                  a,        infeomtirn tec        hnica lafin-,0+fnftorcement isses NRha1dlng contaceirns'pthatithestaf                       rview1aindinsf                 p*ection of the~ Mequrepontse            technica aird d
In the EGM, the. staff also stated..that the EGM would be reconsidered if the : "generic letter was not issued. A............,...............
                    *.++ acrcepts an997,ein                         teaprat           he                   ustaoti                  that thepren foreetieionu requ"remntso.In thre,,                              aeMthicenseets                                                                                                                          circt fues to
                    'frrotec iosary,                       glhe lo sC Th~olexetrcmeasrtionncude                      stthat-the                    ECMrlO'soultedbeth n the a     eneclosreso ton oothelter aprovidesthe'         certains                tor-i Isuda Ea8-0             -.onJnep3199ss.vs setbsed                        Marha2198 nd          asy toeRC          ioauknowrshoude i respoy6unetrtaisedefforts
                                                                                                                                        ,ue nsformenttuidnc                          o t aconcearnig INa2-18 and safety             Issues addressedexpressed concefrs        in-iN,92-18"may     that theconstitutea uclregardlngyi  inspctiont            :'
staff reviewanderic    p~ant-ispe..f lepedin.                  flc*:ba    the.echnican
                                                                                                                                                                                                        `,&#xfd;," - soonse
          . +,MAirdh,1,!11," f997,.                     . reiterated                                                                                                                                                            aodfhs ated'
                                                                            .         the staff" ...           o ition,.. that. th6,.. ,*+,, tnll.f           h:,+.*
                                                                                                                                                                  .. I, rfr'd  .,',".+           ,,+ c dcic  ..   +,,' i      alr s...,
rnui the           acApbiility. trtoachieve and aintain pproprtein'ulatr                                                                                        safe shutcown was withinte st e ons, The     Information                                                                                                           rco of e theeistlng geneic6m              lette      w'asI      no                                                      .yncluded         n I     th       nclosure Th.gerstdvaff rgRC SII .issued statf                                                 iss esu.*wen991,s"Prblemsd postoreqirtemardengtr             ete'    ed.
EGM 98'-002 0n March heglardgtheprosetonffire-indused          ja Asocasnle,*iat to  the        letterprovides                  the 2;, 1998j"oipi6V~de                               uedWtPost-Fcirto enforcement                       SfeSutdownCiruitinasuos,':
oire guidance         sfailuppre.      Spbsequently,OE
+'......+'+**++:++        drrispertaining to the inability to achieve                                                                                                                           concerning                  inspection                :
and maintaih safe shutdown conditions due to.....             .i+
shutdntia
: p. o i..,+,
nformation,             cieitye                      cinthe byaintrm notice followed                         a generic     Itn the  letter   EGiMp        the staffquestions to address               stated itsabout            intentions
        - . requ.1remerts. In the EGM, the.                                                                                                                                                                   to issue antote the regulatory staff also stated..that the EGM would                                                                                                               ,++
: "generic letter was not issued.                                                                                                                                         be reconsidered if the                                          -i.*li A
_:_h.__sa__:__ssu_
_:_h.__sa__:__ssu_
_N 99-1_7, "Problems Associated With Post-Fire Safe Shutdown Circuit,+ ',,+ ... Ana!ys~es*,`,:  
_N
.. .6... n++June 3-&#xfd; 1999. As you know, In response to the efforts of the Nuclear Energy"''!
          +...',,+Ana!ys~es*,`,:
.ii+i!,Imttut:(E!'a~dthe Boiling Water Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) to address'the Is, ." jsssue, the sataf! deferred its plan to issue a generic letter pending completion of these ,.
                          .. .                 n++June 99-1_7, 6...                 3-&#xfd; 1999.       "Problems Associated With Post-Fire As you know, In response to the Safe Shutdown Circuit,
actlvties..
                  . ii+i!,Imttut:(E!'a~dthe Boiling Water                                                                                                     efforts of the Nuclear Energy"''!
After these Industry activities are completed, the staff will determine the' ' i',i; :iappropriate regulatory response, If any, needed.*to ensure that, licensee~s comply with, the reuirements regarding the protection.of, circuits needed to suppod post-fireae , : .,+
Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) ii~i*:    . jsssue,    Is, "               the sataf! deferred its plan to issue                                                                                             to address'the circuit!,*li a   generic         letter           pending               completion of these I'*L
In.the intedm,,,it Is importan~t-that:ficenseps continuea to pay a'ttentio'n to the t 9 9 7 7 0 2 '"99 0 7 2 1 ' ' " +'! !' * "' L !'' ' ' '..... +,+HUM*R+
        '*iindustry                    actlvties.. After these Industry activities                                                                                                                                                                 ,.
C,: ,,, +,,, L -,rOJ I II#
:iappropriate
issue of circuIt failures,, given the potentially significant conseq.uences that "can i,-rinadequately analyzed or proteed circuits.
              ',i;                           regulatory response, If any, needed.*toare completed, the staff will determine the' '                                                                                                                    i ensure that, licensee~s comply with,
For example, if " crcut analyss iapproprately x ,excludes  
                  +regulato*ryreuirements regarding the                                                                                                                                                                   the                       *I
:circuits from. rece6ivng the,*re qu!recdfe  
: .,+ **.,*sl!ut                                                                            protection.of, circuits needed to suppod
'protection or separationj
                              ............ *p*i'y..*
.the circusit could be vulnerable ir6:damage which. could adversely'c fect the abilit of aplt to oachieve and maintain safe shutdown.We recognize that some licensees disagree.
i,-*
with the NRC's interpetation of the requirements in this area anrd that the diffegrin.gews, need to be. resolved. .Ao preyously noted. to,,'chieve this resolution,.thestaff.has agreed to..cops!deOrendorsi':gpositiOns.proposed;.b&#xfd;',takeholders.
                                              ,............... In.the intedm,,,it                                                                                                                           post-fireae                      , **'
To t.he staff's knowledge; NEI ndtheBWIOG are jtieonly stakeolde'  
Is importan~t-that:ficenseps continuea to pay a'ttentio'n to the t 97 9     7 0       2             '"99 0 7 2       1 :;*    ,.**    '           ii:*          *       '
',A," pi gpositlins to Tresolve this.issue." "To allowV YE and the, BW,, tmeto 61 evelop. po'siionis that the, NRC can endore, the NRC willltemPoranly ef err aIl eformement acions perafr)rg to,.';nonconforrnancesin:this area. I he deferral eo ll a1pl 0for 180 da"!from the'date of this* tter. Johrn Hannon, 'H Chle fof .the l Sys.ems Branch, NRR,'discussed this time frame with DAVid MDdeen of your staff/n dttey ageed that S.'should all0, sufficient-time for the staff.and"NEI tO each agreement on acceptable a....achforresoln the issbei-'The staff also discussed progress and scheduling with tai of theBWROGfr The,180-day deferral period is consistent with the, BWROG's schedule.
C,:      ..... +,+HUM*R+                           "      * +'!    !' **"
Durng the 180-day deferral period, the NRC will,' on the basis of ,thecurrent staff position remy lette"o March11, 1997, dodument ,i"nonconformances as .apparerit violatdonss' The'staff will defer enforcement'actons for disputed apparent violations provided the affected hcenseesimplemeut reasonable compensatory
                                                                                                                                            ,,, +
...atonsfor the Identified vulnerabilities.
                                                                                                                                                  *    "'        L  !''                  '    '    "*          '
For fire-induced circuit failure nonconformances that are not disputed, the staff will take enforcement action consistent with the guidance provided in EGM 98-002, which has been modified as described herein.. If we have not reached agreement...onan.acceptable-approach for resolving this issue within the 180-day deferral period, the staff will resume application of the, modified EGM 98-002 guidance and of the NRC's Enforcement Policy -. " ,* ,,; l. le 1 ..pd3/4.. ,d 5 ' " ." -. 9 '' .... ."" .' * .~~J ~.def erring formal ac~t' dons 'pe~taihndng t tb-c~lcu -nl'l noifcon orrnance and to%'indIcatcte that:, IscretiohdWillbe exercised to not cite violations of the applicable requirements-regardless of who. identifies the -condition, provided;,kicensees take approprate compensatory actions.and:commit necessaranalyses and modificatio-ns in a.reasonable' timeproach-..w.
                                                                                                                                                                              ,,,         L -,rOJ                         I   II#             i++*.
ch.dfffers.
 
rom the curren EGM guidance that violations be cited iff, ..rame...., s.i,ap~p I' vola ios.,..e i.
issue of circuIt failures,, given the potentially i,-rinadequately analyzed or proteed circuits. significant conseq.uences that "can rstultfr*o.
by ' 'th- applied in the recent St. Lucie and'River Bend cases ( EAs 98-513 and 98-460, r&#xfd;pecti'vely).
For example,   "if       crcut analyss iapproprately
This discretion will be exercised until proper generic notification to the industry occ6rs and licensees have sufficient time to respond to the notification.
                          ,excludes x            :circuits from. rece6ivng the,*re qu!recdfe 'protection vulnerable to'1*ir6:damage which. could adversely'c                                 or separationj . the circusit could be maintain safe shutdown.                                                  fect the abilit of aplt tooachieve and Werecognize that some licensees disagree.
The staff does not Intend to revisit past cases in which enforcement actions have been dispositioned.
with the NRC's interpetation of the requirements this area anrd that the diffegrin.gews, need                                                                                           in to be. resolved. .Ao preyously noted. to,,'chieve resolution,.thestaff.has agreed to..cops!deOrendorsi':gpositiOns.proposed;.b&#xfd;',takeholders.                                       this t.he staff's knowledge; NEI ndtheBWIOG are jtieonly stakeolde' ',A,"             pi gpositlins To      to Tresolve this.issue." "To allowVYE and the,           61 endore, the NRC willltemPoranly ef err                    BW,,           tmeto     evelop. po'siionis that the, NRC can nonconforrnancesin:this area. I he deferral aIl eformement acions perafr)rg to,.';
If li e s e s a i e h. i t .. , .... ., d i~i' If licensees, after~eintenr~n~180-day period, continue to maintain that their facilities are not I',,' bound by thetaE ,cable.re.quirementsantd choose not to perform necessary analyses and.modifications, NC wllapply the. normal Enforcement Policy, including sanctions., as warranted.,', , .'Each case will have to be evaluated on its own merits. The reasonableness of the "
eo         ll a1pl 0for 180 da"!from the'date of this
is expected e to lbe based on thejsafety significance of the :,the established qutageo gtcedule, and the scope of modifications necessary.c Compensatory, measures will normally be acceptable as an interim measure, but the circuit i!.iii..4',4, vulneraboiesrmust be resolved.14' 9 ' 4e Mr. Joseph CoMn 3 The staffagrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.Although the use of risk information is not specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.Sincerely, nsue rector Office of Nuclea~r Reactor Regulation
* tter. Johrn 'HHannon, Chle fof .the l                 Sys.ems Branch, NRR,'discussed this time frame with DAVid MDdeen of your staff/n dttey ageed that S.'should all0, sufficient-time for the "NEI tO each agreement on acceptable                                                                                         staff.and a....achforresoln the issbei-'The staff discussed progress and scheduling with                                                                                     also tai     of theBWROGfr The,180-day deferral period is consistent with the,BWROG's will,' on the basis of ,thecurrent staff position       schedule. Durng the 180-day deferral period, remy                   lette"o March11, 1997, dodument       the NRC
                      ,i"nonconformances as .apparerit violatdonss' The'staff will defer enforcement'actons for disputed apparent violations provided the affected hcenseesimplemeut reasonable compensatory
                      ... atonsfor the Identified vulnerabilities.
For fire-induced circuit failure nonconformances are not disputed, the staff will take enforcement                                                                               that EGM 98-002, which has been modified                                     action consistent with the guidance provided as described herein.. If we have not reached                                   in
                  ...onan.acceptable-approach for resolving                                                                                     agreement this issue within the 180-day deferral period, will resume application of the, modified EGM                                                                               the staff 98-002 guidance and of the NRC's Enforcement Policy ,*      -. "       ,,; ..l. le 1 pd3/4.. ,d             ' ".   "     -. 9     ''.... .""   .' *   .
erring
                        ~~J       formal
                                ~.def                             dons 'pe~taihndng ttb-c~lcu ac~t'
              %'indIcatcte that:, IscretiohdWillbe exercised                                                         noifcon orrnance and to
                                                                                                                    -nl'l to not cite violations of the applicable requirements
                  -regardless of who. identifies the -condition, actions.and:commit to.6perf**many necessaranalyses            provided;,kicensees take approprate compensatory
    *..*... .. frame.h*,                                                                          and modificatio-ns in a.reasonable' time f,rame...., s.i,ap~p   proach-..w. I'ch.dfffers. rom the curren EGM guidance that vola       violations ios.,..ebe cited if
    .          '*':'i*dentified
                            '      by'th-
                                      *was NRC*                                                                                                        i applied in the recent St. Lucie and'River and 98-460, r&#xfd;pecti'vely). This discretion                                                           Bend    cases    ( EAs    98-513 will be exercised until proper generic notification the industry occ6rs and licensees have sufficient                                                                                   to time to respond to the notification. The does not Intend to revisit past cases in which                                                                                     staff If li e s e s a i e ..h. , i . t . .. .                           enforcement actions have been dispositioned.
                                                              ,   d i~i' If licensees, after~eintenr~n~180-day I',,' bound by thetaE ,cable.re.quirementsantd                 period, continue to maintain that their facilities choose not to perform necessary analysesare not and
                . modifications, *the NC wllapply the.
normal Enforcement Policy, including warranted.,',                       ,                                                                         sanctions., as
                              'Each case will have to be evaluated on its   own merits. The reasonableness of the corrective"actiohs*schedule is expected                 e   to lbe based on thejsafety significance of the                                 "
*!!*:"!;':*"-"nonconf0oranc;,               the established qutageo gtcedule, and                                                               :,
4*iirlc Compensatory, measures will normally                                                  the scope of modifications necessary.
i!.iii..4',4,vulneraboiesrmust be resolved.                             be acceptable        as  an  interim measure, but the circuit 14'             9               '   4e
 
Mr. Joseph CoMn 3
The staffagrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk information the safety significance of violations of                                                 to help assess the regulatory requirements regarding Although the use of risk information is                                           circuit failures.
not specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, risk information to help assess the significance                                         the staff uses of violations and will continue to do so.
Sincerely, nsue rector Office of Nuclea~r Reactor Regulation


==Enclosure:==
==Enclosure:==
EGM 98-002, Rev. I 0
                      .~A iF F'    F'
* F 'F'  FF
                                                                          'F" ~  *F  F'


EGM 98-002, Rev. I 0.~A iF F' F'* F 'F' FF'F" ~ *F F' Mr Joseph Colvin 3!.The 1staff agrees that both the licensees  
Mr Joseph Colvin                                   3
`arid the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violationsi'of!fthe regiuatory requirements regarding Circuit failures.A.th6 gh t.e use of risk Information'l's not spedf ically addressed In EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk Information to help assessJhe significance of yiolations and will continue to do so.fli;* N-~`-, SinSncerely,-Samuel J. Collinirector f, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ev. S t EnhcosUre:
      !.The 1staff agrees that both the licensees `arid the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violationsi'of!fthe regiuatory requirements A.th6 gh t.e use of risk Information'l's not spedf                       regarding Circuit failures.
EGM 98-002, R-. DISTRIBUTION:
ically addressed In EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk Information to help assessJhe significance of yiolations and will continue to do so.
TCins RZlmmerman BSheron OPA OGC DOudinot WRuland, RI RGardner, Rill DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEIIEGM Public JHannon GHolahan SCollins PQualls P Madden KSWest KLandis, RII DPowers, RIV see Previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA DOudinot:Jk&deg; 06/30/99 TECH EDfTOR*C.IIPB:DI.PM Wean *,!i 07/14M99 SPLB:DSSA.
                                          `-, l*: SinSncerely, fli;* N-~
KSWest*06/30/99.:OE&#xfd;JL eberma&07/07/99 SPLB:DSSA; JNHannon*&#xfd; 07/01/99 ADiPT:DONR9/99 07/09/99 DSSA:NRR GMHolahan.
                                                  -Samuel J. Collinirector                                           t f, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation EnhcosUre: EGM 98-002, R ev.                        S
07/08/99 D:DONR SColllns*07/2/99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 3 4 k;0" .i U  
      -.DISTRIBUTION:
:;Mr. Joseph Colvin 3-agrees that both the licensees Ad the staff should use risk information to help assess t" ,,he ft 'isignificance of violations f,
Public JHannon TCins                               GHolahan RZlmmerman                               SCollins BSheron OPA                                       PQualls OGC                                       P Madden DOudinot                                   KSWest WRuland, RI                               KLandis, RII RGardner, Rill                             DPowers, RIV DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEIIEGM see Previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA                       SPLB:DSSA.
requirements regarding circuit failures..Althoughftheuse of risk information is&n6t'-ecii'cally addressed in EGM 98-002, ihe staff uses risk information to help assss t!he significance of violations and will continue to do so.C>Sinc offK M 98-002, Rev 1 erely, uel J. Collins, !Dire'ctor
DOudinot:Jk&deg;                                                SPLB:DSSA;              DSSA:NRR KSWest*                  JNHannon*&#xfd; 06/30/99                                                                           GMHolahan.
;e of Nuclear. Reactor ,Regulation)n, '. '. .;Attabhrfent:
06/30/99                  07/01/99              07/08/99 TECH EDfTOR*                          . :OE                     ADiPT:DONR9/99 D:DONR
EGi DISTRIBUTION:.Central" H~e SPLBl R/F RZimmerman BSheron OPA OGC DOudinot WRuland, RI RGardner, Rill DOCUMENT NA SPLB:DSSAI-DOudinot:lk*
                                      &#xfd;JL eberma&                                       SColllns*
06/30/99 TECH I EDITOR*',6/29/99 C:IIPB:DIPM 0W7Dean*'07/14/99 Public JHannon GHolahan SCollins Qualls P dden KS st KLan RIl/DPow #IV kME: A:NEIIEGM
07/07/99                 07/09/99               07/2/99 C.IIPB:DI.PM
*see previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA, " SP :DSSA " DSS, KSWest" JNHa on, GM: 063099/07/01/99 O D:OE* ADPT:DONR,.
  ,!i Wean
M 0/"" 07JLiebe an.' BSheron'07/Q9/99 , 07.C A:NRR-1 aan*~1 99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY* 1q..... .'-.-.....  
* 07/14M99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 4
.... .............." , .C.~:"5l.
k;0 3
V 4,'4, ('Mi. Joseph Colvin .' 3 T'.%f~he &#xfd;taff agrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess ,.th:t diefetylignificance (l violations 16f the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.A Altho gh the'use of risk information  
i U
'ils not specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.Sincerely.
 
.A. .,\ .~'DISTRIBUTION.
:;Mr. Joseph Colvin 3
Central File SPLBR/F,...
    *Tehb"sta-ff -agrees that both the licensees t" ,,heft                                                Ad the staff should use risk information of violations f, thler*guilatory
TColhins RZimmmerinan BSheron OPA OGC DOudinot WRuland, RI RGardner, Rill S j*'S.~-'.5  
                                                              'isignificance requirements regarding               to help assess
''Ii)/SamuelJ. eoihns, Director,.
      .Althoughftheuse of risk information is&n6t'-ecii'cally                                               circuit failures.
