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{{#Wiki_filter:m ORlGWAL 0 0 T- M o
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U UN11ED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF:                                           DOCKET NO:
UN11ED STATES U
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 3?lST GENERAL MEETING p
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF:
                                                                              $~
DOCKET NO:
b                                                                             $
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 3?lST GENERAL MEETING
                                                                                ~
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p b
                                                                                -    'T s-   ._
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:o LOCATION:         WASHINGTON, D. C.                       PAGES:   1-     4
~
                                                                                  =
'T s-
DATE:             FRIDAY, JANUARY 9,         1987 AnPoR pri3 r e h a w awee              s? :R P T V   o der.otl.emov.e from ACRS Tfice ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
:o" LOCATION:
OfficialReporters 444 North Capitol Street Washington, D.C. 20001         -
WASHINGTON, D.
87o1:00327 870109                          (202) 347-3700 PDP   ACRS T-1569                 PDR             NATIONWIDE COVERACE
C.
PAGES:
1-4
=
DATE:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 r e h a w a s? R P T V AnPoR pri3 wee :
o der.otl.emov.e from ACRS Tfice ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
OfficialReporters 444 North Capitol Street Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 347-3700 87o1:00327 870109 PDP ACRS T-1569 PDR NATIONWIDE COVERACE


PUBLIC NOTICE BY THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONERS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 The contents of this stenographic transcript of the proceedings of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), as reported herein, is an uncorrected record of the discussions recorded at the meeting held on the above date.
PUBLIC NOTICE BY THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONERS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 The contents of this stenographic transcript of the proceedings of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), as reported herein, is an uncorrected record of the discussions recorded at the meeting held on the above date.
No member of the ACRS Staff and no participant at
No member of the ACRS Staff and no participant at
() this meeting accepts any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies of statement or data contained in this transcript.
()
i l
this meeting accepts any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies of statement or data contained in this transcript.


CR29410.0 DAV/cjg                                                                                               l' f' )             1                                   - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2                               NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3                     ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 4                                       321ST GENERAL MEETING 5
CR29410.0 DAV/cjg l'
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Room 1046 0                                                         1717 H Street, N.W.
' f' )
Washington, D. C.
1
                      .8                                                         Friday, January 9, 1987 9
- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 4
321ST GENERAL MEETING 5
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Room 1046 0
1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.
C.
.8 Friday, January 9, 1987 9
The 321st General Meeting reconvened at 8:30 a.m.
The 321st General Meeting reconvened at 8:30 a.m.
10 yy      ACRS MEMBERS PRESENT:
10 ACRS MEMBERS PRESENT:
12                 DR. WILLIAM KERR, Presiding as                                 MR. DAVID A. WARD 13                 MR. JESSE C. EBERSOLE MR. HAROLD ETHERINGTON 14                 DR. MAX W. CARBON DR. HAROLD W. LEWIS 15                 DR. J. CARSON MARK MR. CARLYLE MICHELSON 16                 DR. DADE W. MOELLER DR. DAVID OKRENT
yy 12 DR. WILLIAM KERR, Presiding as MR. DAVID A. WARD 13 MR. JESSE C. EBERSOLE MR. HAROLD ETHERINGTON 14 DR. MAX W.
                      -77                MR. GLENN A. REED DR. FORREST J. REMICK gg                DR. PAUL G. SHEWMON DR. CHESTER P. SIESS MR. CHARLES J. WYLIE 19 20 21 22 23
CARBON DR. HAROLD W.
        ,,s 24 l
LEWIS 15 DR. J.
25 l
CARSON MARK MR. CARLYLE MICHELSON 16 DR. DADE W.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
MOELLER DR. DAVID OKRENT MR. GLENN A.
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REED
-77 DR. FORREST J.
REMICK DR. PAUL G.
SHEWMON gg DR. CHESTER P.
SIESS MR. CHARLES J. WYLIE 19 20 21 22 23 24
,,s 25 l
l ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
:o:->47-> oo x <te -44 ce, < -
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+
+
j4100.01 01:                                                                                     -2
j4100.01 01:
  ./
-2
S-     DAVbur. lL                           PROCEEDINGS 2               .DR. KERR:     (presiding)           The meeting will come to
./S-DAVbur.
                    -3   order.
lL PROCEEDINGS 2
4               This is the second day of the 321st meeting of' 5   the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
.DR.
6               Today's meeting will involve discussion and 7   reports on the following:
KERR:
8               The meeting with the Executive Director for 9   Operations.
(presiding)
10                 Discussion of systems interactions.
The meeting will come to
: 11.               Discussions of the proposed report on the
-3 order.
                  -12     implications of the Chernobyl accident.
4 This is the second day of the 321st meeting of' 5
    /~T k/             13               And consideration of the appointment of a new
the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
                  'l-4   member.
6 Today's meeting will involve discussion and 7
15               Consideration of reports on-the NRC Safety 16   Research Program.
reports on the following:
17               And a discussion of a proposed report on improved 18   light water reactors.
8 The meeting with the Executive Director for 9
19               Portions of the meeting will be closed perhaps, 20   if necessary to protect privileged information.
Operations.
21               The meeting is being conducted in accordance with 22   the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the 23   Government in the Sunshine Act.
10 Discussion of systems interactions.
24               Mr. Raymond Fraley is the designated federal o             25   official.
11.
Discussions of the proposed report on the
-12 implications of the Chernobyl accident.
/~T k/
13 And consideration of the appointment of a new
'l-4 member.
15 Consideration of reports on-the NRC Safety 16 Research Program.
17 And a discussion of a proposed report on improved 18 light water reactors.
19 Portions of the meeting will be closed perhaps, 20 if necessary to protect privileged information.
21 The meeting is being conducted in accordance with 22 the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the 23 Government in the Sunshine Act.
24 Mr. Raymond Fraley is the designated federal o
25 official.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202 347-37no       Nationwide Coserage         800 3%6M6
202 347-37no Nationwide Coserage 800 3%6M6


    '4100 01:02                                                                                         -3 i ) DAVbur-s              1             A transcript of portions of the meeting is being 2 kept. I ask that each speaker identify himself or herself 3 .and use a microphone.
'4100 01:02
4             We have not received any written statements, nor 5 have we had requests for oral statements.
-3 i ) DAVbur-1 A transcript of portions of the meeting is being s
6             The first item on today's schedule is a meeting 7 with the Executive Director for Operations, Mr. Stello, who 8 will describe some.of the facets of the NRC Staff 9 reorganization.
2 kept.
10             Mr. Stello?
I ask that each speaker identify himself or herself 3
11               MR. STELLO:         Thank you.         It is a pleasure to be 12 here.
.and use a microphone.
('
4 We have not received any written statements, nor 5
13               I perhaps thought maybe we ought to broaden the 14 topic and perhaps we ought to key it to something other than 15 reorganization.           If there is anything else somebody wants to 16 mention, I will be certainly happy to listen.
have we had requests for oral statements.
17             The reorganization that we have underway -- what 18 I thought I would do is describe it to you in broad terms, 19 where we are and what the next steps will be, and give you a 20 rough feel for how long it will be before the reorganization 21 will be in place, the basic changes associated with the 22 reorganization.
6 The first item on today's schedule is a meeting 7
23               Perhaps the most visible one at the office 24 level reporting to the Commission is dividing the Office of 25 Congressional Affairs and Public Affairs, State Programs ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
with the Executive Director for Operations, Mr. Stello, who 8
202-347-3700           Nationwide Coserage               800-3364 446
will describe some.of the facets of the NRC Staff 9
reorganization.
10 Mr. Stello?
11 MR. STELLO:
Thank you.
It is a pleasure to be 12 here.
(
13 I perhaps thought maybe we ought to broaden the 14 topic and perhaps we ought to key it to something other than 15 reorganization.
If there is anything else somebody wants to 16 mention, I will be certainly happy to listen.
17 The reorganization that we have underway -- what 18 I thought I would do is describe it to you in broad terms, 19 where we are and what the next steps will be, and give you a 20 rough feel for how long it will be before the reorganization 21 will be in place, the basic changes associated with the 22 reorganization.
23 Perhaps the most visible one at the office 24 level reporting to the Commission is dividing the Office of 25 Congressional Affairs and Public Affairs, State Programs ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3700 Nationwide Coserage 800-3364 446


4100'01 03                                                                             4
4100'01 03 4
  \/DAVbur     1 and International-Programs, two offices reporting up at the 2 division. level.
\\/ DAVbur 1
3               The reasoning and the recognition for the need to 4 do that is it is clear.there are increased policy questions 5 that are being raised with respect to certainly state 6 issues. As I am sure all of you are aware, the states are 7 becoming more and more involved in activities that we 8 regulate.
and International-Programs, two offices reporting up at the s
9               Since Chernobyl there has been very, very intense 10 involvement on the international front.         Coordination of 11 Congressional and Public Affairs Offices is clearly 12 desirable.     Those activities have been combined now, and
2 division. level.
    -            -13 Mr. Denton has been chosen to head up that particular 14 office.
3 The reasoning and the recognition for the need to 4
15               The workload for the agency is clearly changing 16 to where we are going to be regulating essentially an 17 operating industry.       In recognition of that need, we took a 18 hard look at some of the ways in which we are doing things 19 to be sure we have unambiguous and clear accountability for 20- the activities that we are regulating.
do that is it is clear.there are increased policy questions 5
21               We have felt the need for this for a long time.
that are being raised with respect to certainly state 6
22 We took a hard look.       It was my recommendation, 23 incidentally, back in 1980 that as that workload was 24 changing there*was a real need to combine those twc l
issues.
  '' )           25 activities to make sure that the inspection and licensing l
As I am sure all of you are aware, the states are 7
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
becoming more and more involved in activities that we 8
202 347-3700     Nationwide Cmcrage     800-336-6646
regulate.
9 Since Chernobyl there has been very, very intense 10 involvement on the international front.
Coordination of 11 Congressional and Public Affairs Offices is clearly 12 desirable.
Those activities have been combined now, and
-13 Mr. Denton has been chosen to head up that particular 14 office.
15 The workload for the agency is clearly changing 16 to where we are going to be regulating essentially an 17 operating industry.
In recognition of that need, we took a 18 hard look at some of the ways in which we are doing things 19 to be sure we have unambiguous and clear accountability for 20-the activities that we are regulating.
21 We have felt the need for this for a long time.
22 We took a hard look.
It was my recommendation, 23 incidentally, back in 1980 that as that workload was 24 changing there*was a real need to combine those twc
'' )
25 activities to make sure that the inspection and licensing l
l ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202 347-3700 Nationwide Cmcrage 800-336-6646


4100 01 04                                                               5
4100 01 04 5
    -kj' DAVbur       1 activity would be brought together.
-kj' DAVbur 1
2             This organization literally brings them 3 together. There will be one office now responsible for 4 every aspect of reactors.     If it is a reactor problem, there 5 is one office that is going to be held directly accountable.
activity would be brought together.
6 and that understands they are accountable for the regulation 7 of that activity, NRR.
2 This organization literally brings them 3
8             By the same token, there is now going to be one 9 office for regulating materials, programs, recycle 10 facilities.
together.
11             Those two particular changes are probably the 12 most significant in terms of operating.
There will be one office now responsible for 4
13             The changes obviously are essentially restricted 14 to changes within our headquarters operations, the field 15 operations remaining essentially the same.
every aspect of reactors.
16             The individuals who have been chosen for the rest 17 of these jobs -- I understand that the ACRS members were 18 passed out the recent announcement that-was made of what 19 individuals are reportir     to what jobs.
If it is a reactor problem, there 5
;.                    20             One other imp     ant element of the new 21 organization is the issu       f dealing with unresolved safety 22 questions, generic issue _, and what ,have you, that have been 23 kicking around for a long, long time.       The resources 24 sometimes get applied and sometimes get pulled off, and they
is one office that is going to be held directly accountable.
6 and that understands they are accountable for the regulation 7
of that activity, NRR.
8 By the same token, there is now going to be one 9
office for regulating materials, programs, recycle 10 facilities.
11 Those two particular changes are probably the 12 most significant in terms of operating.
13 The changes obviously are essentially restricted 14 to changes within our headquarters operations, the field 15 operations remaining essentially the same.
16 The individuals who have been chosen for the rest 17 of these jobs -- I understand that the ACRS members were 18 passed out the recent announcement that-was made of what 19 individuals are reportir to what jobs.
20 One other imp ant element of the new 21 organization is the issu f dealing with unresolved safety 22 questions, generic issue _, and what,have you, that have been 23 kicking around for a long, long time.
The resources 24 sometimes get applied and sometimes get pulled off, and they
_]
_]
25 don't go very smoothly. Recognizing that, we have gotten ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
25 don't go very smoothly.
M-347-3700     Natumwide Coserage     80tK33M646
Recognizing that, we have gotten ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
M-347-3700 Natumwide Coserage 80tK33M646


    .4100 01 05                                                                   6 X/i.DAVbur s            1 all of those issues and moved those over into Research.
.4100 01 05 6
2             We have also provided impetus to make sure that-3 the research activity is closely coupled to the questions 4 that need to be answered, safety questions, and that need to 5 be answered for licensing.
!X/i.DAVbur 1
6             Research will now be responsible'for doing the 7 work to resolve all of those generic issues.               The resources 8 from NRR that were assigned to work on that have been 9 reassigned over to Research.
all of those issues and moved those over into Research.
10             There are a variety of other administrative 11 things that have been sorely needed for some years, 12 providing some of the administrative activities of
s 2
  -(~'s s_)         13 information systems, budget personnel, consolidated and put 14 into an office except for personnel, separate offices 15 reporting directly to me.           All the other activities are 16 combined into one large administrative office rather than 17 into satellite offices.
We have also provided impetus to make sure that-3 the research activity is closely coupled to the questions 4
18             Yes?
that need to be answered, safety questions, and that need to 5
19             DR. MARK:         To what extent and by what means is it 20 assured that the decisions of the regions concerning the 21 question as to whether something or other need be done or 22 need not be done are coordinated and made consistent?
be answered for licensing.
l 23             MR. STELLO:         Are you talking about -- there are i
6 Research will now be responsible'for doing the 7
24 two aspects of it.       Let me see if I captured it.
work to resolve all of those generic issues.
      )         25             Consistency among regions is one issue we have ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
The resources 8
202-347-3700         Nationwide Coserage   M4336-6M6
from NRR that were assigned to work on that have been 9
reassigned over to Research.
10 There are a variety of other administrative 11 things that have been sorely needed for some years, 12 providing some of the administrative activities of
-(~'s s_)
13 information systems, budget personnel, consolidated and put 14 into an office except for personnel, separate offices 15 reporting directly to me.
All the other activities are 16 combined into one large administrative office rather than 17 into satellite offices.
18 Yes?
19 DR. MARK:
To what extent and by what means is it 20 assured that the decisions of the regions concerning the 21 question as to whether something or other need be done or 22 need not be done are coordinated and made consistent?
l 23 MR. STELLO:
Are you talking about -- there are i
24 two aspects of it.
Let me see if I captured it.
)
25 Consistency among regions is one issue we have ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3700 Nationwide Coserage M4336-6M6


L4100 01:06                                                           7 k     DAVbur   1 talked about, and the other is the flow of information 2 identifying problems from any particular region.
L4100 01:06 7
3             Right now the way it is set up is that 4 information has to flow and be coordinated among at least 5 three different elements -- NRR, I&E, and the regions.       In-6 the reorganization it will be NRR and the regions, just two, 7 and NRR will be accountable and responsible for making sure 8 that the problem is resolved -- NRR.     That is diffused in 9 the current setup that we have.
k DAVbur 1
10             Consistency among the regions, that problem is 11 hopefully going to be significantly less.       There is going to 12 be now one office charged with the overall responsibility.
talked about, and the other is the flow of information 2
13 Prior-to this time there were two, but I assure you, the 14 idea of_ consistency among regional offices is never going to 15 be an issue.that escapes us.     It is going to be something we 16 will have to pay attention to all the time and make sure 17 that we don't let that get away from us.
identifying problems from any particular region.
18             DR. MARK:   That is my concern. You will be sure 19 that it is made sure?
3 Right now the way it is set up is that 4
20             MR. STELLO:   Yes. It will be easier, but it is 21 something that will continue to need attention.
information has to flow and be coordinated among at least 5
22             MR. MICHELSON:   Along the same lines, Vic, I&E 23 used to prepare some kind of overview standards and 24 guidances to get out to the regions.
three different elements -- NRR, I&E, and the regions.
O           25             Who will now prepare these overview standards, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
In-6 the reorganization it will be NRR and the regions, just two, 7
m m.m.         s . - m c _ ,.                       I
and NRR will be accountable and responsible for making sure 8
that the problem is resolved -- NRR.
That is diffused in 9
the current setup that we have.
10 Consistency among the regions, that problem is 11 hopefully going to be significantly less.
There is going to 12 be now one office charged with the overall responsibility.
13 Prior-to this time there were two, but I assure you, the 14 idea of_ consistency among regional offices is never going to 15 be an issue.that escapes us.
It is going to be something we 16 will have to pay attention to all the time and make sure 17 that we don't let that get away from us.
18 DR. MARK:
That is my concern.
You will be sure 19 that it is made sure?
20 MR. STELLO:
Yes.
It will be easier, but it is 21 something that will continue to need attention.
22 MR. MICHELSON:
Along the same lines, Vic, I&E 23 used to prepare some kind of overview standards and 24 guidances to get out to the regions.
O 25 Who will now prepare these overview standards, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
I m m.m.
s. - m c _,.,__


g   ,
g L4100-01 07.
L4100-01 07.                                                                           8 DAVbu r, ' -1   inspection' standards, or whatever?
8 DAVbu r, '
2               MR. STELLO:   That happens-to.be an area that.I-3- :had particularly sensitivity to for-a lot of years because
-1 inspection' standards, or whatever?
                                  ~
2 MR. STELLO:
                      -4 .I&E had an office when I was there.' We used to develop-5   inspection modules and send them out.to the field.                 Butfwere-
That happens-to.be an area that.I-3-
                      -6 'they the right things to inspect?             Were they really-7   coordinated with the licensing activity?
:had particularly sensitivity to for-a lot of years because
                                                                                              ~
~
8               At'best, I think I would describe that as hit and 9   miss.
-4
10               The new office is going to. combine the activities 11   of developing new modules, new inspection modules for the i
.I&E had an office when I was there.' We used to develop-5 inspection modules and send them out.to the field.
12   regions in the.same unit that.is also responsible for-13   licensing to make sure this time they are really hand in d
Butfwere-
14   glove.
-6
15-               MR. MICHELSON:     I guess the answer is it is in 16   NRR now, or will be?
'they the right things to inspect?
17-               MR. STELLO:   But it is pulled out as a separate 18'   unit, not distilled, reporting up through Murley separate 19   from the day-to-day activities.
Were they really-7 coordinated with the licensing activity?
20               The reason for that is to make sure this time we 21   have asked and answered the question:             is this a better 22   activity accomplished by asking questions during the 23   licensing process in Washington when you-really need to go 24   out and see it and make sure it is okay via inspection?
8 At'best, I think I would describe that as hit and
O               25                 In other words, to get the real hand in glove ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
~
202-347-3700     Nationsi& Coserage         800-336-6M6
9 miss.
10 The new office is going to. combine the activities 11 of developing new modules, new inspection modules for the i
12 regions in the.same unit that.is also responsible for-13 licensing to make sure this time they are really hand in d
14 glove.
15-MR. MICHELSON:
I guess the answer is it is in 16 NRR now, or will be?
17-MR. STELLO:
But it is pulled out as a separate 18' unit, not distilled, reporting up through Murley separate 19 from the day-to-day activities.
20 The reason for that is to make sure this time we 21 have asked and answered the question:
is this a better 22 activity accomplished by asking questions during the 23 licensing process in Washington when you-really need to go 24 out and see it and make sure it is okay via inspection?
O 25 In other words, to get the real hand in glove ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3700 Nationsi& Coserage 800-336-6M6


4100 01 08                                                           9 th kw [ DAVbur     1   operation of inspection and licensing, recognize what the 2   strengths and weaknesses of both are and take advantage of 3   it.
4100 01 08 9
4               There will be a separate organization now that 5-   will do that. That will be essentially for the first time.
th k [ DAVbur 1
6   That has been sorely needed, as you are well aware.
operation of inspection and licensing, recognize what the w
7               MR. EBERSOLE:-   Vic, in all this vast 8   organization, I like to think that each plant has some sort 9   of NRC parental type overview; that is, you have got some 10   NRC person who looks upon it as a child of some sort.
2 strengths and weaknesses of both are and take advantage of 3
11               MR. STELLO:   The project manager is going to be 12   that end of the duo.
it.
s/           13               MR. EBERSOLE:   Is he offering that intimate 14   contact?
4 There will be a separate organization now that 5-will do that.
15               DR. KERR:   Mr. Ebersole, I know Mr. Stello can 16   hear you better that way.
That will be essentially for the first time.
17               MR. EBERSOLE:   Can everybody hear what I said?
6 That has been sorely needed, as you are well aware.
18               I would like to see an identification of the
7 MR. EBERSOLE:-
<                19   individual for NRC who takes a direct, primary interest in I
Vic, in all this vast 8
i                 20   each individual plant, somebody I can go to and say, is your l:
organization, I like to think that each plant has some sort 9
21   plant in good shape. I would like to know those folks. For 22   all these 104 plants.
of NRC parental type overview; that is, you have got some 10 NRC person who looks upon it as a child of some sort.
!                23               MR. STELLO:   I heard the question. The answer is
11 MR. STELLO:
_            24   the project manager -- he or she -- is going to need to l
The project manager is going to be 12 that end of the duo.
    %-)           25   know. They are going to be asked that question, and they 1
s/
t
13 MR. EBERSOLE:
;                                ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
Is he offering that intimate 14 contact?
                                      .xm         ~.m m c-           m>m L
15 DR. KERR:
Mr. Ebersole, I know Mr. Stello can 16 hear you better that way.
17 MR. EBERSOLE:
Can everybody hear what I said?
18 I would like to see an identification of the 19 individual for NRC who takes a direct, primary interest in I
i 20 each individual plant, somebody I can go to and say, is your l:
21 plant in good shape.
I would like to know those folks.
For 22 all these 104 plants.
23 MR. STELLO:
I heard the question.
The answer is 24 the project manager -- he or she -- is going to need to l
%-)
25 know.
They are going to be asked that question, and they 1
t ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
L
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4100 01 09.                                                                   10 7
4100 01 09.
    ^(ol DAVbur   1 are going.to literally have to know everything about the 2 plant, what is going on in inspection, what are the 3 outstanding licensing issues, and they are going to have to 4 be responsible for having complete knowledge of all aspects 5 of the plant.       They are going to be out there a lot more 6 often, too.
10 7
7             MR. MICHELSON:         Is that approximately one on one, 8 - or does one project manager cover several plants?
^(ol DAVbur 1
9             MR. STELLO:       I would like it to be one on one if 10 we can manage it, 11             MR. MICHELSON:         Right now it is a little more 12 than one per manager?
are going.to literally have to know everything about the 2
13             MR. STELLO:       It is close to one on one.       Close.
plant, what is going on in inspection, what are the 3
14 We are going to shoot to try to do that.
outstanding licensing issues, and they are going to have to 4
15             DR. SIESS:       Vic, does the project manager have 16 any more authority to go along with this additional 17 responsibility, or is he still going to be somebody 18 transmitting stuff?
be responsible for having complete knowledge of all aspects 5
19             MR. STELLO:       My desire is for him to have 20 increased responsibility and authority.
of the plant.
21             MR. EBERSOLE:       That is my problem.       I have 22 identified more or less that most of the time he is just a 23 transmittal agent, like a transmittal letter, and you are 24 telling me he is going to have an increased level of direct O
They are going to be out there a lot more 6
    'd           25 responsibility?
often, too.
.                              ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
7 MR. MICHELSON:
202-347-3700       Nationwide Cnerage   1kn336-M46
Is that approximately one on one, 8
- or does one project manager cover several plants?
9 MR. STELLO:
I would like it to be one on one if 10 we can manage it, 11 MR. MICHELSON:
Right now it is a little more 12 than one per manager?
13 MR. STELLO:
It is close to one on one.
Close.
14 We are going to shoot to try to do that.
15 DR. SIESS:
Vic, does the project manager have 16 any more authority to go along with this additional 17 responsibility, or is he still going to be somebody 18 transmitting stuff?
19 MR. STELLO:
My desire is for him to have 20 increased responsibility and authority.
21 MR. EBERSOLE:
That is my problem.
I have 22 identified more or less that most of the time he is just a 23 transmittal agent, like a transmittal letter, and you are 24 telling me he is going to have an increased level of direct O'd 25 responsibility?
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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1 14100 01 10'                                                                                                       11 IY a_/ DAVbur                                       MR. STELLO:
14100 01 10' 11 IY a_/ DAVbur l-MR. STELLO:
l-                                              That is correct.
That is correct.
2                               MR. EBERSOLE:               I guess you will have a composite 3                   list of all the names of these fine individuals that we can
2 MR. EBERSOLE:
: 4.                 find, that you-have got someplace?
I guess you will have a composite 3
1-                 5                                 MR. STELLO:     Will have, yes.
list of all the names of these fine individuals that we can 4.
6                               MR. HERNAN:     We do have that list now, Jesse.
find, that you-have got someplace?
7                                 MR. STELLO:     You have the current list.                       He is 8                   talking about the new organization, the future.
1-5 MR. STELLO:
9                               The answer is yes.               We don't have it yet.
Will have, yes.
10                                 MR. EBERSOLE:               The new character of these people 11                     is that they do'have responsibility, not merely to transmit 12                     problems but to have a heavy hand in the decisionmaking of
6 MR. HERNAN:
We do have that list now, Jesse.
7 MR. STELLO:
You have the current list.
He is 8
talking about the new organization, the future.
9 The answer is yes.
We don't have it yet.
10 MR. EBERSOLE:
The new character of these people 11 is that they do'have responsibility, not merely to transmit 12 problems but to have a heavy hand in the decisionmaking of
('3
('3
(>           13                     what is to be done.
(>
14                                 MR. STELLO:     That is correct.
13 what is to be done.
15                                 DR. KERR:   Please continue, Mr. Stello.
14 MR. STELLO:
16                                 MR. STELLO:     I think really I have captured the 17                     basic reasoning and philosophy behind coming up with the 18                     reorganization.
That is correct.
19                                 Obviously, the next step is when.                           The Commission 20                     desired to become very, very much involved in this
15 DR. KERR:
!                21                     organization question and has been taking it a step at a f                 22                     time. You have seen the announcements about a step at a 23                     time.
Please continue, Mr. Stello.
,                24                                 The major office levels were agreed on, and j
16 MR. STELLO:
O.          25                     finally the instruction was taken down to the next step to t
I think really I have captured the 17 basic reasoning and philosophy behind coming up with the 18 reorganization.
19 Obviously, the next step is when.
The Commission 20 desired to become very, very much involved in this 21 organization question and has been taking it a step at a f
22 time.
You have seen the announcements about a step at a 23 time.
O.
24 The major office levels were agreed on, and j
25 finally the instruction was taken down to the next step to t
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4100 01 11                                                                                               12
4100 01 11 12
    ,/ .
,/.
( ) DAVbur
( ) DAVbur 1
_            1    the division levels, and they agreed on that structure, and-2   who those individuals ought to be, and that was published.
the division levels, and they agreed on that structure, and-2 who those individuals ought to be, and that was published.
3                 The step following that now is obviously the rest 4   of the organizations, and the Commission has indicated a 5   desire to look at the entire organization in detail.                                       We 6   have prepared that and hope to have that in a month or so.
3 The step following that now is obviously the rest 4
7   for the Commission to look at and finally approve.
of the organizations, and the Commission has indicated a 5
8               When they finally approve that structure -- and 9   we have all the usual things to go through, preparing the 10   package and letting the union become involved in it before 11   final implementation -- I guess we are hoping to be in a 12   position to have that done in the next couple of months.                                         It
desire to look at the entire organization in detail.
  ! rm
We 6
(-)           13   may turn out to be coincidental with consolidation, which 14   would be very nice if it is but it is not mandatory that it
have prepared that and hope to have that in a month or so.
: 15. is that way.
7 for the Commission to look at and finally approve.
16               But the coincidence -- I hope it is going to be 17   Very close.     I don't know which one is going to control, l
8 When they finally approve that structure -- and 9
18   consolidation or reorganization.
we have all the usual things to go through, preparing the 10 package and letting the union become involved in it before 11 final implementation -- I guess we are hoping to be in a 12 position to have that done in the next couple of months.
19               MR. EBERSOLE:     Are these people with this focused 20   responnibility of the individual plants yet named for the 21   TVA projects?
It rm
22               MR. 3TELLO:     Oh, I missed something.                             Thank you.
(-)
23               The answer to that question is no.                                 In the                       I 24   process of going to the Commission between these two
13 may turn out to be coincidental with consolidation, which 14 would be very nice if it is but it is not mandatory that it 15.
    '            25   organizations, it became apparent to me that there were two l
is that way.
l                               ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
16 But the coincidence -- I hope it is going to be 17 l
i                                 202-347-3700     Na'i3nwide Conerage                       800 34-6M6
Very close.
                                                                      . . - - - - . . . - . -            ~-. .-.     . _ . - - ___
I don't know which one is going to control, 18 consolidation or reorganization.
19 MR. EBERSOLE:
Are these people with this focused 20 responnibility of the individual plants yet named for the 21 TVA projects?
22 MR. 3TELLO:
Oh, I missed something.
Thank you.
I 23 The answer to that question is no.
In the 24 process of going to the Commission between these two 25 organizations, it became apparent to me that there were two l
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~-..-.


i 4100 01 12                                                                                                       13
i 4100 01 12 13
(_/ 'DAVbur     1     particular projects for which there is very, very intense 2     involvement'and it did not seem appropriate to have those 3     handled in the usual way by line management.
(_/ 'DAVbur 1
4                   I proposed and the Commission agreed to set up 5     separate project offices, putting all the resources in 6     separate project offices for TVA and Comanche Peak.                                                     Those 7     decisions have not yet been made.
particular projects for which there is very, very intense 2
8                   I think TVA and Comanche Peak in respect to 9     organizational , structure are unique and we need something 10     special for those.     There is just too much going on to rely 11     on the usual structure.
involvement'and it did not seem appropriate to have those 3
12                 MR. MICHELSON:               I have a couple of questions, 13     Vic.
handled in the usual way by line management.
,                    14                 The first is where does CRGR now fit into the 15     structure?
4 I proposed and the Commission agreed to set up 5
16                 MR. STELLO:           AEOD.
separate project offices, putting all the resources in 6
17                 MR. MICHELSON:             But they are the administrative 18     custodian?     How is the CRGR going to be made up, the same as 19     it has?
separate project offices for TVA and Comanche Peak.
20                 MR. STELLO:           The staff will be transferred over 21     into AEOD.     The reason for that is that is the office, I 22     think, that is at least neutral in terms of being an 23     advocate of any rule, regulation, or order.                             The other 24     offices very well will be.                 So they have responsibility.
Those 7
O i
decisions have not yet been made.
25     That will be separate from them.                     The chair of the office l
8 I think TVA and Comanche Peak in respect to 9
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
organizational, structure are unique and we need something 10 special for those.
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There is just too much going on to rely 11 on the usual structure.
12 MR. MICHELSON:
I have a couple of questions, 13 Vic.
14 The first is where does CRGR now fit into the 15 structure?
16 MR. STELLO:
AEOD.
17 MR. MICHELSON:
But they are the administrative 18 custodian?
How is the CRGR going to be made up, the same as 19 it has?
20 MR. STELLO:
The staff will be transferred over 21 into AEOD.
The reason for that is that is the office, I 22 think, that is at least neutral in terms of being an 23 advocate of any rule, regulation, or order.
The other 24 offices very well will be.
So they have responsibility.
O 25 That will be separate from them.
The chair of the office i
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4100 01 13                                                                                                   14
4100 01 13 14
  \-,/   DAVbur     1   will be AEOD as well.
\\-,/
2                           MR. MICHELSON:           My comment on that of course is 3   that AEOD is of ten the office that originates the problem 4   that CRGR is then resolving.                             It originates the concern, and 5   now the judge and the jury are going to be in the same 6   place?
DAVbur 1
4 7                           DR. OKRENT:       Not the whole jury.
will be AEOD as well.
8                         MR. MICHELSON:           Not the whole jury, admittedly.
2 MR. MICHELSON:
9                           It is hard to see --
My comment on that of course is 3
10                           MR. STELLO:         There is a reason for that, though.
that AEOD is of ten the office that originates the problem 4
11     You are right.                     They identify the concerns.                 When that gets 12     translated into requirements, that is done somewhere else, f'/
that CRGR is then resolving.
It originates the concern, and 5
now the judge and the jury are going to be in the same 6
place?
7 DR. OKRENT:
Not the whole jury.
4 8
MR. MICHELSON:
Not the whole jury, admittedly.
9 It is hard to see --
10 MR. STELLO:
There is a reason for that, though.
11 You are right.
They identify the concerns.
When that gets 12 translated into requirements, that is done somewhere else, f'/
\\
x_
x_
      \
13 not by them.
13     not by them.
14 MR. MICHELSON:
14                             MR. MICHELSON:           But now, in appearance at least, 15     it looks like they are setting down to pass final judgment 16     on it.             That is why I asked whether CRGR was just being 17     administered by AEOD or just how closely it would be 18     associated.
But now, in appearance at least, 15 it looks like they are setting down to pass final judgment 16 on it.
That is why I asked whether CRGR was just being 17 administered by AEOD or just how closely it would be 18 associated.
L i
L i
19 20
19 20 21 22 23 l
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25 l
i ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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  -                            x                                           .
x 4100.02 01 15
4100.02 01                                                                                                           15
- ) DAVbur 1
    - ) DAVbur       1               MR. STELLO:       The perspective of' the CRGR members 2 would be about where they are today.
MR. STELLO:
                                                                                        ~
The perspective of' the CRGR members 2
3               MR. MICHELSON:         Presently, CRGR is in the EDO's 4 office, and my question is why doesn't it remain in the
would be about where they are today.
* 5 EDO's office just to keep things clean?             -
~
6                 MR. STELLO:     You could do that, and for 7 appearance it would probably appear to be cleaner, but the 8 staff that has to work on the problems, in getting a little 9 bit closer to it, I think it has an advantage to it.                                                     I 10   don' t 'really worry too much about the problem, though the 11   perception is there.           But in reality it is not because the 12   AEOD prepares the reports.
3 MR. MICHELSON:
f's N/             13                   Here is the concern, here is what is understood                                             .
Presently, CRGR is in the EDO's 4
14   about it, and we think you look at it.
office, and my question is why doesn't it remain in the 5
15                 Another office translates that concern into 16   specific, detailed requirements and proposes the 17   requirements that the committee passes judgment on, and 18   there is enough independence in the committee that I have 19   absolutely no concern about it.
EDO's office just to keep things clean?
20                 HR. MICHELSON:         The other question is,                                       #
6 MR. STELLO:
the 21   training center still in AEOD?
You could do that, and for 7
22                 MR. STELLO:       Yes.
appearance it would probably appear to be cleaner, but the 8
23                 MR. MICHELSON:         Is there some logic for that?
staff that has to work on the problems, in getting a little 9
24                 MR. STELLO:       Yes.       The training center that we V               25   have is really, as you are aware, of a highly technical i
bit closer to it, I think it has an advantage to it.
i l                                    ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
I 10 don' t 'really worry too much about the problem, though the 11 perception is there.
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But in reality it is not because the 12 AEOD prepares the reports.
f's N/
13 Here is the concern, here is what is understood 14 about it, and we think you look at it.
15 Another office translates that concern into 16 specific, detailed requirements and proposes the 17 requirements that the committee passes judgment on, and 18 there is enough independence in the committee that I have 19 absolutely no concern about it.
20 HR. MICHELSON:
The other question is, the 21 training center still in AEOD?
22 MR. STELLO:
Yes.
23 MR. MICHELSON:
Is there some logic for that?
24 MR. STELLO:
Yes.
The training center that we V
25 have is really, as you are aware, of a highly technical i
i ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
l
(
(
: g.          .            _                .            .
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dido'02                                                                                                                                                                                                               16-
 