Office:0oUNucIear Reactor RgulatWionr -' ,? ," " Public I JHannon GHolahan SCollins WKane PQualls PMadden KSWest KLandis, RII DPowers, RIV'S DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEI!EGM*see previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA, DOudinot:lk*
risk information to help assss t!he significance                          addressed in EGM 98-002, ihe staff uses of violations and will continue to do so.
06/30/99 SPLB:DSSA KSWest'06/30/99'A SPt.B:D SSA JNHannon*07/Oj.i 1 A N 07/1'1/99*TECH: EDITOR:,D;,ON R WCollins'07/ /99 71/,. /99 P,;: M , ,.. ...' "~j7),,La,* vt:. /1 ,V .: .5. a~- 5. .4.4.aV a-Mr.Joseph Colvin jTh staff agrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk Information to he assess i'the safety significance of violationsdf the'regulatory requirements regarding circuit f ures..Although the use of risk information'nsnot specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, , e staff uses!sk nsformatlon to help assess the signifidance of violations and will continue to o so.Sincerely,.DISTRIBUTION:  
Sinc erely, C>
" C-ntral File&#xfd;PNorr T\CollIns SECY&#xfd;OGC.,CFO DOudinot JHannon SBums C Samuel Office." r Regulationi..Public WTravers/ /'' EDO R/F GHolahan" SCollins ,  OPA OCA CIO KS West J/ aha* ..I. ,~'*~j t/DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEI!Et.*see previous concurrenc/
uel J. Collins, !Dire'ctor offK;e of Nuclear. Reactor '. '. ,Regulation)n,       .
SP, SA. " .:,.SPLB:DSSA B S inot:lk- KSWest NHannon" 1 9 " " "'..": LX"/..i/99 0 /" "*TECH / -" " z. " ADPT:DONR D:DONR EDITOR ...BSheron. SColiris ...3/29/99 / /69 / /99 DSSA:NRR* GMHolahan/ /99 1 q'  
      ;Attabhrfent: EGiM 98-002, Rev 1 DISTRIBUTION:
.,b- epM. ,Jobpn Golvin 3 ne sta r ag'r~ee~s that.both , th e 'lcensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.theusi risk hfdrmatn'is~nt specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.S i e l ...S,-lI, .,...-: -Sincer-ely,..  
      .Central" H~e Public SPLBl R/F                                           JHannon GHolahan RZimmerman                                         SCollins BSheron OPA                                                   Qualls OGC                                                 P dden DOudinot                                             KS      st WRuland, RI                                         KLan        RIl/
......./ I':: \ 'DISTRIBUTION ON NEXT PAGE Wilia D. Trav, Executive for Operationhs DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPLB\SECTIONB\OUDINO-TNEI 2.REV.WPD SSPJBDSSA PLB:DSSA SPLB:DSSA DSSANRR'DOudinot:lk KSWest JNHannon GMHolahan/ /99 / /99./.99 / /99!TECH D P.T' 2 ADPT ONR D:DONR-------
RGardner, Rill                                     DPow          #IV DOCUMENT NAkME: A:NEIIEGM
BSheron SCollins 6/-9/ /99 /,./99 ADM, 1.EDO* " ' W~V Travers. '-:"!; ' ... ../9 9 ... .../I 9 9 , ., .., / 1 9 ., .O F/ / /99 /'/99 OFFICIAL RECORD.COP' ~~~~~. ....i; : .. ... , :, fl OR.Cp Ai "la",
                                                                              *see previous concurrence SPLB:DSSAI-                                 SPLB:DSSA, DOudinot:lk*                                 KSWest"                  " SP :DSSA            "    DSS,A:NRR JNHa on,                  GM:
IP.Mr. Joseph Colvin 3 T"he estaff agrees that bath the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significanceof violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.Although the use if risk inf: 6tion is not specifically addressed in EGMV 98-002, the staff uses risk informat n to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.Sincere'y, , William D. Trvers I ....:. ..... Exe 9 Otive Dir'ectb&#xfd;fr Operations DISTRIBUTION ON NEXT PAGE !//DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPLB\SECT ONB\OUD OT\NEI2. REV.WPD iSPLB!,bSSA S PBDSSA .SPLB SSA' D DOudinot lk SWest JNHannMHolahan 1/99 //99, -19 991*TECH ADPT:DONR D:DONR EDITOR BSheron SCollins/' IN,,~A A:~Nf~~.s *1.j 6 ~'799/ /99/ /99 ADM OGC EDO WTravers/ ' ~ --. " ~ ... I /9&#xfd;IAN ,OFFICIAL RECORD COPY:&#xfd;.i* ' .L ' ' ' "A." -" ,, " " " .,
06/30/99                                                                                                 -1 aan*
ENCLOSURE'UNITED`STATES'
063099/07/01/99                                     O TECH I                                      D:OE*
&#xfd;,,NU, CLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 1 WASHINGTON.
EDITOR*'                                                                 ADPT:DONR,.                  M 0/"" 07JLiebe an.'              BSheron'
D.C. 2014114M21, 1999 EGM 98-002, Rev 1 MEMORANDUM TO. Hubeqrt.J.
  ,6/29/99 07/Q9/99       ,         07.C 99
Miller', RegFionalAdmniistrator 9 Region I .,Region.~-
~1  C:IIPB:DIPM 0W7Dean*
-"James ,E D.er,R.Regiona[iAdministrator.,:".;  
  '07/14/99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
., egion Ill Ellis W.'Merschoff, Regional Administrator Region IV William Kane, Associate Director for Inspection and Programs, .......... .. , Bnan~,W. She on, .ociate&Directo dr..o , .; .. , .... .." "' " '.Prolect  
* 1q
'Lice !sin' .. and 'Teclrimcaa  
                .'-.-..... .... "  , . C.
"... Analysis, "' DONRI : " -" IElzabeth  
                                ~:"5l.
: 0. Ten Eyck,Dbi'r iior; visiton6o Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS Donald A. Cool, Director,.
 
Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS.ohin'T..~reeves,-,Diredtor, Divis i'6-of Waste. " .., Man enei;NMSS~
V                                                            4,
EWiam Brach, Director .i ., :. SporntFuel Projec Officed ., ..
                                                                            '4,
........., .'..... ....... .;,,..
('Mi. Joseph Colvin                                           .       '     3
cirFROM i~z ...,00er.~&.~~*.
                  &#xfd;taff agrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess T'.%f~he
Off ice, of Enforcement..
          ,.th:t diefetylignificance (l violations 16f the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.
F,  
Altho gh the'use of risk information 'ils not specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses A
risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.
Sincerely.
                          .A.                                                                     . ,                           'A SamuelJ. eoihns, Director,.
S   j*'S.~-'.5   ''Ii)         Office:0oUNucIear
                                                                                            -*;,* r  -' "* Reactor RgulatWion
                                                                                                    ,?             ," " ,*_."
                                                                /
DISTRIBUTION.
Central File                                                Public I SPLBR/F,...                                                JHannon               'S
\  .~'
TColhins                                                    GHolahan RZimmmerinan                                                SCollins BSheron                                                    WKane OPA                                                        PQualls OGC                                                        PMadden DOudinot                                                    KSWest WRuland, RI                                                KLandis, RII RGardner, Rill                                              DPowers, RIV DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEI!EGM                                                     *see previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA,                                 SPLB:DSSA                        SPt.B:D SSA DOudinot:lk*                                KSWest'                          JNHannon*
06/30/99                                   06/30/99                         07/Oj.i 1
              *TECH:                                                                       A              N            :,D;,ON R EDITOR                                                                                                WCollins 07/1'1/99                  '07/ /99 71/,.   /99 P,;:                             M       ,   ,..   .           .   .' "
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      -Mr.Joseph Colvin jTh staff agrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk Information to he assess i'the safety significance of violationsdf the'regulatory requirements Although
        .           the use of risk information'nsnot specifically addressed regarding circuit f ures.
    !sk nsformatlon to help assess the signifidance                                  in EGM 98-002, , e staff uses of violations and will continue to o so.
Sincerely, C                  Samuel Office."                    r Regulationi.
    .DISTRIBUTION:           "
C-ntral File                                 .Public          * ..
WTravers
    &#xfd;PNorr                                 /  /''  EDO R/F          I.    ,~'*~j T\CollIns Ri*lrRmerman                                  GHolahan
                                            "      SCollins
                                            , *.,ADM SECY&#xfd;                                         OPA OGC                                           OCA
  .,CFO                                             CIO DOudinot                                       KS West JHannon SBums                                         J/ aha
                                                /
DOCUMENT
    *see previous NAME:         A:NEI!Et.
concurrenc/
tSP,         SA.
inot:lk-
                          "         .:,.SPLB:DSSA KSWest B S NHannon                DSSA:NRR
                  " 1 9"   "         LX"/..i/99 0 /"
                                                                                            *GMHolahan
                                                                                              / /99
    *TECH                /      "   -"" ADPT:DONR z.
D:DONR 1EDITOR                          ... BSheron.                   SColiris ...
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    .,b-                           epM. Golvin
                              ,Jobpn                                                       3 ne sta r ag'r~ee~s that.both th, e 'lcensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.
theusi risk hfdrmatn'is~nt specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.
                                                                      . . .S,-       Si    e      l
                                                                          .,...-:                 lI,                                  -
Sincer-ely,..                               .......
                    /                                           I':: **              \               *O".
Wilia       D. Trav, Executive for Operationhs
                  'DISTRIBUTION ON NEXT PAGE DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPLB\SECTIONB\OUDINO-TNEI 2 .REV.WPD SSPJBDSSA PLB:DSSA                       SPLB:DSSA                   DSSANRR' DOudinot:lk                                 KSWest                           JNHannon                   GMHolahan
                    /       /99                               /     /99./.99                                               /   /99
                  !TECH                                 2 ADPT  D P.T' ONR                   D:DONR-------
BSheron                         SCollins 6/-9/                                                   /99                         /,./99 ADM,                                         1.                             EDO
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              .Mr. Joseph Colvin 3
T"heestaff agrees that bath the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significanceof violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.
IN,,
Although the use if risk inf: 6tion is not specifically addressed in EGMV 98-002, the staff uses risk informat n to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.
Sincere'y,           ,
William D. Trvers I ....                                 :. .....             Exe 9Otive Dir'ectb&#xfd; fr Operations DISTRIBUTION ON NEXT PAGE
                                                                      //
DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPLB\SECT ONB\OUD OT\NEI2. REV.WPD iSPLB!,bSSA                             S PBDSSA                         .SPLB         SSA'         D DOudinot lk                             SWest                           JNHannMHolahan 1/99                                 //99, 991
                                                                                                                    -19
          *TECH                               ADPT:DONR                           D:DONR
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ENCLOSURE
                                                                                                  'UNITED`STATES'
                                                                      &#xfd;,,NU,CLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 1 WASHINGTON. D.C. 2014114M I
                                                                                                  'Jt*""y 21,         1999                                             EGM 98-002, Rev 1 MEMORANDUM TO. Hubeqrt.J. Miller', RegFionalAdmniistrator 9 Region I .
                                                                      ,Region.~-
                                                              -"James ,ED.er,R.Regiona[iAdministrator.,:".;                                                                         .     ,
egion Ill Ellis W.'Merschoff, Regional Administrator Region IV William Kane, Associate Director for Inspection and Programs,                               .           ..
                . ......   .. *                            , Bnan~,W. She on, A* .ociate&Directo dr..o                                           , .;             ..         ,         .
                ...*,....,,*.,:k.,:                    " '.Prolect 'Lice !sin'       ..           and 'Teclrimcaa "... Analysis,     "'             DONRI **                *"..': " - "
IElzabeth 0. Ten Eyck,Dbi'riior;                           visiton6o Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS Donald A. Cool, Director,. Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS
                                                                  .ohin'T..~reeves,-,Diredtor, Divisi'6-of Waste.                             oi,*                "           .               .,
Man     enei;NMSS~
EWiam Brach, Director                                   .
i.:*,.*:,..,.
              . *                  , .*              :.             SporntFuel Projec Officed. ,                                        .                                   .
              ,*-,FRO  '*-."* ?*                  -*.v,:James~e                em~an',,Pirector!,,*                      Y*-Z-,**.:,**.?                            -*,-:?,*i.'*,.*,,.
              .........                ,        .......'.....                  .                            .;,,..          *......,......................~
cirFROM i~z                                                                                                                                      ...  ,00er.~&.~~*.
Office, of Enforcement..                                                 F,


==SUBJECT:==
==SUBJECT:==
ENFORCEMENT GUIDA MEMORANDUM EGM 98-002, REVISION I -DISPOSITION.OF VIOLATIONS OF SECTIONS Ill.G AND III.L. OF APPENDIX R TO 10 CFR PART 50 INVOLVING CIRCUIT-.FAILURES.
ENFORCEMENT GUIDA                                     MEMORANDUM EGM 98-002, REVISION I DISPOSITION.OF VIOLATIONS OF SECTIONS Ill.G AND III.L. OF APPENDIX R TO 10 CFR PART 50 INVOLVING CIRCUIT
I.~ ~_.yr ppse.of this revision is to change the guidance pertaining to the disposition of potential.
                                          -             .FAILURES.
noncomphiances lnvoving fre-iduced circuit failure vulnerabilities that have the potential to affect the safe shutdown of a facility.
  .~ ~_.yrppse.of this revision is to change the guidance pertaining to the disposition of potential.
The initial guidance was published in March 1998.NRR staff and regional inspectors have found a number of plant-specific problems related to potential fire-induced electrical circuit failures that could prevent operation or cause malfunctioning of equipment needed to achieve and maintain post-fire safe shutdown.
noncomphiances lnvoving fre-iduced circuit failure vulnerabilities that have the potential to affect the safe shutdown of a facility. The initial guidance was published in March 1998.
Fire protection inspections conducted in each region have found that licensees may not have complied with thelregulations that require that facilities be designed such that fire-induced circuit failures (e.g.,.hot shorts, open circuits, and shorts to ground) do not adversely affect the ability of the plant to achieve.and maintain a safe-shutdown condition.
NRR staff and regional inspectors have found a number of plant-specific problems related to potential fire-induced electrical circuit failures that could prevent operation or cause malfunctioning of equipment needed to achieve and maintain post-fire safe shutdown. Fire protection inspections conducted in each region have found that licensees may not have complied with thelregulations that require that facilities be designed such that fire-induced circuit failures (e.g.,.hot shorts, open circuits, and shorts to ground) do not adversely affect the ability of the plant to achieve.and maintain a safe-shutdown condition.
..... ............
                                                                                                                                                                                                        , . ;! i*, .
~~~~~~.. ....,-.,,,, .:'' ''..:' :....... ... , " , " 9907270131
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" Multiple Addressees
 
-.2 -..... exampleof' the consequences of this type of problem is reported in Information Notice (IN)92-1.8,, Potenti4I for Loss of Remote, ShuJtdo.wn During a Control Room Fire which'.alerted licenseesthat the circuit qgic associated with certain edvalves, When*subjecte to. a, singlej fire&#xfd;i'nduc'ed ,ot,,sbp,6rt, cq6u!,d result i sp&#xfd;#666s,.p'erim si v sgnal. The&#xfd;spnur os~signhaI.could ca~use'the,'valve&#xfd;,1 11-0, 0p"~t.bpy
            "Multiple Addressees                                -    .               2 -           .                                      .       .
~Qtv* rsulingin.r~chai~a vave amgp~.Suh, ir-induced.
            .. exampleof' the consequences of this type of 92-1.8,, Potenti4I for Loss of Remote, ShuJtdo.wn problem is reported in Information Notice (IN)
damaige,66uId, ipajr he licensee s aii ty ,oi sh~ut ,d " the plant arid maintain diti6 'a isafe"-shu'tdo n.c dditibh., How vqe,.', I,.9 .'..; v ui~nerability e~xtends be~yond 3t e scop .e iof ic .nltrol, r~o tires
        '.alerted licenseesthat the circuit                                          *,pabilit During a Control Room Fire qgic associated with certain motor-*rat                                                    which
,,,,, -, ., .."n r.mul.iple orrespondence, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has asserted that the staff's interpretation of the regqlzatory, requirements is, at a.minimum, inconsistent with many licensees' unde'standing -and different from past staff inteipretations.
        *subjecte                  to. a,singlejfire&#xfd;i'nduc'ed ,ot,,sbp,6rt, cq6u!,d result                                        edvalves, When
Inra letter to'NEI dated March 11, 1997, the Director of NRR reiterated te staff's psition that the tential for fire-ndudd atth.abiity,'art faues, tompa the apant t achieve anrd mAintain safe shutdown was ,ithiin-t1se s<60pe, of th, existing ire'protection regulati6ndris:The
            &#xfd;spnur os~signhaI.could ca~use'the,'valve&#xfd;,1                                              i sp&#xfd;#666s,.p'erim si v sgnal. The
*r -.,etter focused on NEI s questionsregarding IN 92-18. tThe inforrmation in the enclosure to'the March 11 letter, explaihed' the' NRC'staffs pObstions'germjane to the larger issue of fire-uedid circuit failures.A copy'o the Ma'rch 11 etter is attached-and fully-explains theapplicatiof the regulations.
* rsulingin.r~chai~a vave amgp~.Suh, ir-induced.                             ~Qtv        11-0, 0p"~t.bpy aii          ty  ,oi sh~ut ,d * "the plant arid maintain diti6                              damaige,66uId,       ipajr he licensee s
In followup-lettersfrom NEI, including onel received on September 14, .1998, that requested that guidance provided in the initial EGM 98-002 be changed, NEI continued to assert that the current staff interpretations of the requirements are beyond the licensing basis of many facilities and represent a change in previous NRC staff positions.
        '..;v ui~nerability          e~xtends be~yond 3t e scop .eiof ic            'a        isafe"-shu'tdo n.c dditibh., How vqe,.',
The NRC staff and the industry are currently working to resolve questions raised by the industry about the"adequacy 6f,,thiexsting'btaff'gu~idance oniceming i.rei-duced ,ircuitfailures and SX.thenconsistency of-staff,.terpretations'ofbothhot'guidance
                                                                                  .nltrol,r~o m*tires alon~e.o.*.''*                                  I,.9    .
'and .the underlying regulator
          "n r.mul.iple orrespondence, the Nuclear interpretation of the regqlzatory, requirements                  Energy Institute (NEI) has asserted that is, at a.minimum, inconsistent with many                    the staff's unde'standing -and different from past staff                                                                                                  licensees' inteipretations.           Inra    letter to'NEI dated March 11, 1997, the Director of NRR reiterated ndudd te staff's psition that the tential for fire-faues, tompaatth.abiity,'art the              apant t achieve anrd mAintain safe was ,ithiin-t1se s<60pe, of th, existing ire'protection                                                                              shutdown NEI s questionsregarding IN 92-18. tThe                                        regulati6ndris:The                      ,etter inforrmation in the enclosure to'the March focused on
;i requirements.  
                                                                                                                          *r        -.
'The staff exe'ts to reach agreement with industry on an acceptable approach for resolving this issue within 180:days of the. date of this EGM. To allow the industry time to develop positions that the, NRC Cca"nendorse, the NRC will temporarily defer, formal enforcement actions pertaining .to noncOnfo rmances in this-area f or those %licensees that dispute that the issues constitute violations of. reagulatory-requirementsn.ti:
explaihed' the' NRC'staffs pObstions'germjane                                                                                            11 letter, A copy'o the Ma'rch 11 etter is attached-and to the larger issue of fire-uedid circuit failures.
T snhansar-n visionged ndthefrcement guidan '.is ,as follows: ..A. "" For,licensees that assert that a particular nonconformance associated with a fire-induced circuit failure vulnerability does not constitute a violation of regulatory requirements, theNRC~wi', on the-basis of-the staff position reflected in the attachment, document the nonconformance as an apparent violation.'
followup-lettersfrom NEI, including onel                                fully-explains theapplicatiof the received on September 14, .1998, that regulations. In guidance provided in the initial EGM 98-002                                                                                    requested that current staff interpretations of the requirements                      be changed, NEI continued to assert that the and represent a change in previous NRC                                        are beyond the licensing basis of many staff positions.                                                              facilities The NRC staff and the industry are currently about the"adequacy 6f,,thiexsting'btaff'gu~idance                          working to resolve questions raised by the industry SX.thenconsistency of-staff,.terpretations'ofbothhot'guidance                        onicemingi.rei-duced ,ircuitfailures and requirements. 'The staff exe'ts to reach                                                            'and .the underlying regulator ;i for resolving this issue within 180:days                              agreement          with  industry        on an acceptable of the. date of this EGM. To allow the industryapproach develop positions that the, NRC Cca"nendorse,                                                                                                  time to actions pertaining .to noncOnfo rmances in                                  the NRC will temporarily defer, formal enforcement issues constitute violations of. reagulatory-requirementsn.ti:        this-area f or those %licenseesthat dispute that the T                  snhansar-n visionged ndthefrcement guidan          '.is,as follows:              .            .
The NRC will defer enforcement actionsjfor.
A. "" For,licensees that assert that a particular nonconformance associated with a fire-induced circuit failure vulnerability does not constitute a violation of regulatory requirements, theNRC~wi', on the-basis of-the staff position reflected in the attachment, document the nonconformance as an apparent enforcement actionsjfor. disputed apparent                            violation.' The NRC will defer reasonable compensatory, actions for the                      violations        provided the licensee implements identified vuinerabilities.
disputed apparent violations provided the licensee implements reasonable compensatory, actions for the identified vuinerabilities.
                    'An apparent violation, as defined by Manual Chapter,0610, is merely "a potential,.
'An apparent violation, as defined by Manual Chapter,0610, is merely "a potential,.
noncompliance with a regulatory requirement
noncompliance with a regulatory requirement that has not yet been formally cil-Ad 1 as a violation..in,a Notice of Violaion or&#xfd;,order..
.in,a Notice of Violaion or&#xfd;,order..                                       that  has not yet been formally cil-Ad as a violation.
." , ' -.I*:,-' /
1
f~~~ ~~~ Ij i,': ..Multipl'e ssees 3.Inpectors shlcld include language Int cove ltter iilato the ollwig to Adocument the apparent violations:
    ."   '  -.I, *:,-'  "* /
".,.uring he insp.ection, tiolationspof,[state applicable requirement(s))
 
e: e -wei'., de'tifi'ed.&#xfd; These crcuir t.Vulnerabilities could, under certain postulated fire;".,,scenarios, aderseyae tf e ab.ilit t 'o.achg'eve and 'maintain, safe shutdown of JIthe facdlity.,-It isthe NRC's unders tanding that you do not..consider
f~~~    ~~~
*thse vulAnerabilities to be violations of NRC requirements.
                                                  '!:*      j**  ..      Ij          ts*i,':
In order to allow the industryjtime to develop an.acceptable approach to resolving this issue that the" " NRCcan endorse, the NRC will defer any ehforcementactlon retativ to these S.... : ...."matters, untilnuary 1 8" 2000) proviwed you take 'adequate compensatory measures for theidentified vulnerabiItes.
Multipl'e                ssees                                                                3
If an acceptable approach for resolving this issue is not reached by (January .18, 2000), the issue will be subject to disposition in accordance with the NRC's Enforcement Policy.B. For licensees that assert that a particular noncorformance associated with a fire-induced. circuit failure Vulnerability does not constitute a violation of regulatory requirements and refuse to take compensatory measures during this interim period, normal enforcement processes will be followed and the licensees may be subject to formal enforcement action.C. For those cases in which licensees do not. dispute that a violation of regulatory
                          .Inpectors shlcld include language                        Int                      cove ltter iilato the ollwig to Adocument the apparent violations:
'requirements th`e6guidance
                                  ".,.uring he insp.ection, ap*a*ni tiolationspof,[state
'is as*olow, , ? ... .-Enforcement, i bebexercised'toprnotcite the vioations provided I'r:, ; F 'F Q ,icensees take,'prompt .compensatory actions and corrective actions within a r .easonable time,,frame., 2 IThis'discretion will be exercised regardless of who*:identifies the nonconformance The enforcement discret~on provided for herein may be exercised even after the 180-day ...deferral period until such time.as proper generic notification to the industry occurs and.licensees have sufficient time to respond to the notification.
                                    -wei'.,
After the 180-day intenm period," ' i !'i' '* ;,: ' F " " ' ."" F''" i, Each case will have to beevaluated on its own merits., The reasonableness of the:.,-corrective actions .schedule is expected to be based on the safety significance.of the.,. , nn.conformance,,the established outage :schiedule, and-the sqope of. the, modif ications necessary'.
e:e de'tifi'ed.&#xfd; These crcuir t.Vulnerabilities                                            applicable requirement(s))
Compensatory measures will normally be acceptable as an interim measure, but the circuit vulnerabilities must be resolved.1- ~,
                                  ;".,,scenarios, aderseyae tf e ab.ilit                                                  could,  under certain postulated fire JIthe facdlity.,-It isthe NRC's unders                                      t 'o.achg'eve and 'maintain, safe shutdown tanding that you do not..consider *thse                  of vulAnerabilities to be violations of NRC requirements. In order to allow the industryjtime to develop an.acceptable NRCcan                                                                        approach to resolving this issue that the endorse,              the NRC will defer any ehforcementactlon S.... :       ....     "matters, untilnuary 18" 2000)                                                                                  retativ to these proviwed you take 'adequate compensatory measures for theidentified vulnerabiItes.
Multiple Addressees  OE will review this EGM and revise it, as appropriate, to reflect any agreement reached between the staff and the industry on the disposition of these issues.
resolving this issue is not reached                                              If an acceptable approach for by (January .18, 2000), the issue subject to disposition in accordance                                                                                  will be with the NRC's Enforcement Policy.
B.           For licensees that assert that a particular noncorformance associated induced. circuit failure Vulnerability                                                                                      with a fire-does not constitute a violation requirements and refuse to take                                                                                    of regulatory compensatory measures during normal enforcement processes                                                                                          this interim period, will be followed and the licensees formal enforcement                                                                                                    may be subject to action.
C.           For those cases in which licensees
                    'requirements                                                              do not. dispute that a violation
            *olow,
                , .                               sctbdcUraedewith* "6*sect*.to:anohnhnfor~ance,&#xfd;                                          of regulatory
                                                                            ?
                                                                                                        .                                th`e6guidance 'is as
                                - Enforcement, discrbetioW*n                                i bebexercised'toprnotcite the vioations
          ;          F  'F Q,icensees I'r:,                take,'prompt                                                                                  provided r.easonable time,,frame.,.compensatory              2                      actions IThis'discretion will beand            corrective actions within a exercised regardless of who
                                *:identifies the nonconformance The enforcement discret~on provided for herein may be exercised even deferral period until such time.as                                                                                                after the 180-day ...
proper generic notification to the licensees have sufficient time to                                                                                        industry occurs and.
respond to the notification. After the 180-day intenm period,
                      "                  ' i   !""*    !'i'     *> '* F
                                                                      ;,:    ' *'  '*'*                "  "      * * ' *      .""      F''"
i, Each case will have to beevaluated corrective actions .schedule                                                                on its own merits., The reasonableness is expected to be based on the                                                                  of safety significance.of the.,. the:.,-
nn.conformance,,the established                                                                                                                            ,
outage :schiedule, and-the sqope necessary'. Compensatory measures                                                                                        of. the, modif ications will normally be acceptable as an the circuit vulnerabilities must be                                                                                                interim measure, but resolved.
1-~,
 
Multiple Addressees
                                                        - -
OE will review this EGM and revise it, as appropriate, to reflect any agreement reached between the staff and the industry on the disposition of these issues.


==Attachment:==
==Attachment:==
As stated cc:    The Chairman Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield W. Travers, EDO F. Miraglia, DEDR M. Knapp, DEDE D. Dambly, OGC S. Collins, DONR J. Zwolinski, NRR L. Chandler, OGC J. Hannon, NRR SECY Ii i~;7~.
7,
                                                                                              'I,
                                        -  I
                                                                    'U,
                                              'U,            ~      7,  7,a 7 &#xb6;~~i'~4, ~ ~      ~ K) p~kJK~f'  ''
PJ ,.
                                                                                                                .1
* tip e Addressees                                                          .OE will review this EGM and revise*f, as.app*roriate, to refiect any agreement reached cbet~en the staff and the Industryon the dispositiOi of theso issues.
            ,Attachment. As stated
            !, *"".!!*:The 4 4        Chairman'''
UCormmissioner Diaz.
                          'Commissioner McGaffigan Gommlssioner Merrifield WTravers, EDO FMlragia, DEDR
                  .. MKnapp, DEDE DDambty, OGC.
4.d1.4SColI1nsjDONR'4,,-~~~
JiZio4inski, DONR`.;&#xfd; ,`.,
JHannoW, DONR                    ..
J. ebermnahn~l,OE              ~            J OE Staff Enforcement -Coordinators RI, RII,, RIII',..RI                -NRR,;NMSS (Also by E-Mail)
EGM File Day File WEB (2 weeks after issuance)                                                                              .4 PUBLIC (2 weeks after: issuance)
SPLB R/F G3Holahan BSherion DOudinot
  .. . .. ...LPMadden..
......          Whit ey          . : * :* : .. ........ .. ... . . . .. . ..... . .... . .. .
DOCUMENT; NAME: A:\EGM98002REV1.WPD                                              *see previous concurrence NU          SOE S
NU:bC                                I  NRR                                D D:C F0 44 YE                TReis*                          SWest              /an          ,
N                  /99                        7L  1/L9I                          7 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY j!
                                                                                                                                                            -ATTACH-MENT1 V
rJ                                                                                      it    .    -
* 4.      4;-
Chnorief        deredntn1)                                                                                                  .    .*)..      .'..
0' 0..      F  *    .  .
                                                                                                              . .      r "'  "    .
1.
uclear Regulatory to youffieerW        Of Ja    uary 14, 1997, conceing U.S.N r      es    d
* of Remote, Shutdown tial For Lor wI a
* Ni          (      9n          oty Commiss                  (N.Rg,I)!nstrt CapabMIiy          Dug            a*Control Roodm          Ftrrq'', F6&092)A~~aaelN21 reor                                          Mon                      A-'a e IN, adresd          conitnsI                    and                                                        ees,        tat    couJld hav 'resuhed In the o'U* ,Af relicensra                                                              Win Vit6M'evnt of a ~65trof                4 ++.'
                                                                                                                                                                            ' w;en'.
jacieVe      an~d    ma%
b*                      ~
lPl*          i~r bft    ,idi*Or-<)perat~tve.va Spciicll tec~rcjt oss &#xfd;offire.apbdftyto, room'                                      ,
hot shfedhapiodipenmsvesignal.
4          uojcte to a s*ngle fie staff*dUpo d*amaP c6,6Mhaveiimpaire&#xfd;n                          the in1  mh    u      -,                laN,'dma mag)Su                        fbfor and    resu.'ng byrassdingI    9-1(the      ~rtciv              featre, T" i spurouIgasslnblcudits                          e thase'thtide safety Isse a                                                                                          myO':.
myisser        noftute(NEs              ) the            ssfiosvand Iasues -rasedir*
ofath Niha                                                  it agreedrwithesyourp tnae Itr'Arx STher Durithe m o Ae* s. taff e nwndes                                                                                                                                      i no. i esshouldde              nbs*ton                    s                                                                                            hot shorts and ,
staff  presented            Its positins regarding fire-ndcerd potential for positions        0r    guidance.        The that  the    saety          isue a                ,stutdo              92-18 (themsn in IN,codiio.m*                                        +4 signals SpuriIxA to shtown the*p<an theand'  tI  position            ,
andcapabiltyto 'enot    nki*    achieve and maintain safe                              shutdown)          Is within cpablmo fire-induced            hot.shorts to*Impair saf als explainled how the, reguilation th sop    o te xiPig fire protecion regul~atin.Th,                                          posiio and why its revew and andpubstd saffpoitinsand, guianc spporthis                                                                                            tnite              a plant-sfey      issues addressed IN                                      8o X"ioof                          the  technlcaI      ind withto your          positi that enforcement                                F saff            that    it  also Stated a licensee for failure against agreed                    'comply        with. Information notices.
actins Durin      the    &#xfd;mOOtl-Vgft souldno(t4b              taken                                                                                                        the    staff were not discussed during the meeting, in response to 4i Althugh specific enforcemnent actions                                  notices of violation to several                              licensees adonowledgedl that Ithad recently issued                                            kvOMng ho shorts. In each csthe against findings      of    post-fie      safe    shutdown        deficienies                                                                                  taken dependent        on    fthcircumstances of fthcase and were enfo*mrcprentc*irwwere                                              appicable regulatorY requirements, consistentwih4 a cerwe"s for,faiur to comply with the                                                                                      an information notice.
1roguia", posto~ns, and not for failure to compl with After j treated      your    concerns      In  accordance                with its procedures for managing backfits.                                  licensee The staW                                                                                                                                                  and in your letter, the discussions with NEI protection consldertn&sect; th 1 m rMatlon You submitted                                              7,199, ad r-evaluating the                                    fire
                                              ~rtg te metin ofFebuar reprsenaties                          and        guidanice,            the      staff    concuded                that  its position (fthat oJ, :Idteaultl 4                          and,    apicable        staff  po,  tfions Og
3; 43.3      ,
                                                    .....;: . * ::*    3 .:*
: *- 3 '3  .":    " .' * *,*,                  333';**
                      <3,,,.
                                  .                                                                                              ENCLOSURE
                                      ... ASSESSMENT OF NEI COCEN RG DIG
                  .<,, . , :..0:..,i.:,.*..*..."*:
                    * - "                  * ~Ji NRC INFORMA7ION NQTICE 92-18...                                          *,
:"      ~...........  ':,          :"      DRN    . A CONTRL..          ROMFIE.*
On"FebLuar* 28,"1992, the1 U.*S. Ni.clea'r Regul tory:pmmiss'n '(NRC) issud Information. .
Nio. 3 eIN)92* ,,.otentil 3 or Loss of Remote hu                                              Cap.dtDuna.CtolRo Fr.ThINaddreS*O the po*_tential .for a corntrol rg0oom fire ,to: ause'electncal short circuits I*.w#.no.rm..aly energi.zed conuctorsand conductor~s asscited-.ih thecontr.ol circutry of.
conditions: *Such ap.event could cause' certairn valves tosp~unou, sy actuate. In addition,;
b:*.ue.of the, ocation of the circujit'fau.it' the MOV torque an~d limit switches wo~uld be o*-
ineffective to, stop valv'e operation. Moreover, because thermal overload protection had been bypassed at some facilities, the potential existed iorfjlre-inducd .spuriousvalve actuations to resuhltn i,c1m6nt m'e'chanical damage'toprevent the react(or~prato~s from'Tmanually operating the aff'ected valves. .This,*uld result in a loss df capabelity to ahiev~e or' mfn~t'ai .safe..
: 2. APPLICAB'LE .REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDANCE                                                                  '
Th1e 10 of ithe..Code of ,Federal :Reaulation~s, iPart..50, .Appe.ndix..R, Secion lIl.G, 'Fre, protetio of safe, shutdow..capabI'ity, par~agraph1.a,                          l.require8.sthatone.tramn*
3                                  iof...ystems*ncesry to achkeve and. m.a.ntan: ho.t* shutdqwn./conditios .from: .ei~therthe..controelroom or, emergency*M'j,*
con.trolsttion (s) be: free of*,fire;damage., *.,.In addition., Section. lI!.G~ paragraph 2,* requires!that
  *where-cables~or.euipment,.including associated non-safety circuits that could prevent.
operation or cause maloprationdue to hot shorts, open circuits, or. shorts to ground, of redundant trains of systems necessary to. achieve and maintain hot shutdown conditio*: ..are located within the same fire :area," a m~eans be provided for .ensuring one train of the redundant safe shutdown trains will be free of fire damage*.1 : For .those plants licensed after*
January1.," 1979, the applicable regulatory requiremenet is 10 CFR Part 50, Appndix A*,....
Crtro            3, "'F e    '"  "?"P.''':.
                                            .*"t"6              e5:,ot;
                                                                    "** **''"';.**-'".i.ti&:::*:*,*-,':*.:'.,              " *'        : ;, .u*'.'b?**'
(SRP 9.5.1 ), 'Fire Protection Pr..gram,' ReviSion' 3, ;dated July 1'981,' was used by the: staff, as..."
review guidance. This guidance is the same as that specified by the technical requirements of Appendix R, Section IIl.G.
In Genernis Letter (GL) 86-10, ;implementatio ofFire Protection .Requirements," dated.............
April24,r198, thestaff interpreted the term..free of fire damage." In Enclosure 1, "lnterretaion of-Appndix R," Interpretatio.nl 3, "Fire Damage,' the staff stated, in part, that                                                          j33~{
      "the lm                      has provided methods acceptable for assuring that necessary structures,
            .!The        ,safety concerns associated with fire-induced hot shorts, open circuits, or shorts'to ground In safe shutdown and associated circuits, which could prevent operation cause maloperation of..                                                  .
redundlant.shutdow trains, were predicated on the numerous adverse conditions that oc:curred during ..
    ..ieB..wns Fer tire..of_ March 25, 19756'Reeec                  . :i';        NRC05,
                                                                                    ...            Rcmenain Related...                  to            33.:343 n Fer .~o F.ire.;  . Feb.ruary., 19,76.,;&#xa2;.**..                      :** ;:.',....:.  :..    :    . .. .:    .. .    .    .    .
3'
                                                                                                                                                        '$33
t  tehnicl      ue addre            lh IN 92-188            within the scope 61 te existng fire Protect.Kn rebulation) Ws justified.t On this basis, the staf hasi,1o--conclde tatit~c~ntinued review and spcioffre protecoissues, icludiig.suh tn nicaaand safety issues, as those addrissed In IN 92-'18, is app'ropiate. In addifi*;ntIc                      staff is"considenng the need to take further action to ensure that licensees understapd and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements.
With respect to enforcement actions, the staff                                                    thentinue toenforce te-Commission's requirements in accordance with the guidance 'fiNUREG1                              600;'Generai Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions0, and the 'NC. Enforcement Manual.' As you are aware, licensees that question enforcemeint, actio'n' inqypqotest'thm inacrdance with the procedures In 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. Furthermore; iceieyseesthattbeliee a staff                                  V poston Is a backf.t with regard to its facilities may raise such claim in accordance with establisihed NRC polices and procedures. This includes submitting the claim in writing to either the Director of DONR or the.Regional Administrator supervising the NRC employee who issued                              2 the staff position In question, with a copy to the NRC Executive Director for Operations.
The staff's response to the technical issues you raised in your letter are enclosed. Because you alleged in your letter that the staff was inappropriately backfitting new positions or interpretations regarding fire-induced hot shorts and spurious signals, I have referred your letter to the NRC Office of the Inspector General. If you have questions about the staff positions or IN 92-18, please have your staff contact the NRC point of. contact for fire protection matters, Steven West, Chief, Fire Protection Engineering Section. Mr., West can be reached at                                  r 301-415-1220;. If youdisagree with the NRC staff positions, or you wish to further your backfitting claim, you can appeal to the NRC Executive Director for Operations.