:(3 V JDAVbur                                   11             nature.
g.
2'                                                     One of the things we are trying to do with the t-
dido'02 16-
                                              -3                  training . center is make it more responsive to what we are
:(3 V JDAVbur 11 nature.
                                              .4               . learning from experience and feedback from the plants so-5               that we can'put that kind.of thinking into-the. training I
2' One of the things we are trying to do with the t-training. center is make it more responsive to what we are
6               center in order to keep it very'much in the technical arena-7             -rather than put it with the' rest of the training in the 8               agency.
- 3
9                                                     The ideal office to do that in terms-of where 4                                     i 10                   that knowledge.is going to be to do things isLAEOD.                                                                                                               They 11                 are responsible for looking into trends and making that kind.
. 4
12                 of understanding and would be, I think, best prepared to 1
. learning from experience and feedback from the plants so-5 that we can'put that kind.of thinking into-the. training I
13                 pass that kind of knowledge into the training center.
6 center in order to keep it very'much in the technical arena-7
!                                            14                                                       MR. MICHELSON:                                         Thank you.
-rather than put it with the' rest of the training in the 8
15-                                                       DR. KERR:                             Mr. Ward is next, I believe.
agency.
16                                                       MR. WARD:                             Vic, in the present organization there 17                   is a Division of Human Factors Technology in NRR.-                                                                                                             That t
9 The ideal office to do that in terms-of where i
l                                           18                 seems to have disappeared in the proposed orgar.ization.
4 10 that knowledge.is going to be to do things isLAEOD.
;                                            19                                                       MR. STELLO:                                 We are still working out the details
They 11 are responsible for looking into trends and making that kind.
[                                           20                 on how that is all set up.                                                                     We will be meeting on that this 21                 afternoon at 4:00 o' clock on how to accommodate all this.
12 of understanding and would be, I think, best prepared to 1
22                                                       MR. WARD:                             Do you expect there would still be a i                                           23                 division devoted to that activity?
13 pass that kind of knowledge into the training center.
14 MR. MICHELSON:
Thank you.
15-DR. KERR:
Mr. Ward is next, I believe.
16 MR. WARD:
Vic, in the present organization there 17 is a Division of Human Factors Technology in NRR.-
That t
l 18 seems to have disappeared in the proposed orgar.ization.
19 MR. STELLO:
We are still working out the details
[
20 on how that is all set up.
We will be meeting on that this 21 afternoon at 4:00 o' clock on how to accommodate all this.
22 MR. WARD:
Do you expect there would still be a i
23 division devoted to that activity?
r=
r=
l                                           24                                                       MR. STELLO:                                 Not only a division.                                                   I think that
l 24 MR. STELLO:
;                                            25                 the whole concept of people problems is going to be l.
Not only a division.
I think that 25 the whole concept of people problems is going to be l.
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    . . ~ ~ _ _ , . , . _ _ , . . . . . , . . . . , . _ _ . . , . . . . - . _ , _ _ _ _ _ . . . _ . . _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ . _ _ , _ _ _ , . . . _ . . . . _ . _ _ , , , , _ - _ . , . . _ . _ _ _ - . _ - , .
.. ~ ~ _ _,.,. _ _,.....,....,. _ _..,.... -. _, _ _ _ _ _... _.. _ _ _. _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _. _ _, _ _ _,... _.... _. _ _,,,, _ - _.,.. _. _ _ _ -. _ -,.


__                                                      ~. _                  ,_                    _            ._ _                              -_                                    _            _  . __
~.
4 4100 02 03-                                                                                                                                                                                                           17
4 4100 02 03-17
        .g.
.g.
M.DAVbur                         1       : basically on NRR.
M.DAVbur 1
2:                                 If you look very carefully at one.of the-3         proposals that we are looking real hard at now, it is how to 4         ' align the activities of NRR, and if you look at how do you 5         sat up project management functio'ns, one of the th'ings-that-6         we are going to de is to align the project management-7         activities by regions rather than reactor type.-
: basically on NRR.
8                                 That has-been very difficult to call.                                                                                                               The thing 1
2:
9         that persuaded me, that said do you want to do it that way, 10           is that on one issue it is clear that where you get-the
If you look very carefully at one.of the-3 proposals that we are looking real hard at now, it is how to 4
: 1-                             11 1         largest change in the facility is where you'have management 12           problems.               The regions, by definition, handle utilities, the' 13         management of them, rather than reactor types.                                                                                                                           So you have 14           a very concentrated effort on dealing wich management 4'
' align the activities of NRR, and if you look at how do you 5
15           problems by aligning the project managers and regions to 16           work on the management problem.
sat up project management functio'ns, one of the th'ings-that-6 we are going to de is to align the project management-7 activities by regions rather than reactor type.-
17                                   So we are thinking about it from the' top'down,                                                                                                             ,
8 That has-been very difficult to call.
18           and that'is a very, very big change.
The thing 1
!~                                   19                                   MR. WARD:                                   That sounds like it is, i-
9 that persuaded me, that said do you want to do it that way, 10 is that on one issue it is clear that where you get-the
!                                    20                                   MR. STELLO:                                   The thing that pe .Suaded me that it 21           was important to go that way was if you look at mome of the 22           sites you can pick sites with a BWR, a CE design and a 23         Westinghouse design, all with the same utility, who are 4
: 1-11 1 largest change in the facility is where you'have management 12 problems.
24           split among different directorates and different O                           25           organizations within NRR, and you don't really get the real i
The regions, by definition, handle utilities, the' 13 management of them, rather than reactor types.
So you have 14 a very concentrated effort on dealing wich management 15 problems by aligning the project managers and regions to 4'
16 work on the management problem.
17 So we are thinking about it from the' top'down, 18 and that'is a very, very big change.
!~
19 MR. WARD:
That sounds like it is, i-20 MR. STELLO:
The thing that pe.Suaded me that it 21 was important to go that way was if you look at mome of the 22 sites you can pick sites with a BWR, a CE design and a 23 Westinghouse design, all with the same utility, who are 4
24 split among different directorates and different O
25 organizations within NRR, and you don't really get the real i
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  - 4100u02 04'                                                                                     18 A) DAVbu r m              1 feel for how well that organization, that management system 2 works, and that is the people problem.
- 4100u02 04' 18 A) DAVbu r 1
3               So that kind of thinking, although, as I said, it
feel for how well that organization, that management system m
                -4 is from the top down, is coming into the decision.
2 works, and that is the people problem.
5               DR. KERR:   Does that complete your questions?
3 So that kind of thinking, although, as I said, it
6               MR. WARD:   Yes.
-4 is from the top down, is coming into the decision.
7               DR. KERR:   Mr. Okrent.
5 DR. KERR:
8               DR. OKRENT:   Vic, I have some complicated 9 questions that I would like to lead into with just a little 10   bit of background.
Does that complete your questions?
11               I don' t know if you recall, but some of us recall 12   the era of Milton Shaw, when he was the head of the Division 7s                                                                                                     ,
6 MR. WARD:
T) s              13   of-Reactor Development and Technology, when he was 14 , ill-inclined to brook opinions which went counter to what I ss 15   will call the official line coming from Germantown.
Yes.
16               This inclination of his was sufficiently strong-17   that in fact people were fired in various contractor A
7 DR. KERR:
Mr. Okrent.
8 DR. OKRENT:
Vic, I have some complicated 9
questions that I would like to lead into with just a little 10 bit of background.
11 I don' t know if you recall, but some of us recall 12 the era of Milton Shaw, when he was the head of the Division 7s T) 13 of-Reactor Development and Technology, when he was s
14
, ill-inclined to brook opinions which went counter to what I ss 15 will call the official line coming from Germantown.
16 This inclination of his was sufficiently strong-17 that in fact people were fired in various contractor A
i
i
            / 18   organizations, and I know for a fact that that is the case 19   because I belonged to one in which that-occurred.
/ 18 organizations, and I know for a fact that that is the case 19 because I belonged to one in which that-occurred.
20         s      You may or may not recall that there were a 21   series of articles that reviewed this in Science Magazine in 12 2 the early '70s, which I suspect helped Commissioner Ray in 23   her decision to change some of the organizational matters in 24   the then AEC, taking Research away from Shaw for example.
20 You may or may not recall that there were a s
  ~
21 series of articles that reviewed this in Science Magazine in 12 2 the early '70s, which I suspect helped Commissioner Ray in 23 her decision to change some of the organizational matters in 24 the then AEC, taking Research away from Shaw for example.
25               Other kinds of background, I think we have a ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
25 Other kinds of background, I think we have a
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4100 02 05                                                                                             19 p(_/ - DAVbur   1 couple of members on the ACRS who worked for an organization 2 where it was their job to try to find out things that>were 3 going wrong and had trouble being. listened to.                                   It was a             ,
4100 02 05 19 p(_/ - DAVbur 1
curious situation where the organization in fact set up a 5 devil's advocate, if you want to call it that, but they didn' t like what they heard.
couple of members on the ACRS who worked for an organization 2
7               It was interesting that when we had the Christmas L                 8 party I sort of alluded to the importance, I thought, ,to any 9 CEO or General Director of Operations to have somebody who 10   would be willing to tell it to him straight, even if it was 11   something he thcught the boss didn't want to hear.
where it was their job to try to find out things that>were 3
12               Commissioner Zech was reminded of the fact that 13   in one of his Naval positions he found himself in exactly 14   that position and in fact had to tell his immediate 15   commanding officer that what they were doing was just not 16   the way to go.               That is all by way of background.
going wrong and had trouble being. listened to.
17               I am wondering if in the new organization, first, 18   there is a conscious effort to build in either a group, or 19   something equivalent to this, who are looking at what is the 20   proposed staff policy emerging from EDO and who have the 21   responsibility for questioning it if there are any -- if 22   they see any major flaws.
It was a 4
23               I am not talking about trivia in this, 24   obviously. In fact, in effect, it is their job.                                 If
curious situation where the organization in fact set up a 5
  'O           25   something bad gets by, in effect, they ought to be fired, as ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
devil's advocate, if you want to call it that, but they didn' t like what they heard.
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7 It was interesting that when we had the Christmas L
8 party I sort of alluded to the importance, I thought,,to any 9
CEO or General Director of Operations to have somebody who 10 would be willing to tell it to him straight, even if it was 11 something he thcught the boss didn't want to hear.
12 Commissioner Zech was reminded of the fact that 13 in one of his Naval positions he found himself in exactly 14 that position and in fact had to tell his immediate 15 commanding officer that what they were doing was just not 16 the way to go.
That is all by way of background.
17 I am wondering if in the new organization, first, 18 there is a conscious effort to build in either a group, or 19 something equivalent to this, who are looking at what is the 20 proposed staff policy emerging from EDO and who have the 21 responsibility for questioning it if there are any -- if 22 they see any major flaws.
23 I am not talking about trivia in this, 24 obviously.
In fact, in effect, it is their job.
If
'O 25 something bad gets by, in effect, they ought to be fired, as ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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m 4100 02 06                                                                                     20
m 4100 02 06 20
    <s k_) DAVbur         1 it were. But if they point out things that EDO doesn't even 2 like to-know about but nevertheless they think are 3 important, they don't get transferred.                       They are saying you 4 did a good job, as it were.
<s k_) DAVbur 1
5             And the other thing that I just can't tell, but 6 my impression, which may be right or wrong, is that to some 7 extent -- and it is certainly not universal, as I observe --
it were.
8 NRC staff who take unpopular positions are and have been in 9 the past moved into positions where they will not -- where 10     it will no longer be their responsibility to worry about 11     this sort of thing.
But if they point out things that EDO doesn't even 2
12                 They might be given something else.                         It is not
like to-know about but nevertheless they think are 3
important, they don't get transferred.
They are saying you 4
did a good job, as it were.
5 And the other thing that I just can't tell, but 6
my impression, which may be right or wrong, is that to some 7
extent -- and it is certainly not universal, as I observe --
8 NRC staff who take unpopular positions are and have been in 9
the past moved into positions where they will not -- where 10 it will no longer be their responsibility to worry about 11 this sort of thing.
12 They might be given something else.
It is not
()
()
s_           13     that they are fired. And thereby one gets a more monolithic 14     set of opinions with less likelihood of the very impolite, 15     sometimes, but to the point questions that Shewmon will 16     throw at me.
s_
17                 Do I make the point clear?
13 that they are fired.
18                 MR. STELLO:     It would probably be clearer if you 19     used names.
And thereby one gets a more monolithic 14 set of opinions with less likelihood of the very impolite, 15 sometimes, but to the point questions that Shewmon will 16 throw at me.
20                 DR. KERR:   What is your question, Dave?
17 Do I make the point clear?
21                 MR. STELLO:     It seems that you have some 22     individuals in mind in some organization.
18 MR. STELLO:
23                 DR. OKRENT:     I asked whether in fact you have in 24     the current organization some -             you can call it -- devil's O
It would probably be clearer if you 19 used names.
    \-
20 DR. KERR:
l                 25     advocate group.
What is your question, Dave?
21 MR. STELLO:
It seems that you have some 22 individuals in mind in some organization.
23 DR. OKRENT:
I asked whether in fact you have in 24 the current organization some -
you can call it -- devil's O
\\-
l 25 advocate group.
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4100 02 07                                                                                             21
4100 02 07 21
  /~'s
/~'s
(.) DAVbur   1                     MR.-STELLO:     I can answer that question, but it 2 seems to me that the thrust of the last several minutes of
(.)
: 3. lead-in suggests that-there are particular names you have in 4 mind.       If there are, I don' t ever believe in beating around -
DAVbur 1
5 the bush.           Say them. I will respond to them.
MR.-STELLO:
6                     DR. OKRENT:     ~I can't tell.                 The one name that I 7 read about, and that is all I know inside NRC, is Bernero.
I can answer that question, but it 2
8                     MR. STELLO:     Okay.       Bernero.             Bernero and Denton 9 were both in the article.
seems to me that the thrust of the last several minutes of 3.
10                     DR. OKRENT:     Well, I don't know the reasons about 11 Denton.
lead-in suggests that-there are particular names you have in 4
12                     MR. STELLO:     I will give you those, too.                           I will O
mind.
  \_/         13 speak to both of them.
If there are, I don' t ever believe in beating around -
14                     With respect to Denton, I guess I can say 15 probably more than a year before I got in this office he 16 continued to make the point to me that he was gettinq very 17 tired and felt the need for a change.                               He was, it you will, 18 burning out in the job he was in.                       He wanted a change.
5 the bush.
19                     When I became EDO, it became apparent to me, 20 especially after Chernobyl, that the intense question being 21 raised in the International Programs, and especistly in the 22 State Programs -- I believe Mr. Denton has unique skills for 23 representing the Agency in these particular kinds of 24 activities.             I asked Mr. Denton would he be interested O
Say them.
    #        25 running an office where he would be responsible for the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
I will respond to them.
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6 DR. OKRENT:
~I can't tell.
The one name that I 7
read about, and that is all I know inside NRC, is Bernero.
8 MR. STELLO:
Okay.
Bernero.
Bernero and Denton 9
were both in the article.
10 DR. OKRENT:
Well, I don't know the reasons about 11 Denton.
12 MR. STELLO:
I will give you those, too.
I will O
\\_/
13 speak to both of them.
14 With respect to Denton, I guess I can say 15 probably more than a year before I got in this office he 16 continued to make the point to me that he was gettinq very 17 tired and felt the need for a change.
He was, it you will, 18 burning out in the job he was in.
He wanted a change.
19 When I became EDO, it became apparent to me, 20 especially after Chernobyl, that the intense question being 21 raised in the International Programs, and especistly in the 22 State Programs -- I believe Mr. Denton has unique skills for 23 representing the Agency in these particular kinds of 24 activities.
I asked Mr. Denton would he be interested O#
25 running an office where he would be responsible for the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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                                                                              .        ~.
~.
        ~4100 02 08                                                                                       22
~4100 02 08 22
      /~~T .
/~~T.
(_)-DAVbur                   1 policy on all of those particular activities, and he was 2 really delighted and excited about that possibility and 3 .really wanted a change.
(_)-DAVbur 1
(                 Knowing that, because I think that particular 5 kind of an effice needs that kind of an individual, this 6 persuaded me that he was the only one I had real confidence 7 in the Agency that could do it, and knowing that he 8 supported it, I proposed it, and it finally got accepted.
policy on all of those particular activities, and he was 2
9                 With respect to Bernero, the job that he is going 1G     over to in Research, I sat down and talked to Bob.                 I asked 11     Bob the question, did he know of anybody else in the Agency 12     that he could name for me that could do the job that he is 13     in?   And he admitted, no.
really delighted and excited about that possibility and 3
14                     He is the only one that I can think of that has 15     the skills to do that particular job, which is the whole 16     severe accident questions, PRA and the rest of it, the very 17     issues for which the article suggested a criticism, which is 18     utter nonsense.
.really wanted a change.
19                     So with respect to those two individuals, I feel 20     that in the case of Denton he is clearly being placed in a 21     significantly -- more of a policy role for which the 22     Commission itself is going to have to come to grips with, 23     and I think that Harold is really gifted and talented to do 24     that and will make a significant contribution to this Agency 25     in that capacity.
(
Knowing that, because I think that particular 5
kind of an effice needs that kind of an individual, this 6
persuaded me that he was the only one I had real confidence 7
in the Agency that could do it, and knowing that he 8
supported it, I proposed it, and it finally got accepted.
9 With respect to Bernero, the job that he is going 1G over to in Research, I sat down and talked to Bob.
I asked 11 Bob the question, did he know of anybody else in the Agency 12 that he could name for me that could do the job that he is 13 in?
And he admitted, no.
14 He is the only one that I can think of that has 15 the skills to do that particular job, which is the whole 16 severe accident questions, PRA and the rest of it, the very 17 issues for which the article suggested a criticism, which is 18 utter nonsense.
19 So with respect to those two individuals, I feel 20 that in the case of Denton he is clearly being placed in a 21 significantly -- more of a policy role for which the 22 Commission itself is going to have to come to grips with, 23 and I think that Harold is really gifted and talented to do 24 that and will make a significant contribution to this Agency 25 in that capacity.
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1 4!
4!
        '.4100102 09                                                                                                                                                                                                   23 DAVbur~                 l'                                         -The'same with Bob Bernero.                                                             I-think' Bob has 2:         -unig'ue skills, 'and I don' t think you will find :very many 3             people in the whole. Agency;that can do those kinds"of                                                                                                                           ,
1
4            things,'and they are all being consolidated.up in Research.                                                                                                                       ,
'.4100102 09 23 DAVbur~
5                                             So I feel absolutely confident that those' choices-6            ~a re correct, and any suggestion or hint that they were moved-7             for any other reason than the reasons-I give you isijust                                                                                                                       3 8             sheer. nonsense.
l'
9                                           Now, let me. answer what.I thought.'you-were.                                                                                                     ;
-The'same with Bob Bernero.
10               leading to, now that we have got.the names out of the way,                                                                                                                       -
I-think' Bob has 2:
11               checks and balances.
-unig'ue skills, 'and I don' t think you will find :very many 3
l'2                                             I have been very, very mindful'of that.                                                                                               I have
people in the whole. Agency;that can do those kinds"of 4
      ]                         113               told the committee I guess at least~ twice that one of the 14-             things that I really felt the need to do that we haven't-15               been doing is sitting back and'trying to make an assessment 16               from time to time on how well reactors are doing.-
things,'and they are all being consolidated.up in Research.
                                                                                                                                                              ~
5 So I feel absolutely confident that those' choices-
                                  '17 '                                           As you are aware, we have done that twice.                                                                                               .I-
~ re correct, and any suggestion or hint that they were moved-6 a
.                                '18-               think I briefed the committee after we did it last time.
7 for any other reason than the reasons-I give you isijust 3
19                                             We are going to continue to do that.-                                                                                           If you look 20               at the office of AEOD, built in there is a completely                                                                                                                             .
8 sheer. nonsense.
21               independent diagnostic responsibility.                                                                                   When there appears
9 Now, let me. answer what.I thought.'you-were.
: l.                               -22               to be a problem in a facility, we can have a completely 1 ,-
10 leading to, now that we have got.the names out of the way, 11 checks and balances.
23-             totally independent look to go and determine whether it i'
l'2 I have been very, very mindful'of that.
:                                  24               really is indeed a problem, independent of everything else                                                                                                                         '
I have
]
113 told the committee I guess at least~ twice that one of the 14-things that I really felt the need to do that we haven't-15 been doing is sitting back and'trying to make an assessment 16 from time to time on how well reactors are doing.-
'17 '
As you are aware, we have done that twice.
.I-
~
'18-think I briefed the committee after we did it last time.
19 We are going to continue to do that.-
If you look 20 at the office of AEOD, built in there is a completely 21 independent diagnostic responsibility.
When there appears l.
-22 to be a problem in a facility, we can have a completely 1,-
23-totally independent look to go and determine whether it i'
24 really is indeed a problem, independent of everything else
[ i( )-
[ i( )-
o 25               going on.                     And I felt a real need to have that completely l
25 going on.
L                                                                          ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
And I felt a real need to have that completely o
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l L
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t 14100 02 10                                                                                                                                                 24 l    ( /. DAVbur       1             independent of everywhere else.
t 14100 02 10 24
l-2                                     That'is in fact.in AEOD.               AEOD also has-the l
( /. DAVbur 1
3             responsibility for fostering the continuing development and 4             performance, which I believe are again very'important tools-5             to try to find out,-independent of anything else, .is there a-6             suggestion of a problem, an area where there is a need to 7             look further.
independent of everywhere else.
8                                     As far as myself, you mentioned EDO, the one 9             thing I abhor is having people around me who are "yes" men.
l l-2 That'is in fact.in AEOD.
10               If there are people who will do exactly what you say, I 11               don't want them anywhere near me.
AEOD also has-the l
12                                         The biggest mistake I can make is to believe that 13               I am doing something that is the right thing and not have 14               someone around to tell me it was dumb, it was the wrong 15               thing to do, and then have me go on and do it.
3 responsibility for fostering the continuing development and 4
16                                         You are right, I would fire them in a minute if 17                 they were aware of-it and didn't come and tell me I was 18               doing something wrong.                     Had they told me I was doing 19               something wrong and I went ahead and did it, that is my 20               problem, my fault, and I should be held accountable.
performance, which I believe are again very'important tools-5 to try to find out,-independent of anything else,.is there a-6 suggestion of a problem, an area where there is a need to 7
21                                         But I think in the organization, people like my 22                 Deputies Keppler and Taylor, I hardly put them in the I
look further.
23                 category of being "yes" men.                         If you do, you have misjudged 24                 them entirely.                   They are two of the toughest regulators we 25                 have got.
8 As far as myself, you mentioned EDO, the one 9
thing I abhor is having people around me who are "yes" men.
10 If there are people who will do exactly what you say, I 11 don't want them anywhere near me.
12 The biggest mistake I can make is to believe that 13 I am doing something that is the right thing and not have 14 someone around to tell me it was dumb, it was the wrong 15 thing to do, and then have me go on and do it.
16 You are right, I would fire them in a minute if 17 they were aware of-it and didn't come and tell me I was 18 doing something wrong.
Had they told me I was doing 19 something wrong and I went ahead and did it, that is my 20 problem, my fault, and I should be held accountable.
21 But I think in the organization, people like my 22 Deputies Keppler and Taylor, I hardly put them in the I
23 category of being "yes" men.
If you do, you have misjudged 24 them entirely.
They are two of the toughest regulators we 25 have got.
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w
        -4100'02'11                                                                                                               25 ym
-4100'02'11 25 ym
      !) DAVbur s                    1~                 I happen to sincerely believe in having-those 2   kind of people around me, and I think we have built checks 3   and balances, and should we ever. slip up we have 15 white 4   knights down here, I am sure, who will call us to task in a 5-   moment.
!) DAVbur 1~
6                 (Laughter.)
I happen to sincerely believe in having-those s
: 7.                 MR. STELLO:                     So with the degree of checks and 8   balances we have in this Agency, we have got so much 9   independent ways of looking at anything.                                     You1know, 10     independence is what we have got a lot of.
2 kind of people around me, and I think we have built checks 3
11                   I can' t believe for a moment that this committee 12     would' sit back and let something dumb go on which they 13     believed to be dumb.
and balances, and should we ever. slip up we have 15 white 4
14                 -DR. OKRENT:. If I can'take one or-two more 15     minutes, since we are not at the end of the allotted time.
knights down here, I am sure, who will call us to task in a 5-moment.
16                   MR. STELLO:                       If you really had that view, I would 17     suggest that while this committee is in session I will ask 18     both Mr. Denton and Mr. Bernero'to come down here and let 19     them tell you for themselves.
6 (Laughter.)
20                   I don' t believe, since this is a public meeting 21     and those names come up, that it is fair to have any 22     suggestion that they were shuffled or moved or whatever for 23     any other reason than the ones that I have given you, and if                                                       j I
7.
24     they have other ones, then I would like to hear them
MR. STELLO:
      - o'-             25     myself.                                                                                                           j l
So with the degree of checks and 8
l l
balances we have in this Agency, we have got so much 9
.                                        ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.                                                                               !
independent ways of looking at anything.
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: You1know, 10 independence is what we have got a lot of.
11 I can' t believe for a moment that this committee 12 would' sit back and let something dumb go on which they 13 believed to be dumb.
14
-DR. OKRENT:. If I can'take one or-two more 15 minutes, since we are not at the end of the allotted time.
16 MR. STELLO:
If you really had that view, I would 17 suggest that while this committee is in session I will ask 18 both Mr. Denton and Mr. Bernero'to come down here and let 19 them tell you for themselves.
20 I don' t believe, since this is a public meeting 21 and those names come up, that it is fair to have any 22 suggestion that they were shuffled or moved or whatever for 23 any other reason than the ones that I have given you, and if j
24 they have other ones, then I would like to hear them
- o'-
25 myself.
j ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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.l


g.
g.
4100 02 12                                                                                                                                                                       26 j~h VDAVbur.           1                                                         But maybe we ought to just have them:come down 2       and you.can ask them, c                      3                                                         DR. OKRENT:           Mr. Denton already has told us that 4       he wanted to have~the change in position.
4100 02 12 26 j~h VDAVbur.
5                                                         MR.~STELLO:           Then only Bernero we will bring 6       down.
1 But maybe we ought to just have them:come down 2
7                                                         DR. OKRENT:           Let me continue a minute, though.
and you.can ask them, 3
8                                                       LI hope.everything you say is exactly as it is, 9       but you know, Vic, I am sort of' skeptical by nature,.and in 10       a sense I am paid to be skeptical as a' member of the-ACRS' .
DR. OKRENT:
: 11.                                                       I think it is a little difficult to avoid the 12     -appearance of what I would call some-kind of a chilling 13       effect on taking strong positions which seem to go counter 14-       to upper management's wishes.
Mr. Denton already has told us that c
15                                                         My history in this Agency goes back I think at 16       least as long as yours, and I have observed many times 17       people who make waves, as it were, drowning in those waves 4
4 he wanted to have~the change in position.
18       so far as advancement within the organization.
5 MR.~STELLO:
;                      19                                                         It is not an uncommon phenomenon, and that is not 20       a phenomenon unique to the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
Then only Bernero we will bring 6
t j                      21                                                         So I hope you don't think it is quite as 22       straightforward, although it may in fact be, on the track as r
down.
23       you say.
7 DR. OKRENT:
24 0.x-             25 1
Let me continue a minute, though.
8 LI hope.everything you say is exactly as it is, 9
but you know, Vic, I am sort of' skeptical by nature,.and in 10 a sense I am paid to be skeptical as a' member of the-ACRS'.
11.
I think it is a little difficult to avoid the 12
-appearance of what I would call some-kind of a chilling 13 effect on taking strong positions which seem to go counter 14-to upper management's wishes.
15 My history in this Agency goes back I think at 16 least as long as yours, and I have observed many times 17 people who make waves, as it were, drowning in those waves 4
18 so far as advancement within the organization.
19 It is not an uncommon phenomenon, and that is not 20 a phenomenon unique to the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
t 21 So I hope you don't think it is quite as j
22 straightforward, although it may in fact be, on the track as r
23 you say.
24 0.x-25 1
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w
)
s 4100 03'011
.27.
H k)l DAV/bc il:
DR..KERR:
Is this leading up to a question, or-m 2.
areLyou still in the comment mode?
3 DR.lOKRENT:- 'I'll1probably not end up'with a E
4
. specific question, and I'll probably end the comment-very 5:
. shortly.
7 l
-6 It's an observation,<a' caution...I'll.make one l
'7-last. observation.- I heard ' a TV program, -McNeil-Lehrer, 8
:where-you and' Ellen ~ Weiss were on with a discussion on r
9 Chernobyl.
11 0 There's been a lot of discussion about how the-t c
11 LWRs~were different.
And even though she's a lawyer and,-
12 presumably, not technically with such as deep insight 1as
{.
13 engineers, she raised' the point that U.S. reactors, by 14 different' accidents, can have releases not unlike those.at l
1
[
-15 '
Chernobyl.
16 And then, instead of acknowledging that.this was L
17-
'the case, what I heard you say.was, you kind of said a-18 reassuring word that deflected the question, which would leave, at least in part, it perhaps with the impression that j.
19 I-20 the NRC -- certainly the AIF -- was saying i
i 21 There's a one in a hundred chance.
Or felt that-22~
there was little chance that a U.S.
containment would fail.
23 And what bothers me somewhat, and this comes back g
24' to the Bernero initiative, is I can't tell whether in the j
~
25 EDO there sits more confidence in containments, more ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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w -
4100 03 02 28
      )
(.) DAV/bc
                      - , s
'l confidence in what-the mean core melt frequency over the 2'
: 4100 03'011                    -
full span of reactors, more' confidence over good. containment 3
                                                                                                  .27.
and low frequency than-I think is-justified.
H k)l DAV/bc m                      il:                DR..KERR:  Is this leading up to a question, or-
4 MR. STELLO:
: 2. areLyou still in the comment mode?
I definitely would like to respond, 5
3               DR.lOKRENT:- 'I'll1probably not end up'with a E                                4  . specific question, and I'll probably end the comment-very 5: . shortly.
although there isn't a question, if I may.
7
6 DR..KERR:
                                -6                 It's an observation,<a' caution...I'll.make one l
I think you should.
,-              l                '7-  last. observation.- I heard ' a TV program, -McNeil-Lehrer,
I don't think 7
  ..                            8  :where-you and' Ellen ~ Weiss were on with a discussion on r
this had anything to'do with the reorganization..
9   Chernobyl.
8 MR. STELLO:
,                           11 0                  There's been a lot of discussion about how the-t c                              11    LWRs~were different. And even though she's a lawyer and,-
That's okay.
12    presumably, not technically with such as deep insight 1as
I invited any.other 9
{.                             13    engineers, she raised' the point that U.S. reactors, by 1  14   different' accidents, can have releases not unlike those.at l
questions that might be raised.
[                            -15 '    Chernobyl.
So, if I brought this on 10 myself, I'm glad for the opportunity.
16                 And then, instead of acknowledging that.this was L
11 I have a copy of that tape.
17-  'the case, what I heard you say.was, you kind of said a-18    reassuring word that deflected the question, which would
Maybe you and I 12 ought to sit down and listen to it again.
: j.                              19    leave, at least in part, it perhaps with the impression that I-                              20    the NRC -- certainly the AIF -- was saying i
)
i                              21                There's a one in a hundred chance.        Or felt that- .
13 DR. OKRENT:
there was little chance that a U.S. containment would fail.
I'd love to.
22~                                                                        :
14 MR. STELLO:
g                              23                 And what bothers me somewhat, and this comes back 24'  to the Bernero initiative, is I can't tell whether in the j
Because you seem to characterize it 15-in a way differently than I recall the issue was.
              ~
16 Can a Chernobyl type accident happen in a light 17 water reactor?
25   EDO there sits more confidence in containments, more ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
18 Knowing what I knew then, I said no.
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Knowing i
19 what I know now, hell, no.
A reactor accident like you had 20 at Chernobyl, with positive feedback you have that could 21 literally disintegrate the core and destroy the entire 22 confinement containment systems, spread radioactivity, in 23 fact, the calculations indicate that approximately on the 24 order of something like 10 tons of fuel were ejected from f~/h l
25 the reactor, about half of that beyond 20 kilometers, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 03 02                                                                                                                            28
~4100 03 03 29 r-1))
(.) DAV/bc                   'l      confidence in what-the mean core melt frequency over the 2'    full span of reactors, more' confidence over good. containment 3      and low frequency than-I think is-justified.
DAV/bc 1
4                          MR. STELLO:              I definitely would like to respond, 5      although there isn't a question, if I may.
physically cannot happen _in a U.S.
6                          DR..KERR:      I think you should.                      I don't think 7      this had anything to'do with the reorganization..
olant.
8                          MR. STELLO:            That's okay.                I invited any.other 9     questions that might be raised.                                      So, if I brought this on 10     myself, I'm glad for the opportunity.
2 We have at nauseum advertised what the 3
11                           I have a copy of that tape.                           Maybe you and I 12       ought to sit down and listen to it again.
radiological consequences are from the complete and total 4
        )                        13                            DR. OKRENT:            I'd love to.
spectrum of accidents in U.S. plants.
14                            MR. STELLO:            Because you seem to characterize it 15-     in a way differently than I recall the issue was.
5 If I need to, I'll remind you of the Sandia 6
16                           Can a Chernobyl type accident happen in a light 17      water reactor?
reports for which we have calculated ~ conditional 7
18                           Knowing what I knew then, I said no.                                      Knowing i                                19      what I know now, hell, no.                                    A reactor accident like you had 20       at Chernobyl, with positive feedback you have that could 21       literally disintegrate the core and destroy the entire 22       confinement containment systems, spread radioactivity, in 23       fact, the calculations indicate that approximately on the 24     order of something like 10 tons of fuel were ejected from f~/h
probabilities down to 10 to the minus 11, where you have had 8
    '-                          25       the reactor, about half of that beyond 20 kilometers, l
the numbers of deaths up into the thousands.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
9 For every site in the country, we have not 10 hesitated, in fact, we probably have flooded the market with 11 calculations of the severity of accidents that.can happen in 12 U.S. plants.
E 347                       Nationwide Cos erage            80tk336-6M6
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            . . . _ _ . _ _ _ .        _      _ ... .. _.    ._.-3700 ._. . _ , . . _ . _ _ . . - . . _ - .                  , _ . . _ . . _.. - - _
-lete and total spectrum of them.-
13 There are literally thousands of such reports on 14 reactors in the United States that can have accidents and 15 what their consequences are.
16 There is no way a Chernobyl accident can happen 17 in a light water reactor in the United States, period.
I 18 said it with some reservation then, I say it now with, based 19 on the calculations that we have made and they have made, 20 l with far more vigor than I did then.
21 It cannot happen, period.
Scientifically 22 impossible.
23 Now, let me go on to respond to the confidence in 24 containment.
I believe you're talking about the Mach I 25 issue.
I told the Commission when we were briefing the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3706 Nationside Coserage 80[k33M666