Sincerely, Original signed by S. J. Collins Samuel J. Collins, Director.                          A
                                                                .Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
                                                                                                              -F-1*  , }?
o*            *,I .. * **i
                                      * . .';*.:          :i )**  * :    . ." : ;*:  .  .' :*. . .. ..  .:*:
r  ~                                                                                                .V Ji 7-7
12 syes... at . .andI          co onant. aree            id        offire da6mageothat lit, the-st**dUr- .ysts                    o.Ircompo*n."ent uner consderation is capable of performing*rits inte'ndW funcfich duringiad after the ppsultefre~aspeed .',
W.he'er redundant sfeoshut.*down,,tral.ns ar&#xfd;e"sL*.*                            `sdPtibI to fire damage, Apendix:R                              -
ctiot,1:.r3                                      s          at                                                    pbi            tyand t sibifddcati.eshutdow asscir)ated)dcircuts indepet nrof cabl6s,.yirt                            7.i          ooa          oneatint in odhuetarea omn, zono thder a                      ratlon shaibe prov Frtconsld                                  ad.Section IlI.L Ale"7atlveC5,or              S      9.5.1shut ca ability, paragraph 1, spetfies th. the                              sautdwata~b6i dedica'f              edoshutdei h craeab e.. "r, prode""              o a4sp~lf ir'e                      iiishal be able, t6 (a) bhieve and-Miaintairi'brtie reacivity on&ilutions r--re in in tra      .
maM Deonemntqne II.              -o.
* ntor
                                                                                                          . , (            . .        maintain downS*    hot Ina tlbyo.r atPWRa(ressuedS teaterr tatarhutdownfprsaBW,1&,                                                                        water',  .ing reactor])*'; (d)tachivecldhe                                              7aren(mitnosutdown conditions thereafter.',,For plant                              seater aua-ry                                                        9. was used the'itaff -s reviewygui ts thisgfie.                              dAric&U te;ame*        " sithaV`            I            he t chnical
                                                                                                                                    &#xfd;*7ed requirementsh                  o atndi R, Setslion'        er.t      llept                                                        U
      "*.tionll.L. paragraphte                        ,~tiatsh. ft-he shut,*wn                    belitcly f specific'-f r        iretAreas maydbre, unique                      cuc                          if n-      recognized        aocbination                                          p IAhotss to grond,,horipoen            airrhtsi.i.es tha't'-her' ranlt                  ' orderfoetm shralltbown alerative cridapeeiiy tof thefor ntirena*di-e(            ic                          eshuti          .7            nt7tes,      '(tihe          stfe ashutdpow pei        I              ntndd tis16it~h    tsbi                                          kfire areao            tedfr                ofe
                                                        -.                                          M            16W                .U    6pmn.
In    nclosre*..r*tl      3      to      soL8te'Fire-dProtetion R.cir ',dated Feriousuary 20,                        8              taff stated.
morhe T) ealuatingdaternativenshutdown me6tsodssh                                      assownci      ents atrecircutthae couldprevent        t asocated neg.
theotera                      ontroft Or.cause tio  n          aroot    an the'filesre~a dinaso'th)a.hotishirt, the mr.Clsoderationom                                t                us ts'-
                                                                                                                .hhe c.rc"."
op.              or"shor."lo.
ed,'[tahve              andmag masnsaue    thot
--::groun8*..:i. .the        safeishutdown        conditions        due  t asoiatf'*Sedclicits willnotpevent r~oegarding e  faireidced        rot  shorts;d of    open  ciut reguatdOryrequirements        sorooo.rtsI  '
ground.0 the gusidan ofnGLy811i2                  [tce              recognizdmothat afire capable of inducing multiple hot shosshortsto        e groundum,oraopenscsrcurit. Therefore, In order for the alternai shutdown capability to perform. its Intended function, tosohutdownt                                      equipml    etho Itree    les on must be capable of performing i                                ncrtionso  after ithaffs bense                  y iaed from the tire area of.
concern (e.g., control room and tecbesraigro) 1 1.cn    in.GL.8-1.,te staff, issued additional guidance regardingth.e regulatory requirements re-4gairding the* need tqJoisoate fire-dmage.qdjb                            cic        mitigate spuiu acUatsk Ls                                        (oeta ne, and retain              .functionality.of the safe shutdownt components after-their transfer. In its repns o Oues~tioni 3.8.4, 'Control Room, Fire Considerations, *the stalffstaited, 'ti~he damage
    -othe systems in the control room cannot be predicted. A bounding analyss should be made to
  .assure that safe shutdown conditions can be maintained f rom outside the control room.' in a4iddition; -thestaf -stated, *[tlheanalyi should dem~onstrate that the -capability exists to anAllyacieve safe shutdown conditions from outside thel control ,room&#xfd; by re'stonrg"'ac".c po:0wer to designated pumps, assu ring that valve lineups are correct, an assuming ftht any' malfunctions of valves that permit, the loss of reactor coolant can be' corrected before' unrttorbleconitins an ocur'. he taf's esponse to this question recog-nized thati a fire
',can. induqce1 signals, that cause operational changes-(e.g., valves changing position) to the plant.
So                                          ha        actual reported coditions related to
  'the desgn of post-firesafe shutdown omponents and" the potential, for ertain cpom*-ent to be. daifiagdbyireIdcdfut                                          to uesobecndtnsbefore the lcicens~e~e' could transfer
                  *        *****    ':*,t  *:;*  *,.*4"',                            Yv"*:.!
                                                                                                    ""L
                                                        -            &#xa3;z V~        k I-tj
                              ...      . .      . ..      . . . . . . . . t--. .
    '1 ,.. . . . .
t        a cotr            tons otutsie the controdl, transfer and slte                      irequred equie e      r Bdntied          staff                      that fire'*
uthe or component una*abiltes and sppuus qte,                                                          actuation        .
      .,andem                                                                                              n.a:      mitigating            uns
      ,actultiosa~nd.t                      !      fotr, stpnogngheede se dtiiff                                            ncaabtiis~hilti    fire nma-go shoul    be tatOO In,',proceo""S'6duile's. &#xfd;-The  -ts , al .              nghford.o mamum,!J&#xfd;vl of ahemateFt'eshutdOwn                                                                          t*
                                                                                                  ,rtet            of te            c1annot      b* predicted, it"'
lab-iles,s          ruous~njiait6i                  )i Si
(:;iyst.em(    ,ur or              res            te          iratbrs from ull system seems prudent to have thepostfire shcapability.
availalty to the minimum shutdown                                                                                                      t4              tf*-1ur C        iifalSd      1          *"-~it addres              the -crcutttaiure AT
* Cirtud.adre.Modes,/,9'ept~ff In its resp se to Question55.3.1
                      'on ln-"&#xfd;e by  's~rIlusa6tuation;                  The In Kientif*yngciuts Ra .ss..ted                              circt fiilure iomesias hot modes that must, bconisidered                                              ApP'*i*x                  "frthe staff' stated  . Secti.ns IIl.G.2'an 'I.I'.7''*of                                                                                                alt,.            ,-
and    hrtsto            grouind..o,. Fc            si'ratid* 'of spurio(s'-actuations, circu.,s.
d66p                                                                                                                      be6 energized sho-rt,                                                          be':evluati                that jkthe cbumq encould                                                p, pIossible fu*onal faiure+*tAtesnust                                            f          i            .        ,vThefvfer    f vies could ,fail open onebri by:oe                          theabvellre or de-energiz.                                                                                                                breakers could fail
(:dlaifa      running          or  not.runnirn;.eieiticai'distnbution
* or closed; pumpi                                                                                                        requirement that multiple open or closed. In this response, the staff, reiteratedthe,regulatory                                ropen c6iictits, mustor              h) e        tt                ;
6r','htito              ,
grou                                              ["
lbyifire-)                                                      component could be energized spurk:lusacitus&#xfd;cad "Wtb(*  ite    'The`      staff also indicated that a circuits wich could result In valves failing be cons i                nd~
de-esergizedbyhot s                          horts to ground, or open                                                              purpose.o this opno lsd                            ld uningF'o wn'rvi,,&#xfd; 6tc.6The princpaiispe anddepth to 4faipsdo                                                                                                                I aia**yisofi1 guidance was toe*sureitht "tlicenseesperformed:an                                                                            shorts to ground, and and  mitigate    the  potential        adverse consequences of hot shorts,                                        logic. These could
* identify                                                          control      circuits and their,associated open circuits        onsafe      shutdown-related                                          ethoInl*          minimum
                                                                                                                      ;a
                                                                                                                  ,-#lo                  "
flowpathand,q, inOclude, for exampli                        spmstart' w I features.
or  closinrg    of    MOVs          by    signals      that bypasses the-vavesi' protective to cause spurious opening                                                                                                                      hot shoras licensees to the potential for fire-induced Later, inIN 92-18,r the staff alerted                                                                                                features of the byas he protection
      *valves ofll          opno lsdadta o hr-coul valve motors of plant    eqipmen                  needed        to mee thFeactor peprformnce goalo T,&#xfd;o. limit,the scpeofthe                                                                    to GL .86-1O, Question 5.,.30,,.
Design Section,,,,! 6.Lbf    AppendixR, theixstff,inIt4 response that licensees should consider to 4
qas:,: s Pant Tran ropts, specified                          the plant transient                                                                            system.
and      ca  pNt              of -the alternativ or dedicated ioutdown deter.ine..the design..capacity                                                                                                inventory losfW esbse              h        eIgn,        input0lmits, tor thoerector coolant                                      .                    '
        ~ hsgudac                                                    to  p.eorm the,reactor c                          ntmaknkeupfUnc*tio6nsie systems      neede                                                                              e d'* eis.onaf18,cbng                                                                    specified by h tf powr  qen Inlogic,;,etc. Tades~ig ciita afire In, any fire,aea@.n. fet with Loss.Of offsite power shall. c.assumedfor&#xfd;                                                              :;,,-
4wthfollowinqgassumnptions:
not be acversely affected                      by. any
: a. Th        af      hudwncpabifity-should                      resuting        from    a  fire    in  ,any  plant    area,'
one spurious actuat**o                    or. sigrial and adverselyaffectedb:afirein heThsafe Ohnapblity~should~not be
(
ti any fire area whichrresults inttie losst of all aUtomatic function'(sgnals-roin the circUtslocated in th area conlunctir Iloc)                                                              en a h
                          " Cas*                  trus~a~tior&#xfd;lii*,&#xfd;res              ring fohthe firei .andlth o. worst cse spunious ac                    A.                                ,      J,
              ,c            he,safe W s6hutdown capability should not be acerselyaf t*dbf a fire                                              V
              ,i:','c*            y~n area a planta 7;Wf*, '*:,tany,          'hif ~wtchlb          sreurein results      spunouQs'actuaiWenof inte  l      Ii,..              the'redunddAnffate                V Thei staf, ex            ed licseesto apply this 0uinctoestabljsh"theap ia6nd capabilit                                                  ~I (a g size the    !q PUmpp.and su rt systems need6,do naint                                      eactornt Innory. define the scope of                                            'sro"u,
                                                          ' "e        "      n" oe'*'-i.no-ei.                0Mb'ish'6an*",ritional      S.., S
      , ... 1m&#xfd;,,id set of pln~t c'onditbons that woud define 'the scope of n iActionh baeIn                                                                                                                '1,646h to reseitore se syistms necessary to-accomp i rtflerequr~9 reactor' ormanc                                                              ,~  ,
1g11) physically sociattd 'circuits so-that hot shorts, shortsto dround, and open-circuits n these circuits will -not-prevent the.,r operation o..f "safeshutdwn',equipment or components:,
: 3. ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ISSUES AND,NEI CONCERNS" St eltr                    January          1, 997,te N              iEnar**Energy Institute (NE 4stae,.
tlhe postuilated Ifire is quife large <ah' results n'n.!cbntU                      r      Jornevacuat..n AddItionally, the7Ios of&#xfd; remoteshd&icapability would require-a hota;sho thttoccurs duing, the,narrowtime wWndowbetweenm the evacuationof the control room. ad manningof the iemergency controi:!.,'                                              IM statios(s);such that MOVa are mechanically damaged and their.function cannottbe recovered, The poential; for this type' of tfire In! a continuously manned area coincident withthe theoretical hotsho.s remote;,.. *On~the bhasis of the information, provded byNEI In ts. letter, it appears that t mayyere    be some' uncertaint aboutthe size and duration of theflre needed for spurious component.or equipment actuations to occur. As stated In the staff responses to                                                        tj Question 3.8.4 and Ques.tin 5.2.1 of GL 86-10, it Is the staffs psition -that it is not possible to predict the number of spurousa.'gnas, .thtw.ou.1d.occurorthe.changes.to the operational configuration of the plant that wouldboccur-in                                  nt of a.fire. The staff has found that evacuation criteria for control room fires are plint speclfic. The shift supervisor Is responsible for deciding when to evacuate. In its interviews with control room operators, the staff has found that alternative shutdown (control room abandonment and shutdown from outside the control
  .room) would not be implemented until significant functional capability of the control room had
.been lost. A small fire, even if it does not necessitate control room evacuation, could cause equipment maloperations. due.to shorts to ground, hot shorts, and open circuits. Such failures
,occurred.      dur.ing the .....        s,Fey..      ...        ,..            ,                      .  ' .      .    .
;Froman operatiopal per                          e, most essential plant equLip ment is controlled ad -monitored from the.main.control board. Thetiming of.control room evacuation in.the event of,.a fire can be qracicfactorin preserving the operability of the safe shutdown functonsthatiare controlled jfrom ;Wde the control room by the alterativernv                            ,hutdowrn systemI Forexample,a small-fire in.
te... main control board may nIot result in :a, smoke or heat,envi.ronment th would necessitate,
.immdiateevac1iationof the control room or the actuation of the alternative (or remote)
: s. ihutdown sys.te            Hover, such a fire could, in a short time, adversely affect plant annunca*tors andchange :the plant configuration due to fire-Indce spuriousignals.i The staff i l~ ~ocemd hats~chfire-Iduced. spurios. signlcod cauem10Maloperatipono                                            OV
                                  .4    ~
shutdown system's.bef~e donitrol is-transeferrdfro~m'-;
requred bytthe pot-fir afternative safe p''l.                                                    L"'urouIn OE"alW                                                              bps the the,. remote          shutdrow                                                                              adverselya      a6dc        theb, thecotrl oo0t                                                                        t "MOVdrae T1hs cold
                                                                                                                                                                                                    &deg;
                                                                                                                                                                        ,    ) :, . : : : **
MOV-4          prtectlvefeatures wich
                                                      ** : . &#xfd;.*
                                      &#xfd; ;l, .:* *&#xfd;.'' '&#xfd;,,&#xfd;,      ,  * .. ....
idbad          ;' ,;    :**V *. ,;  ,*        *:.1;          * .*    .          :
r-, W &#xfd;.-.o.
anmantalp~sfe, 4shutdow cpirlds j*.,_4 to ahieve abilit tc O perato te                      eto 'ir6, b"' h rom o-ieta                ol        desl Teptential- forbot shrt drig a triqq                                                        60shn~PUt~id Powe S"pp-.y                          S~tem, Pennhsytvania' wasfondand,.repoqted                            by      lidbnbs,,`                                                                            -ain
                                                                                                                                                  &#xfd;wrCmay  Ci~aedodt tts Power-and' "ht."Co9ay n orhr                                                                                                            Ii" p t-fre safconcerns    e shto n.I, regardn fier                        teto'adteaityocheendri                                                                                                                        about view of the generc nature of                                      the c e, its tentialsafe iglfanc&'af~l                                                                    assocated performed by 'icensees                              of post-fire sofe shutdown              It was the tth and scope ofanat&#xfd;sbs                                          alert the industry              to    the    reported        conditions.
circuits,the staffIssued IN 92-18 to                                                                                                                                                  NRC that      time        that    this        unanalyzed          condition was within the scope of existing                                          in staff's      p'itint                                                                                                                                            the  information protection          regulations.                    The      staff      expected that licensees would evaluate                                              Jn)tC  pos  t-fire fire                                                                                                                                          c res0ectp4its'*tenia[
theIN, and'ts safety segnifanc 4 ith appr at wactions.
sae' sftdown Implembrntation'ri tan a  letter      to  its.administratirve                    pointsof          contact dated.'August .13,.1992,ithe Nuclear In                                                                                                                                                                that it"considered-*....
Concil (NU                            now  WARC,* NEl)'.a 6%is6d lhcenseesh to          very unlikely .:-'InL              ....
M~nagement an Re'sources.                                    c. trolroom'fire~'aslidentfdirN                                  *,92-18 i.n'resufting fro                                                                                                                                        asregarding to anyoft ad t'.NU                          R advisa icensees to dive arefulconsiderat                        NMRC                    base          Wtdiconteaumin        operationr response,              toN9-8 to' ground,.or openc !                              tth can: prevnt tht,plat  esgnchnges firenc                    ho iont                    s that causes maperato                      of    pnt          equipment            can only ocr as areut o a fire conditi                                                          room cau                                                                                  only durin"&#xfd;g &#xfd;the ttime It taes:to evcutetheconthAro conrolrom toLbe eacuted and the                                                                                                                                      repeteemrnc 1d            cono            of    theequire                    safee sutdown &#xfd;equipmnlah                                              jutfction or bases ae-4,is                    Th        s o&#xfd;'taff        noe            htNMRddnot*provldedinlcal                                                                      ihti contr~stalons                                                          "oh esn ttdaoethehestf disagre forasup  this              ion.ThdcdltJ&
that theINUMARC guidance may have encouraged some licensees to positon. It appears                                                                                                                                          The staff also noted dismiss IN 92-18 and to.forego                                                _ssessing the technical and safety issues.                                                the IN92-18 NUMARC,                in  its    letter        of    AUgust          29    1992, didnot quesnthe applicability.of that issues to existing NRC regulatory requir ments-I)
: 4. CONCLUSIONS above,          the,      regulatory            rurements              and supporting staff positions are well-shorts, As discussed.                                                                                r              ize that fires can induce multiple hot regulatbry-requireprots requirements also specify that such circuit documented.                      NRC and        open          circuits.          The    regulatory shorts to.ground.                                                                                                                                required post-fire.safe                    ' 44 faluessal ntpreen the,operato orcuetemlproof.                                                                                                          the desgn,ofpst components.*,                  ',!I. IIN92-1,            th  saffdsre oniinperelated!4to                                        to bl  damage by fire-shutdown                                                              a            e  pn    n        'al for,    certain c fir*ea            shu w                  c~omonnt                                                                                                            at lc cnrol ef elr&#xfd;                  a        a        er andIsolation could be acopls                                                  ent and Inducdfaults                                                                                  result in u                              related e sa          oeii outside thebontrol roomr. This couldtheir                                            intended funcft                        ae          they  have      been c ponents                              icaable of pe rforming*                                                                                                        that    such Threfore, the staff concluded electrIcly isolted from&#xfd; the. fire area of concern                                                                                    anrd limited'shu'tdo'w'n              funlctionls design .do nopt provide, reasonable asuanethattheminimum                                    shutdow~nsysem                          can    beprformed as reqie by controlld bty                the&#xfd;          p  onfigrations                  e'rniative                                                                                I IN 92-18 Thesffa                  c              e th                    safetysu addre rgatyr                  equiement.
                                                                                          '        s i


As stated cc: The Chairman Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield W. Travers, EDO F. Miraglia, DEDR M. Knapp, DEDE D. Dambly, OGC S. Collins, DONR J. Zwolinski, NRR L. Chandler, OGC J. Hannon, NRR SECY PJ ,.Ii i~;7~.,, 7,'I,-I 'U,'U, ~ 7, 7,a 7 &#xb6;~~i'~4, ~ ~ ~ K) p~kJK~f' ''.1
18  s. r   s   In..IN889 -                   _e apla_
* tip e Addressees  .OE will review this EGM and to refiect any agreement reached cbet~en the staff and the Industryon the dispositiOi of theso issues.,Attachment.
                ,d thtdtontned rveandt          Inpetono s"peciofc onkftechFinaly h staffeha also coc8deand  saet  isue as those  adroessW on fiepoetm ue,             K,,,,A s".c' techica of compliance with NRC  fire protection IN 92-18, is needed to emphasize the Importancz requIrements and to verify licensee compliance with those requirements and the existing liensingbasis.
As stated!, 4 4 Chairman'''
UCormmissioner Diaz.'Commissioner McGaffigan Gommlssioner Merrifield WTravers, EDO FMlragia, DEDR..MKnapp, DEDE DDambty, OGC.4.d1.4SColI1nsjDONR'4,,-~~~
JiZio4inski, DONR`.;&#xfd; ,`., JHannoW, DONR ..J. ebermnahn~l,OE
~ J OE Staff Enforcement -Coordinators RI, RII,, RIII',..RI -NRR,;NMSS (Also by E-Mail)EGM File Day File WEB (2 weeks after issuance)PUBLIC (2 weeks after: issuance)SPLB R/F G3Holahan BSherion DOudinot PMadden.... .... .. ... ...L W h it e y .: : .. ... ..... .. ... ..... ... ... ..... ... ..4 F0 44 DOCUMENT; NAME: A:\EGM98002REV1.WPD
*see previous concurrence NU:bC S NRR D:C D NU SOE I YE TReis* SWest , /an N /99 L I 7 7 1/L9 j! 'OFFICIAL RECORD COPY r J 4-ATTACH-MENT1 4;- .-it 4. V: "' '" " ' 0' 0.. ....'.. ......r "' " ...*).. .F ..'Chnorief deredntn1) wI r es d to youffieerW Of Ja uary 14, 1997, conceing U.S.N uclear Regulatory 1.Commiss (N.Rg ,I*)!nstrt a
* Ni ( 9 n oty tial For Lor of Remote, Shutdown CapabMIiy Dug a* Control Roodm Ftrrq'', F6&092)A~~aaelN21 adresd conitnsI Mon and reor A-'a e IN,, f A relicensra ees, tat couJld hav 'resuhed In the oss &#xfd;of apbdftyto, jacieVe an~d ma% ~ i~r bft Win Vit6M'evnt of a ~65trof 4 room' fire. Spciicll , tec~rcjt b*
'w;en'. ++.'uojcte to a fie hot shfedhapiodipenmsvesignal.
T" i spurou Igas slnblcudits e thase'thtide safety Isse a byrassdingI 9-1(the ~rtciv featre, and resu.'ng in1 mh u -, laN,'dma mag)Su fbfor c6,6M haveiimpaire&#xfd;n the cpablmo to shtown , and 'e not a ,stutdo ,
msn +of ath Niha myisser noftute(NEs ) the ssfiosvand Iasues -rased myO' :.STher Durithe m o .staff Itr'Arx it agreedrwithes yourp tnae no. i esshouldde nbs*ton s e nwndes i positions 0r guidance.
The staff presented Its positins regarding fire-ndcerd hot shorts and , SpuriIxA signals and' tI position that the saety isue in IN 92-18 (the potential for 4 fire-induced hot. shorts to* Impair the capabiltyto achieve and maintain safe shutdown)
Is within th sop o te xiPig fire protecion regul~atin.Th, saf als explainled how the, reguilation andpubstd saffpoitinsand, guianc spporthis p osiio and why its revew and X"ioof the technlcaI ind sfey issues addressed IN 8o tnite a plant-Durin the &#xfd;mOOtl-Vgft saff Stated that it also agreed with your positi that enforcement actins souldno(t4b taken against a licensee for failure to 'comply with. Information notices. F Althugh specific enforcemnent actions were not discussed during the meeting, the staff ado nowledgedl that It had recently issued notices of violation to several licensees in response to 4i findings of post-fie safe shutdown deficienies kvOMng ho shorts. In each csthe enfo*mrcprentc*irwwere dependent on fth circumstances of fth case and were taken against a cerwe"s for, faiur to comply with the appicable regulatorY requirements, consistentwih4 1 roguia", posto~ns, and not for failure to compl with an information notice.The staW treated your concerns In accordance with its procedures for managing backfits.
After j consldertn&sect; th 1 m rMatlon You submitted in your letter, the discussions with NEI and licensee reprsenaties
~rtg te metin ofFebuar 7,199, ad r-evaluating the fire protection 4 oJ, :Idteaultl and, apicable staff po, tfions and guidanice, the staff concuded that its position (fthat Og 3; 43.3 ,<3,,,..3 ... ..;: .: 3 '3 .": " .' ENCLOSURE.<,, .,
...ASSESSMENT OF NEI COCEN RG DIG* -" ~Ji NRC INFORMA7ION NQTICE 92-18... : " ~...........
':, :" .DRN A CONTRL.. ROMFIE.*
28,"1992, the 1 Ni.clea'r Regul tory:pmmiss'n
'(NRC) issud Information.
.Nio. 3 eIN) ,,.otentil 3 or Loss of Remote hu Cap.dtDuna.CtolRo the .for a corntrol rg0oom fire ,to: ause'electncal short circuits energi.zed conuctorsand conductor~s asscited-.ih thecontr.ol circutry of.conditions:
*Such ap.event could cause' certairn valves tosp~unou, sy actuate. In addition,;
the, ocation of the circujit'fau.it' the MOV torque an~d limit switches wo~uld be o*-ineffective to, stop valv'e operation.
Moreover, because thermal overload protection had been bypassed at some facilities, the potential existed iorfjlre-inducd .spurious valve actuations to resuhltn i,c1m6nt m'e'chanical damage'toprevent the react(or~prato~s from'Tmanually operating the aff'ected valves.
result in a loss df capabelity to ahiev~e or' mfn~t'ai .safe..2. APPLICAB'LE .REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDANCE 'Th1e 10 of ithe..Code of ,Federal :Reaulation~s, iPart..50, .Appe.ndix..R, Secion lIl.G, 'Fre, protetio of safe, shutdow..
capabI'ity, par~agraph1.a, 3 to achkeve and. m.a.ntan: shutdqwn./conditios .from: .ei~ther the..controelroom or, con.trolsttion (s) be: free addition., Section. lI!.G~ paragraph requires!
that*where-cables~or.euipment,.including associated non-safety circuits that could prevent.operation or cause maloprationdue to hot shorts, open circuits, or. shorts to ground, of redundant trains of systems necessary to. achieve and maintain hot shutdown
..are located within the same fire :area," a m~eans be provided for .ensuring one train of the redundant safe shutdown trains will be free of fire 1: For .those plants licensed after*January1.," 1979, the applicable regulatory requiremenet is 10 CFR Part 50, Appndix Crtro 3, " 'F e '" " ?"P.''':. " e5:,ot; : ;, (SRP 9.5.1 ), 'Fire Protection Pr..gram,'
ReviSion' 3, ;dated July 1'981,' was used by the: staff, as..." review guidance.
This guidance is the same as that specified by the technical requirements of Appendix R, Section IIl.G.In Genernis Letter (GL) 86-10, ;implementatio ofFire Protection .Requirements," dated.............
April24,r198, thestaff interpreted the term..free of fire damage." In Enclosure 1,"lnterretaion of-Appndix R," Interpretatio.nl 3, "Fire Damage,' the staff stated, in part, that"the lm has provided methods acceptable for assuring that necessary structures,' .!The ,safety concerns associated with fire-induced hot shorts, open circuits, or shorts'to ground In safe shutdown and associated circuits, which could prevent operation cause maloperation of.. .redundlant.shutdow trains, were predicated on the numerous adverse conditions that oc:curred during ....ieB..wns Fer tire.. of_ March 25, 19756' .:i'; ... Reeec NRG05, Rcmenain Related...
to.~o n Fer .F.ire.; Feb.ruary., ;:.',....:.
:.. : ... .: .. ....j33 ~{33. :343 3''$33 t tehnicl ue addre lh IN 92-188 within the scope 61 te existng fire Protect.Kn rebulation)
Ws justified.t On this basis, the staf hasi,1o--conclde tatit~c~ntinued review and spcioffre protecoissues, icludiig.suh tn nicaa and safety issues, as those addrissed In IN 92-'18, is app'ropiate.
In staff is"considenng the need to take further action to ensure that licensees understapd and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements.
With respect to enforcement actions, the staff thentinue toenforce te-Commission's requirements in accordance with the guidance 'fiNUREG1 600;'Generai Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions0, and the 'NC. Enforcement Manual.' As you are aware, licensees that question enforcemeint, actio'n' in qypq otest'thm inacrdance with the procedures In 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. Furthermore; iceieyseesthattbeliee a staff V poston Is a backf.t with regard to its facilities may raise such claim in accordance with establisihed NRC polices and procedures.
This includes submitting the claim in writing to either the Director of DONR or the.Regional Administrator supervising the NRC employee who issued 2 the staff position In question, with a copy to the NRC Executive Director for Operations.
The staff's response to the technical issues you raised in your letter are enclosed.
Because you alleged in your letter that the staff was inappropriately backfitting new positions or interpretations regarding fire-induced hot shorts and spurious signals, I have referred your letter to the NRC Office of the Inspector General. If you have questions about the staff positions or IN 92-18, please have your staff contact the NRC point of. contact for fire protection matters, Steven West, Chief, Fire Protection Engineering Section. Mr., West can be reached at r 301-415-1220;.
If youdisagree with the NRC staff positions, or you wish to further your backfitting claim, you can appeal to the NRC Executive Director for Operations.
Sincerely, Original signed by S. J. Collins Samuel J. Collins, Director.
A.Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation-F-.. , }? ..:i : ." .: ..... ' .1* o* ..r ~ .V Ji 7-7 12 syes at ... ..andI co onan t. id aree offire da6mageothat lit, the .ysts o. Ir uner consderation is capable of performing*rits inte'ndW funcfich duringiad after the ppsultefre~aspeed
.', W.he'er redundant ar&#xfd; `sdPtibI to fire damage, Apendix: R -ctiot, 1:.r3 s at sibifddcati.eshutdow pbi tyand t asscir)ated)dcircuts indepet nrof cabl6s,.yirt 7.i ooa oneatint in odhuetarea omn, zono thder a Frtconsld ratlon shaibe prov ad. Section IlI.L Ale"7atlve C5,or S 9.5.1 shut r--re in .II. -o. * ., ..ca ability, paragraph 1, spetfies th. the sautdwata~b6i dedica'f edo shutdei h craeab e.. "r, prode"" o a4 sp~lf ir'e iii shal be able, t6 (a) bhieve and-Miaintairi'brtie reacivity on&ilutions in tra maM Deonemntqne ntor ( maintain hot Ina tlbyo.r at PWRa (ressuedS teaterr tatarhutdownfprsaBW,1&, .ing water', reactor])*'; (d)tachivecldhe 7aren(mitnosutdown conditions thereafter.',, For plant seater aua-ry 9. was used the'itaff -s review ygui ts thisgfie. " dAric&U si thaV` I he t chnical requirementsh o atndi R, Setslion' llept er.t U paragraphte
,~tiat sh. ft-he belitcly f r specific'-f iretAreas d may bre, unique cuc if n- recognized aocbination p IAhotss to grond,,horipoen airrhtsi.i.es tha't'-her' ranlt ' orderfoetm alerative shralltbown cridapeeiiy tof thefor ic eshuti .7 nt7tes, '(tihe st fe ashutdpow pei ntnd tis16it~h fire area ofe I k o d tsbi tedfr asocated neg. ontroft aroot an the'filesre~a dinaso'th)a.hotishirt, op. .c.rc"." ts'- or"shor." lo.--::groun .the ed clicits will notpevent r~oegarding of reguatdOryrequirements
'M -. 16W .U 6pmn.In 3 to soL8 te'Fire-dProtetion R.cir ',dated Feriousuary 20, 8 morhe taff stated.T) ealuatingd aternativenshutdown me6tsodssh assownci ents atrecircut thae t couldprevent theotera tio n Or.cause the mr.Clsoderationom t hhe us ed,'[tahve andmag masnsaue thot safeishutdown conditions due t e faireidced rot shorts;d open ciut soro oo.rtsI ground.0 the gusidan [tce ofnGLy811i2 recognizdmothat afire capable of inducing multiple hot shosshortsto e groundum, oraopenscsrcurit.
Therefore, In order for the alternai shutdown capability to perform. its Intended function, toso hutdownt equipml eth It ree o les on must be capable of performing i ncrtionso after ithaffs bense y iaed from the tire area of.concern (e.g., control room and tecbesraigro) 1 1.cn in.GL.8-1.,te staff, issued additional guidance regardingth.e regulatory requirements re-4gairding the* need tqJoisoate fire-dmage.qdjb cic Ls mitigate spuiu acUatsk (oeta ne, and retain .functionality.of the safe shutdownt components after-their transfer.
In its repns o Oues~tioni 3.8.4, 'Control Room, Fire Considerations, *the stalffstaited, 'ti~he damage-othe systems in the control room cannot be predicted.
A bounding analyss should be made to.assure that safe shutdown conditions can be maintained f rom outside the control room.' in a4iddition; -thestaf -stated, *[tlhe analyi should dem~onstrate that the -capability exists to anAllyacieve safe shutdown conditions from outside thel control ,room&#xfd; by re'stonrg"'ac".c po:0wer to designated pumps, assu ring that valve lineups are correct, an assuming ftht any'malfunctions of valves that permit, the loss of reactor coolant can be' corrected before'unrttorbleconitins an ocur'. he taf's esponse to this question recog-nized thati a fire',can. induqce1 signals, that cause operational changes-(e.g., valves changing position) to the plant.So ha actual reported coditions related to'the desgn of post-firesafe shutdown omponents and" the potential, for ertain to be. daifiagdby ireIdcdfut to uesobecndtnsbefore the lcicens~e~e' could transfer 4"' ,""L .
-&#xa3;z V~ k I-tj'1 ,.. ....... ..... ...............'. ..- t--e r transfer and slte irequred equie t a cotr tons otutsie the controdl, uthe staff Bdntied that fire'*.,andem and sppuus qte, or component ,actultiosa~nd .t ! fotr, stpnog ngheede se n.a: mitigating uns actuation
.shoul be tatOO In,', proceo""S'6dui e's. &#xfd;-The dtiiff ncaabtiis~hilti ahemateFt'eshutdOwn l -ts , al .ngh ford.o mamum,!J&#xfd;vl of fire nma- go (:;iyst.em( ,ur lab-iles,s ruous~njiait6i )i Si ,rtet of te c1 annot predicted, it"'seems prudent to have thepostfire sh or res te iratbrs from ull system availalty to the minimum shutdown capability.
AT ln-"&#xfd;e 'on C iifalSd t4 1 *"-~it tf*-1ur:!. In its resp se to Question5 5.3.1
* Cirtud.adre.Modes,/,9'ept~ff addres the -crcutttaiure modes that must, bconisidered In a .ss..ted by 's~rIlusa6tuation; The staff' stated .Secti.ns IIl.G.2'an R "frthe circt fiilure io mesias hot sho-rt, d66p circu.,s.
and hrtsto grouind..o,.
Fc si'ratid*
'of spurio(s'-actuations, alt,. ,-pIossible be':evluati that jkthe cbumq encould be6 energized or de-energiz.
by:oe onebri theabvellre f i .,vThe fvfer f vies could ,fail open p, or closed; pumpi (:dlaifa running or not.runnirn;.eieiticai'distnbution breakers could fail open or closed. In this response, the staff, reiteratedthe,regulatory requirement that multiple spurk:lusacitus&#xfd;cad lbyifire-)
e tt ; 6r','htito , grou ropen c6iictits, must h)be cons i nd~ ite 'The` staff also indicated that a component could be energized or [" de-esergizedbyhot s horts to ground, or open circuits wich could result In valves failing opno lsd faipsdo ld 4 uningF'o wn'rvi,,&#xfd; 6tc.6The princpa purpose.o this guidance was "tlicenseesperformed:an ii spe anddepth to I identify and mitigate the potential adverse consequences of hot shorts, shorts to ground, and open circuits onsafe shutdown-related control circuits and their, associated logic. These could inOclude, for exampli spmstart' w I ,-#lo ;a minimum " flowpathand,q, spurious opening or closinrg of MOVs by signals that bypasses the-vavesi' protective features.Later, inIN 92-18,r the staff alerted licensees to the potential for fire-induced hot shoras to cause*valves ofll opno lsdadta o hr-coul byas he protection features of the valve motors T,&#xfd; o. limit, the scpeofthe plant eqipmen needed to mee thFeactor peprformnce goalo of 4 Section,,,,!
6.Lbf AppendixR, theix stff,inIt4 response to GL .86-1O, Question 5.,.30,,.
Design qas:,: s Pant Tran r opts, specified the plant transient that licensees should consider to deter.ine..the design..capacity and ca pNt of -the alternativ or dedicated ioutdown system.~ hsgudac esbse h eIgn, input0lmits, tor thoe rector coolant inventory losfWeis.onaf18,cbng systems neede to p.eorm the, reactor c
' .powr qen Inlogic,;,etc.
Tades~ig ciita specified by h tf e Loss. Of offsite power shall. c.assumedfor&#xfd; afire In, any fir e,aea@.n.
fet with 4wthfollowinqgassumnptions:
:;,,-a. Th af hudwncpabifity-should not be acversely aff ected by. any one spurious or. sigrial resuting from a fire in ,any plant area,'and heThsafe Ohnapblity~should~not be adverselyaffectedb:afirein ti any fire area whichrresults inttie losst of all aUtomatic function'(sgnals-Iloc) roin the circUtslocated in th area en conlunctir h a" trus~a~
ring fohthe firei .andlth o. worst cse spunious ac A. , J , ,c he ,safe W s6hutdown capability should not be acerselyaf a fire any, planta area ~wtch results in spunouQs'actuaiWenof the'redunddAnffatea y~n 'hif lb sre ure inte l Ii,..Thei staf, ex ed licseesto apply this 0uinctoestabljsh" theap ia6nd capabilit (a g !q size the PUmpp.and su rt systems need6,do naint eactornt Innory. define the scope of ' "e ' sro"u, " n" no-ei. ritional baeIn , ...1m&#xfd;,,id set of pln~t c'onditbons that woud define 'the scope of n iActionh '1,646h to reseitore se syistms necessary to-accomp i rtflerequr~9 reactor' ormanc (V V~ I S.., S ,~ , 1g11) physically sociattd 'circuits so-that hot shorts, shortsto dround, and open-circuits n these circuits will -not-prevent the.,r operation o..f "safeshutdwn',equipment or components:, 3. ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ISSUES AND,NEI CONCERNS" St eltr January 1, 997,te N Institute (NE 4stae,.tlhe postuilated Ifire is quife large <ah' results n'n.!cbntU r Jornevacuat..n AddItionally, the7Ios of&#xfd; remoteshd&icapability would require-a hota; sho thttoccurs duing, the,narrowtime wWndowbetweenm the evacuationof the control room. ad manningof the iemergency controi:!.,'
statios(s);such that MOVa are mechanically damaged and their.function cannottbe recovered, The poential; for this type' of tfire In! a continuously manned area coincident with the theoretical hotsho.s remote;,.. bhasis of the information, provded byNEI In ts. letter, it appears that t yere may be some' uncertaint aboutthe size and duration of theflre needed for spurious component.or equipment actuations to occur. As stated In the staff responses to Question 3.8.4 and Ques.tin 5.2.1 of GL 86-10, it Is the staffs psition -that it is not possible to predict the number of spurousa.'gnas, .thtw.ou.1d.occur orthe.changes.to the operational configuration of the plant that wouldboccur-in nt of a. fire. The staff has found that evacuation criteria for control room fires are plint speclfic.