~4100 03 03                                                                        29 r-1))    DAV/bc 1   physically cannot happen _in a U.S. olant.
~.
2               We have at nauseum advertised what the 3   radiological consequences are from the complete and total 4   spectrum of accidents in U.S. plants.
1, 5 L4100:03iO4'.
5               If I need to, I'll remind you of the Sandia 6  reports for which we have calculated ~ conditional 7   probabilities down to 10 to the minus 11, where you have had 8   the numbers of deaths up into the thousands.
30-
9               For every site in the country, we have not 10   hesitated, in fact, we probably have flooded the market with 11   calculations of the severity of accidents that.can happen in 12   U.S. plants.      Tne r  -lete and total spectrum of them.-
/*
13               There are literally thousands of such reports on 14   reactors in the United States that can have accidents and 15   what their consequences are.
i L(>y.- DAV/bc' 1
16               There is no way a Chernobyl accident can happen 17   in a light water reactor in the United States, period.              I 18   said it with some reservation then, I say it now with, based 19  on the calculations that we have made and they have made, 20 l with far more vigor than I did then.
-Commission on this issue, that the results that I believe 2
21                It cannot happen, period.          Scientifically 22  impossible.
were being calculated as part of ll50 for the two BWRs, and~
23               Now, let me go on to respond to the confidence in
I,~
    -          24  containment.      I believe you're talking about the Mach I I told the Commission when we were briefing the 25  issue.
3 now. I'm going -to have to rely somewhat on memory since _
4 there's some distance, that, in one case, the' controlling g
5-sequence, which was, as I recall, in one case 99' percent of 6
the~ risk-of station blackout.
l 7
And as I recall, in the 'other BWR,.90 percent of-t l
8 the risk from' station blackout.
I said I do not believe 9
that we ought to be pursuing'this question of what to do on t-F
.10 the Mach I's withou't' recognizing whether or -not there was c
11 more to be done.on the prevention side, since,.if I can
~ t 12 improve overfall safety, if, indeed, those numbers are 13 correct, an order of magnitude by dealing with preventionk 14 that I would certainly want to weigh that very heavy in
?
1 1
15 trying to decide what to do.
?
16 Furthermore then, it is not clear that the kinds 17 of fixes that you're talking about on the Mach I 4
1 18 containments are the same kind of fixes if you eliminate 4
19 those scenarios, whether there are other and more demanding r
F 1
20 or different scenarios that you want to worry about.
21 To say it simply, I didn't think that we had a
{
22 considered the problem enough and decided, especially when i
{
23 we saw the results coming out of 1150, you also recognize 24 that those results also suggest that the frequency of core i
l 25 melt is in fact much lower, it brings us enormous policy and it i
f i
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3706      Nationside Coserage      80[k33M666
202-147 3700 Nationwide Coscrage 80lA34#46


                              .          . -        ,    .- -,          .-        -  .        .  . _ _ . . ~.
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$            L4100:03iO4'.                                                                              30-
philosophical questions for this agency in how to balance s.
        /*          -                                                                                              i L(>y.- DAV/bc' 1 -Commission on this issue, that the results that I believe
2 prevention and mitigation and how far are you trying to drag 3
          ,                2   were being calculated as part of ll50 for the two BWRs, and~
down the risk.
I,~                          3    now. I'm going -to have to rely somewhat on memory since _                          ,
ll It is my risk that that needed to be ventilated.
4    there's some distance, that, in one case, the' controlling 5-  sequence, which was, as I recall, in one case 99' percent of g
5 In fact, I read a little bit of that~into the response of 6
;.                          6    the~ risk-of station blackout.
the ACRS when they looked at this issue themselves.
l t                          7                   And as I recall, in the 'other BWR,.90 percent of-l                            8    the risk from' station blackout.                 I said I do not believe 9   that we ought to be pursuing'this question of what to do on t-F                          .10   the Mach I's withou't' recognizing whether or -not there was c
7 I firmly believe that.
11    more to be done.on the prevention side, since,.if I can                          ~t 12    improve overfall safety, if, indeed, those numbers are 13    correct, an order of magnitude by dealing with preventionk
I think we ought to keep 8.
!                          14   that I would certainly want to weigh that very heavy in
our eye-on safety all.of the time.
?                                                                                                                    1 1                          15   trying to decide what to do.
And I think the recent 9
?                                                                                                                  -
results we have suggested that we have not done that yet.
16                    Furthermore then, it is not clear that the kinds                    ,
10 And I felt it needed to be done before we went back to the 11 Commission.
17   of fixes that you're talking about on the Mach I 4
12 And I told the Commission that at least on two
1                          18   containments are the same kind of fixes if you eliminate                            .
,r ''()
4 19    those scenarios, whether there are other and more demanding                        r F
13 occasions.
1 20    or different scenarios that you want to worry about.
And I stand by what I've said.
;                          21                  To say it simply, I didn't think that we had a
14 DR. OKRENT:
22    considered the problem enough and decided, especially when
I'm sorry to hear you putting so 15 much reliance on the results of 1150.
{i
I think it 16 ill-founded, is my first comment.
{                          23   we saw the results coming out of 1150, you also recognize
And I don't think-it's 17 representative of the bulk of the reactors in the U.S.
;                          24   that those results also suggest that the frequency of core i                                                                                                                    <
: and, 18 in fact, the Sandia people themselves have made that point 19 in conversation, if not in their reports.
l                          25   melt is in fact much lower, it brings us enormous policy and i
20 I think, if there is a containment that is weak 21 in its capability to withstand a considerable range of core 22 melts, that is a factor that should be looked at in the 23 defense in depth policy, even though you may try also to 24 prevent the thing from occurring.
t  i f
25 And I find some tendency to forget that defense ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
i                                            ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3700 Nationwide Cmerage 8 5 336-6646
202-147 3700       Nationwide Coscrage        80lA34#46


      .4100 03 05                                                                          31 f~)T
4100 03u06 32
: s.    .DAV/bc  1  philosophical questions for this agency in how to balance 2  prevention and mitigation and how far are you trying to drag 3  down the risk.
. /7
ll              It is my risk that that needed to be ventilated.
- (_/ DAV/bc 1-indepth policy, I must say, unfortunately, although what we 2
5  In fact, I read a little bit of that~into the response of 6  the ACRS when they looked at this issue themselves.
heard yesterday was that the most common, the' majority --
7              I firmly believe that.          I think we ought to keep
3
: 8. our eye-on safety all.of the time.            And I think the recent 9  results we have suggested that we have not done that yet.
.the. overwhelming response -- that Denton got f rom the people 4
10  And I felt it needed to be done before we went back to the 11  Commission.
he talked to in various states, and so forth, is they don't 5
12                And I told the Commission that at least on two
want to see a large release.
    ,r '
6 I'll just leave.it with you at that.
    '()            13  occasions. And I stand by what I've said.
7 MR. STELLO:
14                DR. OKRENT:  I'm sorry to hear you putting so
Again, I've got to respond.
,                  15  much reliance on the results of 1150.            I think it 16  ill-founded, is my first comment.            And I don't think-it's 17  representative of the bulk of the reactors in the U.S. and, 18  in fact, the Sandia people themselves have made that point 19  in conversation, if not in their reports.
You 8
20                I think, if there is a containment that is weak 21  in its capability to withstand a considerable range of core 22  melts, that is a factor that should be looked at in the 23  defense in depth policy, even though you may try also to 24  prevent the thing from occurring.
know, you are characterizing things in a way I didn' t say 9
25                And I find some tendency to forget that defense ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
them.
202-347-3700    Nationwide Cmerage        8 5 336-6646
I said the results of 1150 ought to be considered.
 
10 Now, let me give you an example of what that 11 might mean.
4100 03u06                                                                                                         32
If, in solving the station blackout, the 12 easiest way to do it is to bring an independent power supply 13 in, you would have the capability to prevent core damage.
  . /7
14 But, in addition, by having that extra power 15 source, you could have enormous core spray potential and 16 significantly reduce the poten'tial for overpressure failure 17 because of the availability of the spray, which is one of 18 the elements that, if you recall, are in that particular 19 program.
  - (_/ DAV/bc         1-   indepth policy, I must say, unfortunately, although what we 2     heard yesterday was that the most common, the' majority --
20 It doesn' t appear that the concept of balancing 21 the prevention, the mitigation and the mix that one ought to 22 censider is there.
3     .the. overwhelming response -- that Denton got f rom the people 4     he talked to in various states, and so forth, is they don't 5     want to see a large release.
That is the kind of thing that's got to 23 go on.
6                 I'll just leave.it with you at that.
24 I'm not putting any more or less confidence in 25 1150 than you are.
7                 MR. STELLO:             Again, I've got to respond.                                     You 8     know, you are characterizing things in a way I didn' t say 9     them. I said the results of 1150 ought to be considered.
It's a question, it's a result.
10                 Now, let me give you an example of what that 11     might mean.     If, in solving the station blackout, the 12     easiest way to do it is to bring an independent power supply 13     in, you would have the capability to prevent core damage.
Should ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
14                 But, in addition, by having that extra power 15     source, you could have enormous core spray potential and 16     significantly reduce the poten'tial for overpressure failure 17     because of the availability of the spray, which is one of 18     the elements that, if you recall, are in that particular 19     program.
202-347 3700 Nationwide Coverage W 3346M6
20                 It doesn' t appear that the concept of balancing 21     the prevention, the mitigation and the mix that one ought to 22     censider is there.       That is the kind of thing that's got to 23     go on.
. ~... -.. - -
24                 I'm not putting any more or less confidence in 25     1150 than you are.       It's a question, it's a result.                                           Should ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
.. _ ~
202-347 3700               Nationwide Coverage                         W 3346M6
                                ,              .    .  . . , , .        .    - . . . - - -. - . - , , . - ,          . ~ . . . - . . - -   . . _ ~


z _
z _
: >- ?                 :/                                                   -
: >- ?
14100f03-07                                                                                         .                                                                          33 DAV/bc                                 l                 'I ignore it or should I look behind it,.: consider it and look g                                                          2;               'at what'it.is that it tells me?                                                                                   .
:/
            ;                                                  3-                                       That's - the one thing that we've all ?said' we ;ought ;
14100f03-07 33 DAV/bc l
4'                   to do with'PRAs, try.to. understand if.it's telling us 5                 .something.
'I ignore it or should I look behind it,.: consider it and look 2;
6                                       When-it says that-the controlling risk,-99 7                   percentaof it,Iis> station blackout, it has piqued my 8-                   interest.         .I think:it needs'a look.
'at what'it.is that it tells me?
9                                       If you don't--share that, we disagree with each
g 3-That's - the one thing that we've all ?said' we ;ought ;
                                                          ~10                     -other.           I feel'strongly, and I suspect that there's a fairly;
4' to do with'PRAs, try.to. understand if.it's telling us 5
: 11.                     wide concensus that that's the recognized way~in which you-12                       ought'to be using PRA results:                                     Look behind               it'.-
.something.
!                  )                                         13                                           DR. KERR:   Mr. Remick is next.-
6 When-it says that-the controlling risk,-99 7
14                                           DR. REMICK:   Vic, I have two questions,~one of p
percentaof it,Iis> station blackout, it has piqued my 8-interest.
[                                                           15                       them a follow-on to Dave Ward's question.                                                                         ;
.I think:it needs'a look.
                                                          '16                                           The human factors. .In Inside NRC, it. indicates t                                                                                                                                                                                                       :
9 If you don't--share that, we disagree with each
.                                                            17                       that . Bill Ru'ssell, the Director of Licensing Performance and '
~10
i 18                       Quality Evaluation, I assume Human Factors is not in that.                                                         i
-other.
(.                                                           19                       So Bill has been changed out of Human Factors.                                                       Is that 20                       correct?         Or will Human Factors be a part of that?
I feel'strongly, and I suspect that there's a fairly; 11.
L l
wide concensus that that's the recognized way~in which you-12 ought'to be using PRA results:
l                                                            21                                           MR. STELLO:   I don' t have the organization chart f
Look behind it'.-
22                       with me, unfortunately.             My glasses broke this morning and I                                           ;
)
13 DR. KERR:
Mr. Remick is next.-
14 DR. REMICK:
Vic, I have two questions,~one of p
[
15 them a follow-on to Dave Ward's question.
'16 The human factors..In Inside NRC, it. indicates t
17 that. Bill Ru'ssell, the Director of Licensing Performance and '
i 18 Quality Evaluation, I assume Human Factors is not in that.
i
(.
19 So Bill has been changed out of Human Factors.
Is that L
20 correct?
Or will Human Factors be a part of that?
l l
21 MR. STELLO:
I don' t have the organization chart f
[
22 with me, unfortunately.
My glasses broke this morning and I f'
23 was unable to bring anything that I brought with me.
I've I 'r.
24 looked to see if it's in the book you have, which it's not.
i o
[
[
f'                                                          23                      was unable to bring anything that I brought with me.                                                        I've 24                        looked to see if it's in the book you have, which it's not.
25 And that's the new spread of the organization.
I i          'r .
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
o
f-202-347-3700 Nationwide Coverage 800-336-6M6
[                    -
,... -... ~ _,, -,,, - -...,,. _ _ _. _ _ _, _ _ _.
25                                           And that's the new spread of the organization.
:4100'03 108 34
!                                                                                                    ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.                                                                       l f-                                                                                                     202-347-3700     Nationwide Coverage                                     800-336-6M6
.f's
                          , . . . - . . . ~ _ , , - , , , - - . . . , , . _ _ _ . _ _ _ , _ _ _ .                        . _ . . _ . , . . - . _ - _ _ - . - , . . _ . _ , _ .
' C)l'DAV/bc-
 
' l-MR. WARD:
:4100'03 108                                                                     34
I don't'think we've even seen that.
      .f's
2 All we have is this Inside NRC thing.
      ' C)l'DAV/bc-   ' l-             MR. WARD:     I don't'think we've even seen that.
3 MR. STELLO:
2 All we have is this Inside NRC thing.
No.
3             MR. STELLO:     No.     I-have the. book that you have.
I-have the. book that you have.
4               MR. WARD:   Do you mean we have to look at our 5 book?
4 MR. WARD:
6               DR. REMICK:   Could you tell us what tab?
Do you mean we have to look at our 5
7c             MR. STELLO:     Tab D.
book?
8               (Laughter.)
6 DR. REMICK:
9               MR. STELLO:   There's an employee announcement 10   that came out that gave a further breakdown of this most 11   recent one.     I notice that is not in here.       I don' t know 12   why.
Could you tell us what tab?
13               .Does anybody know why it's not there?           That one 14   breaks it down for you in much more detail.           If you don't 15   have it, there's a copy upstairs, if you make sure they get l
7c MR. STELLO:
16   it.
Tab D.
j                     17               MR. FRALEY:   Yes.
8 (Laughter.)
18               DR. REMICK:   My question is, Human Factors is not 19   ~in that division?
9 MR. STELLO:
20               MR. STELLO:   As I recall, it is not in the I
There's an employee announcement 10 that came out that gave a further breakdown of this most 11 recent one.
21   division.
I notice that is not in here.
d 22               DR. REMICK:   The other question I have, if I 23   recall from one of the early announcements, one of the 24   criticisms I've had as an outsider -- I still see it as an 25   ACRS member -- is when rulemaking comes up through the staff i
I don' t know 12 why.
13
.Does anybody know why it's not there?
That one 14 breaks it down for you in much more detail.
If you don't 15 have it, there's a copy upstairs, if you make sure they get l
16 it.
j 17 MR. FRALEY:
Yes.
18 DR. REMICK:
My question is, Human Factors is not 19
~in that division?
20 MR. STELLO:
As I recall, it is not in the I
21 division.
d 22 DR. REMICK:
The other question I have, if I 23 recall from one of the early announcements, one of the 24 criticisms I've had as an outsider -- I still see it as an 25 ACRS member -- is when rulemaking comes up through the staff i
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202 347-37m       Nationwide Coverage   RXK3346646
202 347-37m Nationwide Coverage RXK3346646


4100 03 09                                                                         35 k     DAV/bc   -1   in different offices, it appears uncoordinated.               I guess 2   I'll have to give you a couple of examples just to 3   demonstrate what I mean.
4100 03 09 35 k
4               We recently, in the High Level Waste area, talked 5   about' activities for the MRS and we find in.that, in reading 6   the words and talking to the NMSS staff, they're not 7   familiar with what's going on, the new Part 55.               A 8-   discussion on the. licensing basis agreement with JD ABWR, 9   there's language in there that's not consistent with the 10     language in Part 55.
DAV/bc
11                 You run across these inconsistencies in the 12     staff, and sometimes these get out in the rules.                 They come p
-1 in different offices, it appears uncoordinated.
  \             13     out from one office. They language is different.               There's 14     inconsistency with what other people are doing.
I guess 2
15                 Are you giving any thought -- and I thought CRGR 16     would solve some of this, and they perhaps are solving some 17     of it -- are you doing anything specifically to make sure 18     that it's one agency when it comes to things like rulemaking 19     that are affecting licensees out there?
I'll have to give you a couple of examples just to 3
20                 MR. STELLO:   That's the reason for putting it in 21     Research.
demonstrate what I mean.
22                 DR. REMICK:   I'm hoping that will be the case.
4 We recently, in the High Level Waste area, talked 5
23                 MR. STELLO:   Because it's been spread out with
about' activities for the MRS and we find in.that, in reading 6
,                24     individual offices doing it.         By putting it in Research, we 1
the words and talking to the NMSS staff, they're not 7
l
familiar with what's going on, the new Part 55.
A 8-discussion on the. licensing basis agreement with JD ABWR, 9
there's language in there that's not consistent with the 10 language in Part 55.
11 You run across these inconsistencies in the 12 staff, and sometimes these get out in the rules.
They come p
\\
13 out from one office.
They language is different.
There's 14 inconsistency with what other people are doing.
15 Are you giving any thought -- and I thought CRGR 16 would solve some of this, and they perhaps are solving some 17 of it -- are you doing anything specifically to make sure 18 that it's one agency when it comes to things like rulemaking 19 that are affecting licensees out there?
20 MR. STELLO:
That's the reason for putting it in 21 Research.
22 DR. REMICK:
I'm hoping that will be the case.
23 MR. STELLO:
Because it's been spread out with 24 individual offices doing it.
By putting it in Research, we
('/)
('/)
    '            25    hope to have it now really and truly represent the agencies.
1 hope to have it now really and truly represent the agencies.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
l 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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M-347-3 M)
Nationwide Cos erage MXb336-6646
(
(


    '4100 03 10                                                                                         36
'4100 03 10 36
()~DAV/bc-       1-               DR. REMICK:       Do I understand that that's'their 2 charter?   I hesitate to call it OA, but there needs to be 3 some consistency.
()~DAV/bc-1-
4               MR. STELLO:       They clearly understand that that is 5 their responsibility.
DR. REMICK:
6               Now, execution is important.             You have to 7 recognize that you have a culture that you have to change; 8   it's going to take time.         Nothing is going to happen 9 quickly, but I think everyone understands that that's the 10 direction to go in.         And, in time, I expect we'll see 11 significant improvement.
Do I understand that that's'their 2
12               DR. KERR:       There will be no significant 0)
charter?
N_               13 reorganization for the next year?
I hesitate to call it OA, but there needs to be 3
14               MR. STELLO:         I used to keep track of it.                       If I 15 remember, for about 10 or 11 or 12 years, it was an average 16 of about 2.3 years, as I recall.
some consistency.
17               I hope this one, because it really is the first 18 time that it affects the future business of the agency, and 19   taking that into account, I hope it lasts for a lot. longer.
4 MR. STELLO:
20               DR. REMICK:       One final comment.                     I don' t consider 21 that my function is to be a skeptic.             I consider my function 22 on the committee is to provide advice to the best of my 23 ability and as unbiased as I can make it, and to be positive 24 as well as negative.
They clearly understand that that is 5
25               And I look at the reorganization as a major ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
their responsibility.
202147-37(X)         Nanonwide Cmeage                 80lk3346646
6 Now, execution is important.
You have to 7
recognize that you have a culture that you have to change; 8
it's going to take time.
Nothing is going to happen 9
quickly, but I think everyone understands that that's the 10 direction to go in.
And, in time, I expect we'll see 11 significant improvement.
12 DR. KERR:
There will be no significant 0)
N_
13 reorganization for the next year?
14 MR. STELLO:
I used to keep track of it.
If I 15 remember, for about 10 or 11 or 12 years, it was an average 16 of about 2.3 years, as I recall.
17 I hope this one, because it really is the first 18 time that it affects the future business of the agency, and 19 taking that into account, I hope it lasts for a lot. longer.
20 DR. REMICK:
One final comment.
I don' t consider 21 that my function is to be a skeptic.
I consider my function 22 on the committee is to provide advice to the best of my 23 ability and as unbiased as I can make it, and to be positive 24 as well as negative.
25 And I look at the reorganization as a major ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202147-37(X)
Nanonwide Cmeage 80lk3346646


4100.03 11                                                                                                                                   37 k_./ DAV/bc       1   undertaking, as you are well aware better than I do.
4100.03 11 37 k_./ DAV/bc 1
2                                       But I think ~it's a worthy endeavor and I wish you 3   well and hope it all works out.
undertaking, as you are well aware better than I do.
4                                         DR. KERR:           We have time for one short question 5   and one short answer.
2 But I think ~it's a worthy endeavor and I wish you 3
6                                         MR. EBERSOLE:             Do I get that?
well and hope it all works out.
7                                       DR. KERR:           I'm prepared to wait and see.
4 DR. KERR:
8                                         (Laughter.)
We have time for one short question 5
9                                       MR. EBERSOLE:             Vic, in this flap about Bernero 10       and the Mach I's, I hope this discussion about venting and 11       restructuring of the Mach I doesn' t preclude a very 12       important consideration in the purely prevent mode, which is (O_/         13       the.importance of the venting process in the PWRs to cope 14       with this problem of loss of power and suppression pool 15       overheating.
and one short answer.
16                                           I think that vending process is critical.                                               This 17       is predamage.                                   That's another domain entirely.                           And all our 18       discussions have more or less encompassed venting overall.
6 MR. EBERSOLE:
19       And the post-damage one is the tough one, of course.
Do I get that?
20                                           The other one is not tough, but I hope you can 21       give heavy consideration to add to considerably to the BWR.
7 DR. KERR:
22                                           MR. STELLO:           I agrea.
I'm prepared to wait and see.
23                                           MR. EBERSOLE:             You see, it's clouded by the fact 24       that venting was blanketed, under no venting at all.
8 (Laughter.)
    ~/         25                                           DR. KERR:           Short comments, please?
9 MR. EBERSOLE:
Vic, in this flap about Bernero 10 and the Mach I's, I hope this discussion about venting and 11 restructuring of the Mach I doesn' t preclude a very 12 important consideration in the purely prevent mode, which is (O
_/
13 the.importance of the venting process in the PWRs to cope 14 with this problem of loss of power and suppression pool 15 overheating.
16 I think that vending process is critical.
This 17 is predamage.
That's another domain entirely.
And all our 18 discussions have more or less encompassed venting overall.
19 And the post-damage one is the tough one, of course.
20 The other one is not tough, but I hope you can 21 give heavy consideration to add to considerably to the BWR.
22 MR. STELLO:
I agrea.
23 MR. EBERSOLE:
You see, it's clouded by the fact 24 that venting was blanketed, under no venting at all.
~/
25 DR. KERR:
Short comments, please?
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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2c2-347-1700 Nationwide Coserage 800-336-6M6
                          , , . _ _ . , , _ _ _ . _..._ _ __..,_. - - -.                        . _ - . _ _ _ _ _ . _ . .    - ,    _-..,m__..__         , _ _ _ . _ _ .
_-..,m__..__


14100 03'12                                                                               38
14100 03'12 38
      /*
/*
~ '
~ '
DAV/bc     1               MR. STELLO:   I can' t give a short answer unless I 2 just say:     Yes, I agree with you -- and walk away.                     But it 3 is an area that needs a_ lot more discussion and it raises 4 the very questions that I was trying to note'.
DAV/bc 1
5               It goes back to the whole concept of preventing 6 the. severe accident when you can.                 And if you look at the 7' results, you ought to be looking very hard at understanding 8 what they say, and go from there.
MR. STELLO:
9 10 11 12-
I can' t give a short answer unless I 2
:              13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
just say:
                                    '02-347-370)     Nationwide Coserage               mL33M486
Yes, I agree with you -- and walk away.
                                                                        --        -..,,,-...~c-,     - - - - - , , . , , , , - , , -
But it 3
is an area that needs a_ lot more discussion and it raises 4
the very questions that I was trying to note'.
5 It goes back to the whole concept of preventing 6
the. severe accident when you can.
And if you look at the 7'
results, you ought to be looking very hard at understanding 8
what they say, and go from there.
9 10 11 12-13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
'02-347-370)
Nationwide Coserage mL33M486
-..,,,-...~c-,


W
W
        .4100 04~01                                                                         ' 3'9
.4100 04~01
  'f y
' 3'9
      \ / - DAVbur   1                 DR. KERR:. .Vic, I want to thank you for providing 2   --us with;a very complete discussion, and we hope this sort of 3   thing will'take place periodically.
'f y
4                 MR. STELLO: . I promise to be as candid as I know 5   how to be, and if you have any questions about that, why, 6   remind me.
\\ / - DAVbur 1
7                 DR. KERR:   Thank you very much.
DR. KERR:..Vic, I want to thank you for providing 2
8                 That ends that session and brings us to the next 9   topic on our agenda, which is systems interaction and the
--us with;a very complete discussion, and we hope this sort of 3
,                  10   briefing by NRC Staff.
thing will'take place periodically.
11                 Is-there a subcommittee. report?           Mr. Okrent, are 12   you prepared to make that?
4 MR. STELLO:. I promise to be as candid as I know 5
          )         13                 DR. OKRENT:- Whenever you bang the gavel.
how to be, and if you have any questions about that, why, 6
14                 DR. KERR:   Mr. Okrent, the Subcommittee Chairman, 15   will give his report.
remind me.
i 16                 DR. OKRENT:   The topic is systems interaction.
7 DR. KERR:
[                   17                 You may or may not recall that some months ago 4
Thank you very much.
8 That ends that session and brings us to the next 9
topic on our agenda, which is systems interaction and the 10 briefing by NRC Staff.
11 Is-there a subcommittee. report?
Mr. Okrent, are 12 you prepared to make that?
)
13 DR. OKRENT:- Whenever you bang the gavel.
14 DR. KERR:
Mr. Okrent, the Subcommittee Chairman, 15 will give his report.
i 16 DR. OKRENT:
The topic is systems interaction.
[
17 You may or may not recall that some months ago 4
^
^
18   this topic came before the full committee, at which-time the 19   task manager and the supervisor provided before us the l                   20   position that they were then proposing to bring to the L                   21   CRGR.
18 this topic came before the full committee, at which-time the 19 task manager and the supervisor provided before us the l
.                    22                 This position differed in certain ways from an l                   23   earlier position developed some months before by what I will 1
20 position that they were then proposing to bring to the L
l   .
21 CRGR.
24   call the working group itself, going through, getting office 25   comments, and so forth, for CRGR.               The position was changed ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
22 This position differed in certain ways from an l
202-347-3 3 )   Nationwide Coserage         8%33/>MW,
23 earlier position developed some months before by what I will 1
l 24 call the working group itself, going through, getting office 25 comments, and so forth, for CRGR.
The position was changed ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3 3 )
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7
7
      - 4100'04 02                                                                       40
- 4100'04 02 40
  . ,-q
.,-q
  -(,)'DAVbur       1 -from what the task group on USI A-17 had recommended to what 2   was agreed with the CRGR.
-(,)'DAVbur 1
3               There was a subcommittee meeting then.               There was 4   a full committee meeting, and the full committee letter, 5   which I assume is in the tab, you will see did not support 6   the proposal that the Staf f was going to bring to CRGR.
-from what the task group on USI A-17 had recommended to what 2
7   Partly it supported it, but not entirely,.and it had some 8   other additional things that seemed not to be in what was 9   being discussed by the Staff.
was agreed with the CRGR.
10               The Staff has reconsidered this matter.               We had a 11   subcommittee meeting yesterday, and we will in a moment hear -
3 There was a subcommittee meeting then.
12   what I propose to be an uninterrupted presentation by the 13   Staff in order to let them get through their whole 14   presentation, which is not supposed to take more than 25 15   minutes --
There was 4
;                  16               Right?
a full committee meeting, and the full committee letter, 5
17               MR. THATCHER:         15 minutes.
which I assume is in the tab, you will see did not support 6
18               DR. OKRENT:       Good.         That is less than 25.
the proposal that the Staf f was going to bring to CRGR.
19               -- after which there will be half an hour or more 20   for discussion.
7 Partly it supported it, but not entirely,.and it had some 8
21-               At the end of the meeting today, or sometime this i                 22   week, presumably the committee will need to decide, 23   preferably, if it can, at the end of this one hour, whether 24   it wants to send an additional letter -- it might not right
other additional things that seemed not to be in what was 9
    '              25   at this time.         It might just send a note -- or whether it ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
being discussed by the Staff.
202 4 47 3700       Nationwide Coverage       Mn3346M6
10 The Staff has reconsidered this matter.
We had a 11 subcommittee meeting yesterday, and we will in a moment hear -
12 what I propose to be an uninterrupted presentation by the 13 Staff in order to let them get through their whole 14 presentation, which is not supposed to take more than 25 15 minutes --
16 Right?
17 MR. THATCHER:
15 minutes.
18 DR. OKRENT:
Good.
That is less than 25.
19
-- after which there will be half an hour or more 20 for discussion.
21-At the end of the meeting today, or sometime this i
22 week, presumably the committee will need to decide, 23 preferably, if it can, at the end of this one hour, whether 24 it wants to send an additional letter -- it might not right 25 at this time.
It might just send a note -- or whether it ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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f4100304 03                                                                                 41 DAVbur .l~
f4100304 03 41 DAVbur
.l~
is' completely satisfied with what the Staff is proposing to~
is' completely satisfied with what the Staff is proposing to~
2     do or whether it decides it will wait until'something' is 4
2 do or whether it decides it will wait until'something' is 4
3     issued for public comment and they get public comments-4     back, and at that point the. committee comes back~with a 5-   . review.
3 issued for public comment and they get public comments-4 back, and at that point the. committee comes back~with a 5-
6                   Whichever of these paths'are followed, then, we 7     should makeLaure that if there is a plant in review in a
. review.
!                                8    later time that in. fact this is assigned to the subcommittee 9     and the time is set'up, and so forth.
6 Whichever of these paths'are followed, then, we 7
i                               10                     I am.not going to try to summarize the 11'     questions.       Many of them are unchanged from the letter that 11 2     we last wrote.
should makeLaure that if there is a plant in review in a 8
                              .13                     The Staff's thinking on how some of these issues-14     in fact fit or don't~ fit within rules or backfits or not seems to have shifted somewhat.
later time that in. fact this is assigned to the subcommittee 9
                                                ~
and the time is set'up, and so forth.
]                              15                                                    We will hear about that,
i 10 I am.not going to try to summarize the 11' questions.
,                              16     too.
Many of them are unchanged from the letter that 11 2 we last wrote.
1 1                               17                     So'I would propose we go directly to this i
.13 The Staff's thinking on how some of these issues-14 in fact fit or don't~ fit within rules or backfits or not
18     uninterrupted Staff presentation and then hear what other l                               19     members of the subcommittee have to see and see what 20     questions the ACRS members have.
]
21                     The members present for that particular meeting 22     who were particularly interested in this subject were Wylie, 23     Michelson, and Ebersole.
15 seems to have shifted somewhat.
24                     DR. MOELLER:   I have a question.           In the Staff's 25     presentation, will they address the key points in our May I
We will hear about that,
~
16 too.
1 1
17 So'I would propose we go directly to this i
18 uninterrupted Staff presentation and then hear what other l
19 members of the subcommittee have to see and see what 20 questions the ACRS members have.
21 The members present for that particular meeting 22 who were particularly interested in this subject were Wylie, 23 Michelson, and Ebersole.
24 DR. MOELLER:
I have a question.
In the Staff's 25 presentation, will they address the key points in our May I
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7 4100 04 04                                                                                                           42 i._f DAVbur           1 letter?
7 4100 04 04 42 i._f DAVbur 1
2               MR. THATCHSR:             That is the second' slide.
letter?
* 3               DR. MOELLER:             Thank.you.
2 MR. THATCHSR:
4               DR. KERR:             Okay.
That is the second' slide.
5               (Slide.)
3 DR. MOELLER:
6               MR. THATCHER:               I am Dale Thatcher, Task Manager 7 for the USI A-17, systems interaction.
Thank.you.
8               Basically, I am going to give an overview of 9 where we are right now on A-17, with some background 10 information, and specifically the ACRS. letter of May 13th.
4 DR. KERR:
11               Dr. Okrent summarized a lot of what I have on 12 this slide.
Okay.
5 (Slide.)
6 MR. THATCHER:
I am Dale Thatcher, Task Manager 7
for the USI A-17, systems interaction.
8 Basically, I am going to give an overview of 9
where we are right now on A-17, with some background 10 information, and specifically the ACRS. letter of May 13th.
11 Dr. Okrent summarized a lot of what I have on 12 this slide.
[)
[)
s_,                13               In a sense, I went back to the-resolution package 14 that went to CRGR in March '86.                               At that particular time we 15 were proposing a number of items, but I will make the 16 comparison when I get to the last slide of what we are doing 17 right now.
13 In a sense, I went back to the-resolution package s_,
18               We had a CRGR meeting on that package back in 19 April '86.     We interpreted what CRGR wrote after their
14 that went to CRGR in March '86.
!                        20 meeting as saying that they basically agreed with what we 21 were saying but that we did need some rewrites and 22 clarification.
At that particular time we 15 were proposing a number of items, but I will make the 16 comparison when I get to the last slide of what we are doing 17 right now.
23               It wasn't clear.                   We stated that we were 24 proposing no new requirements.                               They said we had a lot of OAl                25 wording in there that sounded like new requirements.                                                         We ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
18 We had a CRGR meeting on that package back in 19 April
202-347 3700               Nationwide cmerage                       s k336f446
'86.
        - - - - .  , ,,                            , _ _ . , .        . - . . . _ _ . -        - . . - .-      .m.. .-- . - - . _ , _ .    . , .
We interpreted what CRGR wrote after their 20 meeting as saying that they basically agreed with what we 21 were saying but that we did need some rewrites and 22 clarification.
23 It wasn't clear.
We stated that we were 24 proposing no new requirements.
They said we had a lot of O
Al 25 wording in there that sounded like new requirements.
We ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347 3700 Nationwide cmerage s k336f446
.m..