The shift supervisor Is responsible for deciding when to evacuate.
In its interviews with control room operators, the staff has found that alternative shutdown (control room abandonment and shutdown from outside the control.room) would not be implemented until significant functional capability of the control room had.been lost. A small fire, even if it does not necessitate control room evacuation, could cause equipment maloperations.
due.to shorts to ground, hot shorts, and open circuits.
Such failures ,occurred.
dur.in the ..... s, Fey.. ... ,.. , .g ' ...;Froman operatiopal per e, most essential plant equLip ment is controlled ad -monitored from the.main.control board. Thetiming of.control room evacuation in.the event of,.a fire can be qracicfactorin preserving the operability of the safe shutdown functonsthatiare controlled jfrom ;Wde the control room by the alterativernv ,hutdowrn systemI Forexample,a small-fire in.te ...main control board may nIot result in :a, smoke or heat, envi.ronment th would necessitate,.immdiateevac1iationof the control room or the actuation of the alternative (or remote)s. ihutdown sys.te Hover, such a fire could, in a short time, adversely affect plant andchange
:the plant configuration due to fire-Indce spuriousignals.i The staff i l~ ~ocemd hats~chfire-Iduced.
spurios. signlcod cauem10Maloperatipono OV IM tj.4 ~
requred bytthe pot-fir afternative safe shutdown system's.bef~e donitrol is -transeferrdfro~m'-;
thecotrl oo0t the,. remote shutdrow p''l. In L"'urou OE"alW bps the MOV-4 prtectlvefeatures wich idbad t "MOVdrae T1hs cold adverselya a6dc theb, abilit to ahieve anmantalp~sfe, 4 shutdow cpirlds o- b"' 'ir6, h te eto Teptential-forbot shrt drig a triqq rom ieta ol desl tc O perato wasfondand,.repoqted by lidbnbs,,`
60shn~ PUt~id Powe S"pp-.y S~tem, Pennhsytvania' Power- and' "ht." Co9ay n orhr tts &#xfd;wrCmay -ain Ci~aedodt regardn fier teto'adteaityocheendri Ii" p t-fre saf e shto n. I,r-, &#xfd;.-.o. W " "< &#xfd; l, ; &#xfd;.'' : ., .. ....'&#xfd;,,&#xfd;, ;' ,; ,; V ..: , ) :, .: : : &deg;view of the generc nature of the c e, its tentialsafe iglfanc&'af~l concerns about t th and scope ofanat&#xfd;sbs performed by 'icensees of post-fire sofe shutdown assocated circuits,the staffIssued IN 92-18 to alert the industry to the reported conditions.
It was the staff's p'itint that time that this unanalyzed condition was within the scope of existing NRC fire protection regulations.
The staff expected that licensees would evaluate the information in theIN, and'ts safety segnifanc ith c Jn)tC pos t-fire sae' sftdown Implembrntation'ri tan 4 appr at wactions.
'In a letter to its.administratirve pointsof contact dated.'August
.1 3,.1992, ithe Nuclear .'M~nagement an Re'sources.
Concil (NU now NEl)'.a 6%is6d lhcenseesh that it" considered-i.n'resufting fro c. trolroom'fire~'aslidentfdirN to very unlikely .:-'InL .... ....ad t'.NU R advisa icensees to dive arefulconsiderat to anyoft asregarding plat esgnchnges ion response, toN9-8 NMRC base Wtdiconteaumin tht, firenc ho t s to' ground,.or openc ! tth can: prevnt operationr cau maperato of pnt equipment can only ocr as areut o a fire conditi that causes the conrolrom toLbe eacuted and only durin"&#xfd;g &#xfd;the ttime It taes: to evcutetheconthAro room a 1d e-4,is cono of theequire safee sutdown &#xfd;equipmnlah repeteemrnc contr~stalons Th s o&#xfd;'taff noe htNMRddnot*provldedinlcal jutfction or bases for this asup ion. ThdcdltJ& "o h esn ttdaoethehestf disagre ihti positon. It appears that theINUMARC guidance may have encouraged some licensees to dismiss IN 92-18 and to.forego
_ssessing the technical and safety issues. The staff also noted that NUMARC, in its letter of AUgust 29 1992, didnot quesnthe applicability.of the IN 92-18 issues to existing NRC regulatory requir ments-4. CONCLUSIONS I)As discussed.
above, the, regulatory rurements and supporting staff positions are well-documented.
NRC regulatbry-requireprots r ize that fires can induce multiple hot shorts, shorts to. ground. and open circuits.
The regulatory requirements also specify that such circuit faluessal ntpreen the ,operato orcuetemlproof.
required post-fire.safe
' 44 shutdown components.*, ',!I. IIN92-1, th saffdsre oniin related!4to the desgn, ofpstshu w c~omonnt a e pn n 'al for, certain c pe to bl damage by fire-Inducdfaults ef elr&#xfd; a a er andIsolation could be acopls at lc cnrol sa oeii outside thebontrol roomr. This could result in u related e ent and c ponents icaable of pe their intended funcft ae they have been electrIcly isolted from&#xfd; the. fire area of concern Threfore, the staff concluded that such design .do nopt provide, reasonable asuanethattheminimum anrd limited'shu'tdo'w'n funlctionls controlld bty the&#xfd; p onfigrations e'rniative shutdow~nsysem can beprformed as reqie by rgaty r equiement.
Thesffa c e th safetysu addre I IN 92-18 i ' s "  s. ,d r s In.. IN88 18 9 -e apla_ _s"pecio fc onkftechFinaly h staffeha also coc8de thtdtontned rveandt Inpetono fiepoetm ue, K,,,,A s".c' techica and saet isue as those adroessW on IN 92-18, is needed to emphasize the Importancz of compliance with NRC fire protection requIrements and to verify licensee compliance with those requirements and the existing liensingbasis.
S I I}}
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Latest revision as of 21:35, 11 March 2020

NRC Response to Nuclear Energy Institute on September 14, 1998, Concerning NRC Enforcement Guidance Memorandum 98-008, Disposition of Violations of Appendix R, Sections Iii.G and Iii.L, Regarding Circuit Failures.
ML101870567
Person / Time
Issue date: 07/21/1999
From: Collins S
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To: Colvin J
Nuclear Energy Institute
References
EGM 98-002, Rev 1 NUDOCS 9907270125
Download: ML101870567 (22)


Text

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4H UNITEDsttES NUCLEAR, REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. ="-m&Oi July 2 . 1.99.9 MrJoseph 4.....Ivln

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.. "he Ill. .Regarding Citc~it Failures., 'Y6..sugjestd 6f Appedndix R, abeyance enforcerment ,action~s per~tain~ing 'that t NR:old in induce circuit failure vulnerabilities until the to vioI~tibnr'o 6fAppendix R stemtTiinig from fire-NRC revises the regulatory requirements or iC..accep~ts .. Ranom I~ndustry Fre. .approach. You, further.

r'2Eno~eae.vaemen, . dl~e . s'esth~..

... th.stated ~thatB.rui ifýenforcement. action is deemed necessary; te N t~udance+deo Ush exerciseasndu(Gl) o 98-002,c~ *i .... e.... wit ntil a: h~sotshUon of

. ....... moor permiSsiesignal.G gui anc,+is establis.hed'andythat and I.LZega~rdated u' ula~esut +p-e in o aspuenous  ; ' '+

a th-eJan'cutarJMJCsho' 14lu99.7*Yyou.asued 6 Ld us b risk IN 921

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  • .++ acrcepts an997,ein teaprat he ustaoti that thepren foreetieionu requ"remntso.In thre,, aeMthicenseets circt fues to

'frrotec iosary, glhe lo sC Th~olexetrcmeasrtionncude stthat-the ECMrlO'soultedbeth n the a eneclosreso ton oothelter aprovidesthe' certains tor-i Isuda Ea8-0 -.onJnep3199ss.vs setbsed Marha2198 nd asy toeRC ioauknowrshoude i respoy6unetrtaisedefforts

,ue nsformenttuidnc o t aconcearnig INa2-18 and safety Issues addressedexpressed concefrs in-iN,92-18"may that theconstitutea uclregardlngyi inspctiont  :'

staff reviewanderic p~ant-ispe..f lepedin. flc*:ba the.echnican

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. +,MAirdh,1,!11," f997,. . reiterated aodfhs ated'

. the staff" ... o ition,.. that. th6,.. ,*+,, tnll.f h:,+.*

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rnui the acApbiility. trtoachieve and aintain pproprtein'ulatr safe shutcown was withinte st e ons, The Information rco of e theeistlng geneic6m lette w'asI no .yncluded n I th nclosure Th.gerstdvaff rgRC SII .issued statf iss esu.*wen991,s"Prblemsd postoreqirtemardengtr ete' ed.

EGM 98'-002 0n March heglardgtheprosetonffire-indused ja Asocasnle,*iat to the letterprovides the 2;, 1998j"oipi6V~de uedWtPost-Fcirto enforcement SfeSutdownCiruitinasuos,':

oire guidance sfailuppre. Spbsequently,OE

+'......+'+**++:++ drrispertaining to the inability to achieve concerning inspection  :

and maintaih safe shutdown conditions due to..... .i+

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nformation, cieitye cinthe byaintrm notice followed a generic Itn the letter EGiMp the staffquestions to address stated itsabout intentions

- . requ.1remerts. In the EGM, the. to issue antote the regulatory staff also stated..that the EGM would ,++

"generic letter was not issued. be reconsidered if the -i.*li A

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.. . n++June 99-1_7, 6... 3-ý 1999. "Problems Associated With Post-Fire As you know, In response to the Safe Shutdown Circuit,

. ii+i!,Imttut:(E!'a~dthe Boiling Water efforts of the Nuclear Energy"!

Reactor Owners Group (BWROG) ii~i*: . jsssue, Is, " the sataf! deferred its plan to issue to address'the circuit!,*li a generic letter pending completion of these I'*L

'*iindustry actlvties.. After these Industry activities ,.

iappropriate

',i; regulatory response, If any, needed.*toare completed, the staff will determine the' ' i ensure that, licensee~s comply with,

+regulato*ryreuirements regarding the the *I

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,............... In.the intedm,,,it post-fireae , **'

Is importan~t-that:ficenseps continuea to pay a'ttentio'n to the t 97 9 7 0 2 '"99 0 7 2 1 :;* ,.** ' ii:* * '

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issue of circuIt failures,, given the potentially i,-rinadequately analyzed or proteed circuits. significant conseq.uences that "can rstultfr*o.

For example, "if crcut analyss iapproprately

,excludes x :circuits from. rece6ivng the,*re qu!recdfe 'protection vulnerable to'1*ir6:damage which. could adversely'c or separationj . the circusit could be maintain safe shutdown. fect the abilit of aplt tooachieve and Werecognize that some licensees disagree.

with the NRC's interpetation of the requirements this area anrd that the diffegrin.gews, need in to be. resolved. .Ao preyously noted. to,,'chieve resolution,.thestaff.has agreed to..cops!deOrendorsi':gpositiOns.proposed;.bý',takeholders. this t.he staff's knowledge; NEI ndtheBWIOG are jtieonly stakeolde' ',A," pi gpositlins To to Tresolve this.issue." "To allowVYE and the, 61 endore, the NRC willltemPoranly ef err BW,, tmeto evelop. po'siionis that the, NRC can nonconforrnancesin:this area. I he deferral aIl eformement acions perafr)rg to,.';

eo ll a1pl 0for 180 da"!from the'date of this

  • tter. Johrn 'HHannon, Chle fof .the l Sys.ems Branch, NRR,'discussed this time frame with DAVid MDdeen of your staff/n dttey ageed that S.'should all0, sufficient-time for the "NEI tO each agreement on acceptable staff.and a....achforresoln the issbei-'The staff discussed progress and scheduling with also tai of theBWROGfr The,180-day deferral period is consistent with the,BWROG's will,' on the basis of ,thecurrent staff position schedule. Durng the 180-day deferral period, remy lette"o March11, 1997, dodument the NRC

,i"nonconformances as .apparerit violatdonss' The'staff will defer enforcement'actons for disputed apparent violations provided the affected hcenseesimplemeut reasonable compensatory

... atonsfor the Identified vulnerabilities.

For fire-induced circuit failure nonconformances are not disputed, the staff will take enforcement that EGM 98-002, which has been modified action consistent with the guidance provided as described herein.. If we have not reached in

...onan.acceptable-approach for resolving agreement this issue within the 180-day deferral period, will resume application of the, modified EGM the staff 98-002 guidance and of the NRC's Enforcement Policy ,* -. " ,,; ..l. le 1 pd3/4.. ,d ' "5 . " -. 9 .... ."" .' * .

erring

~~J formal

~.def dons 'pe~taihndng ttb-c~lcu ac~t'

%'indIcatcte that:, IscretiohdWillbe exercised noifcon orrnance and to

-nl'l to not cite violations of the applicable requirements

-regardless of who. identifies the -condition, actions.and:commit to.6perf**many necessaranalyses provided;,kicensees take approprate compensatory

  • ..*... .. frame.h*, and modificatio-ns in a.reasonable' time f,rame...., s.i,ap~p proach-..w. I'ch.dfffers. rom the curren EGM guidance that vola violations ios.,..ebe cited if

. '*':'i*dentified

' by'th-

  • was NRC* i applied in the recent St. Lucie and'River and 98-460, rýpecti'vely). This discretion Bend cases ( EAs98-513 will be exercised until proper generic notification the industry occ6rs and licensees have sufficient to time to respond to the notification. The does not Intend to revisit past cases in which staff If li e s e s a i e ..h. , i . t . .. . enforcement actions have been dispositioned.

, d i~i' If licensees, after~eintenr~n~180-day I',,' bound by thetaE ,cable.re.quirementsantd period, continue to maintain that their facilities choose not to perform necessary analysesare not and

. modifications, *the NC wllapply the.

normal Enforcement Policy, including warranted.,', , sanctions., as

'Each case will have to be evaluated on its own merits. The reasonableness of the corrective"actiohs*schedule is expected e to lbe based on thejsafety significance of the "

  • !!*:"!;':*"-"nonconf0oranc;, the established qutageo gtcedule, and  :,

4*iirlc Compensatory, measures will normally the scope of modifications necessary.

i!.iii..4',4,vulneraboiesrmust be resolved. be acceptable as an interim measure, but the circuit 14' 9 ' 4e

Mr. Joseph CoMn 3

The staffagrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk information the safety significance of violations of to help assess the regulatory requirements regarding Although the use of risk information is circuit failures.

not specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, risk information to help assess the significance the staff uses of violations and will continue to do so.

Sincerely, nsue rector Office of Nuclea~r Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

EGM 98-002, Rev. I 0

.~A iF F' F'

'F" ~ *F F'

Mr Joseph Colvin 3

!.The 1staff agrees that both the licensees `arid the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violationsi'of!fthe regiuatory requirements A.th6 gh t.e use of risk Information'l's not spedf regarding Circuit failures.

ically addressed In EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk Information to help assessJhe significance of yiolations and will continue to do so.

`-, l*: SinSncerely, fli;* N-~

-Samuel J. Collinirector t f, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation EnhcosUre: EGM 98-002, R ev. S

-.DISTRIBUTION:

Public JHannon TCins GHolahan RZlmmerman SCollins BSheron OPA PQualls OGC P Madden DOudinot KSWest WRuland, RI KLandis, RII RGardner, Rill DPowers, RIV DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEIIEGM see Previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA SPLB:DSSA.

DOudinot:Jk° SPLB:DSSA; DSSA:NRR KSWest* JNHannon*ý 06/30/99 GMHolahan.

06/30/99 07/01/99 07/08/99 TECH EDfTOR* . :OE ADiPT:DONR9/99 D:DONR

ýJL eberma& SColllns*

07/07/99 07/09/99 07/2/99 C.IIPB:DI.PM

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  • 07/14M99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY 4

k;0 3

i U

Mr. Joseph Colvin 3
  • Tehb"sta-ff -agrees that both the licensees t" ,,heft Ad the staff should use risk information of violations f, thler*guilatory

'isignificance requirements regarding to help assess

.Althoughftheuse of risk information is&n6t'-ecii'cally circuit failures.

risk information to help assss t!he significance addressed in EGM 98-002, ihe staff uses of violations and will continue to do so.

Sinc erely, C>

uel J. Collins, !Dire'ctor offK;e of Nuclear. Reactor '. '. ,Regulation)n, .

Attabhrfent
EGiM 98-002, Rev 1 DISTRIBUTION:

.Central" H~e Public SPLBl R/F JHannon GHolahan RZimmerman SCollins BSheron OPA Qualls OGC P dden DOudinot KS st WRuland, RI KLan RIl/

RGardner, Rill DPow #IV DOCUMENT NAkME: A:NEIIEGM

  • see previous concurrence SPLB:DSSAI- SPLB:DSSA, DOudinot:lk* KSWest" " SP :DSSA " DSS,A:NRR JNHa on, GM:

06/30/99 -1 aan*

063099/07/01/99 O TECH I D:OE*

EDITOR*' ADPT:DONR,. M 0/"" 07JLiebe an.' BSheron'

,6/29/99 07/Q9/99 , 07.C 99

~1 C:IIPB:DIPM 0W7Dean*

'07/14/99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

  • 1q

.'-.-..... .... " , . C.

~:"5l.

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'4,

('Mi. Joseph Colvin . ' 3

ýtaff agrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess T'.%f~he

,.th:t diefetylignificance (l violations 16f the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.

Altho gh the'use of risk information 'ils not specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses A

risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.

Sincerely.

.A. . , 'A SamuelJ. eoihns, Director,.

S j*'S.~-'.5 Ii) Office:0oUNucIear

-*;,* r -' "* Reactor RgulatWion

,? ," " ,*_."

/

DISTRIBUTION.

Central File Public I SPLBR/F,... JHannon 'S

\ .~'

TColhins GHolahan RZimmmerinan SCollins BSheron WKane OPA PQualls OGC PMadden DOudinot KSWest WRuland, RI KLandis, RII RGardner, Rill DPowers, RIV DOCUMENT NAME: A:NEI!EGM *see previous concurrence SPLB:DSSA, SPLB:DSSA SPt.B:D SSA DOudinot:lk* KSWest' JNHannon*

06/30/99 06/30/99 07/Oj.i 1

  • TECH: A N  :,D;,ON R EDITOR WCollins 07/1'1/99 '07/ /99 71/,. /99 P,;: M , ,.. . . .' "

~j7)

,,La,

  • vt:. /1,V.:

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.5.a~- 5. .4.4

a

-Mr.Joseph Colvin jTh staff agrees that both the licensees and the staff should use risk Information to he assess i'the safety significance of violationsdf the'regulatory requirements Although

. the use of risk information'nsnot specifically addressed regarding circuit f ures.