4100 04 05                                                           43
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x mj - DAVbur' 1   have modified some of those things.
mj - DAVbur' 1
2               But.again I will try to cover all that on the 3   last slide.
have modified some of those things.
4               We had the ACRS meeting, which led to the May 5   letter. We had the ACRS meeting back in May of '86. At 6   that meeting, as I recall, we pretty much discussed 7   definition, scope. That was probably the major subject of 8   discussion at the meeting.
x 2
9               There was some discussion among the committee, as 10   I recall, about what is one -- do we know what one is?     How 11   long would it take us to do more work in this area?
But.again I will try to cover all that on the 3
12               I recall specific statements. Some people said
last slide.
()             13   two years, five years. I think I may have even heard up to 14   10 years.
4 We had the ACRS meeting, which led to the May 5
15               That was again then brought out in the May 13th 16   letter, and as I said, the next slide is specifically on 17   that letter. So let me not talk too much about that.
letter.
18               We responded to the May letter on August 1st of 19   1986. We think they had a response that dealt with every 20   point in that letter. We think that the program, the 21   resolution that we have right now is also responsive to that 22   letter, and as I said, I will give you all that.
We had the ACRS meeting back in May of '86.
23               Right now, as far as where we are, the revised 24   package is out for comment. We sent it out on November 24th 25 l and asked for -- I think it was two weeks -- return of ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
At 6
: m. _           m_ m c-            --
that meeting, as I recall, we pretty much discussed 7
definition, scope.
That was probably the major subject of 8
discussion at the meeting.
9 There was some discussion among the committee, as 10 I recall, about what is one -- do we know what one is?
How 11 long would it take us to do more work in this area?
12 I recall specific statements.
Some people said
()
13 two years, five years.
I think I may have even heard up to 14 10 years.
15 That was again then brought out in the May 13th 16 letter, and as I said, the next slide is specifically on 17 that letter.
So let me not talk too much about that.
18 We responded to the May letter on August 1st of 19 1986.
We think they had a response that dealt with every 20 point in that letter.
We think that the program, the 21 resolution that we have right now is also responsive to that 22 letter, and as I said, I will give you all that.
23 Right now, as far as where we are, the revised 24 package is out for comment.
We sent it out on November 24th 25 l and asked for -- I think it was two weeks -- return of ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
: m. _
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                                                                                          ~
l 4100o04 06 44
l 4100o04 06                                                                       44
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'(,,f ' DAVbur   1     comments and concurrence.
'(,,f ' DAVbur 1
2                 We have been unable to get it. That was probably 3     a little bit unreasonable, given the holidays, and so forth, 4     but we are very close to getting the last comments in.
comments and concurrence.
                                                                ~
2 We have been unable to get it.
5                 Two of the offices that we do not have are the 6     Legal Office and the Office of Research, but we think we are-7     pretty close to getting those shortly.
That was probably 3
8                 (Slide.)
a little bit unreasonable, given the holidays, and so forth, 4
9                 The ACRS letter of May 13, 1986.
but we are very close to getting the last comments in.
10                 The way we read that letter is what I have 11     summarized on here, and of course if members have different 12     ideas on what was said, I am sure we will. discuss them after l )             13     this presentation.
~
14                 But let me just go through this. I read the 15     lette r --   Staff read the letter as recommending more 16     walkdown activities for spatial interactions, those physical 17     locations and related commodities -- for lack of a better 18     word -- just more walkdown requirements. Put it that way.
5 Two of the offices that we do not have are the 6
19     That is the way we interpret what ACRS was saying.
Legal Office and the Office of Research, but we think we are-7 pretty close to getting those shortly.
20 l               That was put in the context of the August '85 l
8 (Slide.)
21     proposal that went out for comment that Dr. Okrent referred 22     to, in which the A-17 program put out to all the offices a 23     package for coinment, and at that time we were proposing           '
9 The ACRS letter of May 13, 1986.
24     somewhat more, yet limited, but somewhat more walkdown I
10 The way we read that letter is what I have 11 summarized on here, and of course if members have different 12 ideas on what was said, I am sure we will. discuss them after l
: s.             25 '   activities for spatial interactions.
)
13 this presentation.
14 But let me just go through this.
I read the 15 lette r --
Staff read the letter as recommending more 16 walkdown activities for spatial interactions, those physical 17 locations and related commodities -- for lack of a better 18 word -- just more walkdown requirements.
Put it that way.
19 That is the way we interpret what ACRS was saying.
20 l That was put in the context of the August '85 l
21 proposal that went out for comment that Dr. Okrent referred 22 to, in which the A-17 program put out to all the offices a 23 package for coinment, and at that time we were proposing 24 somewhat more, yet limited, but somewhat more walkdown I
s.
25 '
activities for spatial interactions.
I ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 04 07                                                         45 g'   DAVbur                   As stated, that was changed in the package that
4100 04 07 45 g'
(,j          1 2  was brought to CRGR in March of this last year. But I will 3   also speak about -- we have addressed that also in our 4   resolution.
(,j DAVbur 1
5               Basically, we read the letter that ACRS agreed 6   with the idea and an information letter for functional 7   interactions again was part of the proposal in August of 8   '85. It is basically still in there today, the same idea.
As stated, that was changed in the package that 2
9               The ACRS also recommended a new standard review 10   plan section. Again, that was going back to the '85 draft 11   proposal that circulated for comment. That proposal had a 12   draft standard review plan section in it, but it was removed 4
was brought to CRGR in March of this last year.
13   before we went to CRGR, and the basis for removal was the 14   Staff comments which -- summarized basically -- which said 15   that most people felt the SRPs already covered these areas 1
But I will 3
16   sufficiently.
also speak about -- we have addressed that also in our 4
17               The next bullet, I think, is probably the biggest i
resolution.
18   discussion item. The ACRS basically stated a disagreement 19   with the scope and definition of the issues, in the sense --
5 Basically, we read the letter that ACRS agreed 6
20   I believe the terms were -- in the longer term the Staf f 21   should initiate appropriate studies, which we interpreted as 22   leading to a search for a method to deal with all types of f
with the idea and an information letter for functional 7
23   systems interactions.
interactions again was part of the proposal in August of 8
,              24               I will have more to say about that on the last d
'85.
slide as to what we propose to do about that in our 25 f 1                 i l
It is basically still in there today, the same idea.
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9 The ACRS also recommended a new standard review 10 plan section.
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Again, that was going back to the '85 draft 11 proposal that circulated for comment.
That proposal had a 12 draft standard review plan section in it, but it was removed 13 before we went to CRGR, and the basis for removal was the 4
14 Staff comments which -- summarized basically -- which said 15 that most people felt the SRPs already covered these areas 1
16 sufficiently.
17 The next bullet, I think, is probably the biggest i
18 discussion item.
The ACRS basically stated a disagreement 19 with the scope and definition of the issues, in the sense --
20 I believe the terms were -- in the longer term the Staf f 21 should initiate appropriate studies, which we interpreted as 22 leading to a search for a method to deal with all types of f
23 systems interactions.
24 I will have more to say about that on the last 25 f slide as to what we propose to do about that in our d
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      - 4100-04 08                               ,
- 4100-04 08 46
46
~DAVbur' '
          ~DAVbur' ' 1-     resolution'as it is right now.-
1-resolution'as it is right now.-
2                 The other item in-the letter of May 13th J
2 The other item in-the letter of May 13th J
3     recommended'the removal of the single failure guidance. It-
3 recommended'the removal of the single failure guidance.
.                      4     didn't disagree with it. It just said that there should be 5     .another forum or another mechanism to deal with that aspect i
It-4 didn't disagree with it.
6     of what we were proposing as added guidance for single i
It just said that there should be 5
7     failure.
.another forum or another mechanism to deal with that aspect i
6 of what we were proposing as added guidance for single i
7 failure.
s
s
                      .8                 Basically, that is the way the Staff read and I:                     9     interpreted the letter, and that is what we responded tc, 10     and we think;that our program today is along the lines of' 11     what we said in our August 1st letter, which.was the 12     response to this, and what is in the package today.
.8 Basically, that is the way the Staff read and I:
13                   (Slide.)
9 interpreted the letter, and that is what we responded tc, 10 and we think;that our program today is along the lines of' 11 what we said in our August 1st letter, which.was the 12 response to this, and what is in the package today.
14                 Getting to our revised resolution, basically-I 15     think one could characterize what we are trying to do as, i
13 (Slide.)
16     number one, resolving A-17 and, number two, if there's other
14 Getting to our revised resolution, basically-I 15 think one could characterize what we are trying to do as, i
!                    17     things outside the definition of this issue and a number of       '
16 number one, resolving A-17 and, number two, if there's other 17 things outside the definition of this issue and a number of 18 other issues, actually, that they should be dealt with in 19 the longer term, in a different way maybe, and I will talk 20 more about that.
;                    18     other issues, actually, that they should be dealt with in 19     the longer term, in a different way maybe, and I will talk
21 Specifically, actions for A-17 are kind of broken 22 I down by what actions we think are being done under A-17 and 3
;                    20     more about that.
23 '
21                 Specifically, actions for A-17 are kind of broken 22 I   down by what actions we think are being done under A-17 and 3
what one can maybe call spinoff actions.
,                    23 '   what one can maybe call spinoff actions.
l 24 First, and pretty much consistent throughout all 25 the drafts of the resolution of this issue, we are proposing i
24                 First, and pretty much consistent throughout all l
i i
i 25     the drafts of the resolution of this issue, we are proposing i
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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    - 4100 04 09                                                                                     47
- 4100 04 09 47
  .r\
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T._/ DAVbur         1   to issue a generic letter for information only.                           It will 2   deal with about five areas of functional interactions.
T._/
3               As I said, it is for information only.                         It would 4   go to all the licensees as a generic letter, and we would 5   expect that it would get treatment under their ongoing 6   activities to review all sorts of I&E notices, generic 7   letters, and so forth.
DAVbur 1
8               The next aspect is a statement on the reliance on 9   the resolution of USI A-46, which is seismic qualification 10     of equipment and operating plants.
to issue a generic letter for information only.
                  -11                   Specifically as part of the original draft 12     resolution of A-17 Dr. Okrent referred to back in August of 3      )           13     '85, as I said before, we had a recommendation for spatial 14     walkdowns.     The two areas that we were focusing on in that 15     proposal were related to seismic.                           The other one was related 16     to an area I will just refer to as flooding right now, but 17     it is certainly more than just flooding.
It will 2
18                   The resolution of A-46 over the last year has, I 19     will say, broadened somewhat, in the sense that they are 20       lealing with some seismic -- potentially seismically induced i
deal with about five areas of functional interactions.
21     systems interaction.     Based on that somewhat expansion of 22 ,   scope, A-17 is relying on that work.
3 As I said, it is for information only.
l 23 l                 Now, admittedly, A-46 addresses operating plants, 24     and it is a certain set of operating plants, but along with 25     that we believe that newer plants are covered by SRP ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
It would 4
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go to all the licensees as a generic letter, and we would 5
expect that it would get treatment under their ongoing 6
activities to review all sorts of I&E notices, generic 7
letters, and so forth.
8 The next aspect is a statement on the reliance on 9
the resolution of USI A-46, which is seismic qualification 10 of equipment and operating plants.
-11 Specifically as part of the original draft 12 resolution of A-17 Dr. Okrent referred to back in August of
)
13
'85, as I said before, we had a recommendation for spatial 3
14 walkdowns.
The two areas that we were focusing on in that 15 proposal were related to seismic.
The other one was related 16 to an area I will just refer to as flooding right now, but 17 it is certainly more than just flooding.
18 The resolution of A-46 over the last year has, I 19 will say, broadened somewhat, in the sense that they are 20 lealing with some seismic -- potentially seismically induced i
21 systems interaction.
Based on that somewhat expansion of 22,
scope, A-17 is relying on that work.
l 23 l Now, admittedly, A-46 addresses operating plants, 24 and it is a certain set of operating plants, but along with 25 that we believe that newer plants are covered by SRP ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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  .4100 04.10                                                                       48~
.4100 04.10 48~
(,)1DAVbur     l' requirements' and specifically Reg Guide 1.29, which all~ talk 2   about the possibility of seismically: induced systems 3   interaction.
(,)1DAVbur l'
4                 Now, the A-46 program goes from the first 5   operating plants up through the plants-that are committed to 6   IEEE requirements before 344, 1975.             The reg guide that.I 7   referred to that covers newer plants was issued, I -.t h i n k ,. a s 8   a safety guide in 1972.
requirements' and specifically Reg Guide 1.29, which all~ talk 2
9                 So we think there is sufficient overlap there to 10   cover all plants, but there is a possibility that some may 11 'have slipped by, and we are going to cover those plants if 12   they exist.       We are going to look at the possibility that
about the possibility of seismically: induced systems 3
    )       13   there are plants like that and in some way have confirmation 14   that all plants do indeed -- are either covered by A-46 or 15   by more current requirements in the SRP, and particularly 16   Reg Guide 1.29.
interaction.
17                 So based on that, we think that a major portion 18   of the seismic aspect or the spatial aspect, that being 19   seismic, is covered by the USI A-46 activities.
4 Now, the A-46 program goes from the first 5
20                 Now, I also mentioned that the original proposal 21   had or required more activity in the area of flooding.               In 22   our resolution package that came before you back in the 23   April-May timeframe, we were proposing not to take any 24   action on flooding.       We were going to rely on ongoing 25   industry activities in that particular area.
operating plants up through the plants-that are committed to 6
IEEE requirements before 344, 1975.
The reg guide that.I 7
referred to that covers newer plants was issued, I -.t h i n k,. a s 8
a safety guide in 1972.
9 So we think there is sufficient overlap there to 10 cover all plants, but there is a possibility that some may 11
'have slipped by, and we are going to cover those plants if 12 they exist.
We are going to look at the possibility that
)
13 there are plants like that and in some way have confirmation 14 that all plants do indeed -- are either covered by A-46 or 15 by more current requirements in the SRP, and particularly 16 Reg Guide 1.29.
17 So based on that, we think that a major portion 18 of the seismic aspect or the spatial aspect, that being 19 seismic, is covered by the USI A-46 activities.
20 Now, I also mentioned that the original proposal 21 had or required more activity in the area of flooding.
In 22 our resolution package that came before you back in the 23 April-May timeframe, we were proposing not to take any 24 action on flooding.
We were going to rely on ongoing 25 industry activities in that particular area.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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                  '4100 04 11                                                                                                                                                                             49
'4100 04 11 49
          .          -DAVbur.             1                               In our present day resolution we have changed
-DAVbur.
                                        '2               - this. We now are going to go out with a request, which is a 3             - requirement that they respond,'a request'for verification of
1 In our present day resolution we have changed
* 4                flooding.
'2
5                               It may be interpreted as reliance on industry, 6             4 but we considered the fact that we are going out with a set 7             ' of quest. ions, a very specific set of questions.-                                                                                       We think 8               that way we can audit what was done by the industry and by-i 9               the utilities in response to a number of' flooding concerns.
- this.
We now are going to go out with a request, which is a 3
- requirement that they respond,'a request'for verification of 4
flooding.
5 It may be interpreted as reliance on industry, 6
but we considered the fact that we are going out with a set 4
7
' of quest. ions, a very specific set of questions.-
We think 8
that way we can audit what was done by the industry and by-i 9
the utilities in response to a number of' flooding concerns.
10 11 2
10 11 2
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19 20 l
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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202-347 37(O                                 NMionw hic Cmcrage                                                   BiXL)W(M6
202-347 37(O NMionw hic Cmcrage BiXL)W(M6


4100 05 01                                                                                                                                                                                                       50 TN
4100 05 01 50 TN
( ,/ - DAV/bc                 1                                                                   Now, the definition of flooding that we've used 2                     in our program is, as I said before, much broader than just 3                 ' how much water. gets on the floor' during an event.
(,/ - DAV/bc 1
4                                                                   We have made the definition address' things like 5                   spray, moisture, generally all kinds of water intrusion 6                   problems.
Now, the definition of flooding that we've used 2
7                                                                   As I said, it's now a 5054(F) request, which is a 8                   requirement that all utilities respond.                                                                                                                 That's how we're 9                   now proposing to follow up on the original concerns 10                       expressed in a-17 on Flooding.
in our program is, as I said before, much broader than just 3
,                          11                                                                     Now, a number of spinoff actions we are 12                       proposing.                                         The first one on here is:
' how much water. gets on the floor' during an event.
()                       13                                                                     Provide for integration of electrical power 14                       concerns.                                     Back in May, we were also stating that aspect of 15                       the program.                                               At this point, we' re a little bit further 16                       along than at that time.                                                                                       We've now got a generic issue, 17                       generic issue 128, which is an integration of a number of 18                       previously existing generic issues on electric power 19                       systems; specifically, for example, A-30 on DC power; GI-48 20                       on limiting conditions of operation on vital buses.                                                                                                                   And 21                       GI-49, which had to do with tie-breakers.
4 We have made the definition address' things like 5
22                                                                     But there were a number of ongoing generic issues j                           23                       in the area of electrical power.                                                                                                                 And we've now integrated 24                       them into a single program, which I mentioned was GI-128, 25                                                                     We are proposing that the information that's ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
spray, moisture, generally all kinds of water intrusion 6
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problems.
    -  -- .  . . . _ . . . _ _ . _ _ _ . _ . _ _ . _ _ _ . _ . _ . . _ _ _ _ . . _ . _ . . . , . . . . _ . . _ . . _ _ , . , _ . , - . . - - . _ . _ . . . _ . ~ . , . . _ _ _ _ _ _ . . . _ . _ _ ,
7 As I said, it's now a 5054(F) request, which is a 8
requirement that all utilities respond.
That's how we're 9
now proposing to follow up on the original concerns 10 expressed in a-17 on Flooding.
11 Now, a number of spinoff actions we are 12 proposing.
The first one on here is:
()
13 Provide for integration of electrical power 14 concerns.
Back in May, we were also stating that aspect of 15 the program.
At this point, we' re a little bit further 16 along than at that time.
We've now got a generic issue, 17 generic issue 128, which is an integration of a number of 18 previously existing generic issues on electric power 19 systems; specifically, for example, A-30 on DC power; GI-48 20 on limiting conditions of operation on vital buses.
And 21 GI-49, which had to do with tie-breakers.
22 But there were a number of ongoing generic issues j
23 in the area of electrical power.
And we've now integrated 24 them into a single program, which I mentioned was GI-128, 25 We are proposing that the information that's ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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              -4100 05 02                                                                                                                                                   51
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(_) DAV/bc                           1                   coming out of A-17 in its first redaction be. utilized in 2                     that program.
(_) DAV/bc 1
3                                                 If you look at the generic letter for 4                     information, for example, the first item in that letter 5                   that's highlighted is the electrical power system area.
coming out of A-17 in its first redaction be. utilized in 2
6                                                 So there is a definite, natural flow out of what 7                     is going on in A-17.                   And what is flowing out of there into 8                   this new generic issue 128.
that program.
9                                               The next item is:
3 If you look at the generic letter for 4
10                                                   Provide guidance for PRAs. We always have that 11                       in the program.                   I think what we stated from the beginning 12                       was that we couldn't make a recommendation on a method that
information, for example, the first item in that letter 5
()                               13                       a PRA used, but we could make some recommendations on where                                                 '
that's highlighted is the electrical power system area.
14                       they looked the hardest, where the problems have been, and 15                       so forth.                   And we're still proposing that same kind of 16                       guidance.
6 So there is a definite, natural flow out of what 7
17                                                   And, really, the guidance, again, flows out of 18                       those first three items.                   The generic letter for information 19                       talks about areas to look at.                       The second one of course is in the coismic area.                   And the third one is the flooding 20 l 21 l       '
is going on in A-17.
area.
And what is flowing out of there into 8
22 !                                                 Those are the areas that A-17 I think should be 23                       focused on in any kind of PRA work.
this new generic issue 128.
24                                                   As far as future plants go, we originally, as I 25                       said, had a standard review plan cect ion proposed.                                                     We i
9 The next item is:
10 Provide guidance for PRAs.
We always have that 11 in the program.
I think what we stated from the beginning 12 was that we couldn't make a recommendation on a method that
()
13 a PRA used, but we could make some recommendations on where 14 they looked the hardest, where the problems have been, and 15 so forth.
And we're still proposing that same kind of 16 guidance.
17 And, really, the guidance, again, flows out of 18 those first three items.
The generic letter for information 19 talks about areas to look at.
The second one of course is 20 l in the coismic area.
And the third one is the flooding 21 l area.
22 !
Those are the areas that A-17 I think should be 23 focused on in any kind of PRA work.
24 As far as future plants go, we originally, as I 25 said, had a standard review plan cect ion proposed.
We i
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41'00 05 03                                                             52
41'00 05 03 52
( ) DAV/bc     1     removed it based on the fact that people thought the SRP 2   .already covered the kinds of things that we were talking 3     about.
( ) DAV/bc 1
4                 We now are proposing that we develop a reg 5   guide. We envision that that reg guide would have guidanca, 6     as reg guides typically do, guidance in where to look, and 7     again flowing out of the first three bullets would be most 8     of the information for the development of that reg guide.
removed it based on the fact that people thought the SRP 2
9                 Now the last one. Develop scope concerns as 10     potential issues for prioritization.
.already covered the kinds of things that we were talking 3
11                 As I mentioned on the previous slide, the biggest 12     area that we saw as a problem area was the question of A             13    definition and scope. In our response on August 1st, I
about.
4 We now are proposing that we develop a reg 5
guide.
We envision that that reg guide would have guidanca, 6
as reg guides typically do, guidance in where to look, and 7
again flowing out of the first three bullets would be most 8
of the information for the development of that reg guide.
9 Now the last one.
Develop scope concerns as 10 potential issues for prioritization.
11 As I mentioned on the previous slide, the biggest 12 area that we saw as a problem area was the question of A
(_/
(_/
14     think we used the words, or words that could imply that we 15     were going to develop one generic issue that would be 16     prioritized, that generic issue being what flowed out of 17     these kinds of meetings as not being covered by our A-17 i               18     program.
13 definition and scope.
i 19                 I think now that we've further defined what we 20 !   plan to do, we're thinking that maybe it isn't going to be 21 f   just one issue, that it's maybe multiple issues.
In our response on August 1st, I 14 think we used the words, or words that could imply that we 15 were going to develop one generic issue that would be 16 prioritized, that generic issue being what flowed out of 17 these kinds of meetings as not being covered by our A-17 i
I 22 j               The staff, I think, has learned that broad safety 1
18 program.
23 i   concerns do not get addressed well and that we need more l
i 19 I think now that we've further defined what we 20 !
24     focusing.
plan to do, we're thinking that maybe it isn't going to be 21 f just one issue, that it's maybe multiple issues.
l 25 i               So we're proposing that a number of scope ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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    '4100:05 04                                                             53
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(_j'DAV/bc-   I   concerns that:have been expressed, particularly by the ACRS 2   on issues like A-17, but also A-48,-there were a number of 3   discussions on scope. And that was highlighted.in the~ACRS 4   letter on A-46 also.
(_j'DAV/bc-I concerns that:have been expressed, particularly by the ACRS 2
5               You will probably also be hearing about USIA 47, 6   which is control systems in the near future. And you will 7   see in that program that there's limitations on scope in 8   what they're doing. They're stated pretty clearly up 9   front.
on issues like A-17, but also A-48,-there were a number of 3
1.0               The program that we' re initiating right now is to 11   deal with all these areas that have been raised that are not 12   addressed by those kinds of USIs. And also other programs.
discussions on scope.
()           13   It's not just USIs, it's the fire protection program. It's 14   the environmental qualification because, as I'm sure you're 15   all aware, they all have some relationship to systems 16   interaction.
And that was highlighted.in the~ACRS 4
17               of course, the only problem with that is that 18   almcot everything that's a safety problem is a systems 19   interaction. But we do intend to try to develop the 20   concerns. And I think the words are importants 21               Try to develop the concerns in the issues that we i               22   can work, and that's the major aspect that I think we'll try j
letter on A-46 also.
l               23   to deal with thin question of scope and definition of the i                 l
5 You will probably also be hearing about USIA 47, 6
}               24 l issues.
which is control systems in the near future.
25 ;             That'n basically all I had to say. Of course, 1                   i
And you will 7
!                  I i
see in that program that there's limitations on scope in 8
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They're stated pretty clearly up 9
front.
1.0 The program that we' re initiating right now is to 11 deal with all these areas that have been raised that are not 12 addressed by those kinds of USIs.
And also other programs.
()
13 It's not just USIs, it's the fire protection program.
It's 14 the environmental qualification because, as I'm sure you're 15 all aware, they all have some relationship to systems 16 interaction.
17 of course, the only problem with that is that 18 almcot everything that's a safety problem is a systems 19 interaction.
But we do intend to try to develop the 20 concerns.
And I think the words are importants 21 Try to develop the concerns in the issues that we i
22 can work, and that's the major aspect that I think we'll try j
l 23 to deal with thin question of scope and definition of the i
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24 l issues.
25 ;
That'n basically all I had to say.
Of course, 1
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    '4100 05 05                                                             54
'4100 05 05 54
()DAV/bc       1   we' re available for comments. I hope I covered everything 2   that Dr. Okrent promised I would.
()DAV/bc 1
3                 DR. OKRENT:   I think you did what we asked.
we' re available for comments.
4                 Mr. Ebersole.
I hope I covered everything 2
5                 MR. EBERSOLE:   This was the undisturbed portion.
that Dr. Okrent promised I would.
6   Now, can you back up on the slides again?
3 DR. OKRENT:
7                 MR. THATCHER:   Did I make it in 15 minutes?
I think you did what we asked.
8                 DR. OKRENT:   You did it in sufficient time.
4 Mr. Ebersole.
9                 MR. THATCHER:   Which one?
5 MR. EBERSOLE:
10                 MR. EBERSOLE:   Let's see, the third one, where it 11   starts:   Recommend more walkdowns.
This was the undisturbed portion.
12                 MR. THATCHER:   That's the ACRS letter?   Okay.
6 Now, can you back up on the slides again?
    )         13                 MR. EBERSOLE:   I have a problem with walkdown as 14   identifying what really needs to be done.     For one, I don't 15   think you can get special perspective just by pure visual 16   perception frcm wherever you happen to be, surrounded by 17   walls and equipment.
7 MR. THATCHER:
i 18                 DR. KERR   Excuse me, Mr. Ebersole. Are you 19   disagreeing with the ACRS letter?
Did I make it in 15 minutes?
20                 MR. EBERSOLE:   I'm asking for an expansion of the 21   term "walkdown" .
8 DR. OKRENT:
22                 DR. KERR:   You are stating that the ACRS letter 1
You did it in sufficient time.
23 I is incomprehensible?
9 MR. THATCHER:
24                 (Laughter.)
Which one?
O             25 I MR. EDERSOLE:   Since we're talking about more ace-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
10 MR. EBERSOLE:
un.,           s n_a, nemy,       m.me-
Let's see, the third one, where it 11 starts:
Recommend more walkdowns.
12 MR. THATCHER:
That's the ACRS letter?
Okay.
)
13 MR. EBERSOLE:
I have a problem with walkdown as 14 identifying what really needs to be done.
For one, I don't 15 think you can get special perspective just by pure visual 16 perception frcm wherever you happen to be, surrounded by 17 walls and equipment.
i 18 DR. KERR Excuse me, Mr. Ebersole.
Are you 19 disagreeing with the ACRS letter?
20 MR. EBERSOLE:
I'm asking for an expansion of the 21 term "walkdown".
22 DR. KERR:
You are stating that the ACRS letter 1
23 I is incomprehensible?
24 (Laughter.)
O 25 I MR. EDERSOLE:
Since we're talking about more ace-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 05 06                                                             55     l i
4100 05 06 55 l
('_')TDAV/bc 1   walkdown activities, we ought to elaborate on what we mean     l I
i
2   by "walkdown". It's just a term.
('_')TDAV/bc 1
3               And I think the consideration in spacial 4   arrangements, in particular, the coupling of spacial 5   volumes, is a vital part of this because you just can' t 6   stare at a room and forget perhaps that on the other side of 7   it is a boiler or a huge tank of CO 2 or something that 8   ought not to be there.
walkdown activities, we ought to elaborate on what we mean I
f               9               So, an extension of the term "walkdown", I think
2 by "walkdown".
,              10   is critical to understanding what you've got to do.
It's just a term.
11               MR. THATCHER:   I think you've caught me with the 12   problem I had with Dr. Okrent yesterday. He said that I
3 And I think the consideration in spacial 4
()           13   needed to elaborate on some of my terminology that I used 14   because of different interpretations, and so forth.
arrangements, in particular, the coupling of spacial 5
* 15               And given the time limitations, I didn' t do all
volumes, is a vital part of this because you just can' t 6
,              16   the terminology. But, from the beginning, I think, you i
stare at a room and forget perhaps that on the other side of 7
17   know, if you look at the proposals, we meant by "walkdown",
it is a boiler or a huge tank of CO 2 or something that 8
18   I mean we used the term "walkdown" to mean an investigation 19 , that started with a paper review to know what your systems I
ought not to be there.
20 ' are.
f 9
i 21               MR. EBERSOLE:   Spacial allocation of functions.
So, an extension of the term "walkdown", I think 10 is critical to understanding what you've got to do.
!              22 l Where do you put the furnishings?     What is the potential 1
11 MR. THATCHER:
4 23   implication of the furnishings being in the same room?
I think you've caught me with the 12 problem I had with Dr. Okrent yesterday.
l               24 l             DR. OKRENT:   Would you accept walkdown using O'           25 (
He said that I
I x-ray vision?
()
13 needed to elaborate on some of my terminology that I used 14 because of different interpretations, and so forth.
15 And given the time limitations, I didn' t do all 16 the terminology.
But, from the beginning, I think, you i
17 know, if you look at the proposals, we meant by "walkdown",
18 I mean we used the term "walkdown" to mean an investigation 19,
that started with a paper review to know what your systems I
20 '
are.
i 21 MR. EBERSOLE:
Spacial allocation of functions.
22 l Where do you put the furnishings?
What is the potential 1
4 23 implication of the furnishings being in the same room?
l 24 l DR. OKRENT:
Would you accept walkdown using O'
I 25 (
x-ray vision?
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s_j . DAV/bc 1               (Laughter.)
DAV/bc 1
2               MR. EBERSOLE:   I can recall a particular case 3   where a huge CO 2 tank.was put,'in essence, in the spreading-4   room of a plant. And the design of that_ invoked the theory 5   that NRC said vessels don't fail.     He was extrapolating.
(Laughter.)
6               Anyway, that's just one point. Now,'the ACRS 7   letter recommended new standard review plants.       And I think 8   11t'73 extremely unfortunately that that has not come to pass.
s_j.
9               It's been removed by the staff'. I say that's a 10   natural result of tossing the problem to a compartmentalized 11   review process which will not see a need for doing anything 12   in their domain.
2 MR. EBERSOLE:
I can recall a particular case 3
where a huge CO 2 tank.was put,'in essence, in the spreading-4 room of a plant.
And the design of that_ invoked the theory 5
that NRC said vessels don't fail.
He was extrapolating.
6 Anyway, that's just one point.
Now,'the ACRS 7
letter recommended new standard review plants.
And I think 8
11t'73 extremely unfortunately that that has not come to pass.
9 It's been removed by the staff'.
I say that's a 10 natural result of tossing the problem to a compartmentalized 11 review process which will not see a need for doing anything 12 in their domain.
O)
O)
  \,_         13               It's a bureaucratic problem. It's standard that 14   it would come out analyzed the way that it did because, I 15   know, I've been through it.     I used to catch myself in the 16   wrong department because I was an electrical engineer and I 17   was in the civil section -- what the hell are you doing 18   here?
\\,_
i 19               So that compartmentalized attitude and all of the l
13 It's a bureaucratic problem.
politics, if you will, of reviewing these things inevitably l              20 l 21   leads tot 22               Don't get some generalist in here to cause any I
It's standard that 14 it would come out analyzed the way that it did because, I 15 know, I've been through it.
23   problems. I've got my job to do. The hell with you, get j
I used to catch myself in the 16 wrong department because I was an electrical engineer and I 17 was in the civil section -- what the hell are you doing 18 here?
24   out of my room.
i l
25 l             And that's what produces the refusal to put this i
19 So that compartmentalized attitude and all of the l
20 l politics, if you will, of reviewing these things inevitably 21 leads tot 22 Don't get some generalist in here to cause any I
23 problems.
I've got my job to do.
The hell with you, get 24 out of my room.
j 25 l And that's what produces the refusal to put this i
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4100 05 08                                                               57
4100 05 08 57
  ) DAV/bc   1   as really sort'of in a system integration portion of the 2   standard review plan, which I think is sadly needed.
) DAV/bc 1
3                 It's a natural result of the review process which 4   you used to get it examined.
as really sort'of in a system integration portion of the 2
5                 In a further extension of this notion, I suggest 6   that it would be your problem, if you haven't already done 7   it, to come up to us and, in the actual language of the SRP, 8   validate the position taken by the staff.
standard review plan, which I think is sadly needed.
9                 Go through the SRPs and cut out the words that 10   say:   They do consider system integration and system 11   interactive matters in the degree which we think is 12   important; that might result in about 50 papes of paper.
3 It's a natural result of the review process which 4
()         13                 MR. THATCHER:   More than that.- Definitely, more 14   than that.
you used to get it examined.
15                 MR. EBERSOLE:   As the project leader on this, you 16   must see yourself, not rely on their position.       You ought to 17   look at that.
5 In a further extension of this notion, I suggest 6
18                 MR.' THATCHER:   I think we can provide you those 19   papers.
that it would be your problem, if you haven't already done 7
20 l               MR. EBERSOLE:   These would be excerpts.
it, to come up to us and, in the actual language of the SRP, 8
21                 MR. THATCHER:     It would be a significant portion 22 ! of the SRP.
validate the position taken by the staff.
i 23 !               MR. EBERSOLE:   Just get out the excerpts to I
9 Go through the SRPs and cut out the words that 10 say:
validate what you have taken for granted as a position from 24 l O           25 l i
They do consider system integration and system 11 interactive matters in the degree which we think is 12 important; that might result in about 50 papes of paper.
them.
()
13 MR. THATCHER:
More than that.- Definitely, more 14 than that.
15 MR. EBERSOLE:
As the project leader on this, you 16 must see yourself, not rely on their position.
You ought to 17 look at that.
18 MR.' THATCHER:
I think we can provide you those 19 papers.
20 l MR. EBERSOLE:
These would be excerpts.
21 MR. THATCHER:
It would be a significant portion 22 !
of the SRP.
i 23 !
MR. EBERSOLE:
Just get out the excerpts to I
24 l validate what you have taken for granted as a position from O
i 25 l them.
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4100 05 09 58 t
(_,.( DAV/bc   1                     MR. THATCHER:   I don't think we've taken it for 2         granted. I don't think that's true. I have personally been 3         through significant portions of the SRP. I threw one out 4         yesterday at the subcommittee, and then I went back to make 5         sure that what I said was really true. And I got it.
,c\\
6                     MR. EBERSOLE:   On the matter of flooding, I think 7         we talked at the subcommittee meeting flooding means more 8         than flooding. It means intrusion of vapor, hot air, dust, 9         whatever you want to call it.
(_,.(
j 10                     So, flooding is a too narrowly-defined function 11         of invasion, influx.
DAV/bc 1
12                     Okay, that's all I had to say.
MR. THATCHER:
I don't think we've taken it for 2
granted.
I don't think that's true.
I have personally been 3
through significant portions of the SRP.
I threw one out 4
yesterday at the subcommittee, and then I went back to make 5
sure that what I said was really true.
And I got it.
6 MR. EBERSOLE:
On the matter of flooding, I think 7
we talked at the subcommittee meeting flooding means more 8
than flooding.
It means intrusion of vapor, hot air, dust, 9
whatever you want to call it.
10 So, flooding is a too narrowly-defined function j
11 of invasion, influx.
12 Okay, that's all I had to say.
O l
O l
(_)           13                     DR. KERR   Other comments or questions?
(_)
14                     DR. OKRENT:   Carl, any comments?
13 DR. KERR Other comments or questions?
15                     MR. MICHELSON:   I had a number of comments, but l
14 DR. OKRENT:
l 16         not any questions on the presentation. I think the l               17         presentation covered what was covered in the subcommittee, l
Carl, any comments?
l               18         so maybe I'll be just giving my comments.
15 MR. MICHELSON:
19                     DR. OKRENT:   I think it's appropriate.
I had a number of comments, but l
l 20 l                   MR. MICHELSON:   As a personal matter, I was j                           disappointed in the progress that was made on systeins 21 l i
l 16 not any questions on the presentation.
!              22 i       interaction, but certainly in no way fault the people who
I think the l
'                  I 23 l       were doing the work. I think they've actually made 24         commendable progress, it just fell somewhat short of what I
17 presentation covered what was covered in the subcommittee, l
  \ -)         25 I would have liked to have thought we would get to at this l                                   ace-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
l 18 so maybe I'll be just giving my comments.
                                      -cn           ~ ~ c-              -
19 DR. OKRENT:
I think it's appropriate.
20 l MR. MICHELSON:
As a personal matter, I was l
j 21 l disappointed in the progress that was made on systeins i
22 i interaction, but certainly in no way fault the people who l
I 23 l were doing the work.
I think they've actually made 24 commendable progress, it just fell somewhat short of what I
\\ -)
I 25 would have liked to have thought we would get to at this l
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4100 05 10                                                                 59 A
4100 05 10 59 A
    ' C). IRV/bc     1     point in time.
' C). IRV/bc 1
2                 But, certainly we're a lot closer to I think now 3     understanding what systems interaction might-involve, 4     although there are many areas yet that we don't understand 5     because we haven't really sat down and thought through 6     carefully.
point in time.
7                 I assume that's a part of what will go on when 8     they start to scope the next phase of system interaction, 9     which I believe is a promise that the staff is making, that 10     they will go and scope some new potential generic issues and 11     then see if they are sufficiently important to pursue it.
2 But, certainly we're a lot closer to I think now 3
12                 So I guess the disappointment derives from not O
understanding what systems interaction might-involve, 4
(_j           13     seeing it done already but rather now having to wait another 14     year.
although there are many areas yet that we don't understand 5
15                 We haven' t heard very clearly the schedules on 16     all of this. Maybe the staff could, first of all, tell us     .
because we haven't really sat down and thought through 6
l                    17     the regulatory guide schedule which you have in mind, and 18     also the scoping.
carefully.
19                 When do you think these scoping documents for
7 I assume that's a part of what will go on when 8
)                   20     future generic issues will be completed?
they start to scope the next phase of system interaction, 9
21                 MR. THATCHER:   On the reg guide, right now we 22 ,   don't have a schedule for that. I admit I didn't 23     particu1~arly worry about that because of the lack of new 24 j   licensing activities.
which I believe is a promise that the staff is making, that 10 they will go and scope some new potential generic issues and 11 then see if they are sufficiently important to pursue it.
25                 But the other one, the scopo questions, which I ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
12 So I guess the disappointment derives from not O
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(_j 13 seeing it done already but rather now having to wait another 14 year.
15 We haven' t heard very clearly the schedules on 16 all of this.
Maybe the staff could, first of all, tell us l
17 the regulatory guide schedule which you have in mind, and 18 also the scoping.
19 When do you think these scoping documents for
)
20 future generic issues will be completed?
21 MR. THATCHER:
On the reg guide, right now we 22,
don't have a schedule for that.
I admit I didn't 23 particu1~arly worry about that because of the lack of new 24 j licensing activities.
25 But the other one, the scopo questions, which I ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
I am. m.,
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4100 05 11                                                             60 DAV/bc   1   feel is the more important one to start tying some of these 2   loose ends down, we presently have -- I thought it was going 3   to go out about two weeks ago.
4100 05 11 60 DAV/bc 1
4               But it got hung up in somebody's office.     4 5   technical assistance program that's basically outlined to do 6   this scoping type of study. And the schedule on that, as I 7   recall -- now, of course, we might get a month late start--
feel is the more important one to start tying some of these 2
8   I think was supposed to be finished in September of this 9   year.
loose ends down, we presently have -- I thought it was going 3
10               MR. MICHELSON:   What will be finished?
to go out about two weeks ago.
11               MR. THATCHER:   Finished as far as what we have in 12   that. It's a description of the concerns that have been
4 But it got hung up in somebody's office.
      )         13   expressed by yourself, other members, staf f members, and so 14   forth, in those areas.
4 5
15               Maybe I should mention that the title of the 16   program is called multiple system responses to plantwide 17   events. I'm not sure about the end of that. But it's 18   certainly a broad umbrella.
technical assistance program that's basically outlined to do 6
19               Under that broad umbrella, we want to look at the 20 ! concerns that have been raised and describe those concerns, 21 e develop those concerns so that we can turn them into what we 22   call issues to be worked.
this scoping type of study.
23 }             MR. MICHELSON:   And the issue is to be identified 24   by September?   Is that the idea? And then it will go out.
And the schedule on that, as I 7
G 5J-            25   You'll pick somebody to work on the issue, and so forth?
recall -- now, of course, we might get a month late start--
8 I think was supposed to be finished in September of this 9
year.
10 MR. MICHELSON:
What will be finished?
11 MR. THATCHER:
Finished as far as what we have in 12 that.
It's a description of the concerns that have been
)
13 expressed by yourself, other members, staf f members, and so 14 forth, in those areas.
15 Maybe I should mention that the title of the 16 program is called multiple system responses to plantwide 17 events.
I'm not sure about the end of that.
But it's 18 certainly a broad umbrella.
19 Under that broad umbrella, we want to look at the 20 !
concerns that have been raised and describe those concerns, 21 e develop those concerns so that we can turn them into what we 22 call issues to be worked.
23 }
MR. MICHELSON:
And the issue is to be identified 24 by September?
Is that the idea?
And then it will go out.
G5J 25 You'll pick somebody to work on the issue, and so forth?
i I
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()DAV/bc                           1                     MR. ANDERSON:   There's one step in there.       Then 2         the issue will be prioritized.
:4100 05 12 61
3                     MR. MICHELSON:   By the staff or by a contractor?
()DAV/bc 1
4                     MR. ANDERSON:   Well, by a contractor through the 5         staff.
MR. ANDERSON:
6                     MR. THATCHER:   But that process wouldn' t start 7         'til September.                                     ,
There's one step in there.
8                     MR. MICHELSON:   When do you think the 9         prioritization will come by?       Is that another three months, 10         or something?
Then 2
11                     MR. THATCHER:   The latest thing I had seen on 12         prioritization was that they typically, given that an issue
the issue will be prioritized.
()                             13         was given to them with enough background information and 14         specifically NRR of fice letter 40 type material, there had 15         been at one timo at least, I recall, a commitment to 16         prioritizing within a six-month time frame.       Maybe three 17         months.
3 MR. MICHELSON:
18                     MR. ANDERSON:   The six month is probably a pretty
By the staff or by a contractor?
;                                          19         good number if there is sufficient information.       The 20         problem that's hung up a lot of prioritizations is they're 21         very ill-defined issues and we really didn't know what to do 22         with them.
4 MR. ANDERSON:
!                                              l l                                         23 '                   MR. MICHELSON:   This will perhaps be in that i
Well, by a contractor through the 5
j                                         24         category until everybody agroes it's fully defined.         You 1
staff.
25         will send us a copy of the issue in September, I assumo, and l
6 MR. THATCHER:
But that process wouldn' t start 7
'til September.
8 MR. MICHELSON:
When do you think the 9
prioritization will come by?
Is that another three months, 10 or something?
11 MR. THATCHER:
The latest thing I had seen on 12 prioritization was that they typically, given that an issue
()
13 was given to them with enough background information and 14 specifically NRR of fice letter 40 type material, there had 15 been at one timo at least, I recall, a commitment to 16 prioritizing within a six-month time frame.
Maybe three 17 months.
18 MR. ANDERSON:
The six month is probably a pretty 19 good number if there is sufficient information.
The 20 problem that's hung up a lot of prioritizations is they're 21 very ill-defined issues and we really didn't know what to do 22 with them.
l l
23 '
MR. MICHELSON:
This will perhaps be in that i
j 24 category until everybody agroes it's fully defined.
You 1
25 will send us a copy of the issue in September, I assumo, and l
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4100 05 13 62 c
(_m) DAV/bc   1   we may or may not h5ve comments on it.
(_m) DAV/bc 1
2               MR. THATCHER:     That copy of the issue, as I tried.
we may or may not h5ve comments on it.
3   to indicate in our letter response, did kind of imply that 4   it would be one issue.
2 MR. THATCHER:
5               But based on what we see right now, it may be 6   many.
That copy of the issue, as I tried.
7               MR. MICHELSON:     If I may proceed, let me go 8   through some of my other comments.
3 to indicate in our letter response, did kind of imply that 4
9               In the near-term now, your resolution calls for 10   sending a generic letter to the licensees for information.
it would be one issue.
11   At the subcommittee meeting, we brought up the question of, 12   well, to what extent do licensees necessarily even have a
5 But based on what we see right now, it may be 6
()           13   program to review information notices?
many.
14               To what extent are they required to review 15   information notices?
7 MR. MICHELSON:
16               And you are I think going to come back and tell 17   us what you found out.
If I may proceed, let me go 8
18               MR. TilATCllER:   We didn't really do any more in 19   this investigation.
through some of my other comments.
20               MR. MICilELSON:   It was an important thing though 21   because I know, in the case of LERs, they're not required to 22   review any LERs except on their own plants.
9 In the near-term now, your resolution calls for 10 sending a generic letter to the licensees for information.
23               The question was, woll, how about information noticon?
11 At the subcommittee meeting, we brought up the question of, 12 well, to what extent do licensees necessarily even have a
24              Are they even required to review them if they 25   aren't, shall we say, directly relating to somo that ace-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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14 To what extent are they required to review 15 information notices?
16 And you are I think going to come back and tell 17 us what you found out.
18 MR. TilATCllER:
We didn't really do any more in 19 this investigation.
20 MR. MICilELSON:
It was an important thing though 21 because I know, in the case of LERs, they're not required to 22 review any LERs except on their own plants.
23 The question was, woll, how about information 24 noticon?
Are they even required to review them if they 25 aren't, shall we say, directly relating to somo that ace-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 06 01                                                                   64 i-DAVbur 1             MR. ANDERSON:   They are not required. We are not i 2   really expecting them to come back with any formal 3   response.
4100 06 01 64 i-DAVbur 1
4             MR. MICHELSON:     The question is:   are they 5   required to review the information documents in documents 6   that they have reviewed?
MR. ANDERSON:
7             I think they can ignore them completely.if they 8- wish.
They are not required.
9             MR. ANDERSON:   That is their right. They can.
We are not i
10             MR. THATCHER:     I don't know if that is entirely 11   true.
2 really expecting them to come back with any formal 3
12             MR. MICHELSON:     I don' t know what they do with 13   them. They are not required, I believe, to do anything with 14   what you are going to send them.
response.
15             VOICE: Periodically -- and this is done in the 16   regions periodically -- the inspectors that go out, both at 17   the site, the residence, and the ones that come in from the 18   regional headquarters, look at what is being done.       This I
4 MR. MICHELSON:
19   goes in through their periodic SALP ratings.
The question is:
MR. MICHELSON:     All they can do is look and see 20 l 21 l what, if anything, the licensee did with the information you 22   sont them, but they in no way can regulate this.       It is 23 ' really difficult to even spot them for not having reviewed       ;
are they 5
24   it, since there is no requirement.
required to review the information documents in documents 6
L-                           25 i           So I am not sure what the generic letter will ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
that they have reviewed?
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9 MR. ANDERSON:
That is their right.
They can.
10 MR. THATCHER:
I don't know if that is entirely 11 true.
12 MR. MICHELSON:
I don' t know what they do with 13 them.
They are not required, I believe, to do anything with 14 what you are going to send them.
15 VOICE:
Periodically -- and this is done in the 16 regions periodically -- the inspectors that go out, both at 17 the site, the residence, and the ones that come in from the 18 regional headquarters, look at what is being done.
This I
19 goes in through their periodic SALP ratings.
20 l MR. MICHELSON:
All they can do is look and see 21 l what, if anything, the licensee did with the information you 22 sont them, but they in no way can regulate this.
It is 23 '
really difficult to even spot them for not having reviewed 24 it, since there is no requirement.
L-25 i So I am not sure what the generic letter will ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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  '4100 06 02'                                                         65
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      'DAVbur   1 'do at this point.
'DAVbur 1
2             -It is just a comment.
'do at this point.
3             _ VOICE: It will bring all of these matters to 4 their attention not called in a systematic way.
2
5             MR. MICHELSON:   It.certainly will inform them of 6 your. concern.
-It is just a comment.
7             These flooding studies now that they are going to 8 do, I think you clarified and I assume that the few comments 9 that we had will be made sufficiently clear in your final 10 documentation, that it makes it clear that they go beyond 11 water, and I am sure you realize they have to go beyond the 12 liquid phase.
3
    )         13             DR. MOELLER:   Excuse me. What do you mean they 14 go beyond water?
_ VOICE:
15             MR. MICHELSON:   The important thing is that the 16 early pipe break studies done back in the early '70s in 17 response to the Giambusso letter addressed only what they 18 called flooding, which was interpreted to mean water on the 19 floor that was rising. As long as the water didn' t, for 20 instance, rise up to a pump level, the pump might still be 21 considered operable.
It will bring all of these matters to 4
22             They didn't consider the fact that the flood was 23 on the floor above and dripping down on the junction box, or 24 whatever. They also didn't consider the steam around the 25 building, but they looked at the water coming from the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
their attention not called in a systematic way.
m.m.,         ~ ~ _ , -           m 3m_
5 MR. MICHELSON:
It.certainly will inform them of 6
your. concern.
7 These flooding studies now that they are going to 8
do, I think you clarified and I assume that the few comments 9
that we had will be made sufficiently clear in your final 10 documentation, that it makes it clear that they go beyond 11 water, and I am sure you realize they have to go beyond the 12 liquid phase.
)
13 DR. MOELLER:
Excuse me.
What do you mean they 14 go beyond water?
15 MR. MICHELSON:
The important thing is that the 16 early pipe break studies done back in the early '70s in 17 response to the Giambusso letter addressed only what they 18 called flooding, which was interpreted to mean water on the 19 floor that was rising.
As long as the water didn' t, for 20 instance, rise up to a pump level, the pump might still be 21 considered operable.
22 They didn't consider the fact that the flood was 23 on the floor above and dripping down on the junction box, or 24 whatever.
They also didn't consider the steam around the 25 building, but they looked at the water coming from the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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    -4100 06 03                                                           66
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(_) DAVbur     1- broken high energy line, which is of course part water, part 2 steam.
(_) DAVbur 1-broken high energy line, which is of course part water, part 2
3               They looked at the water flood but didn' t look at' 4 the steam, and of course that is where you begin to get your 5 potential for system interaction.
steam.
6               MR. NYLIE:   Carl,'in that regard, can it be 7 concluded then that flooding includes all hazards that may 8 be in the area?
3 They looked at the water flood but didn' t look at' 4
9               MR. THATCHER:   How about we stop right here, and' 10 I will read you the definition that we are using in the 11 Generic 50-54(f) request.
the steam, and of course that is where you begin to get your 5
12               MR. MICHELSON:   That would be useful.
potential for system interaction.
13               MR. THATCHER:   As you will see -- I think I heard 14 dust here. It is not dust -- internal flooding, as used in 15 this document.
6 MR. NYLIE:
16               " Internal flooding includes all 17               forms of water or moisture release 18               internal to plant structures; for 19               example, leak or ruptures of water 20               or steam, fire protection system 21               actuation, et cetera. Regardless 22               of the means of release, the failure 23               mechanism is intrusion of water or 24               moisture to critical components."
Carl,'in that regard, can it be 7
25               MR. EBERSOLE:   Question. I think there would be ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
concluded then that flooding includes all hazards that may 8
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be in the area?
9 MR. THATCHER:
How about we stop right here, and' 10 I will read you the definition that we are using in the 11 Generic 50-54(f) request.
12 MR. MICHELSON:
That would be useful.
13 MR. THATCHER:
As you will see -- I think I heard 14 dust here.
It is not dust -- internal flooding, as used in 15 this document.
16
" Internal flooding includes all 17 forms of water or moisture release 18 internal to plant structures; for 19 example, leak or ruptures of water 20 or steam, fire protection system 21 actuation, et cetera.
Regardless 22 of the means of release, the failure 23 mechanism is intrusion of water or 24 moisture to critical components."
25 MR. EBERSOLE:
Question.
I think there would be ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 06 04                                                                 67 j DAVbur   1   lost in that some phenomenon, which has been happening to 2   the embarrassment, I hope, of the people to whom it has 3   happened.
4100 06 04 67 j DAVbur 1
4                 As you know, in its wisdom NRC elected not to 5   make fire equipment seismically competent or 1E or otherwise 6   safety oriented.       So we have large manifolded systems of 7   carbon dioxide which, upon just minor faults, can be 8   triggered into spatial areas containing critical 9   equipment -- that is why you want to protect it -- in 10   unlimited amounts sufficient to explode in the various 11   places they discharge into just by the failure of a single 12   timing valve, which is supposed to emit just so many cubic n
lost in that some phenomenon, which has been happening to 2
(j           13   feet into that space but can instead discharge the whole 14   tank farm into it.                           -
the embarrassment, I hope, of the people to whom it has 3
15                 We had rooms blow up for this.     So I can easily 16   give you an example of a system interaction in the seismic 17   event.
happened.
18                 If I have one of these systems that feeds into a 19 l battery room, I don' t need hydrogen to blow it up.       I am k
4 As you know, in its wisdom NRC elected not to 5
20   going to blow it up with CO-2.         In the sense that these are I
make fire equipment seismically competent or 1E or otherwise 6
t 21 ' adjacent walls, I will take both of them down.
safety oriented.
I                           Mr. Ebersole, is this simply --
So we have large manifolded systems of 7
22                 DR. KERRt 23                 MR. EBERSOLE:   It is an example of a system interaction that is not covered in the scope.         I think you f^
carbon dioxide which, upon just minor faults, can be 8
24l1-(s)'         25 ! are talking about water sprinklers.
triggered into spatial areas containing critical 9
I l           ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
equipment -- that is why you want to protect it -- in 10 unlimited amounts sufficient to explode in the various 11 places they discharge into just by the failure of a single 12 timing valve, which is supposed to emit just so many cubic n(j 13 feet into that space but can instead discharge the whole 14 tank farm into it.
I             n-               ~ _ - , .            -.
15 We had rooms blow up for this.
So I can easily 16 give you an example of a system interaction in the seismic 17 event.
18 If I have one of these systems that feeds into a 19 l battery room, I don' t need hydrogen to blow it up.
I am k
20 going to blow it up with CO-2.
In the sense that these are I
t 21 '
adjacent walls, I will take both of them down.
I DR. KERRt Mr. Ebersole, is this simply --
22 23 MR. EBERSOLE:
It is an example of a system 24l1 interaction that is not covered in the scope.
I think you f^
(s)'
25 !
are talking about water sprinklers.
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    '4100 06 05~                                                                           68
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<.      DAVbur   1                 ~DR. KERR   Your point is that you don't think 2   that the scope is being considered?
68 DAVbur 1
3                 MR. EBERSOLE:         Sharply defined, it might be.
~DR.
4   when we said vapors.
KERR Your point is that you don't think 2
I 5                 MR. MICHELSON:         'I don't know the rewording and
that the scope is being considered?
;                6  ' don't want to pretend to reword it for you, but I'think'the.
3 MR. EBERSOLE:
7   point is that you really are considering=the rupture of both-8   high and moderate energy lines, and whatever they contain, 9   whether it be CO-2, water, steam, hot water, cold water, i
Sharply defined, it might be.
10   whatever.     You are looking at the rupture of these lines and 11   the effect on the plant.
4 when we said vapors.
12                 MR. THATCHER:         You may be looking at that.         We 13   are not.
I 5
14                 MR. MICHELSON:           I thought that is what this was 15   going to do.
MR. MICHELSON:
16                 MR. WYLIE:     -I think this is basically limited to-17   water and water vapor.
'I don't know the rewording and 6
18                 MR. THATCHER:         I think you are right.
' don't want to pretend to reword it for you, but I'think'the.
19                 MR. MICHELSON:           And not to high energy steam, 20   although he says steam in there, but I am not sure where it 21   is coming from.
7 point is that you really are considering=the rupture of both-8 high and moderate energy lines, and whatever they contain, 9
22                 MR. THATCHER:         Only as a moisture intrusion.         I 23   think I just heard an example of one of our numerous systems 24   interactions of something going into an area and exploding.
whether it be CO-2, water, steam, hot water, cold water, i
25   No, water intrusion into critical equipment.
10 whatever.
You are looking at the rupture of these lines and 11 the effect on the plant.
12 MR. THATCHER:
You may be looking at that.
We 13 are not.
14 MR. MICHELSON:
I thought that is what this was 15 going to do.
16 MR. WYLIE:
-I think this is basically limited to-17 water and water vapor.
18 MR. THATCHER:
I think you are right.
19 MR. MICHELSON:
And not to high energy steam, 20 although he says steam in there, but I am not sure where it 21 is coming from.
22 MR. THATCHER:
Only as a moisture intrusion.
I 23 think I just heard an example of one of our numerous systems 24 interactions of something going into an area and exploding.
25 No, water intrusion into critical equipment.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202 .%47d7(U         Natiotimide Cmcrage     lot 31MM6
202.%47d7(U Natiotimide Cmcrage lot 31MM6