!sk nsformatlon to help assess the signifidance in EGM 98-002, , e staff uses of violations and will continue to o so.

Sincerely, C Samuel Office." r Regulationi.

.DISTRIBUTION: "

C-ntral File .Public * ..

WTravers

ýPNorr / / EDO R/F I. ,~'*~j T\CollIns Ri*lrRmerman GHolahan

" SCollins

, *.,ADM SECYý OPA OGC OCA

.,CFO CIO DOudinot KS West JHannon SBums J/ aha

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DOCUMENT

  • see previous NAME: A:NEI!Et.

concurrenc/

tSP, SA.

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" .:,.SPLB:DSSA KSWest B S NHannon DSSA:NRR

" 1 9" " LX"/..i/99 0 /"

  • GMHolahan

/ /99

  • TECH / " -"" ADPT:DONR z.

D:DONR 1EDITOR ... BSheron. SColiris ...

3/29/99 / /69 / /99 q'

.,b- epM. Golvin

,Jobpn 3 ne sta r ag'r~ee~s that.both th, e 'lcensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significance of violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.

theusi risk hfdrmatn'is~nt specifically addressed in EGM 98-002, the staff uses risk information to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.

. . .S,- Si e l

.,...-: lI, -

Sincer-ely,.. .......

/ I':: ** \ *O".

Wilia D. Trav, Executive for Operationhs

'DISTRIBUTION ON NEXT PAGE DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPLB\SECTIONB\OUDINO-TNEI 2 .REV.WPD SSPJBDSSA PLB:DSSA SPLB:DSSA DSSANRR' DOudinot:lk KSWest JNHannon GMHolahan

/ /99 / /99./.99 / /99

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' . *ii... . .i;  : .. . .. ,  :,

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IP

.Mr. Joseph Colvin 3

T"heestaff agrees that bath the licensees and the staff should use risk information to help assess the safety significanceof violations of the regulatory requirements regarding circuit failures.

IN,,

Although the use if risk inf: 6tion is not specifically addressed in EGMV 98-002, the staff uses risk informat n to help assess the significance of violations and will continue to do so.

Sincere'y, ,

William D. Trvers I ....  :. ..... Exe 9Otive Dir'ectbý fr Operations DISTRIBUTION ON NEXT PAGE

//

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SPLB\SECT ONB\OUD OT\NEI2. REV.WPD iSPLB!,bSSA S PBDSSA .SPLB SSA' D DOudinot lk SWest JNHannMHolahan 1/99 //99, 991

-19

  • TECH ADPT:DONR D:DONR

/'EDITOR  !#/x* BSheron SCollins 6 ~'799 / /99 / /99

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~ ADM OGC

~.s *1.j EDO WTravers

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/9ýIAN ,OFFICIAL,, RECORD " "

COPY:ý.

ENCLOSURE

'UNITED`STATES'

ý,,NU,CLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 1 WASHINGTON. D.C. 2014114M I

'Jt*""y 21, 1999 EGM 98-002, Rev 1 MEMORANDUM TO. Hubeqrt.J. Miller', RegFionalAdmniistrator 9 Region I .

,Region.~-

-"James ,ED.er,R.Regiona[iAdministrator.,:".; . ,

egion Ill Ellis W.'Merschoff, Regional Administrator Region IV William Kane, Associate Director for Inspection and Programs, . ..

. ...... .. * , Bnan~,W. She on, A* .ociate&Directo dr..o , .; .. , .

...*,....,,*.,:k.,: " '.Prolect 'Lice !sin' .. and 'Teclrimcaa "... Analysis, "' DONRI ** *"..': " - "

IElzabeth 0. Ten Eyck,Dbi'riior; visiton6o Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS Donald A. Cool, Director,. Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS

.ohin'T..~reeves,-,Diredtor, Divisi'6-of Waste. oi,* " . .,

Man enei;NMSS~

EWiam Brach, Director .

i.:*,.*:,..,.

. * , .*  :. SporntFuel Projec Officed. , . .

,*-,FRO '*-."* ?* -*.v,:James~e em~an',,Pirector!,,* Y*-Z-,**.:,**.? -*,-:?,*i.'*,.*,,.

......... , .......'..... . .;,,.. *......,......................~

cirFROM i~z ... ,00er.~&.~~*.

Office, of Enforcement.. F,

SUBJECT:

ENFORCEMENT GUIDA MEMORANDUM EGM 98-002, REVISION I DISPOSITION.OF VIOLATIONS OF SECTIONS Ill.G AND III.L. OF APPENDIX R TO 10 CFR PART 50 INVOLVING CIRCUIT

- .FAILURES.

.~ ~_.yrppse.of this revision is to change the guidance pertaining to the disposition of potential.

noncomphiances lnvoving fre-iduced circuit failure vulnerabilities that have the potential to affect the safe shutdown of a facility. The initial guidance was published in March 1998.

NRR staff and regional inspectors have found a number of plant-specific problems related to potential fire-induced electrical circuit failures that could prevent operation or cause malfunctioning of equipment needed to achieve and maintain post-fire safe shutdown. Fire protection inspections conducted in each region have found that licensees may not have complied with thelregulations that require that facilities be designed such that fire-induced circuit failures (e.g.,.hot shorts, open circuits, and shorts to ground) do not adversely affect the ability of the plant to achieve.and maintain a safe-shutdown condition.

, . ;! i*, .

  • ,-.,,,,............ ~~~~~~..

9907270131 -990721 PD4R REVOP.;1ERQNLMC i PDR

"Multiple Addressees - . 2 - . . .

.. exampleof' the consequences of this type of 92-1.8,, Potenti4I for Loss of Remote, ShuJtdo.wn problem is reported in Information Notice (IN)

'.alerted licenseesthat the circuit *,pabilit During a Control Room Fire qgic associated with certain motor-*rat which

  • subjecte to. a,singlejfireýi'nduc'ed ,ot,,sbp,6rt, cq6u!,d result edvalves, When

ýspnur os~signhaI.could ca~use'the,'valveý,1 i spý#666s,.p'erim si v sgnal. The

  • rsulingin.r~chai~a vave amgp~.Suh, ir-induced. ~Qtv 11-0, 0p"~t.bpy aii ty ,oi sh~ut ,d * "the plant arid maintain diti6 damaige,66uId, ipajr he licensee s

'..;v ui~nerability e~xtends be~yond 3t e scop .eiof ic 'a isafe"-shu'tdo n.c dditibh., How vqe,.',

.nltrol,r~o m*tires alon~e.o.*.* I,.9 .

"n r.mul.iple orrespondence, the Nuclear interpretation of the regqlzatory, requirements Energy Institute (NEI) has asserted that is, at a.minimum, inconsistent with many the staff's unde'standing -and different from past staff licensees' inteipretations. Inra letter to'NEI dated March 11, 1997, the Director of NRR reiterated ndudd te staff's psition that the tential for fire-faues, tompaatth.abiity,'art the apant t achieve anrd mAintain safe was ,ithiin-t1se s<60pe, of th, existing ire'protection shutdown NEI s questionsregarding IN 92-18. tThe regulati6ndris:The ,etter inforrmation in the enclosure to'the March focused on

  • r -.

explaihed' the' NRC'staffs pObstions'germjane 11 letter, A copy'o the Ma'rch 11 etter is attached-and to the larger issue of fire-uedid circuit failures.

followup-lettersfrom NEI, including onel fully-explains theapplicatiof the received on September 14, .1998, that regulations. In guidance provided in the initial EGM 98-002 requested that current staff interpretations of the requirements be changed, NEI continued to assert that the and represent a change in previous NRC are beyond the licensing basis of many staff positions. facilities The NRC staff and the industry are currently about the"adequacy 6f,,thiexsting'btaff'gu~idance working to resolve questions raised by the industry SX.thenconsistency of-staff,.terpretations'ofbothhot'guidance onicemingi.rei-duced ,ircuitfailures and requirements. 'The staff exe'ts to reach 'and .the underlying regulator ;i for resolving this issue within 180:days agreement with industry on an acceptable of the. date of this EGM. To allow the industryapproach develop positions that the, NRC Cca"nendorse, time to actions pertaining .to noncOnfo rmances in the NRC will temporarily defer, formal enforcement issues constitute violations of. reagulatory-requirementsn.ti: this-area f or those %licenseesthat dispute that the T snhansar-n visionged ndthefrcement guidan '.is,as follows: . .

A. "" For,licensees that assert that a particular nonconformance associated with a fire-induced circuit failure vulnerability does not constitute a violation of regulatory requirements, theNRC~wi', on the-basis of-the staff position reflected in the attachment, document the nonconformance as an apparent enforcement actionsjfor. disputed apparent violation.' The NRC will defer reasonable compensatory, actions for the violations provided the licensee implements identified vuinerabilities.

'An apparent violation, as defined by Manual Chapter,0610, is merely "a potential,.

noncompliance with a regulatory requirement

.in,a Notice of Violaion orý,order.. that has not yet been formally cil-Ad as a violation.

1

." ' -.I, *:,-' "* /

f~~~ ~~~

'!:* j** .. Ij ts*i,':

Multipl'e ssees 3

.Inpectors shlcld include language Int cove ltter iilato the ollwig to Adocument the apparent violations:

".,.uring he insp.ection, ap*a*ni tiolationspof,[state

-wei'.,

e:e de'tifi'ed.ý These crcuir t.Vulnerabilities applicable requirement(s))

".,,scenarios, aderseyae tf e ab.ilit could, under certain postulated fire JIthe facdlity.,-It isthe NRC's unders t 'o.achg'eve and 'maintain, safe shutdown tanding that you do not..consider *thse of vulAnerabilities to be violations of NRC requirements. In order to allow the industryjtime to develop an.acceptable NRCcan approach to resolving this issue that the endorse, the NRC will defer any ehforcementactlon S....
.... "matters, untilnuary 18" 2000) retativ to these proviwed you take 'adequate compensatory measures for theidentified vulnerabiItes.

resolving this issue is not reached If an acceptable approach for by (January .18, 2000), the issue subject to disposition in accordance will be with the NRC's Enforcement Policy.

B. For licensees that assert that a particular noncorformance associated induced. circuit failure Vulnerability with a fire-does not constitute a violation requirements and refuse to take of regulatory compensatory measures during normal enforcement processes this interim period, will be followed and the licensees formal enforcement may be subject to action.

C. For those cases in which licensees

'requirements do not. dispute that a violation

  • olow,

, . sctbdcUraedewith* "6*sect*.to:anohnhnfor~ance,ý of regulatory

?

. th`e6guidance 'is as

- Enforcement, discrbetioW*n i bebexercised'toprnotcite the vioations

F 'F Q,icensees I'r
, take,'prompt provided r.easonable time,,frame.,.compensatory 2 actions IThis'discretion will beand corrective actions within a exercised regardless of who
  • identifies the nonconformance The enforcement discret~on provided for herein may be exercised even deferral period until such time.as after the 180-day ...

proper generic notification to the licensees have sufficient time to industry occurs and.

respond to the notification. After the 180-day intenm period,

" ' i  !""*  !'i' *> '* F

,
' *' '*'* " " * * ' * ."" F"

i, Each case will have to beevaluated corrective actions .schedule on its own merits., The reasonableness is expected to be based on the of safety significance.of the.,. the:.,-

nn.conformance,,the established ,

outage :schiedule, and-the sqope necessary'. Compensatory measures of. the, modif ications will normally be acceptable as an the circuit vulnerabilities must be interim measure, but resolved.

1-~,

Multiple Addressees

- 4 -

OE will review this EGM and revise it, as appropriate, to reflect any agreement reached between the staff and the industry on the disposition of these issues.

Attachment:

As stated cc: The Chairman Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield W. Travers, EDO F. Miraglia, DEDR M. Knapp, DEDE D. Dambly, OGC S. Collins, DONR J. Zwolinski, NRR L. Chandler, OGC J. Hannon, NRR SECY Ii i~;7~.

7,

'I,

- I

'U,

'U, ~ 7, 7,a 7 ¶~~i'~4, ~ ~ ~ K) p~kJK~f'

PJ ,.

.1

  • tip e Addressees .OE will review this EGM and revise*f, as.app*roriate, to refiect any agreement reached cbet~en the staff and the Industryon the dispositiOi of theso issues.

,Attachment. As stated

!, *"".!!*:The 4 4 Chairman

UCormmissioner Diaz.

'Commissioner McGaffigan Gommlssioner Merrifield WTravers, EDO FMlragia, DEDR

.. MKnapp, DEDE DDambty, OGC.

4.d1.4SColI1nsjDONR'4,,-~~~

JiZio4inski, DONR`.;ý ,`.,

JHannoW, DONR ..

J. ebermnahn~l,OE ~ J OE Staff Enforcement -Coordinators RI, RII,, RIII',..RI -NRR,;NMSS (Also by E-Mail)

EGM File Day File WEB (2 weeks after issuance) .4 PUBLIC (2 weeks after: issuance)

SPLB R/F G3Holahan BSherion DOudinot

.. . .. ...LPMadden..

...... Whit ey . : * :* : .. ........ .. ... . . . .. . ..... . .... . .. .

DOCUMENT; NAME: A:\EGM98002REV1.WPD *see previous concurrence NU SOE S

NU:bC I NRR D D:C F0 44 YE TReis* SWest /an ,

N /99 7L 1/L9I 7 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY j!

-ATTACH-MENT1 V

rJ it . -

  • 4. 4;-

Chnorief deredntn1) . .*).. .'..

0' 0.. F * . .

. . r "' " .

1.

uclear Regulatory to youffieerW Of Ja uary 14, 1997, conceing U.S.N r es d

  • of Remote, Shutdown tial For Lor wI a
  • Ni ( 9n oty Commiss (N.Rg,I)!nstrt CapabMIiy Dug a*Control Roodm Ftrrq, F6&092)A~~aaelN21 reor Mon A-'a e IN, adresd conitnsI and ees, tat couJld hav 'resuhed In the o'U* ,Af relicensra Win Vit6M'evnt of a ~65trof 4 ++.'

' w;en'.

jacieVe an~d ma%

b* ~

lPl* i~r bft ,idi*Or-<)perat~tve.va Spciicll tec~rcjt oss ýoffire.apbdftyto, room' ,

hot shfedhapiodipenmsvesignal.

4 uojcte to a s*ngle fie staff*dUpo d*amaP c6,6Mhaveiimpaireýn the in1 mh u -, laN,'dma mag)Su fbfor and resu.'ng byrassdingI 9-1(the ~rtciv featre, T" i spurouIgasslnblcudits e thase'thtide safety Isse a myO':.

myisser noftute(NEs ) the ssfiosvand Iasues -rasedir*

ofath Niha it agreedrwithesyourp tnae Itr'Arx STher Durithe m o Ae* s. taff e nwndes i no. i esshouldde nbs*ton s hot shorts and ,

staff presented Its positins regarding fire-ndcerd potential for positions 0r guidance. The that the saety isue a ,stutdo 92-18 (themsn in IN,codiio.m* +4 signals SpuriIxA to shtown the*p<an theand' tI position ,

andcapabiltyto 'enot nki* achieve and maintain safe shutdown) Is within cpablmo fire-induced hot.shorts to*Impair saf als explainled how the, reguilation th sop o te xiPig fire protecion regul~atin.Th, posiio and why its revew and andpubstd saffpoitinsand, guianc spporthis tnite a plant-sfey issues addressed IN 8o X"ioof the technlcaI ind withto your positi that enforcement F saff that it also Stated a licensee for failure against agreed 'comply with. Information notices.

actins Durin the ýmOOtl-Vgft souldno(t4b taken the staff were not discussed during the meeting, in response to 4i Althugh specific enforcemnent actions notices of violation to several licensees adonowledgedl that Ithad recently issued kvOMng ho shorts. In each csthe against findings of post-fie safe shutdown deficienies taken dependent on fthcircumstances of fthcase and were enfo*mrcprentc*irwwere appicable regulatorY requirements, consistentwih4 a cerwe"s for,faiur to comply with the an information notice.

1roguia", posto~ns, and not for failure to compl with After j treated your concerns In accordance with its procedures for managing backfits. licensee The staW and in your letter, the discussions with NEI protection consldertn§ th 1 m rMatlon You submitted 7,199, ad r-evaluating the fire

~rtg te metin ofFebuar reprsenaties and guidanice, the staff concuded that its position (fthat oJ, :Idteaultl 4 and, apicable staff po, tfions Og

3; 43.3 ,

.....;: . * ::* 3 .:*

*- 3 '3 .": " .' * *,*, 333';**

<3,,,.

. ENCLOSURE

... ASSESSMENT OF NEI COCEN RG DIG

.<,, . , :..0:..,i.:,.*..*..."*:

  • - " * ~Ji NRC INFORMA7ION NQTICE 92-18... *,
" ~........... ':,  :" DRN . A CONTRL.. ROMFIE.*

On"FebLuar* 28,"1992, the1 U.*S. Ni.clea'r Regul tory:pmmiss'n '(NRC) issud Information. .

Nio. 3 eIN)92* ,,.otentil 3 or Loss of Remote hu Cap.dtDuna.CtolRo Fr.ThINaddreS*O the po*_tential .for a corntrol rg0oom fire ,to: ause'electncal short circuits I*.w#.no.rm..aly energi.zed conuctorsand conductor~s asscited-.ih thecontr.ol circutry of.

conditions: *Such ap.event could cause' certairn valves tosp~unou, sy actuate. In addition,;

b:*.ue.of the, ocation of the circujit'fau.it' the MOV torque an~d limit switches wo~uld be o*-

ineffective to, stop valv'e operation. Moreover, because thermal overload protection had been bypassed at some facilities, the potential existed iorfjlre-inducd .spuriousvalve actuations to resuhltn i,c1m6nt m'e'chanical damage'toprevent the react(or~prato~s from'Tmanually operating the aff'ected valves. .This,*uld result in a loss df capabelity to ahiev~e or' mfn~t'ai .safe..

2. APPLICAB'LE .REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDANCE '

Th1e 10 of ithe..Code of ,Federal :Reaulation~s, iPart..50, .Appe.ndix..R, Secion lIl.G, 'Fre, protetio of safe, shutdow..capabI'ity, par~agraph1.a, l.require8.sthatone.tramn*

3 iof...ystems*ncesry to achkeve and. m.a.ntan: ho.t* shutdqwn./conditios .from: .ei~therthe..controelroom or, emergency*M'j,*

con.trolsttion (s) be: free of*,fire;damage., *.,.In addition., Section. lI!.G~ paragraph 2,* requires!that

  • where-cables~or.euipment,.including associated non-safety circuits that could prevent.

operation or cause maloprationdue to hot shorts, open circuits, or. shorts to ground, of redundant trains of systems necessary to. achieve and maintain hot shutdown conditio*: ..are located within the same fire :area," a m~eans be provided for .ensuring one train of the redundant safe shutdown trains will be free of fire damage*.1 : For .those plants licensed after*

January1.," 1979, the applicable regulatory requiremenet is 10 CFR Part 50, Appndix A*,....