4100 l6             0        06                                                                                                                                                             69
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(,).'DAVbur                           1                                     MR. MICHELSON:                 I am just trying to find out what 2             -your scope is.               I would suggest that your intrusion of 3               steam --
(,).'DAVbur 1
4                                     DR. KERR:       Have you read the Staff's response 5                 letter to our previous concern about pipe break?                                                                                       This may 6               bear on some of the questions.
MR. MICHELSON:
7                                     OR. SHEWMON:           Is that addressed to                                                                     srl or the 8               speaker?
I am just trying to find out what 2
9                                     DR. KERR:       Carl.
-your scope is.
10                                     MR. MICHELSON:                 I am sorry, I didn' t hear.                                                               I was 11               talking to Paul.
I would suggest that your intrusion of 3
12                                     DR. KERR:       Have you read the Staf f's December
steam --
()                                   13                 18th response to our comments on SRP 3.6.1.
4 DR. KERR:
14                                     MR. MICHELSON:                 Yes, I have.
Have you read the Staff's response 5
15                                     DR. KERR:       Are there further questions of 16               Mr. Thatcher or comments?
letter to our previous concern about pipe break?
17                                     MR. MICHELSON:                 I haven't finished my comments 18               yet, but if you wish we can cease.
This may 6
,                                          19                                     DR. KERR         I was waiting for Mr. Ebersole to make 20               comments and I didn't realize you hadn't finished.
bear on some of the questions.
21                                     MR. MICHELSON:                 I still have a couple of 22               comments.
7 OR. SHEWMON:
23                                     DR. KERR:       Please go ahead.
Is that addressed to srl or the 8
i 24                                     MR. MICHELSON:                 One of the other points that you s                                  25               brought up -- and it is quite right -- A-46 is going to ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
speaker?
m m.   ,            x_                     e,-                                                     m_
9 DR. KERR:
Carl.
10 MR. MICHELSON:
I am sorry, I didn' t hear.
I was 11 talking to Paul.
12 DR. KERR:
Have you read the Staf f's December
()
13 18th response to our comments on SRP 3.6.1.
14 MR. MICHELSON:
Yes, I have.
15 DR. KERR:
Are there further questions of 16 Mr. Thatcher or comments?
17 MR. MICHELSON:
I haven't finished my comments 18 yet, but if you wish we can cease.
19 DR. KERR I was waiting for Mr. Ebersole to make 20 comments and I didn't realize you hadn't finished.
21 MR. MICHELSON:
I still have a couple of 22 comments.
23 DR. KERR:
Please go ahead.
i 24 MR. MICHELSON:
One of the other points that you 25 brought up -- and it is quite right -- A-46 is going to s
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
m m.
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c
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        $4100 06107                       ,,                                            70 r .
$4100 06107 70 r.
    '!    , DAVb'ur     1 resolve some of these problems.       Until'I see the resolution-2' of'A-46, which I don't know yet how they are. going.to
, DAVb'ur 1
[                 '3 handle'it -- we have heard from the Staff as to how they 4 might be handling it ;-- we are not quite 'sure what portion 5 of our' letter is addressed.                                   _
resolve some of these problems.
6                 We will just have to reserve it till later.
Until'I see the resolution-2' of'A-46, which I don't know yet how they are. going.to
s                    7                 The question that was raised in our letter, of 8 course, was what happens when a tank on one side of the room' 9 fails during a seismic event and the water runs across the I                     10   floor to an inverter on the other side of the room.           We said 11   that seemed like a 1caical interaction, already. accounted 12   for in A-46.
[
      .( )             13                   The A-46 people in the past said, no, they 14   weren't going to account for it until recently.         Well, it is 15   no longer clear whether they are or they aren't.
'3 handle'it -- we have heard from the Staff as to how they 4
                                                                                  ~
might be handling it ;-- we are not quite 'sure what portion 5
16                   As I understand it, the CRGR package would not i
of our' letter is addressed.
17   require it, but the industry thinks they are going to do it
6 We will just have to reserve it till later.
;                      18   anyway, which is commendable.       But I don't know the l                       19   situation.
7 The question that was raised in our letter, of s
!                      20                   DR. KERRt What is your point here, Carl?
8 course, was what happens when a tank on one side of the room' 9
{                       21                   MR. MICHELSON:   The point here is that that is a i
fails during a seismic event and the water runs across the I
;                      22   part of our letter, that is a part of our concern.         I just 1
10 floor to an inverter on the other side of the room.
l                       23   want to bring to the committee the fact that that part of 24   our letter has been rejected, at least by the Staff,                   ,
We said 11 that seemed like a 1caical interaction, already. accounted 12 for in A-46.
i i                      25   although it may be picked up by the industry.
.( )
13 The A-46 people in the past said, no, they 14 weren't going to account for it until recently.
Well, it is 15 no longer clear whether they are or they aren't.
16 As I understand it, the CRGR package would not
~
i 17 require it, but the industry thinks they are going to do it 18 anyway, which is commendable.
But I don't know the l
19 situation.
20 DR. KERRt What is your point here, Carl?
{
21 MR. MICHELSON:
The point here is that that is a i
22 part of our letter, that is a part of our concern.
I just 1
l 23 want to bring to the committee the fact that that part of 24 our letter has been rejected, at least by the Staff, i
i 25 although it may be picked up by the industry.
l t
l t
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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  / [ DAVbur     1                           Is that correct?                                                           -
/ [ DAVbur 1
2                         MR. ANDERSON:             I think that is essentially it.
Is that correct?
3           This particular item, we have told you we were concerned 4           about something structurally falling onto a component, but 5           we are not worrying about its contents.
2 MR. ANDERSON:
6                           In-A-46 we had taken the position then -- and I 7           think it is still true -- that that type of floo6ing is part 8           of this 50-54(f) letter we are proposing under A-17.
I think that is essentially it.
9                         MR. MICHELSON:             For which no action is required?
3 This particular item, we have told you we were concerned 4
r 10                         MR. ANDERSON:             No, no, no. This is the part 11           which requires an action.
about something structurally falling onto a component, but 5
12                         MR. MICHELSON:             All you are requiring -- this
we are not worrying about its contents.
()           13           should be made clear to the committee, too -- all you are 14           requiring is that they tell you what they have done?-
6 In-A-46 we had taken the position then -- and I 7
15                         MR. ANDERSON:             That is correct.
think it is still true -- that that type of floo6ing is part 8
16                         MR. MICHELSON:             And if they have done nothing,
of this 50-54(f) letter we are proposing under A-17.
,                17           that is a correct answer, also?
9 MR. MICHELSON:
18                           MR. ANDERSON:             That is correct.             They submit that 19           under oath and affirmation, and we will go from there.                             If 20           there is something they haven't done that falls within their 21           licensing basis and previous requirements, we could go out 22           under the order and make them do it.
For which no action is required?
23                           Now, as I mentioned to you Wednesday, the Senior 24           Seismic Advisory Panel are recommending that when they do go
r 10 MR. ANDERSON:
    /
No, no, no.
25           through, they do look at the water, and they think it is e
This is the part 11 which requires an action.
12 MR. MICHELSON:
All you are requiring -- this
()
13 should be made clear to the committee, too -- all you are 14 requiring is that they tell you what they have done?-
15 MR. ANDERSON:
That is correct.
16 MR. MICHELSON:
And if they have done nothing, 17 that is a correct answer, also?
18 MR. ANDERSON:
That is correct.
They submit that 19 under oath and affirmation, and we will go from there.
If 20 there is something they haven't done that falls within their 21 licensing basis and previous requirements, we could go out 22 under the order and make them do it.
23 Now, as I mentioned to you Wednesday, the Senior 24 Seismic Advisory Panel are recommending that when they do go
/
25 through, they do look at the water, and they think it is e
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4100 06 09                                                                     72
4100 06 09 72
( ) DAVbur   1 reasonable.     They are very reluctant at this time, with the 2 state of the A-46 package, to go back and revise that and go 3 through this process again.
( ) DAVbur 1
4             I think we are covered under the A-17, asking the 5 detailed questions, and I think there is a high probability 6 that this review will get done in the A-46 implementation.
reasonable.
7             DR. OKRENT:   Can I ask a question in this regard?
They are very reluctant at this time, with the 2
8             Mr. Hernan mentioned during the subcommittee 9 meeting on Wednesday that there was a letter from the Staff 10 to the ACRS, or a copy of a letter, which described in some 11 way some modifications, I think, in the scope of A-46.
state of the A-46 package, to go back and revise that and go 3
12             Do I remember this correctly?
through this process again.
4 I think we are covered under the A-17, asking the 5
detailed questions, and I think there is a high probability 6
that this review will get done in the A-46 implementation.
7 DR. OKRENT:
Can I ask a question in this regard?
8 Mr. Hernan mentioned during the subcommittee 9
meeting on Wednesday that there was a letter from the Staff 10 to the ACRS, or a copy of a letter, which described in some 11 way some modifications, I think, in the scope of A-46.
12 Do I remember this correctly?
(m
(m
()           13             MR. HERNAN:   There was a letter in response from 14 the Staff to the ACRS on A-46, specifically on ACRS ' letter 15 of concern that A-46 did not cover plants that are yet to be 16 licensed or plants that fall under the A-46 response.
()
17             I have not been back to my office since then, and 18 I have not tracked down the letter.             I don' t know if 19 Mr. Anderson brought it in or not.
13 MR. HERNAN:
20             MR. ANDERSON:     I am sorry, I did not.
There was a letter in response from 14 the Staff to the ACRS on A-46, specifically on ACRS ' letter 15 of concern that A-46 did not cover plants that are yet to be 16 licensed or plants that fall under the A-46 response.
21             MR. HERNAN:   We will get a copy of that letter.
17 I have not been back to my office since then, and 18 I have not tracked down the letter.
22             DR. OKRENT:   I just don't remember having 23 received the letter.
I don' t know if 19 Mr. Anderson brought it in or not.
4 24             MR. HERNAN:   It is a fairly recent letter.           I O           25 would guess the end of November, early December.
20 MR. ANDERSON:
I am sorry, I did not.
21 MR. HERNAN:
We will get a copy of that letter.
22 DR. OKRENT:
I just don't remember having 23 received the letter.
4 24 MR. HERNAN:
It is a fairly recent letter.
I O
25 would guess the end of November, early December.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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(' .
('
DAVbur   1               DR. OKRENT: It will probably reach us for 2   Chinese New Year.
DAVbur 1
3               MR. HERNAN: If we are lucky.
DR. OKRENT:
4               MR. MICHELSON: I would like to get to my bottom 5   line so that at least you know my views on it.
It will probably reach us for 2
6               I think the Staff has done the best job that-they 7   can in view of the controversial nature of the subject, in 8   view of the poor definition of some of it, the lack of full 9   understanding of what might be involved in this issue.
Chinese New Year.
10               I believe the promises that they have made, when 11   properly implemented, will eventually get to a new issue 12   here.
3 MR. HERNAN:
()           13               I believe the resolution they are proposing is 14   only hitting the easier part of the issue,-but certainly one 15   that they can manage.
If we are lucky.
16               So my own view is that we should go ahead and do 17   nothing at this time. I would propose that we review the 18   public comments when they come back, and unless we have 19   strong feelings at that point in time about the situation, 20   we should go ahead and accept this present resolution, with 21   the understanding that these promises will be carried out 22   in some timely fashion, and that we work closely with the 23   definition of the scope next time to see that they do cover 24   the areas that we are concerned with.
4 MR. MICHELSON:
25               That is my position. Thank you.
I would like to get to my bottom 5
                  !          ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
line so that at least you know my views on it.
I           -              ~_ m m. .           -
6 I think the Staff has done the best job that-they 7
can in view of the controversial nature of the subject, in 8
view of the poor definition of some of it, the lack of full 9
understanding of what might be involved in this issue.
10 I believe the promises that they have made, when 11 properly implemented, will eventually get to a new issue 12 here.
()
13 I believe the resolution they are proposing is 14 only hitting the easier part of the issue,-but certainly one 15 that they can manage.
16 So my own view is that we should go ahead and do 17 nothing at this time.
I would propose that we review the 18 public comments when they come back, and unless we have 19 strong feelings at that point in time about the situation, 20 we should go ahead and accept this present resolution, with 21 the understanding that these promises will be carried out 22 in some timely fashion, and that we work closely with the 23 definition of the scope next time to see that they do cover 24 the areas that we are concerned with.
25 That is my position.
Thank you.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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~_ m m..


4100.06 11-                                                                 74
4100.06 11-74
( ): DAVbur. 1               .DR. KERR ' Can I interpret some of those 2   comments.as somewhat complimentary?
( ): DAVbur.
3               MR. MICHELSON:     I think the Staff-did a fine job, 4   you know. .This is not a simple, easily dealt with issue.-
1
5   It is a sensitive issue.
.DR.
6               MR. EBERSOLE:   What I hear you saying, though, 7   Carl, is that they have put a valiant, desperate effort to 8   do something but they have been defeated by other 9   processes.
KERR ' Can I interpret some of those 2
10               MR. MICHELSON:     You can say it that way if you 11   wish. That is probably another view of the-same thing.
comments.as somewhat complimentary?
12               RD:R. KERR: That is an interesting translation.
3 MR. MICHELSON:
  -( )           13               Are there further questions or comments?
I think the Staff-did a fine job, 4
14               Mr. Wylie?
you know..This is not a simple, easily dealt with issue.-
i 15               MR. WYLIE: I will just say this.
5 It is a sensitive issue.
: 16.               I just think it is unfortunate and unfair to the 17   utilities to go forward with the resolution of A-46 and do 18 l the plant walkdowns and not look for the other potential 19   hazards that are there at that time and then come back later 20   and make them do it again.       And I think that is where we are 21   headed.
6 MR. EBERSOLE:
22               I just think that is unfortunate.       I think it
What I hear you saying, though, 7
;-                23   ought to be done where they do it one time.
Carl, is that they have put a valiant, desperate effort to 8
24               MR. MICHELSON:     In that case, then, one should I
do something but they have been defeated by other 9
l                 25   vote against the resolution.
processes.
10 MR. MICHELSON:
You can say it that way if you 11 wish.
That is probably another view of the-same thing.
12 RD:R. KERR:
That is an interesting translation.
-( )
13 Are there further questions or comments?
14 Mr. Wylie?
i 15 MR. WYLIE:
I will just say this.
16.
I just think it is unfortunate and unfair to the 17 utilities to go forward with the resolution of A-46 and do 18 l the plant walkdowns and not look for the other potential 19 hazards that are there at that time and then come back later 20 and make them do it again.
And I think that is where we are 21 headed.
22 I just think that is unfortunate.
I think it 23 ought to be done where they do it one time.
24 MR. MICHELSON:
In that case, then, one should I
l 25 vote against the resolution.
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4100 06 12 75 m
(_) DAVbur       1                       DR. KERR:           Mr. Thatcher?
(_) DAVbur 1
2                       MR. THATCHER:             I just wanted to make a comment on 3     that.
DR. KERR:
4                       We view the flooding work that we are asking 5     questions about as mostly having been done.
Mr. Thatcher?
6                       We also see that possibly A-46 walkdowns that are 7     yet to be done may be looking at some tank failures and some 8     water problems, too, which could be supplemental information 9     to respond to our flooding concerns.
2 MR. THATCHER:
10                       I think this.is a good example of the overlap of 11     systems interaction.                   It wasn't planned that A-46 be around 12     and A-17 was coming to a conclusion or anything like that, f'
I just wanted to make a comment on 3
(,j)           13     but it just so happens that almost all these safety issues 14     could involve systems interaction.
that.
15                       And I think the Staf f on A-17 is not asking for 16     more walkdowns unless they haven' t done anything.                                 Maybe 17     then they ought to be doing something.
4 We view the flooding work that we are asking 5
18                       MR. WYLIE:           But how are you going to know that l                 19     there is not a potential hazard out there -- say, for I
questions about as mostly having been done.
20     example, in hydrogen gas?                     How are you going to do that?
6 We also see that possibly A-46 walkdowns that are 7
21                       MR. THATCHER:             We are not going to do it under l
yet to be done may be looking at some tank failures and some 8
;                  22     A-17.
water problems, too, which could be supplemental information 9
to respond to our flooding concerns.
10 I think this.is a good example of the overlap of 11 systems interaction.
It wasn't planned that A-46 be around 12 and A-17 was coming to a conclusion or anything like that, f'(,j) 13 but it just so happens that almost all these safety issues 14 could involve systems interaction.
15 And I think the Staf f on A-17 is not asking for 16 more walkdowns unless they haven' t done anything.
Maybe 17 then they ought to be doing something.
18 MR. WYLIE:
But how are you going to know that l
19 there is not a potential hazard out there -- say, for I
20 example, in hydrogen gas?
How are you going to do that?
21 MR. THATCHER:
We are not going to do it under l
22 A-17.
1.
1.
l 23-                       MR. WYLIE:           That is right.
l 23-MR. WYLIE:
24 i                     Would you be concerned if you had a seismic event
That is right.
      ~T (d
24 i Would you be concerned if you had a seismic event (d
25 !
l
l and you blew up a plant because of the release of hydrogen l                       \
~T 25 !
l l                                   ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
and you blew up a plant because of the release of hydrogen l
202-347-3700             Nationwide Coverage         8m-336-(M6
\\
l l
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 06 13                                                                                                                                             76
4100 06 13 76
  /~N U DAVbur       1                   gas?
/~N U DAVbur 1
2                                               MR. THATCHER:                     That -- you know, the seismic 3                   aspects, the seismic-induced kinds of things are definitely 4                   the kinds of things that we are going to be'looking at in 5                   this program that we said we are going to work now to 6                   define, the things that weren' t covered under A-46, A-17, 7                   A-47.
gas?
8                                               MR. WYLIE:                   What you are saying, though, is you 9                   are going to go back and do it again?
2 MR. THATCHER:
10                                               MR. THATCHER:                     But we think that we will go 11                   back -- if we do go back and do it again, we will ask the 12                   utilities if it comes out that way to go out and look for
That -- you know, the seismic 3
,    )         13                   hydrogen bottles or something.                                               That is very specific.
aspects, the seismic-induced kinds of things are definitely 4
14                                               MR. WYLIE:                   What about hydrogen pipes for bulk 15                   storage throughout the plant?
the kinds of things that we are going to be'looking at in 5
16                                               MR. THATCHER:                     I don't know.
this program that we said we are going to work now to 6
17                                               MR. WYLIE:                   You don't know.                     That is the point.
define, the things that weren' t covered under A-46, A-17, 7
18       I MR. EBERSOLE:                     I think he is right.                                 15et me give 19                   you a more delicate thing.
A-47.
20 i                                             I just have a modest earthquake someplace, and 21                   these great big weight-operated seal pumps and CO-2 control 22                   systems, they blow uncontrolled volumes of CO-2 into a 23                   battery room and blow down both walls.                                                       I haven't really had 24                   a big earthquake, but I have blown up the batteries.
8 MR. WYLIE:
What you are saying, though, is you 9
are going to go back and do it again?
10 MR. THATCHER:
But we think that we will go 11 back -- if we do go back and do it again, we will ask the 12 utilities if it comes out that way to go out and look for
)
13 hydrogen bottles or something.
That is very specific.
14 MR. WYLIE:
What about hydrogen pipes for bulk 15 storage throughout the plant?
16 MR. THATCHER:
I don't know.
17 MR. WYLIE:
You don't know.
That is the point.
I 18 MR. EBERSOLE:
I think he is right.
15et me give 19 you a more delicate thing.
20 i I just have a modest earthquake someplace, and 21 these great big weight-operated seal pumps and CO-2 control 22 systems, they blow uncontrolled volumes of CO-2 into a 23 battery room and blow down both walls.
I haven't really had 24 a big earthquake, but I have blown up the batteries.
25 MR. THATCHER:
That is another example.
+
+
  's           25                                              MR. THATCHER:                      That is another example.
's ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
202-347-3?(U Nationwide Coserage 8ak346M6 a
202-347-3?(U                     Nationwide Coserage                           8ak346M6 a -    , - - . , - . - - ,      .---,.c     -,,--n..       - - - . . . . , - - - -  s --   c~---.~,,-   n-c- - - - - ,--,---,-~-,c-----.-c-
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      '4100 06 14-                                                                           77
'4100 06 14-77
    ,- \ .
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i)s_ DAVbur     1                 If I can respond to these comments, I notice 2   Victor Stello said the same thing, but I don' t know if there 3   is a question on some of these.             Sometimes I feel like I am 4   interrupting your discussion.
i) DAVbur 1
5                 But we come down to ACRS meetings, my 6   predecessors came down to ACRS meetings, and there's 7   examples. We can all think of them.           Like we can go around 8   the table. We can all think of them.
If I can respond to these comments, I notice s_
9                 But it borders on asking the utility if you think 10   that systems interaction is a focused safety issue instead 11   of what I consider a broad safety concern.             It borders on 12   going and asking the utilities to go out-and do -- hey, it
2 Victor Stello said the same thing, but I don' t know if there 3
()             13   is more than walkdowns, in my opinion, that they have to do, 14   but go out and do good. It borders on that being that 15   broad.
is a question on some of these.
16                 And I don' t think the Staf f would know what to do t
Sometimes I feel like I am 4
17   with the response to a position -- go out and do good; go
interrupting your discussion.
[       18   out and look for your hydrogen bottles; go out and look for 19   your CO-2 problems.
5 But we come down to ACRS meetings, my 6
20                 We wouldn't even be able to list them because we 21   would come down with a list and everybody would have ten s
predecessors came down to ACRS meetings, and there's 7
J                   22 l more.
examples.
23                 So our requirement would be go out and do good.
We can all think of them.
Like we can go around 8
the table.
We can all think of them.
9 But it borders on asking the utility if you think 10 that systems interaction is a focused safety issue instead 11 of what I consider a broad safety concern.
It borders on 12 going and asking the utilities to go out-and do -- hey, it
()
13 is more than walkdowns, in my opinion, that they have to do, 14 but go out and do good.
It borders on that being that 15 broad.
16 And I don' t think the Staf f would know what to do t
17 with the response to a position -- go out and do good; go
[
18 out and look for your hydrogen bottles; go out and look for 19 your CO-2 problems.
20 We wouldn't even be able to list them because we 21 would come down with a list and everybody would have ten s
J 22 l more.
23 So our requirement would be go out and do good.
24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 07 01                                                             78
4100 07 01 78
( ) DAV/bc   1               DR. KERR: Let me try to formulate one.     Would 2   you think it would make sense to have two separate 3   walkdowns, both of which would be effectively systems 4   interaction?
( ) DAV/bc 1
5               That was the question Mr. Wylie was raising and I 6   don't believe you've responded to it.
DR. KERR:
7               MR. THATCHER:     I don' t think it's logical to do 8   that. But, given the way -- it's not logical on one hand, 9   but on the other hand, maybe it is.
Let me try to formulate one.
10               What are all the systems interaction issues we 11   should be looking at when we send them out to do this 12   wonderful, first and forever all walkdown?     I don't think we
Would 2
    )         13   know them all.
you think it would make sense to have two separate 3
14               There may have to be a second walkdown; I don't 15   know. If, today, we knew all the systems interaction and 16   all the things to look for...
walkdowns, both of which would be effectively systems 4
17               DR. KERR: If you don't know what to look for, 18 ' now certainly you have to ask people to look for something 19   later on. But, if it's all a matter of waiting two or three 20 l months, or six months, until we know what we're looking for, 21 ! it strikes me that might be something worth considering.
interaction?
22 '             MR. THATCHER:     I don't think it's six months to 23   find out what we're looking for.
5 That was the question Mr. Wylie was raising and I 6
24 1 DR. KERR: Maybe it's a good idea to encourage (9
don't believe you've responded to it.
  \/                 people to have an annua  walkdown, I don't know.
7 MR. THATCHER:
I don' t think it's logical to do 8
that.
But, given the way -- it's not logical on one hand, 9
but on the other hand, maybe it is.
10 What are all the systems interaction issues we 11 should be looking at when we send them out to do this 12 wonderful, first and forever all walkdown?
I don't think we
)
13 know them all.
14 There may have to be a second walkdown; I don't 15 know.
If, today, we knew all the systems interaction and 16 all the things to look for...
17 DR. KERR:
If you don't know what to look for, 18 '
now certainly you have to ask people to look for something 19 later on.
But, if it's all a matter of waiting two or three 20 l months, or six months, until we know what we're looking for, 21 !
it strikes me that might be something worth considering.
22 '
MR. THATCHER:
I don't think it's six months to 23 find out what we're looking for.
24 DR. KERR:
Maybe it's a good idea to encourage 1
(9
\\/
25 ;
25 ;
people to have an annua walkdown, I don't know.
1 1
1 1
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
t
t
                                  .3 .       x _ m-              --
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4 4100 07.02                                                                                         79 i
4 4100 07.02 79
      ) DAV/bc                       1                   MR. THATCHER:     Given the modifications, maybe it 2     is.
) DAV/bc i
3                   DR.'KERR:   Mr. Okrent.
1 MR. THATCHER:
4                   MR. OKRENT:   I'm not clear on what the 5     responsibility of INPO is.       But certainly systems 6     interaction can be interpteted in large part as operating 7     an safety question.
Given the modifications, maybe it 2
8                   I'm just wondering if we were to follow Carl's 9     proposal of not holding up the staff with this proposed 10         approach, which they would have to send out for comment 11'         anyway, and perhaps, at that point, judging whether we 12         should write what amounts to a strong letter, it is still-r 13         not relevant somehow to point out to the Commission that the 14         current efforts by the staff are limited in the kinds of 15         systems interaction that they are both looking at; and 16         proposing to call to the attention, or ask that the 17         utilities review, and that we think that it may be 18         appropriate for INPO to develop a broader scope of systems 19         interaction approach.
is.
20                       That is done by the utilities with the help, 21         formulation, structuring of INPO and review by INPO.             I'll 22         put that on the table.
3 DR.'KERR:
23                       DR. KERR:   Have we got other questions for 24         Mr. Thatcher?
Mr. Okrent.
ok-                         25                       (No response.)
4 MR. OKRENT:
I'm not clear on what the 5
responsibility of INPO is.
But certainly systems 6
interaction can be interpteted in large part as operating 7
an safety question.
8 I'm just wondering if we were to follow Carl's 9
proposal of not holding up the staff with this proposed 10 approach, which they would have to send out for comment 11' anyway, and perhaps, at that point, judging whether we 12 should write what amounts to a strong letter, it is still-r 13 not relevant somehow to point out to the Commission that the 14 current efforts by the staff are limited in the kinds of 15 systems interaction that they are both looking at; and 16 proposing to call to the attention, or ask that the 17 utilities review, and that we think that it may be 18 appropriate for INPO to develop a broader scope of systems 19 interaction approach.
20 That is done by the utilities with the help, 21 formulation, structuring of INPO and review by INPO.
I'll 22 put that on the table.
23 DR. KERR:
Have we got other questions for 24 Mr. Thatcher?
o k-25 (No response.)
i ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
i ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 07 03                                                               80
4100 07 03 80
          .DAV/bc 1                 MR. HERNAN:   Mr. Chairman, I would like to 2     correct the record on one ir, sue , if I may. The statement 3     was made that there was no obligation on the part of 4     utilities to look at information notices, generic letters, 5   and the like.
.DAV/bc 1
6                 There was a TMI action item, 1C5, entitled 7 I   procedures for feedback of operating experience from plant 0
MR. HERNAN:
8    staff, which, to my knowledge, has been implemented at all 9     plants, and very specifically requires that the plants have 10     procedures to feed back any information relative to the 11     safety and operation of the plants, and any procedures to 12     specify who within their organization gets this information, o
Mr. Chairman, I would like to 2
(_)           13     down by position.
correct the record on one ir, sue, if I may.
14                 From this standpoint, it's my belief that the 15     information such as we would issue on A-17 will reach or i
The statement 3
16 l   will receive some attention by the utility if they properly i
was made that there was no obligation on the part of 4
17 l   implemented this TMI action plan item.
utilities to look at information notices, generic letters, 5
18                 MR. MICHELSON:   I would strongly recommend you 19     talk to Jack Heltemes on this matter. He'll refresh your 20 i   memory. What I want to know if the current status.
and the like.
21 l               Back in 1980 or about '81, I signed out a letter 22 l   in which we reached agreement between the agency and INPO 23 i   that INPO was going to do this job except for events 24 ,   occurring directly on that plant. INPO was going to do all l              l
6 There was a TMI action item, 1C5, entitled I
procedures for feedback of operating experience from plant 7
0 8
staff, which, to my knowledge, has been implemented at all 9
plants, and very specifically requires that the plants have 10 procedures to feed back any information relative to the 11 safety and operation of the plants, and any procedures to 12 specify who within their organization gets this information, o
(_)
13 down by position.
14 From this standpoint, it's my belief that the 15 information such as we would issue on A-17 will reach or i
16 l will receive some attention by the utility if they properly i
17 l implemented this TMI action plan item.
18 MR. MICHELSON:
I would strongly recommend you 19 talk to Jack Heltemes on this matter.
He'll refresh your 20 i memory.
What I want to know if the current status.
21 l Back in 1980 or about
'81, I signed out a letter 22 l in which we reached agreement between the agency and INPO 23 i that INPO was going to do this job except for events 24,
occurring directly on that plant.
INPO was going to do all
(~/
(~/
  'm             25 !   the review because each utility couldn't possibly review all i
l l
'm 25 !
the review because each utility couldn't possibly review all i
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
                                    -~             ~ _ - -             s- -
-~
~ _ - -
s- -


4100 07 04                                                                                           81
4100 07 04 81
() DAV/bc 1                 the LERs , the effect of all the information notices, and so 2                 forth.
() DAV/bc 1
3                                     It was to be done as a consolidated job by INPO.
the LERs, the effect of all the information notices, and so 2
4                 Now, I think that's still the case.
forth.
5                                     MR. HERNAN:       I don't believe that letter relieved 6                 the utility.
3 It was to be done as a consolidated job by INPO.
l                   7                                     MR. MICHELSON:         Yes, that letter superceded the i                   8                 requirement.             Essentially, it satisfied the action plan item l
4 Now, I think that's still the case.
9                 as to how this done.             Now, each utility must still name a
5 MR. HERNAN:
  !                10                 person to coordinate this activity at the utility, 11                                     But the utility is not responsible to sit down 12                 and read every LER, for instance.                 I didn' t know on p
I don't believe that letter relieved 6
(_)             13                   information notices, and that's why I asked for the 14                 clarification.
the utility.
15                                     Are they actually still expected to read and act 16                 on every information notice as appropriate, and document 17                   that they've done it?
l 7
18                                     MR. THATCHER:         I think the answer to that is yes.
MR. MICHELSON:
19                                     MR. MICHELSON:         I don't know the answer.
Yes, that letter superceded the i
20                                     MR. THATCHER:         LERs may be passed on, but you 21                 must remember that, on A-17, we did look at LERs and we 22 !                 condensed that information into possible applicability to 1
8 requirement.
23 !                 all plants.           And that's what our generic is.
Essentially, it satisfied the action plan item l
I 24 l                                   MR. MICHELSON:         I think it's important to get it m
9 as to how this done.
N-                                  somehow clarified before the committee though the exact 25 ;
Now, each utility must still name a 10 person to coordinate this activity at the utility, 11 But the utility is not responsible to sit down 12 and read every LER, for instance.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.                                 i 3,m.m 7                 i
I didn' t know on p
(_)
13 information notices, and that's why I asked for the 14 clarification.
15 Are they actually still expected to read and act 16 on every information notice as appropriate, and document 17 that they've done it?
18 MR. THATCHER:
I think the answer to that is yes.
19 MR. MICHELSON:
I don't know the answer.
20 MR. THATCHER:
LERs may be passed on, but you 21 must remember that, on A-17, we did look at LERs and we 22 !
condensed that information into possible applicability to 1
23 !
all plants.
And that's what our generic is.
I 24 l MR. MICHELSON:
I think it's important to get it m
25 ;
somehow clarified before the committee though the exact N-ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
i i
3,m.m 7


4100 07 05                                                                               82 t' .
4100 07 05 82 t'
i, ) DAV/bc     1   obligation.       All it takes is a call to Jack and ask~him to 2   tell you.
i, ) DAV/bc 1
3                 MR. HERNAN:             I'll get that clarification.
obligation.
4                 DR. KERR:     Mr Shewmon.
All it takes is a call to Jack and ask~him to 2
5                 DR. SilEWMON:               I guess I'll say this to 6   Mr. Thatcher, and anybody else can listen.
tell you.
7                 Some people who are inherently more optimistic, 8   perhaps more naive, such as myself, feel that, indeed, if 9   there are things out there which are going to rise up and 10   bite you, that you'll see them and perhaps CO 2 won' t blow
3 MR. HERNAN:
                'll   out the walls on the worst possible day of the year, when 12   you have something else going on.
I'll get that clarification.
      )         13                 And then, indeed, the systems interactions, which 14   are important and bothersome, will show up over a period of 15   time for people who are at least interested in seeing these 16   precursors .
4 DR. KERR:
17                 And they'll get a pretty good idea of the ones 18   that are important without having to go out and having to 19   kick over all the rocks and keep harrassing themselves and 20   others about whether or not they have found all the 21 i conceivable interactions.
Mr Shewmon.
I 22 l               So, over the years, perhaps you'll get to know 23 I what the important systems interactions are simply if we 24 , keep our eyes open.       Without doing all the things you're i
5 DR. SilEWMON:
Os             25 ' afraid we might be asked to do.
I guess I'll say this to 6
Mr. Thatcher, and anybody else can listen.
7 Some people who are inherently more optimistic, 8
perhaps more naive, such as myself, feel that, indeed, if 9
there are things out there which are going to rise up and 10 bite you, that you'll see them and perhaps CO 2 won' t blow
'll out the walls on the worst possible day of the year, when 12 you have something else going on.
)
13 And then, indeed, the systems interactions, which 14 are important and bothersome, will show up over a period of 15 time for people who are at least interested in seeing these 16 precursors.
17 And they'll get a pretty good idea of the ones 18 that are important without having to go out and having to 19 kick over all the rocks and keep harrassing themselves and 20 others about whether or not they have found all the 21 i conceivable interactions.
22 l So, over the years, perhaps you'll get to know I
23 I what the important systems interactions are simply if we 24,
keep our eyes open.
Without doing all the things you're i
Os 25 '
afraid we might be asked to do.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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n g.
n g.
4100 07 06                                                                                                                                                                             83
4100 07 06 83
(_) DAV/bc                                 1                                   DR. KERR:     Mr. Thatcher.
(_) DAV/bc 1
2                                   MR. MICHELSON:         I think that's a good follow-on 3                   statement of pre:isely what INPO was supposed to do, so each 4                   utility didn't have to bother.
DR. KERR:
5                                   DR. KERR:     Mr. Thatcher, we thank you for your 6                   presentation.           And the staff members.                                   I declare a recess 7                   until 10:4 5.
Mr. Thatcher.
8                                     (Recess.)
2 MR. MICHELSON:
9                                   DR. OKRENT:     I said there were going to be 10                       several options.           The committee could'make a choice for 11                       either action or inaction.               And one can do that either now 12                       or on Saturday.
I think that's a good follow-on 3
()                                     13                                       DR. KERR:     Is it the sense of the committee that 14                       we should write a letter at this meeting, or that we wait?
statement of pre:isely what INPO was supposed to do, so each 4
15                                       MR. MICHELSON:         Do you want to ask for a vote?
utility didn't have to bother.
16                                       DR. SHEWMON:     I'd rather hear some discussion, so 17                       I can know which way to vote.
5 DR. KERR:
18                                       MR. WARD:     What would the letter say, in general?
Mr. Thatcher, we thank you for your 6
19                                       MR. EBERSOLE:         I think it would say two things.
presentation.
20                       Extrapolate funding that would include more than liquid water. And I would personally make the complain'. that this 21 l 22                       doesn't appear as the part of the SRP, the integrating 23 l                     aspects of the SRP; because I'm perfectly confident it's i
And the staff members.
24 j                     been stamped out by a proceeding through the 25                       compartmentalized process.
I declare a recess 7
until 10:4 5.
8 (Recess.)
9 DR. OKRENT:
I said there were going to be 10 several options.
The committee could'make a choice for 11 either action or inaction.
And one can do that either now 12 or on Saturday.
()
13 DR. KERR:
Is it the sense of the committee that 14 we should write a letter at this meeting, or that we wait?
15 MR. MICHELSON:
Do you want to ask for a vote?
16 DR. SHEWMON:
I'd rather hear some discussion, so 17 I can know which way to vote.
18 MR. WARD:
What would the letter say, in general?
19 MR. EBERSOLE:
I think it would say two things.
20 Extrapolate funding that would include more than liquid water.
And I would personally make the complain'. that this 21 l 22 doesn't appear as the part of the SRP, the integrating 23 l aspects of the SRP; because I'm perfectly confident it's i
24 j been stamped out by a proceeding through the 25 compartmentalized process.
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4100 07 07                                                                     84
4100 07 07 84
    ) DAV/bc   1                 MR. MICHELSON:     Would it_make any difference if 2 we say that now or say it three months from now?
) DAV/bc 1
3                 MR. EBERSOLE:     I don't think it would make any 4 difference anyway because they're going to have to wait for 5 something to happen.
MR. MICHELSON:
6                 DR. KERR:   I've heard one suggestion that we-7 should write a letter.         Does anyone else think we should?
Would it_make any difference if 2
8                 (No response.)
we say that now or say it three months from now?
9                 DR. KERR:   My sense is that we don' t write a 10 letter at this point.
3 MR. EBERSOLE:
11                 Mr. Okrent, you are next on the agenda, for some
I don't think it would make any 4
:              12 odd reason, to discuss Chernobyl.
difference anyway because they're going to have to wait for 5
()         13                 DR. OKRENT:   You will recall that, at the last 14 meeting, we spent some time on the draft Chernobyl letter.
something to happen.
15 And toward the end of the discussion, our wise, then 16 cha i rman . . .
6 DR. KERR:
17                 DR. SHEWMON:   Then wise or still wise?
I've heard one suggestion that we-7 should write a letter.
18                 DR. OKRENT:   Our then chairman said that he 19 thought this was an important letter.               We probably didn' t 20 have to get it out in December, and it might be well to i             21 reflect on it for a month.
Does anyone else think we should?
22                 And I certainly wouldn' t disagree.         So we asked 23 that people provide comments in the office that they might 24 have on the letter.
8 (No response.)
25                 I must say there was one very detailed comment i
9 DR. KERR:
My sense is that we don' t write a 10 letter at this point.
11 Mr. Okrent, you are next on the agenda, for some 12 odd reason, to discuss Chernobyl.
()
13 DR. OKRENT:
You will recall that, at the last 14 meeting, we spent some time on the draft Chernobyl letter.
15 And toward the end of the discussion, our wise, then 16 cha i rman...
17 DR. SHEWMON:
Then wise or still wise?
18 DR. OKRENT:
Our then chairman said that he 19 thought this was an important letter.
We probably didn' t 20 have to get it out in December, and it might be well to i
21 reflect on it for a month.
22 And I certainly wouldn' t disagree.
So we asked 23 that people provide comments in the office that they might 24 have on the letter.
25 I must say there was one very detailed comment i
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4100 07 08                                                             85 DAV/bc 'l   from Paul Shewmon. It'was sufficiently detailed that I 2   thought I could use it to prepare an alternate draft 3   letter. I didn't want to throw away the first one because 4   of a suggestion by one member, but it leads to a shorter 5   letter which cuts out some of the recommendations and 6   shortens discussions on some of the recommendations, and so 7   forth.
4100 07 08 85 DAV/bc
8               -And I made only what I would call no major 9   changes in what I'll call the old letter -- sort of 10   editorial type things. And I still left some things in 11   there repetitive because I didn't know, if the committee 12   stays with that one, which of two short paragraphs or long 13   paragraphs on the same subject they would like.
'l from Paul Shewmon.
14               I didn't make any effort to remove duplication 15   from that letter since, again, that letter is somewhat of a 16   camel with contributions from various members.
It'was sufficiently detailed that I 2
17               I would propose that we quickly read through.
thought I could use it to prepare an alternate draft 3
18   Before we do that, we have Brian Sheron and the staff. I 19   propose we hear from them very briefly -- maybe.five 20   minutes. He said maybe he might not even need that much.
letter.
21               He can tell us in the first place what the 22   schedule is, whether they need a letter from us, and any 23   changes if major in what they have written that we had 24   available to us in December, et cetera.
I didn't want to throw away the first one because 4
25               So I'd like to start with Brian Sheron and only
of a suggestion by one member, but it leads to a shorter 5
              '          ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
letter which cuts out some of the recommendations and 6
                              .,-        u- --              , , , , -
shortens discussions on some of the recommendations, and so 7
forth.
8
-And I made only what I would call no major 9
changes in what I'll call the old letter -- sort of 10 editorial type things.
And I still left some things in 11 there repetitive because I didn't know, if the committee 12 stays with that one, which of two short paragraphs or long 13 paragraphs on the same subject they would like.
14 I didn't make any effort to remove duplication 15 from that letter since, again, that letter is somewhat of a 16 camel with contributions from various members.
17 I would propose that we quickly read through.
18 Before we do that, we have Brian Sheron and the staff.
I 19 propose we hear from them very briefly -- maybe.five 20 minutes.
He said maybe he might not even need that much.
21 He can tell us in the first place what the 22 schedule is, whether they need a letter from us, and any 23 changes if major in what they have written that we had 24 available to us in December, et cetera.
25 So I'd like to start with Brian Sheron and only ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
u- --


4100 07 09                                                                               86
4100 07 09 86
(,j DAV/bc     1     pose questions to him that we think are really important for 2     purposes of our own letter.
.,(,j DAV/bc 1
3                     Either you'd like to know more about why 4     Chernobyl did what it did -- we're not even going to discuss                 ,
pose questions to him that we think are really important for 2
5      that in the letter, for example.
purposes of our own letter.
6                     So, if it's agreeable, let's hear from Brian.
3 Either you'd like to know more about why 4
7                     MR. SHERON:     Thank you.           The status righ: now of 8     the two reports.         One is the factual report.             There was a 9     meeting on December 19th with all of the authorc from 10     various agencies and organizations.
Chernobyl did what it did -- we're not even going to discuss 5
11                     We agreed at that time that we would publish the 12     report as a review draft.           This basically means that we are
that in the letter, for example.
()           13 l
6 So, if it's agreeable, let's hear from Brian.
going to issue it, we think now, on February 6th for about a 14     45-day comment period.
7 MR. SHERON:
15                     We wculd not be issuing it in the Federal
Thank you.
>                16     Register, but rather issuing it to cognizant people.                     Each 17     agency will issue it to their own constituency.
The status righ: now of 8
18                     For example, EPA may have people they would like 19     to have review or comment on it.                 NRC would issue it, and
the two reports.
;                20     the like.
One is the factual report.
21                     At the end of that 45-day comment period, the 22 d   proposal was for all of the organizations that participated i                     I 23 ';   to get back together again and see if we could agree on a i                     I
There was a 9
!                24 i   final version which would be released as the U.S. report, l   /~T kl           25     I'd say.
meeting on December 19th with all of the authorc from 10 various agencies and organizations.
I 1                       .
11 We agreed at that time that we would publish the 12 report as a review draft.
I                                 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
This basically means that we are
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()
13 going to issue it, we think now, on February 6th for about a l
14 45-day comment period.
15 We wculd not be issuing it in the Federal 16 Register, but rather issuing it to cognizant people.
Each 17 agency will issue it to their own constituency.
18 For example, EPA may have people they would like 19 to have review or comment on it.
NRC would issue it, and 20 the like.
21 At the end of that 45-day comment period, the 22 d proposal was for all of the organizations that participated i
I 23 ';
to get back together again and see if we could agree on a i
I 24 i final version which would be released as the U.S.
: report, l
/~T kl 25 I'd say.
I 1
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4100 07 10                                                                                               87
4100 07 10 87
    ,a g_) DAV/bc     1                   If there was no agreement that could be reached 2   and each agency could do what it liked with the report, for 3   example, we will be assigning a NUREG number to the report.
,a g_) DAV/bc 1
4                   We asked each of the agencies if they wouldn't 5   like to assign a number, a report number from their agency 1
If there was no agreement that could be reached 2
6   to it.
and each agency could do what it liked with the report, for 3
7                   I think all of them declined at this time.                                 So 8   we'll only have a NUREG report, although the title will-9   identify each agency which contributed.
example, we will be assigning a NUREG number to the report.
10                   We're preparing right now to brief the Commission 11   on both the factual report as well as the implications 12   report on Februaryr 6th.       We're scheduled, I believe, at 10 (m_)         13   in the morning.
4 We asked each of the agencies if they wouldn't 5
14                   We are going to send down to the Commission a 15   Commission paper transmitting both the factual report and 16   the implications report the week of January 20th.
like to assign a number, a report number from their agency 1
17                   And I think really that's going to be dictated ?)y 18   the printing schedule for the report.                   How soon we can get 19   it turned around and printed.
6 to it.
20 '                 With respect to the implications report, we have 21   really done very little since we have spoken to the 22   committee last time, which I believe was around December the 23   12th. The only thing that we've done is some minor cleanup, 24   editing, and the like.
7 I think all of them declined at this time.
O-           25 li              There's been no change in the conclusions that n
So 8
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we'll only have a NUREG report, although the title will-9 identify each agency which contributed.
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10 We're preparing right now to brief the Commission 11 on both the factual report as well as the implications 12 report on Februaryr 6th.
We're scheduled, I believe, at 10 (m_)
13 in the morning.
14 We are going to send down to the Commission a 15 Commission paper transmitting both the factual report and 16 the implications report the week of January 20th.
17 And I think really that's going to be dictated ?)y 18 the printing schedule for the report.
How soon we can get 19 it turned around and printed.
20 '
With respect to the implications report, we have 21 really done very little since we have spoken to the 22 committee last time, which I believe was around December the 23 12th.
The only thing that we've done is some minor cleanup, 24 editing, and the like.
O-25 l There's been no change in the conclusions that i
n ace-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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                                                    \
\\
4100 07 11                                                                             88 n ,.
4100 07 11 88 n,.
(_) DAV/bc     1           were reached or the recommendations.         We did find that the 2           committee's comments in three arqas of the operator section, 3           which I believe is chapter one, were very helpful.             And we 4           made some changes to reflect those comments in the writeup.
(_) DAV/bc 1
5                         other than that, the report remains basically 6           unchanged from what you've seen last' time.         And, again, we 7           are preparing to send our Commission paper the week of 8           January the 20th, so we would very much like to have a 9           letter from the committee prior to that so we could 10           certainly reference it.
were reached or the recommendations.
11                         And in our Commission paper, I think from my 12           point of view at least, what we would hopefully be seeing in
We did find that the 2
  -s s
committee's comments in three arqas of the operator section, 3
(_)           13           the committee's letter is we would like to know if there's 14           any major omissions that you think we have not covered 15           properly, or any other major problems that you think we 16           might have with the report.
which I believe is chapter one, were very helpful.
17 l                       I guess my feeling now is that I've not heard any 18           in the past two weeks, so I'm sort of presuming that there's 19           no major objections to what was covered in there.
And we 4
20                         But, if there are, we would certainly like the 21           committee to note them in their letter.
made some changes to reflect those comments in the writeup.
22                         That's really all I have in terms of status, but 23           we can answer any questions.
5 other than that, the report remains basically 6
24                         DR. MARK: You speak of a mysterious bunch of 25           agencies. Is this one report subscribed to by everybody, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
unchanged from what you've seen last' time.
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And, again, we 7
are preparing to send our Commission paper the week of 8
January the 20th, so we would very much like to have a 9
letter from the committee prior to that so we could 10 certainly reference it.
11 And in our Commission paper, I think from my 12 point of view at least, what we would hopefully be seeing in
-s s
(_)
13 the committee's letter is we would like to know if there's 14 any major omissions that you think we have not covered 15 properly, or any other major problems that you think we 16 might have with the report.
17 l I guess my feeling now is that I've not heard any 18 in the past two weeks, so I'm sort of presuming that there's 19 no major objections to what was covered in there.
20 But, if there are, we would certainly like the 21 committee to note them in their letter.
22 That's really all I have in terms of status, but 23 we can answer any questions.
24 DR. MARK:
You speak of a mysterious bunch of 25 agencies.
Is this one report subscribed to by everybody, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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4100 07 12                                                                               89 (m,
4100 07 12 89 (m,
ls,_)-DAV/bc   1 like the Food and Drug- Administration, the Department of 2 Labor and the Department of Justice?
ls,_)-DAV/bc 1
3             DR. SHEWMON: These are only agencies that would 4 find Chernobyl has some relevance to-the areas which they're 5 involved in.
like the Food and Drug-Administration, the Department of 2
6             DR. MARK: Then who are they?
Labor and the Department of Justice?
7             DR. SHEWMON: It's the Department of Energy, the 8 Electric Power Research Institute, the Institute for Nuclear 9 Power Operations, FEMA -- the Federal Emergency Management 10 Agency, and our Environmental Protection Agency.
3 DR. SHEWMON:
11             Those are the agencies that are involved in the 12 preparation of the factual report.
These are only agencies that would 4
()           13             DR. MARK: The Department of Health doesn' t come 14 in?
find Chernobyl has some relevance to-the areas which they're 5
15             DR. SHEWMON: No.
involved in.
16             DR. MARK: And there's one-report which may have 17 a stamp from each of these sources, but it would be the same 18 words?
6 DR. MARK:
19             DR. SHEWMON: Let me find one viewgraph.                         If I 20 could put it up, maybe that will help.
Then who are they?
21             (Slide.)
7 DR. SHEWMON:
,              22 23 24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
It's the Department of Energy, the 8
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Electric Power Research Institute, the Institute for Nuclear 9
                                                .. = _, _       - . . - - . _ . . _ . . - - ~       . - -
Power Operations, FEMA -- the Federal Emergency Management 10 Agency, and our Environmental Protection Agency.
11 Those are the agencies that are involved in the 12 preparation of the factual report.
()
13 DR. MARK:
The Department of Health doesn' t come 14 in?
15 DR. SHEWMON:
No.
16 DR. MARK:
And there's one-report which may have 17 a stamp from each of these sources, but it would be the same 18 words?
19 DR. SHEWMON:
Let me find one viewgraph.
If I 20 could put it up, maybe that will help.
21 (Slide.)
22 23 24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
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.. = _, _
.. - - ~


1 4'100 08 01                                                                 90
1 4'100 08 01 90
  . (,p) DAVbur     1               MR. SHERON: What we had agreed to early on was 2 that we didn't really see the need for a whole bunch of 3 different agencies writing their own report on Chernobyl and 4 therefore.having the U.S. have four or five or six factual 5 reports floating around, each one maybe contradicting one 1                   6 another.
.. p) DAVbur
7               We decided early on that really what we needed 8 was just one U.S. report.
. (,
P 9               So we sat down and we divided up the subject 10 areas. We said, okay, each agency and one person in that 11 ' agency is the lead author.       They are responsible for writing 12 up the facts associated with that subject area.
1 MR. SHERON:
()           13               This is how it-fell out, as you can see, and also 14 NRC assumed the role of the overall coordinator for the 15 report. We prepared the introduction, the summary, and a i
What we had agreed to early on was 2
16 description of the accident scenario, and the radionuclide 17 dispersion and transport.
that we didn't really see the need for a whole bunch of 3
j                   18               The Department of Energy wrote up the section on 19 the plant design description.
different agencies writing their own report on Chernobyl and 4
20               EPRI wrote up the safety analysis of the RDMK 21 reactors.
therefore.having the U.S. have four or five or six factual 5
!                  22               INPO wrote up the role of the operating 23 personnel.
reports floating around, each one maybe contradicting one 1
'.                  24               FEMA logically wrote up the section on emergency I
6 another.
i 25 preparedness.
7 We decided early on that really what we needed 8
4                                ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
was just one U.S.
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report.
P 9
So we sat down and we divided up the subject 10 areas.
We said, okay, each agency and one person in that 11
' agency is the lead author.
They are responsible for writing 12 up the facts associated with that subject area.
()
13 This is how it-fell out, as you can see, and also 14 NRC assumed the role of the overall coordinator for the 15 report.
We prepared the introduction, the summary, and a i
16 description of the accident scenario, and the radionuclide 17 dispersion and transport.
j 18 The Department of Energy wrote up the section on 19 the plant design description.
20 EPRI wrote up the safety analysis of the RDMK 21 reactors.
22 INPO wrote up the role of the operating 23 personnel.
24 FEMA logically wrote up the section on emergency I
i 25 preparedness.
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    '4100 08 02                                                                   91
'4100 08 02 91
  -,m.
-,m.
(_) DAVbur-   1-               And ' EPA did the environmental consequences.
(_) DAVbur-1-
2               The ground rules were that we did not have to 3   have every agency bless every chapter.         We iwere having some 4' trouble because there was disagreement.
And ' EPA did the environmental consequences.
5               For example, I believe EPA used.the Bier reports,:
2 The ground rules were that we did not have to W iwere having some 3
l 6   and there were some other people in different agencies which 7 . felt that they were maybe not the most appropriate reports-8   to use when looking at the radiological consequences or the 9   health effects, and'we can see that we would never get a 10   report out if we were trying to make everybody happy because 11' every agency has its own agenda.
have every agency bless every chapter.
12               So what we decided was that we would all comment
e 4'
(             13   on one of those chapters and review it and try and provide.
trouble because there was disagreement.
14   constructive comments, but in the end each agency and 15   organization was ultimately responsible for that chapter.
5 For example, I believe EPA used.the Bier reports,:
16               And what that means is that when the report goes 17   out it does not mean that every agency endorses every 18   chapter in that report. When the report goes out, it is 19   nothing more than a compendium of different chapters written 20   by different organizations.
l 6
21               If somebody calls up and says, hey, we don' t like 22   what we saw about the emergency preparedness, then if DOE 23   disagreed with that, they can say, well, we didn' t like it 24   either and we don't acknowledge that we endorse that, and if 25   you have problems with it, go talk to FEMA.
and there were some other people in different agencies which 7
. felt that they were maybe not the most appropriate reports-8 to use when looking at the radiological consequences or the 9
health effects, and'we can see that we would never get a 10 report out if we were trying to make everybody happy because 11' every agency has its own agenda.
12 So what we decided was that we would all comment
(
13 on one of those chapters and review it and try and provide.
14 constructive comments, but in the end each agency and 15 organization was ultimately responsible for that chapter.
16 And what that means is that when the report goes 17 out it does not mean that every agency endorses every 18 chapter in that report.
When the report goes out, it is 19 nothing more than a compendium of different chapters written 20 by different organizations.
21 If somebody calls up and says, hey, we don' t like 22 what we saw about the emergency preparedness, then if DOE 23 disagreed with that, they can say, well, we didn' t like it 24 either and we don't acknowledge that we endorse that, and if 25 you have problems with it, go talk to FEMA.
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      .4100 08 03                                                                   92 DAVbur   1                 So'the report will go out.- We are going _'to try 2   and solicit comments from knowledgeable people.           At the end 3   of 45 days we propose to get back-together again as a group, 4   the authors, sit down, digest the comments, try and put 5   together a final report that everybody can agree with.
.4100 08 03 92 DAVbur 1
6                 If we can all agree with the report that these 7   are indeed a good description of the facts, then the 8   arrangement is that we would issue the report as a joint 9   agency report.         Each agency would put their number at the 10   top, and they would endorse the entire report.
So'the report will go out.- We are going _'to try 2
11                 If we couldn't reach agreement, then each agency 12   could either join in or not in terms of endorsing the
and solicit comments from knowledgeable people.
()             13   report.
At the end 3
14                 DR. OKRENT:       Excuse me a minute. I am sorry to 15   interrupt.
of 45 days we propose to get back-together again as a group, 4
16                 But in a sense this is a topic that is not 17   directly related to what the committee has to comment on.           I 18   was worried, when Brian said he was going to mention this, 19   thuat there would be committee interest in this.
the authors, sit down, digest the comments, try and put 5
20                 I would like to use the available time, because 21   there is not a lot of time on the agenda today -- we now 22   have three versions of the letter -- if the committee will 23   permit me to sort of get on with the question of the l
together a final report that everybody can agree with.
24 ' committee reports?
6 If we can all agree with the report that these 7
O               25                 DR. KERR:       I am sure Brian won't be hurt.
are indeed a good description of the facts, then the 8
arrangement is that we would issue the report as a joint 9
agency report.
Each agency would put their number at the 10 top, and they would endorse the entire report.
11 If we couldn't reach agreement, then each agency 12 could either join in or not in terms of endorsing the
()
13 report.
14 DR. OKRENT:
Excuse me a minute.
I am sorry to 15 interrupt.
16 But in a sense this is a topic that is not 17 directly related to what the committee has to comment on.
I 18 was worried, when Brian said he was going to mention this, 19 thuat there would be committee interest in this.
20 I would like to use the available time, because 21 there is not a lot of time on the agenda today -- we now 22 have three versions of the letter -- if the committee will 23 permit me to sort of get on with the question of the l
24 '
committee reports?
O 25 DR. KERR:
I am sure Brian won't be hurt.
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93
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}. C). DAVbur.
  }. C). DAVbur. 1               DR.'OKRENT:   Is that'okay, Brian?
1 DR.'OKRENT:
2               MR. SHERON:   Fine.
Is that'okay, Brian?
3               DR. OKRENT:   I warned him before that I didn' t 4 want to take too much time.
2 MR. SHERON:
5'             DR. MARK:   I am sorry I went into that diversion, 6 but I really --
Fine.
7               DR._OKRENT:   No, no, no.             It is a very logical 8 question. I knew -- and as a matter of fact, I almost said 9 don't mention it -- I knew there were going to be' questions 10 on it.
3 DR. OKRENT:
11               DR. KERR:   I should say I put this on the 12 bulletin board.
I warned him before that I didn' t 4
        )           13               DR. OKRENT:   I am sorry, I missed it.                                         I have 14 been checking it for the-last couple of. days before I left.
want to take too much time.
15 I guess I had other things.
5' DR. MARK:
16               DR. KERR:   I looked, and I thought it indicated 17 that you had seen it.
I am sorry I went into that diversion, 6
I                   18               DR. OKRENT:   In any event, we have three.                                         Let me 19 read them through, if my voice permits, and I will give you 20 a personal opinion when I am done on how I think the 21 committee -- I think we will have to take a vote.
but I really --
22               DR. KERR:   Do you really want to read this i                  23 through?
7 DR._OKRENT:
l i
No, no, no.
24               DR. OKRENT:   Let's do it.                                                                 ,
It is a very logical 8
r I                   25               DR. SHEWMON:   Do we want to take a vote on which l
question.
1 l                               ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.
I knew -- and as a matter of fact, I almost said 9
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don't mention it -- I knew there were going to be' questions 10 on it.
11 DR. KERR:
I should say I put this on the 12 bulletin board.
)
13 DR. OKRENT:
I am sorry, I missed it.
I have 14 been checking it for the-last couple of. days before I left.
15 I guess I had other things.
16 DR. KERR:
I looked, and I thought it indicated 17 that you had seen it.
I 18 DR. OKRENT:
In any event, we have three.
Let me 19 read them through, if my voice permits, and I will give you 20 a personal opinion when I am done on how I think the 21 committee -- I think we will have to take a vote.
22 DR. KERR:
Do you really want to read this 23 through?
i l
i 24 DR. OKRENT:
Let's do it.
r I
25 DR. SHEWMON:
Do we want to take a vote on which l
1 l
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I J.
I 4100 08 05                                                                                               94
4100 08 05 94
      .O oavher           1 ef the three               e   ane te reed 2 2                       DR. OKRENT:     Are there more than three?
.O oavher 1
3                         I think the committee should.
ef the three e
4                       I can skip the first paragraph, I think.                         I will 5 read the thick one first, going from thick to thin, okay?
ane te reed 2 2
6                         (Whereupon, at 11:05 a.m., the committee went                             i 7 into unrecorded session.)
DR. OKRENT:
Are there more than three?
3 I think the committee should.
4 I can skip the first paragraph, I think.
I will 5
read the thick one first, going from thick to thin, okay?
6 (Whereupon, at 11:05 a.m.,
the committee went i
7 into unrecorded session.)
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CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL REPORTER                         !
CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL REPORTER
  ~ OL This is   to certify that. the attached proceedings before
~ OL This is to certify that. the attached proceedings before
        -the   UNITED ' STATES NUCLEAR   REGULATORY   COMMISSION   in   the matter of:                         .
-the UNITED ' STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION in the matter of:
NAME OF PROCEEDING:       ' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 321ST GENERAL MEETING DOCKET NO.:
NAME OF PROCEEDING:
PLACE:                     WASHINGTON, D. C.
' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 321ST GENERAL MEETING DOCKET NO.:
        -DATE:                     FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 were held as herein appears, and that this is the original transcript thereof for the file of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
PLACE:
WASHINGTON, D.
C.
-DATE:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 were held as herein appears, and that this is the original transcript thereof for the file of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(sigt)
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NRR STAFF PRESENTATION TO THE
\\(e NRR STAFF PRESENTATION TO THE ACRS
  \(e                                          ACRS
~
                                                ~
1


==SUBJECT:==
==SUBJECT:==
USI A-17 " SYSTEMS INTERACTIONS" DATE: January 1, 1987 PRESENTER: DALE THATCHER O
USI A-17 " SYSTEMS INTERACTIONS" DATE: January 1, 1987 PRESENTER: DALE THATCHER O
PRESENTER'S TITLE / BRANCH /DIV:           TASK MANAGER (USI A-17)
PRESENTER'S TITLE / BRANCH /DIV:
!                                                    ENGINEERING ISSUES BRANCH, DIVISION OF l
TASK MANAGER (USI A-17)
SAFETY REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT PRESENTER'S NRC TEL. NO.: 492-8358 I
ENGINEERING ISSUES BRANCH, DIVISION OF l
SAFETY REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT PRESENTER'S NRC TEL. NO.:
492-8358 I
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b                                             A-17 MILESTONES RESOLUTION PACKAGE TO CRGR                         MAR 86 CRGR MEETING                                       APR. 86 ACRS MEETING                                       MAY 86 ACRS LETTER                                         MAY 13, 1986 O   -
b A-17 MILESTONES RESOLUTION PACKAGE TO CRGR MAR 86 CRGR MEETING APR. 86 ACRS MEETING MAY 86 ACRS LETTER MAY 13, 1986 O
NRC STAFF RESPONSE                                 AUGUST 1, 1986 i
NRC STAFF RESPONSE AUGUST 1, 1986 i
REVISED RESOLUTION PACKAGE TO 0FFICE AND DIVISION DIRECTORS FOR COMMENT                 NOVEMBER 2Li, 1986 O
REVISED RESOLUTION PACKAGE TO 0FFICE AND DIVISION DIRECTORS FOR COMMENT NOVEMBER 2Li, 1986 O
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9     w b                           ACRS MAY 13, 1986 LETTER RECOMMENDED MORE WALKDOWN ACTIVITIES FOR SPATIAL INTERACTIONS
9 w
        -  AGREED WITH INF0 LETTER FOR FUNCTIONAL INTERACTIO;is
b ACRS MAY 13, 1986 LETTER RECOMMENDED MORE WALKDOWN ACTIVITIES FOR SPATIAL INTERACTIONS AGREED WITH INF0 LETTER FOR FUNCTIONAL INTERACTIO;is
            !c RECOMMENDED NEW~ STANDARD REVIEW PLAN SECTION DISAGREED WITH THE SCOPE AND DEFINITION OF THE ISSUE C.            '
!c RECOMMENDED NEW~ STANDARD REVIEW PLAN SECTION C.
RECOMMENDED REMOV L OF THE SINGLE FAILURE GUIDANCE
DISAGREED WITH THE SCOPE AND DEFINITION OF THE ISSUE RECOMMENDED REMOV L OF THE SINGLE FAILURE GUIDANCE
        ?
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  , ....?
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O                                                     A-17 REVISED RESOLUTION A-17 ACTIONS GENERIC LETTER FOR INFORMATION RELY ON RESOLUTION OF USI A-46 (SEISMIC)
O A-17 REVISED RESOLUTION A-17 ACTIONS GENERIC LETTER FOR INFORMATION RELY ON RESOLUTION OF USI A-46 (SEISMIC)
GENERIC LETTER - 50.54(F) - REQUEST VERIFICATION OF FLOODING REVIEWS SPINOFF ACTIONS PROVIDE FOR' INTEGRATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER. CONCERNS'
GENERIC LETTER - 50.54(F) - REQUEST VERIFICATION OF FLOODING REVIEWS SPINOFF ACTIONS PROVIDE FOR' INTEGRATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER. CONCERNS' PROVIDE' GUIDANCE FOR PRAS
                              ~*
~*
PROVIDE' GUIDANCE FOR PRAS FUTURE PLANTS - DEVELOP A REGULATORY GUIDE DEVELOP SCOPE CONCERNS AS POTENTIAL
FUTURE PLANTS - DEVELOP A REGULATORY GUIDE DEVELOP SCOPE CONCERNS AS POTENTIAL ISSUES FOR PRIORITIZATION l
!                                        ISSUES FOR PRIORITIZATION l
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Latest revision as of 20:00, 6 December 2024

Transcript of ACRS 321st General Meeting on 870109 in Washington,Dc.Pp 1-94.Supporting Documentation Encl
ML20207P853
Person / Time
Issue date: 01/09/1987
From:
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:
References
ACRS-T-1569, NUDOCS 8701200327
Download: ML20207P853 (101)


Text

m ORlGWAL 0 0 T-M o

UN11ED STATES U

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF:

DOCKET NO:

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 3?lST GENERAL MEETING

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~

'T s-

o" LOCATION:

WASHINGTON, D.

C.

PAGES:

1-4

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DATE:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 r e h a w a s? R P T V AnPoR pri3 wee :

o der.otl.emov.e from ACRS Tfice ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

OfficialReporters 444 North Capitol Street Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 347-3700 87o1:00327 870109 PDP ACRS T-1569 PDR NATIONWIDE COVERACE

PUBLIC NOTICE BY THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONERS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 The contents of this stenographic transcript of the proceedings of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), as reported herein, is an uncorrected record of the discussions recorded at the meeting held on the above date.

No member of the ACRS Staff and no participant at

()

this meeting accepts any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies of statement or data contained in this transcript.

CR29410.0 DAV/cjg l'

' f' )

1

- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 2

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 4

321ST GENERAL MEETING 5

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Room 1046 0

1717 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.

C.

.8 Friday, January 9, 1987 9

The 321st General Meeting reconvened at 8:30 a.m.

10 ACRS MEMBERS PRESENT:

yy 12 DR. WILLIAM KERR, Presiding as MR. DAVID A. WARD 13 MR. JESSE C. EBERSOLE MR. HAROLD ETHERINGTON 14 DR. MAX W.

CARBON DR. HAROLD W.

LEWIS 15 DR. J.

CARSON MARK MR. CARLYLE MICHELSON 16 DR. DADE W.

MOELLER DR. DAVID OKRENT MR. GLENN A.

REED

-77 DR. FORREST J.

REMICK DR. PAUL G.

SHEWMON gg DR. CHESTER P.

SIESS MR. CHARLES J. WYLIE 19 20 21 22 23 24

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lL PROCEEDINGS 2

.DR.

KERR:

(presiding)

The meeting will come to

-3 order.

4 This is the second day of the 321st meeting of' 5

the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.

6 Today's meeting will involve discussion and 7

reports on the following:

8 The meeting with the Executive Director for 9

Operations.

10 Discussion of systems interactions.

11.

Discussions of the proposed report on the

-12 implications of the Chernobyl accident.

/~T k/

13 And consideration of the appointment of a new

'l-4 member.

15 Consideration of reports on-the NRC Safety 16 Research Program.

17 And a discussion of a proposed report on improved 18 light water reactors.

19 Portions of the meeting will be closed perhaps, 20 if necessary to protect privileged information.

21 The meeting is being conducted in accordance with 22 the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the 23 Government in the Sunshine Act.

24 Mr. Raymond Fraley is the designated federal o

25 official.

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'4100 01:02

-3 i ) DAVbur-1 A transcript of portions of the meeting is being s

2 kept.

I ask that each speaker identify himself or herself 3

.and use a microphone.

4 We have not received any written statements, nor 5

have we had requests for oral statements.

6 The first item on today's schedule is a meeting 7

with the Executive Director for Operations, Mr. Stello, who 8

will describe some.of the facets of the NRC Staff 9

reorganization.

10 Mr. Stello?

11 MR. STELLO:

Thank you.

It is a pleasure to be 12 here.

(

13 I perhaps thought maybe we ought to broaden the 14 topic and perhaps we ought to key it to something other than 15 reorganization.

If there is anything else somebody wants to 16 mention, I will be certainly happy to listen.

17 The reorganization that we have underway -- what 18 I thought I would do is describe it to you in broad terms, 19 where we are and what the next steps will be, and give you a 20 rough feel for how long it will be before the reorganization 21 will be in place, the basic changes associated with the 22 reorganization.

23 Perhaps the most visible one at the office 24 level reporting to the Commission is dividing the Office of 25 Congressional Affairs and Public Affairs, State Programs ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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and International-Programs, two offices reporting up at the s

2 division. level.

3 The reasoning and the recognition for the need to 4

do that is it is clear.there are increased policy questions 5

that are being raised with respect to certainly state 6

issues.

As I am sure all of you are aware, the states are 7

becoming more and more involved in activities that we 8

regulate.

9 Since Chernobyl there has been very, very intense 10 involvement on the international front.

Coordination of 11 Congressional and Public Affairs Offices is clearly 12 desirable.

Those activities have been combined now, and

-13 Mr. Denton has been chosen to head up that particular 14 office.

15 The workload for the agency is clearly changing 16 to where we are going to be regulating essentially an 17 operating industry.

In recognition of that need, we took a 18 hard look at some of the ways in which we are doing things 19 to be sure we have unambiguous and clear accountability for 20-the activities that we are regulating.

21 We have felt the need for this for a long time.

22 We took a hard look.

It was my recommendation, 23 incidentally, back in 1980 that as that workload was 24 changing there*was a real need to combine those twc

)

25 activities to make sure that the inspection and licensing l

l ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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activity would be brought together.

2 This organization literally brings them 3

together.

There will be one office now responsible for 4

every aspect of reactors.

If it is a reactor problem, there 5

is one office that is going to be held directly accountable.

6 and that understands they are accountable for the regulation 7

of that activity, NRR.

8 By the same token, there is now going to be one 9

office for regulating materials, programs, recycle 10 facilities.

11 Those two particular changes are probably the 12 most significant in terms of operating.

13 The changes obviously are essentially restricted 14 to changes within our headquarters operations, the field 15 operations remaining essentially the same.

16 The individuals who have been chosen for the rest 17 of these jobs -- I understand that the ACRS members were 18 passed out the recent announcement that-was made of what 19 individuals are reportir to what jobs.

20 One other imp ant element of the new 21 organization is the issu f dealing with unresolved safety 22 questions, generic issue _, and what,have you, that have been 23 kicking around for a long, long time.

The resources 24 sometimes get applied and sometimes get pulled off, and they

_]

25 don't go very smoothly.

Recognizing that, we have gotten ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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all of those issues and moved those over into Research.

s 2

We have also provided impetus to make sure that-3 the research activity is closely coupled to the questions 4

that need to be answered, safety questions, and that need to 5

be answered for licensing.

6 Research will now be responsible'for doing the 7

work to resolve all of those generic issues.

The resources 8

from NRR that were assigned to work on that have been 9

reassigned over to Research.

10 There are a variety of other administrative 11 things that have been sorely needed for some years, 12 providing some of the administrative activities of

-(~'s s_)

13 information systems, budget personnel, consolidated and put 14 into an office except for personnel, separate offices 15 reporting directly to me.

All the other activities are 16 combined into one large administrative office rather than 17 into satellite offices.

18 Yes?

19 DR. MARK:

To what extent and by what means is it 20 assured that the decisions of the regions concerning the 21 question as to whether something or other need be done or 22 need not be done are coordinated and made consistent?

l 23 MR. STELLO:

Are you talking about -- there are i

24 two aspects of it.

Let me see if I captured it.

)

25 Consistency among regions is one issue we have ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

202-347-3700 Nationwide Coserage M4336-6M6

L4100 01:06 7

k DAVbur 1

talked about, and the other is the flow of information 2

identifying problems from any particular region.

3 Right now the way it is set up is that 4

information has to flow and be coordinated among at least 5

three different elements -- NRR, I&E, and the regions.

In-6 the reorganization it will be NRR and the regions, just two, 7

and NRR will be accountable and responsible for making sure 8

that the problem is resolved -- NRR.

That is diffused in 9

the current setup that we have.

10 Consistency among the regions, that problem is 11 hopefully going to be significantly less.

There is going to 12 be now one office charged with the overall responsibility.

13 Prior-to this time there were two, but I assure you, the 14 idea of_ consistency among regional offices is never going to 15 be an issue.that escapes us.

It is going to be something we 16 will have to pay attention to all the time and make sure 17 that we don't let that get away from us.

18 DR. MARK:

That is my concern.