Crtro 3, "'F e '" "?"P.:.

.*"t"6 e5:,ot;

"** **"';.**-'".i.ti&:::*:*,*-,':*.:'., " *'  : ;, .u*'.'b?**'

(SRP 9.5.1 ), 'Fire Protection Pr..gram,' ReviSion' 3, ;dated July 1'981,' was used by the: staff, as..."

review guidance. This guidance is the same as that specified by the technical requirements of Appendix R, Section IIl.G.

In Genernis Letter (GL) 86-10, ;implementatio ofFire Protection .Requirements," dated.............

April24,r198, thestaff interpreted the term..free of fire damage." In Enclosure 1, "lnterretaion of-Appndix R," Interpretatio.nl 3, "Fire Damage,' the staff stated, in part, that j33~{

"the lm has provided methods acceptable for assuring that necessary structures,

.!The ,safety concerns associated with fire-induced hot shorts, open circuits, or shorts'to ground In safe shutdown and associated circuits, which could prevent operation cause maloperation of.. .

redundlant.shutdow trains, were predicated on the numerous adverse conditions that oc:curred during ..

..ieB..wns Fer tire..of_ March 25, 19756'Reeec . :i'; NRC05,

... Rcmenain Related... to 33.:343 n Fer .~o F.ire.; . Feb.ruary., 19,76.,;¢.**..  :** ;:.',....:.  :..  : . .. .: .. . . . .

3'

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t tehnicl ue addre lh IN 92-188 within the scope 61 te existng fire Protect.Kn rebulation) Ws justified.t On this basis, the staf hasi,1o--conclde tatit~c~ntinued review and spcioffre protecoissues, icludiig.suh tn nicaaand safety issues, as those addrissed In IN 92-'18, is app'ropiate. In addifi*;ntIc staff is"considenng the need to take further action to ensure that licensees understapd and comply with the applicable regulatory requirements.

With respect to enforcement actions, the staff thentinue toenforce te-Commission's requirements in accordance with the guidance 'fiNUREG1 600;'Generai Statement of Policy and Procedures for NRC Enforcement Actions0, and the 'NC. Enforcement Manual.' As you are aware, licensees that question enforcemeint, actio'n' inqypqotest'thm inacrdance with the procedures In 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart B. Furthermore; iceieyseesthattbeliee a staff V poston Is a backf.t with regard to its facilities may raise such claim in accordance with establisihed NRC polices and procedures. This includes submitting the claim in writing to either the Director of DONR or the.Regional Administrator supervising the NRC employee who issued 2 the staff position In question, with a copy to the NRC Executive Director for Operations.

The staff's response to the technical issues you raised in your letter are enclosed. Because you alleged in your letter that the staff was inappropriately backfitting new positions or interpretations regarding fire-induced hot shorts and spurious signals, I have referred your letter to the NRC Office of the Inspector General. If you have questions about the staff positions or IN 92-18, please have your staff contact the NRC point of. contact for fire protection matters, Steven West, Chief, Fire Protection Engineering Section. Mr., West can be reached at r 301-415-1220;. If youdisagree with the NRC staff positions, or you wish to further your backfitting claim, you can appeal to the NRC Executive Director for Operations.

Sincerely, Original signed by S. J. Collins Samuel J. Collins, Director. A

.Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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12 syes... at . .andI co onant. aree id offire da6mageothat lit, the-st**dUr- .ysts o.Ircompo*n."ent uner consderation is capable of performing*rits inte'ndW funcfich duringiad after the ppsultefre~aspeed .',

W.he'er redundant sfeoshut.*down,,tral.ns arýe"sL*.* `sdPtibI to fire damage, Apendix:R -

ctiot,1:.r3 s at pbi tyand t sibifddcati.eshutdow asscir)ated)dcircuts indepet nrof cabl6s,.yirt 7.i ooa oneatint in odhuetarea omn, zono thder a ratlon shaibe prov Frtconsld ad.Section IlI.L Ale"7atlveC5,or S 9.5.1shut ca ability, paragraph 1, spetfies th. the sautdwata~b6i dedica'f edoshutdei h craeab e.. "r, prode"" o a4sp~lf ir'e iiishal be able, t6 (a) bhieve and-Miaintairi'brtie reacivity on&ilutions r--re in in tra .

maM Deonemntqne II. -o.

  • ntor

. , ( . . maintain downS* hot Ina tlbyo.r atPWRa(ressuedS teaterr tatarhutdownfprsaBW,1&, water', .ing reactor])*'; (d)tachivecldhe 7aren(mitnosutdown conditions thereafter.',,For plant seater aua-ry 9. was used the'itaff -s reviewygui ts thisgfie. dAric&U te;ame* " sithaV` I he t chnical

ý*7ed requirementsh o atndi R, Setslion' er.t llept U

"*.tionll.L. paragraphte ,~tiatsh. ft-he shut,*wn belitcly f specific'-f r iretAreas maydbre, unique cuc if n- recognized aocbination p IAhotss to grond,,horipoen airrhtsi.i.es tha't'-her' ranlt ' orderfoetm shralltbown alerative cridapeeiiy tof thefor ntirena*di-e( ic eshuti .7 nt7tes, '(tihe stfe ashutdpow pei I ntndd tis16it~h tsbi kfire areao tedfr ofe

-. M 16W .U 6pmn.

In nclosre*..r*tl 3 to soL8te'Fire-dProtetion R.cir ',dated Feriousuary 20, 8 taff stated.

morhe T) ealuatingdaternativenshutdown me6tsodssh assownci ents atrecircutthae couldprevent t asocated neg.

theotera ontroft Or.cause tio n aroot an the'filesre~a dinaso'th)a.hotishirt, the mr.Clsoderationom t us ts'-

.hhe c.rc"."

op. or"shor."lo.

ed,'[tahve andmag masnsaue thot

--::groun8*..:i. .the safeishutdown conditions due t asoiatf'*Sedclicits willnotpevent r~oegarding e faireidced rot shorts;d of open ciut reguatdOryrequirements sorooo.rtsI '

ground.0 the gusidan ofnGLy811i2 [tce recognizdmothat afire capable of inducing multiple hot shosshortsto e groundum,oraopenscsrcurit. Therefore, In order for the alternai shutdown capability to perform. its Intended function, tosohutdownt equipml etho Itree les on must be capable of performing i ncrtionso after ithaffs bense y iaed from the tire area of.

concern (e.g., control room and tecbesraigro) 1 1.cn in.GL.8-1.,te staff, issued additional guidance regardingth.e regulatory requirements re-4gairding the* need tqJoisoate fire-dmage.qdjb cic mitigate spuiu acUatsk Ls (oeta ne, and retain .functionality.of the safe shutdownt components after-their transfer. In its repns o Oues~tioni 3.8.4, 'Control Room, Fire Considerations, *the stalffstaited, 'ti~he damage

-othe systems in the control room cannot be predicted. A bounding analyss should be made to

.assure that safe shutdown conditions can be maintained f rom outside the control room.' in a4iddition; -thestaf -stated, *[tlheanalyi should dem~onstrate that the -capability exists to anAllyacieve safe shutdown conditions from outside thel control ,roomý by re'stonrg"'ac".c po:0wer to designated pumps, assu ring that valve lineups are correct, an assuming ftht any' malfunctions of valves that permit, the loss of reactor coolant can be' corrected before' unrttorbleconitins an ocur'. he taf's esponse to this question recog-nized thati a fire

',can. induqce1 signals, that cause operational changes-(e.g., valves changing position) to the plant.

So ha actual reported coditions related to

'the desgn of post-firesafe shutdown omponents and" the potential, for ertain cpom*-ent to be. daifiagdbyireIdcdfut to uesobecndtnsbefore the lcicens~e~e' could transfer

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t a cotr tons otutsie the controdl, transfer and slte irequred equie e r Bdntied staff that fire'*

uthe or component una*abiltes and sppuus qte, actuation .

.,andem n.a: mitigating uns

,actultiosa~nd.t  ! fotr, stpnogngheede se dtiiff ncaabtiis~hilti fire nma-go shoul be tatOO In,',proceo""S'6duile's. ý-The -ts , al . nghford.o mamum,!Jývl of ahemateFt'eshutdOwn t*

,rtet of te c1annot b* predicted, it"'

lab-iles,s ruous~njiait6i )i Si

(:;iyst.em( ,ur or res te iratbrs from ull system seems prudent to have thepostfire shcapability.

availalty to the minimum shutdown t4 tf*-1ur C iifalSd 1 *"-~it addres the -crcutttaiure AT

  • Cirtud.adre.Modes,/,9'ept~ff In its resp se to Question55.3.1

'on ln-"ýe by 's~rIlusa6tuation; The In Kientif*yngciuts Ra .ss..ted circt fiilure iomesias hot modes that must, bconisidered ApP'*i*x "frthe staff' stated . Secti.ns IIl.G.2'an 'I.I'.7*of alt,. ,-

and hrtsto grouind..o,. Fc si'ratid* 'of spurio(s'-actuations, circu.,s.

d66p be6 energized sho-rt, be':evluati that jkthe cbumq encould p, pIossible fu*onal faiure+*tAtesnust f i . ,vThefvfer f vies could ,fail open onebri by:oe theabvellre or de-energiz. breakers could fail

(:dlaifa running or not.runnirn;.eieiticai'distnbution

  • or closed; pumpi requirement that multiple open or closed. In this response, the staff, reiteratedthe,regulatory ropen c6iictits, mustor h) e tt  ;

6r','htito ,

grou ["

lbyifire-) component could be energized spurk:lusacitusýcad "Wtb(* ite 'The` staff also indicated that a circuits wich could result In valves failing be cons i nd~

de-esergizedbyhot s horts to ground, or open purpose.o this opno lsd ld uningF'o wn'rvi,,ý 6tc.6The princpaiispe anddepth to 4faipsdo I aia**yisofi1 guidance was toe*sureitht "tlicenseesperformed:an shorts to ground, and and mitigate the potential adverse consequences of hot shorts, logic. These could

  • identify control circuits and their,associated open circuits onsafe shutdown-related ethoInl* minimum
a

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flowpathand,q, inOclude, for exampli spmstart' w I features.

or closinrg of MOVs by signals that bypasses the-vavesi' protective to cause spurious opening hot shoras licensees to the potential for fire-induced Later, inIN 92-18,r the staff alerted features of the byas he protection

  • valves ofll opno lsdadta o hr-coul valve motors of plant eqipmen needed to mee thFeactor peprformnce goalo T,ýo. limit,the scpeofthe to GL .86-1O, Question 5.,.30,,.

Design Section,,,,! 6.Lbf AppendixR, theixstff,inIt4 response that licensees should consider to 4

qas:,: s Pant Tran ropts, specified the plant transient system.

and ca pNt of -the alternativ or dedicated ioutdown deter.ine..the design..capacity inventory losfW esbse h eIgn, input0lmits, tor thoerector coolant . '

~ hsgudac to p.eorm the,reactor c ntmaknkeupfUnc*tio6nsie systems neede e d'* eis.onaf18,cbng specified by h tf powr qen Inlogic,;,etc. Tades~ig ciita afire In, any fire,aea@.n. fet with Loss.Of offsite power shall. c.assumedforý  :;,,-

4wthfollowinqgassumnptions:

not be acversely affected by. any

a. Th af hudwncpabifity-should resuting from a fire in ,any plant area,'

one spurious actuat**o or. sigrial and adverselyaffectedb:afirein heThsafe Ohnapblity~should~not be

(

ti any fire area whichrresults inttie losst of all aUtomatic function'(sgnals-roin the circUtslocated in th area conlunctir Iloc) en a h

" Cas* trus~a~tiorýlii*,ýres ring fohthe firei .andlth o. worst cse spunious ac A. , J,

,c he,safe W s6hutdown capability should not be acerselyaf t*dbf a fire V

,i:','c* y~n area a planta 7;Wf*, '*:,tany, 'hif ~wtchlb sreurein results spunouQs'actuaiWenof inte l Ii,.. the'redunddAnffate V Thei staf, ex ed licseesto apply this 0uinctoestabljsh"theap ia6nd capabilit ~I (a g size the !q PUmpp.and su rt systems need6,do naint eactornt Innory. define the scope of 'sro"u,

' "e " n" oe'*'-i.no-ei. 0Mb'ish'6an*",ritional S.., S

, ... 1mý,,id set of pln~t c'onditbons that woud define 'the scope of n iActionh baeIn '1,646h to reseitore se syistms necessary to-accomp i rtflerequr~9 reactor' ormanc ,~ ,

1g11) physically sociattd 'circuits so-that hot shorts, shortsto dround, and open-circuits n these circuits will -not-prevent the.,r operation o..f "safeshutdwn',equipment or components:,

3. ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ISSUES AND,NEI CONCERNS" St eltr January 1, 997,te N iEnar**Energy Institute (NE 4stae,.

tlhe postuilated Ifire is quife large <ah' results n'n.!cbntU r Jornevacuat..n AddItionally, the7Ios ofý remoteshd&icapability would require-a hota;sho thttoccurs duing, the,narrowtime wWndowbetweenm the evacuationof the control room. ad manningof the iemergency controi:!.,' IM statios(s);such that MOVa are mechanically damaged and their.function cannottbe recovered, The poential; for this type' of tfire In! a continuously manned area coincident withthe theoretical hotsho.s remote;,.. *On~the bhasis of the information, provded byNEI In ts. letter, it appears that t mayyere be some' uncertaint aboutthe size and duration of theflre needed for spurious component.or equipment actuations to occur. As stated In the staff responses to tj Question 3.8.4 and Ques.tin 5.2.1 of GL 86-10, it Is the staffs psition -that it is not possible to predict the number of spurousa.'gnas, .thtw.ou.1d.occurorthe.changes.to the operational configuration of the plant that wouldboccur-in nt of a.fire. The staff has found that evacuation criteria for control room fires are plint speclfic. The shift supervisor Is responsible for deciding when to evacuate. In its interviews with control room operators, the staff has found that alternative shutdown (control room abandonment and shutdown from outside the control

.room) would not be implemented until significant functional capability of the control room had

.been lost. A small fire, even if it does not necessitate control room evacuation, could cause equipment maloperations. due.to shorts to ground, hot shorts, and open circuits. Such failures

,occurred. dur.ing the ..... s,Fey.. ... ,.. , . ' . . .

Froman operatiopal per e, most essential plant equLip ment is controlled ad -monitored from the.main.control board. Thetiming of.control room evacuation in.the event of,.a fire can be qracicfactorin preserving the operability of the safe shutdown functonsthatiare controlled jfrom ;Wde the control room by the alterativernv ,hutdowrn systemI Forexample,a small-fire in.

te... main control board may nIot result in :a, smoke or heat,envi.ronment th would necessitate,

.immdiateevac1iationof the control room or the actuation of the alternative (or remote)

s. ihutdown sys.te Hover, such a fire could, in a short time, adversely affect plant annunca*tors andchange :the plant configuration due to fire-Indce spuriousignals.i The staff i l~ ~ocemd hats~chfire-Iduced. spurios. signlcod cauem10Maloperatipono OV

.4 ~

shutdown system's.bef~e donitrol is-transeferrdfro~m'-;

requred bytthe pot-fir afternative safe pl. L"'urouIn OE"alW bps the the,. remote shutdrow adverselya a6dc theb, thecotrl oo0t t "MOVdrae T1hs cold

°

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MOV-4 prtectlvefeatures wich

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anmantalp~sfe, 4shutdow cpirlds j*.,_4 to ahieve abilit tc O perato te eto 'ir6, b"' h rom o-ieta ol desl Teptential- forbot shrt drig a triqq 60shn~PUt~id Powe S"pp-.y S~tem, Pennhsytvania' wasfondand,.repoqted by lidbnbs,,` -ain

ýwrCmay Ci~aedodt tts Power-and' "ht."Co9ay n orhr Ii" p t-fre safconcerns e shto n.I, regardn fier teto'adteaityocheendri about view of the generc nature of the c e, its tentialsafe iglfanc&'af~l assocated performed by 'icensees of post-fire sofe shutdown It was the tth and scope ofanatýsbs alert the industry to the reported conditions.

circuits,the staffIssued IN 92-18 to NRC that time that this unanalyzed condition was within the scope of existing in staff's p'itint the information protection regulations. The staff expected that licensees would evaluate Jn)tC pos t-fire fire c res0ectp4its'*tenia[

theIN, and'ts safety segnifanc 4 ith appr at wactions.

sae' sftdown Implembrntation'ri tan a letter to its.administratirve pointsof contact dated.'August .13,.1992,ithe Nuclear In that it"considered-*....

Concil (NU now WARC,* NEl)'.a 6%is6d lhcenseesh to very unlikely .:-'InL ....

M~nagement an Re'sources. c. trolroom'fire~'aslidentfdirN *,92-18 i.n'resufting fro asregarding to anyoft ad t'.NU R advisa icensees to dive arefulconsiderat NMRC base Wtdiconteaumin operationr response, toN9-8 to' ground,.or openc ! tth can: prevnt tht,plat esgnchnges firenc ho iont s that causes maperato of pnt equipment can only ocr as areut o a fire conditi room cau only durin"ýg ýthe ttime It taes:to evcutetheconthAro conrolrom toLbe eacuted and the repeteemrnc 1d cono of theequire safee sutdown ýequipmnlah jutfction or bases ae-4,is Th s oý'taff noe htNMRddnot*provldedinlcal ihti contr~stalons "oh esn ttdaoethehestf disagre forasup this ion.ThdcdltJ&

that theINUMARC guidance may have encouraged some licensees to positon. It appears The staff also noted dismiss IN 92-18 and to.forego _ssessing the technical and safety issues. the IN92-18 NUMARC, in its letter of AUgust 29 1992, didnot quesnthe applicability.of that issues to existing NRC regulatory requir ments-I)

4. CONCLUSIONS above, the, regulatory rurements and supporting staff positions are well-shorts, As discussed. r ize that fires can induce multiple hot regulatbry-requireprots requirements also specify that such circuit documented. NRC and open circuits. The regulatory shorts to.ground. required post-fire.safe ' 44 faluessal ntpreen the,operato orcuetemlproof. the desgn,ofpst components.*, ',!I. IIN92-1, th saffdsre oniinperelated!4to to bl damage by fire-shutdown a e pn n 'al for, certain c fir*ea shu w c~omonnt at lc cnrol ef elrý a a er andIsolation could be acopls ent and Inducdfaults result in u related e sa oeii outside thebontrol roomr. This couldtheir intended funcft ae they have been c ponents icaable of pe rforming* that such Threfore, the staff concluded electrIcly isolted fromý the. fire area of concern anrd limited'shu'tdo'w'n funlctionls design .do nopt provide, reasonable asuanethattheminimum shutdow~nsysem can beprformed as reqie by controlld bty theý p onfigrations e'rniative I IN 92-18 Thesffa c e th safetysu addre rgatyr equiement.

' s i

18 s. r s In..IN889 - _e apla_

,d thtdtontned rveandt Inpetono s"peciofc onkftechFinaly h staffeha also coc8deand saet isue as those adroessW on fiepoetm ue, K,,,,A s".c' techica of compliance with NRC fire protection IN 92-18, is needed to emphasize the Importancz requIrements and to verify licensee compliance with those requirements and the existing liensingbasis.

S I I