You will be sure 19 that it is made sure?

20 MR. STELLO:

Yes.

It will be easier, but it is 21 something that will continue to need attention.

22 MR. MICHELSON:

Along the same lines, Vic, I&E 23 used to prepare some kind of overview standards and 24 guidances to get out to the regions.

O 25 Who will now prepare these overview standards, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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-1 inspection' standards, or whatever?

2 MR. STELLO:

That happens-to.be an area that.I-3-

had particularly sensitivity to for-a lot of years because

~

-4

.I&E had an office when I was there.' We used to develop-5 inspection modules and send them out.to the field.

Butfwere-

-6

'they the right things to inspect?

Were they really-7 coordinated with the licensing activity?

8 At'best, I think I would describe that as hit and

~

9 miss.

10 The new office is going to. combine the activities 11 of developing new modules, new inspection modules for the i

12 regions in the.same unit that.is also responsible for-13 licensing to make sure this time they are really hand in d

14 glove.

15-MR. MICHELSON:

I guess the answer is it is in 16 NRR now, or will be?

17-MR. STELLO:

But it is pulled out as a separate 18' unit, not distilled, reporting up through Murley separate 19 from the day-to-day activities.

20 The reason for that is to make sure this time we 21 have asked and answered the question:

is this a better 22 activity accomplished by asking questions during the 23 licensing process in Washington when you-really need to go 24 out and see it and make sure it is okay via inspection?

O 25 In other words, to get the real hand in glove ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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operation of inspection and licensing, recognize what the w

2 strengths and weaknesses of both are and take advantage of 3

it.

4 There will be a separate organization now that 5-will do that.

That will be essentially for the first time.

6 That has been sorely needed, as you are well aware.

7 MR. EBERSOLE:-

Vic, in all this vast 8

organization, I like to think that each plant has some sort 9

of NRC parental type overview; that is, you have got some 10 NRC person who looks upon it as a child of some sort.

11 MR. STELLO:

The project manager is going to be 12 that end of the duo.

s/

13 MR. EBERSOLE:

Is he offering that intimate 14 contact?

15 DR. KERR:

Mr. Ebersole, I know Mr. Stello can 16 hear you better that way.

17 MR. EBERSOLE:

Can everybody hear what I said?

18 I would like to see an identification of the 19 individual for NRC who takes a direct, primary interest in I

i 20 each individual plant, somebody I can go to and say, is your l:

21 plant in good shape.

I would like to know those folks.

For 22 all these 104 plants.

23 MR. STELLO:

I heard the question.

The answer is 24 the project manager -- he or she -- is going to need to l

%-)

25 know.

They are going to be asked that question, and they 1

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are going.to literally have to know everything about the 2

plant, what is going on in inspection, what are the 3

outstanding licensing issues, and they are going to have to 4

be responsible for having complete knowledge of all aspects 5

of the plant.

They are going to be out there a lot more 6

often, too.

7 MR. MICHELSON:

Is that approximately one on one, 8

- or does one project manager cover several plants?

9 MR. STELLO:

I would like it to be one on one if 10 we can manage it, 11 MR. MICHELSON:

Right now it is a little more 12 than one per manager?

13 MR. STELLO:

It is close to one on one.

Close.

14 We are going to shoot to try to do that.

15 DR. SIESS:

Vic, does the project manager have 16 any more authority to go along with this additional 17 responsibility, or is he still going to be somebody 18 transmitting stuff?

19 MR. STELLO:

My desire is for him to have 20 increased responsibility and authority.

21 MR. EBERSOLE:

That is my problem.

I have 22 identified more or less that most of the time he is just a 23 transmittal agent, like a transmittal letter, and you are 24 telling me he is going to have an increased level of direct O'd 25 responsibility?

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That is correct.

2 MR. EBERSOLE:

I guess you will have a composite 3

list of all the names of these fine individuals that we can 4.

find, that you-have got someplace?

1-5 MR. STELLO:

Will have, yes.

6 MR. HERNAN:

We do have that list now, Jesse.

7 MR. STELLO:

You have the current list.

He is 8

talking about the new organization, the future.

9 The answer is yes.

We don't have it yet.

10 MR. EBERSOLE:

The new character of these people 11 is that they do'have responsibility, not merely to transmit 12 problems but to have a heavy hand in the decisionmaking of

('3

(>

13 what is to be done.

14 MR. STELLO:

That is correct.

15 DR. KERR:

Please continue, Mr. Stello.

16 MR. STELLO:

I think really I have captured the 17 basic reasoning and philosophy behind coming up with the 18 reorganization.

19 Obviously, the next step is when.

The Commission 20 desired to become very, very much involved in this 21 organization question and has been taking it a step at a f

22 time.

You have seen the announcements about a step at a 23 time.

O.

24 The major office levels were agreed on, and j

25 finally the instruction was taken down to the next step to t

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the division levels, and they agreed on that structure, and-2 who those individuals ought to be, and that was published.

3 The step following that now is obviously the rest 4

of the organizations, and the Commission has indicated a 5

desire to look at the entire organization in detail.

We 6

have prepared that and hope to have that in a month or so.

7 for the Commission to look at and finally approve.

8 When they finally approve that structure -- and 9

we have all the usual things to go through, preparing the 10 package and letting the union become involved in it before 11 final implementation -- I guess we are hoping to be in a 12 position to have that done in the next couple of months.

It rm

(-)

13 may turn out to be coincidental with consolidation, which 14 would be very nice if it is but it is not mandatory that it 15.

is that way.

16 But the coincidence -- I hope it is going to be 17 l

Very close.

I don't know which one is going to control, 18 consolidation or reorganization.

19 MR. EBERSOLE:

Are these people with this focused 20 responnibility of the individual plants yet named for the 21 TVA projects?

22 MR. 3TELLO:

Oh, I missed something.

Thank you.

I 23 The answer to that question is no.

In the 24 process of going to the Commission between these two 25 organizations, it became apparent to me that there were two l

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particular projects for which there is very, very intense 2

involvement'and it did not seem appropriate to have those 3

handled in the usual way by line management.

4 I proposed and the Commission agreed to set up 5

separate project offices, putting all the resources in 6

separate project offices for TVA and Comanche Peak.

Those 7

decisions have not yet been made.

8 I think TVA and Comanche Peak in respect to 9

organizational, structure are unique and we need something 10 special for those.

There is just too much going on to rely 11 on the usual structure.

12 MR. MICHELSON:

I have a couple of questions, 13 Vic.

14 The first is where does CRGR now fit into the 15 structure?

16 MR. STELLO:

AEOD.

17 MR. MICHELSON:

But they are the administrative 18 custodian?

How is the CRGR going to be made up, the same as 19 it has?

20 MR. STELLO:

The staff will be transferred over 21 into AEOD.

The reason for that is that is the office, I 22 think, that is at least neutral in terms of being an 23 advocate of any rule, regulation, or order.

The other 24 offices very well will be.

So they have responsibility.

O 25 That will be separate from them.

The chair of the office i

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will be AEOD as well.

2 MR. MICHELSON:

My comment on that of course is 3

that AEOD is of ten the office that originates the problem 4

that CRGR is then resolving.

It originates the concern, and 5

now the judge and the jury are going to be in the same 6

place?

7 DR. OKRENT:

Not the whole jury.

4 8

MR. MICHELSON:

Not the whole jury, admittedly.

9 It is hard to see --

10 MR. STELLO:

There is a reason for that, though.

11 You are right.

They identify the concerns.

When that gets 12 translated into requirements, that is done somewhere else, f'/

\\

x_

13 not by them.

14 MR. MICHELSON:

But now, in appearance at least, 15 it looks like they are setting down to pass final judgment 16 on it.

That is why I asked whether CRGR was just being 17 administered by AEOD or just how closely it would be 18 associated.

L i

19 20 21 22 23 l

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MR. STELLO:

The perspective of' the CRGR members 2

would be about where they are today.

~

3 MR. MICHELSON:

Presently, CRGR is in the EDO's 4

office, and my question is why doesn't it remain in the 5

EDO's office just to keep things clean?

6 MR. STELLO:

You could do that, and for 7

appearance it would probably appear to be cleaner, but the 8

staff that has to work on the problems, in getting a little 9

bit closer to it, I think it has an advantage to it.

I 10 don' t 'really worry too much about the problem, though the 11 perception is there.

But in reality it is not because the 12 AEOD prepares the reports.

f's N/

13 Here is the concern, here is what is understood 14 about it, and we think you look at it.

15 Another office translates that concern into 16 specific, detailed requirements and proposes the 17 requirements that the committee passes judgment on, and 18 there is enough independence in the committee that I have 19 absolutely no concern about it.

20 HR. MICHELSON:

The other question is, the 21 training center still in AEOD?

22 MR. STELLO:

Yes.

23 MR. MICHELSON:

Is there some logic for that?

24 MR. STELLO:

Yes.

The training center that we V

25 have is really, as you are aware, of a highly technical i

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2' One of the things we are trying to do with the t-training. center is make it more responsive to what we are

- 3

. 4

. learning from experience and feedback from the plants so-5 that we can'put that kind.of thinking into-the. training I

6 center in order to keep it very'much in the technical arena-7

-rather than put it with the' rest of the training in the 8

agency.

9 The ideal office to do that in terms-of where i

4 10 that knowledge.is going to be to do things isLAEOD.

They 11 are responsible for looking into trends and making that kind.

12 of understanding and would be, I think, best prepared to 1

13 pass that kind of knowledge into the training center.

14 MR. MICHELSON:

Thank you.

15-DR. KERR:

Mr. Ward is next, I believe.

16 MR. WARD:

Vic, in the present organization there 17 is a Division of Human Factors Technology in NRR.-

That t

l 18 seems to have disappeared in the proposed orgar.ization.

19 MR. STELLO:

We are still working out the details

[

20 on how that is all set up.

We will be meeting on that this 21 afternoon at 4:00 o' clock on how to accommodate all this.

22 MR. WARD:

Do you expect there would still be a i

23 division devoted to that activity?

r=

l 24 MR. STELLO:

Not only a division.

I think that 25 the whole concept of people problems is going to be l.

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basically on NRR.

2:

If you look very carefully at one.of the-3 proposals that we are looking real hard at now, it is how to 4

' align the activities of NRR, and if you look at how do you 5

sat up project management functio'ns, one of the th'ings-that-6 we are going to de is to align the project management-7 activities by regions rather than reactor type.-

8 That has-been very difficult to call.

The thing 1

9 that persuaded me, that said do you want to do it that way, 10 is that on one issue it is clear that where you get-the

1-11 1 largest change in the facility is where you'have management 12 problems.

The regions, by definition, handle utilities, the' 13 management of them, rather than reactor types.

So you have 14 a very concentrated effort on dealing wich management 15 problems by aligning the project managers and regions to 4'

16 work on the management problem.

17 So we are thinking about it from the' top'down, 18 and that'is a very, very big change.

!~

19 MR. WARD:

That sounds like it is, i-20 MR. STELLO:

The thing that pe.Suaded me that it 21 was important to go that way was if you look at mome of the 22 sites you can pick sites with a BWR, a CE design and a 23 Westinghouse design, all with the same utility, who are 4

24 split among different directorates and different O

25 organizations within NRR, and you don't really get the real i

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feel for how well that organization, that management system m

2 works, and that is the people problem.

3 So that kind of thinking, although, as I said, it

-4 is from the top down, is coming into the decision.

5 DR. KERR:

Does that complete your questions?

6 MR. WARD:

Yes.

7 DR. KERR:

Mr. Okrent.

8 DR. OKRENT:

Vic, I have some complicated 9

questions that I would like to lead into with just a little 10 bit of background.

11 I don' t know if you recall, but some of us recall 12 the era of Milton Shaw, when he was the head of the Division 7s T) 13 of-Reactor Development and Technology, when he was s

14

, ill-inclined to brook opinions which went counter to what I ss 15 will call the official line coming from Germantown.

16 This inclination of his was sufficiently strong-17 that in fact people were fired in various contractor A

i

/ 18 organizations, and I know for a fact that that is the case 19 because I belonged to one in which that-occurred.

20 You may or may not recall that there were a s

21 series of articles that reviewed this in Science Magazine in 12 2 the early '70s, which I suspect helped Commissioner Ray in 23 her decision to change some of the organizational matters in 24 the then AEC, taking Research away from Shaw for example.

25 Other kinds of background, I think we have a

~

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couple of members on the ACRS who worked for an organization 2

where it was their job to try to find out things that>were 3

going wrong and had trouble being. listened to.

It was a 4

curious situation where the organization in fact set up a 5

devil's advocate, if you want to call it that, but they didn' t like what they heard.

7 It was interesting that when we had the Christmas L

8 party I sort of alluded to the importance, I thought,,to any 9

CEO or General Director of Operations to have somebody who 10 would be willing to tell it to him straight, even if it was 11 something he thcught the boss didn't want to hear.

12 Commissioner Zech was reminded of the fact that 13 in one of his Naval positions he found himself in exactly 14 that position and in fact had to tell his immediate 15 commanding officer that what they were doing was just not 16 the way to go.

That is all by way of background.

17 I am wondering if in the new organization, first, 18 there is a conscious effort to build in either a group, or 19 something equivalent to this, who are looking at what is the 20 proposed staff policy emerging from EDO and who have the 21 responsibility for questioning it if there are any -- if 22 they see any major flaws.

23 I am not talking about trivia in this, 24 obviously.

In fact, in effect, it is their job.

If

'O 25 something bad gets by, in effect, they ought to be fired, as ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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DR..KERR:

Is this leading up to a question, or-m 2.

areLyou still in the comment mode?

3 DR.lOKRENT:- 'I'll1probably not end up'with a E

4

. specific question, and I'll probably end the comment-very 5:

. shortly.

7 l

-6 It's an observation,<a' caution...I'll.make one l

'7-last. observation.- I heard ' a TV program, -McNeil-Lehrer, 8

where-you and' Ellen ~ Weiss were on with a discussion on r

9 Chernobyl.

11 0 There's been a lot of discussion about how the-t c

11 LWRs~were different.

And even though she's a lawyer and,-

12 presumably, not technically with such as deep insight 1as

{.

13 engineers, she raised' the point that U.S. reactors, by 14 different' accidents, can have releases not unlike those.at l

1

[

-15 '

Chernobyl.

16 And then, instead of acknowledging that.this was L

17-

'the case, what I heard you say.was, you kind of said a-18 reassuring word that deflected the question, which would leave, at least in part, it perhaps with the impression that j.

19 I-20 the NRC -- certainly the AIF -- was saying i

i 21 There's a one in a hundred chance.

Or felt that-22~

there was little chance that a U.S.

containment would fail.

23 And what bothers me somewhat, and this comes back g

24' to the Bernero initiative, is I can't tell whether in the j

~

25 EDO there sits more confidence in containments, more ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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'l confidence in what-the mean core melt frequency over the 2'

full span of reactors, more' confidence over good. containment 3

and low frequency than-I think is-justified.

4 MR. STELLO:

I definitely would like to respond, 5

although there isn't a question, if I may.

6 DR..KERR:

I think you should.

I don't think 7

this had anything to'do with the reorganization..

8 MR. STELLO:

That's okay.

I invited any.other 9

questions that might be raised.

So, if I brought this on 10 myself, I'm glad for the opportunity.

11 I have a copy of that tape.

Maybe you and I 12 ought to sit down and listen to it again.

)

13 DR. OKRENT:

I'd love to.

14 MR. STELLO:

Because you seem to characterize it 15-in a way differently than I recall the issue was.

16 Can a Chernobyl type accident happen in a light 17 water reactor?

18 Knowing what I knew then, I said no.

Knowing i

19 what I know now, hell, no.

A reactor accident like you had 20 at Chernobyl, with positive feedback you have that could 21 literally disintegrate the core and destroy the entire 22 confinement containment systems, spread radioactivity, in 23 fact, the calculations indicate that approximately on the 24 order of something like 10 tons of fuel were ejected from f~/h l

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physically cannot happen _in a U.S.

olant.

2 We have at nauseum advertised what the 3

radiological consequences are from the complete and total 4

spectrum of accidents in U.S. plants.

5 If I need to, I'll remind you of the Sandia 6

reports for which we have calculated ~ conditional 7

probabilities down to 10 to the minus 11, where you have had 8

the numbers of deaths up into the thousands.

9 For every site in the country, we have not 10 hesitated, in fact, we probably have flooded the market with 11 calculations of the severity of accidents that.can happen in 12 U.S. plants.

Tne r

-lete and total spectrum of them.-

13 There are literally thousands of such reports on 14 reactors in the United States that can have accidents and 15 what their consequences are.

16 There is no way a Chernobyl accident can happen 17 in a light water reactor in the United States, period.

I 18 said it with some reservation then, I say it now with, based 19 on the calculations that we have made and they have made, 20 l with far more vigor than I did then.

21 It cannot happen, period.

Scientifically 22 impossible.

23 Now, let me go on to respond to the confidence in 24 containment.

I believe you're talking about the Mach I 25 issue.

I told the Commission when we were briefing the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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-Commission on this issue, that the results that I believe 2

were being calculated as part of ll50 for the two BWRs, and~

I,~

3 now. I'm going -to have to rely somewhat on memory since _

4 there's some distance, that, in one case, the' controlling g

5-sequence, which was, as I recall, in one case 99' percent of 6

the~ risk-of station blackout.

l 7

And as I recall, in the 'other BWR,.90 percent of-t l

8 the risk from' station blackout.

I said I do not believe 9

that we ought to be pursuing'this question of what to do on t-F

.10 the Mach I's withou't' recognizing whether or -not there was c

11 more to be done.on the prevention side, since,.if I can

~ t 12 improve overfall safety, if, indeed, those numbers are 13 correct, an order of magnitude by dealing with preventionk 14 that I would certainly want to weigh that very heavy in

?

1 1

15 trying to decide what to do.

?

16 Furthermore then, it is not clear that the kinds 17 of fixes that you're talking about on the Mach I 4

1 18 containments are the same kind of fixes if you eliminate 4

19 those scenarios, whether there are other and more demanding r

F 1

20 or different scenarios that you want to worry about.

21 To say it simply, I didn't think that we had a

{

22 considered the problem enough and decided, especially when i

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23 we saw the results coming out of 1150, you also recognize 24 that those results also suggest that the frequency of core i

l 25 melt is in fact much lower, it brings us enormous policy and it i

f i

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philosophical questions for this agency in how to balance s.

2 prevention and mitigation and how far are you trying to drag 3

down the risk.

ll It is my risk that that needed to be ventilated.

5 In fact, I read a little bit of that~into the response of 6

the ACRS when they looked at this issue themselves.

7 I firmly believe that.

I think we ought to keep 8.

our eye-on safety all.of the time.

And I think the recent 9

results we have suggested that we have not done that yet.

10 And I felt it needed to be done before we went back to the 11 Commission.

12 And I told the Commission that at least on two

,r ()

13 occasions.

And I stand by what I've said.

14 DR. OKRENT:

I'm sorry to hear you putting so 15 much reliance on the results of 1150.

I think it 16 ill-founded, is my first comment.

And I don't think-it's 17 representative of the bulk of the reactors in the U.S.

and, 18 in fact, the Sandia people themselves have made that point 19 in conversation, if not in their reports.

20 I think, if there is a containment that is weak 21 in its capability to withstand a considerable range of core 22 melts, that is a factor that should be looked at in the 23 defense in depth policy, even though you may try also to 24 prevent the thing from occurring.

25 And I find some tendency to forget that defense ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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- (_/ DAV/bc 1-indepth policy, I must say, unfortunately, although what we 2

heard yesterday was that the most common, the' majority --

3

.the. overwhelming response -- that Denton got f rom the people 4

he talked to in various states, and so forth, is they don't 5

want to see a large release.

6 I'll just leave.it with you at that.

7 MR. STELLO:

Again, I've got to respond.

You 8

know, you are characterizing things in a way I didn' t say 9

them.

I said the results of 1150 ought to be considered.

10 Now, let me give you an example of what that 11 might mean.

If, in solving the station blackout, the 12 easiest way to do it is to bring an independent power supply 13 in, you would have the capability to prevent core damage.

14 But, in addition, by having that extra power 15 source, you could have enormous core spray potential and 16 significantly reduce the poten'tial for overpressure failure 17 because of the availability of the spray, which is one of 18 the elements that, if you recall, are in that particular 19 program.

20 It doesn' t appear that the concept of balancing 21 the prevention, the mitigation and the mix that one ought to 22 censider is there.

That is the kind of thing that's got to 23 go on.

24 I'm not putting any more or less confidence in 25 1150 than you are.

It's a question, it's a result.

Should ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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'I ignore it or should I look behind it,.: consider it and look 2;

'at what'it.is that it tells me?

g 3-That's - the one thing that we've all ?said' we ;ought ;

4' to do with'PRAs, try.to. understand if.it's telling us 5

.something.

6 When-it says that-the controlling risk,-99 7

percentaof it,Iis> station blackout, it has piqued my 8-interest.

.I think:it needs'a look.

9 If you don't--share that, we disagree with each

~10

-other.

I feel'strongly, and I suspect that there's a fairly; 11.

wide concensus that that's the recognized way~in which you-12 ought'to be using PRA results:

Look behind it'.-

)

13 DR. KERR:

Mr. Remick is next.-

14 DR. REMICK:

Vic, I have two questions,~one of p

[

15 them a follow-on to Dave Ward's question.

'16 The human factors..In Inside NRC, it. indicates t

17 that. Bill Ru'ssell, the Director of Licensing Performance and '

i 18 Quality Evaluation, I assume Human Factors is not in that.

i

(.

19 So Bill has been changed out of Human Factors.

Is that L

20 correct?

Or will Human Factors be a part of that?

l l

21 MR. STELLO:

I don' t have the organization chart f

[

22 with me, unfortunately.

My glasses broke this morning and I f'

23 was unable to bring anything that I brought with me.

I've I 'r.

24 looked to see if it's in the book you have, which it's not.

i o

[

25 And that's the new spread of the organization.

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' l-MR. WARD:

I don't'think we've even seen that.

2 All we have is this Inside NRC thing.

3 MR. STELLO:

No.

I-have the. book that you have.

4 MR. WARD:

Do you mean we have to look at our 5

book?

6 DR. REMICK:

Could you tell us what tab?

7c MR. STELLO:

Tab D.

8 (Laughter.)

9 MR. STELLO:

There's an employee announcement 10 that came out that gave a further breakdown of this most 11 recent one.

I notice that is not in here.

I don' t know 12 why.

13

.Does anybody know why it's not there?

That one 14 breaks it down for you in much more detail.

If you don't 15 have it, there's a copy upstairs, if you make sure they get l

16 it.

j 17 MR. FRALEY:

Yes.

18 DR. REMICK:

My question is, Human Factors is not 19

~in that division?

20 MR. STELLO:

As I recall, it is not in the I

21 division.

d 22 DR. REMICK:

The other question I have, if I 23 recall from one of the early announcements, one of the 24 criticisms I've had as an outsider -- I still see it as an 25 ACRS member -- is when rulemaking comes up through the staff i

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-1 in different offices, it appears uncoordinated.

I guess 2

I'll have to give you a couple of examples just to 3

demonstrate what I mean.

4 We recently, in the High Level Waste area, talked 5

about' activities for the MRS and we find in.that, in reading 6

the words and talking to the NMSS staff, they're not 7

familiar with what's going on, the new Part 55.

A 8-discussion on the. licensing basis agreement with JD ABWR, 9

there's language in there that's not consistent with the 10 language in Part 55.

11 You run across these inconsistencies in the 12 staff, and sometimes these get out in the rules.

They come p

\\

13 out from one office.

They language is different.

There's 14 inconsistency with what other people are doing.

15 Are you giving any thought -- and I thought CRGR 16 would solve some of this, and they perhaps are solving some 17 of it -- are you doing anything specifically to make sure 18 that it's one agency when it comes to things like rulemaking 19 that are affecting licensees out there?

20 MR. STELLO:

That's the reason for putting it in 21 Research.

22 DR. REMICK:

I'm hoping that will be the case.

23 MR. STELLO:

Because it's been spread out with 24 individual offices doing it.

By putting it in Research, we

('/)

1 hope to have it now really and truly represent the agencies.

l 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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DR. REMICK:

Do I understand that that's'their 2

charter?

I hesitate to call it OA, but there needs to be 3

some consistency.

4 MR. STELLO:

They clearly understand that that is 5

their responsibility.

6 Now, execution is important.

You have to 7

recognize that you have a culture that you have to change; 8

it's going to take time.

Nothing is going to happen 9

quickly, but I think everyone understands that that's the 10 direction to go in.

And, in time, I expect we'll see 11 significant improvement.

12 DR. KERR:

There will be no significant 0)

N_

13 reorganization for the next year?

14 MR. STELLO:

I used to keep track of it.

If I 15 remember, for about 10 or 11 or 12 years, it was an average 16 of about 2.3 years, as I recall.

17 I hope this one, because it really is the first 18 time that it affects the future business of the agency, and 19 taking that into account, I hope it lasts for a lot. longer.

20 DR. REMICK:

One final comment.

I don' t consider 21 that my function is to be a skeptic.

I consider my function 22 on the committee is to provide advice to the best of my 23 ability and as unbiased as I can make it, and to be positive 24 as well as negative.

25 And I look at the reorganization as a major ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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undertaking, as you are well aware better than I do.

2 But I think ~it's a worthy endeavor and I wish you 3

well and hope it all works out.

4 DR. KERR:

We have time for one short question 5

and one short answer.

6 MR. EBERSOLE:

Do I get that?

7 DR. KERR:

I'm prepared to wait and see.

8 (Laughter.)

9 MR. EBERSOLE:

Vic, in this flap about Bernero 10 and the Mach I's, I hope this discussion about venting and 11 restructuring of the Mach I doesn' t preclude a very 12 important consideration in the purely prevent mode, which is (O

_/

13 the.importance of the venting process in the PWRs to cope 14 with this problem of loss of power and suppression pool 15 overheating.

16 I think that vending process is critical.

This 17 is predamage.

That's another domain entirely.

And all our 18 discussions have more or less encompassed venting overall.

19 And the post-damage one is the tough one, of course.

20 The other one is not tough, but I hope you can 21 give heavy consideration to add to considerably to the BWR.

22 MR. STELLO:

I agrea.

23 MR. EBERSOLE:

You see, it's clouded by the fact 24 that venting was blanketed, under no venting at all.

~/

25 DR. KERR:

Short comments, please?

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MR. STELLO:

I can' t give a short answer unless I 2

just say:

Yes, I agree with you -- and walk away.

But it 3

is an area that needs a_ lot more discussion and it raises 4

the very questions that I was trying to note'.

5 It goes back to the whole concept of preventing 6

the. severe accident when you can.

And if you look at the 7'

results, you ought to be looking very hard at understanding 8

what they say, and go from there.

9 10 11 12-13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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DR. KERR:..Vic, I want to thank you for providing 2

--us with;a very complete discussion, and we hope this sort of 3

thing will'take place periodically.

4 MR. STELLO:. I promise to be as candid as I know 5

how to be, and if you have any questions about that, why, 6

remind me.

7 DR. KERR:

Thank you very much.

8 That ends that session and brings us to the next 9

topic on our agenda, which is systems interaction and the 10 briefing by NRC Staff.

11 Is-there a subcommittee. report?

Mr. Okrent, are 12 you prepared to make that?

)

13 DR. OKRENT:- Whenever you bang the gavel.

14 DR. KERR:

Mr. Okrent, the Subcommittee Chairman, 15 will give his report.

i 16 DR. OKRENT:

The topic is systems interaction.

[

17 You may or may not recall that some months ago 4

^

18 this topic came before the full committee, at which-time the 19 task manager and the supervisor provided before us the l

20 position that they were then proposing to bring to the L

21 CRGR.

22 This position differed in certain ways from an l

23 earlier position developed some months before by what I will 1

l 24 call the working group itself, going through, getting office 25 comments, and so forth, for CRGR.

The position was changed ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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-from what the task group on USI A-17 had recommended to what 2

was agreed with the CRGR.

3 There was a subcommittee meeting then.

There was 4

a full committee meeting, and the full committee letter, 5

which I assume is in the tab, you will see did not support 6

the proposal that the Staf f was going to bring to CRGR.

7 Partly it supported it, but not entirely,.and it had some 8

other additional things that seemed not to be in what was 9

being discussed by the Staff.

10 The Staff has reconsidered this matter.

We had a 11 subcommittee meeting yesterday, and we will in a moment hear -

12 what I propose to be an uninterrupted presentation by the 13 Staff in order to let them get through their whole 14 presentation, which is not supposed to take more than 25 15 minutes --

16 Right?

17 MR. THATCHER:

15 minutes.

18 DR. OKRENT:

Good.

That is less than 25.

19

-- after which there will be half an hour or more 20 for discussion.

21-At the end of the meeting today, or sometime this i

22 week, presumably the committee will need to decide, 23 preferably, if it can, at the end of this one hour, whether 24 it wants to send an additional letter -- it might not right 25 at this time.

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is' completely satisfied with what the Staff is proposing to~

2 do or whether it decides it will wait until'something' is 4

3 issued for public comment and they get public comments-4 back, and at that point the. committee comes back~with a 5-

. review.

6 Whichever of these paths'are followed, then, we 7

should makeLaure that if there is a plant in review in a 8

later time that in. fact this is assigned to the subcommittee 9

and the time is set'up, and so forth.

i 10 I am.not going to try to summarize the 11' questions.

Many of them are unchanged from the letter that 11 2 we last wrote.

.13 The Staff's thinking on how some of these issues-14 in fact fit or don't~ fit within rules or backfits or not

]

15 seems to have shifted somewhat.

We will hear about that,

~

16 too.

1 1

17 So'I would propose we go directly to this i

18 uninterrupted Staff presentation and then hear what other l

19 members of the subcommittee have to see and see what 20 questions the ACRS members have.

21 The members present for that particular meeting 22 who were particularly interested in this subject were Wylie, 23 Michelson, and Ebersole.

24 DR. MOELLER:

I have a question.

In the Staff's 25 presentation, will they address the key points in our May I

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letter?

2 MR. THATCHSR:

That is the second' slide.

3 DR. MOELLER:

Thank.you.

4 DR. KERR:

Okay.

5 (Slide.)

6 MR. THATCHER:

I am Dale Thatcher, Task Manager 7

for the USI A-17, systems interaction.

8 Basically, I am going to give an overview of 9

where we are right now on A-17, with some background 10 information, and specifically the ACRS. letter of May 13th.

11 Dr. Okrent summarized a lot of what I have on 12 this slide.

[)

13 In a sense, I went back to the-resolution package s_,

14 that went to CRGR in March '86.

At that particular time we 15 were proposing a number of items, but I will make the 16 comparison when I get to the last slide of what we are doing 17 right now.

18 We had a CRGR meeting on that package back in 19 April

'86.

We interpreted what CRGR wrote after their 20 meeting as saying that they basically agreed with what we 21 were saying but that we did need some rewrites and 22 clarification.

23 It wasn't clear.

We stated that we were 24 proposing no new requirements.

They said we had a lot of O

Al 25 wording in there that sounded like new requirements.

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have modified some of those things.

x 2

But.again I will try to cover all that on the 3

last slide.

4 We had the ACRS meeting, which led to the May 5

letter.

We had the ACRS meeting back in May of '86.

At 6

that meeting, as I recall, we pretty much discussed 7

definition, scope.

That was probably the major subject of 8

discussion at the meeting.

9 There was some discussion among the committee, as 10 I recall, about what is one -- do we know what one is?

How 11 long would it take us to do more work in this area?

12 I recall specific statements.

Some people said

()

13 two years, five years.

I think I may have even heard up to 14 10 years.

15 That was again then brought out in the May 13th 16 letter, and as I said, the next slide is specifically on 17 that letter.

So let me not talk too much about that.

18 We responded to the May letter on August 1st of 19 1986.

We think they had a response that dealt with every 20 point in that letter.

We think that the program, the 21 resolution that we have right now is also responsive to that 22 letter, and as I said, I will give you all that.

23 Right now, as far as where we are, the revised 24 package is out for comment.

We sent it out on November 24th 25 l and asked for -- I think it was two weeks -- return of ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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comments and concurrence.

2 We have been unable to get it.

That was probably 3

a little bit unreasonable, given the holidays, and so forth, 4

but we are very close to getting the last comments in.

~

5 Two of the offices that we do not have are the 6

Legal Office and the Office of Research, but we think we are-7 pretty close to getting those shortly.

8 (Slide.)

9 The ACRS letter of May 13, 1986.

10 The way we read that letter is what I have 11 summarized on here, and of course if members have different 12 ideas on what was said, I am sure we will. discuss them after l

)

13 this presentation.

14 But let me just go through this.

I read the 15 lette r --

Staff read the letter as recommending more 16 walkdown activities for spatial interactions, those physical 17 locations and related commodities -- for lack of a better 18 word -- just more walkdown requirements.

Put it that way.

19 That is the way we interpret what ACRS was saying.

20 l That was put in the context of the August '85 l

21 proposal that went out for comment that Dr. Okrent referred 22 to, in which the A-17 program put out to all the offices a 23 package for coinment, and at that time we were proposing 24 somewhat more, yet limited, but somewhat more walkdown I

s.

25 '

activities for spatial interactions.

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As stated, that was changed in the package that 2

was brought to CRGR in March of this last year.

But I will 3

also speak about -- we have addressed that also in our 4

resolution.

5 Basically, we read the letter that ACRS agreed 6

with the idea and an information letter for functional 7

interactions again was part of the proposal in August of 8

'85.

It is basically still in there today, the same idea.

9 The ACRS also recommended a new standard review 10 plan section.

Again, that was going back to the '85 draft 11 proposal that circulated for comment.

That proposal had a 12 draft standard review plan section in it, but it was removed 13 before we went to CRGR, and the basis for removal was the 4

14 Staff comments which -- summarized basically -- which said 15 that most people felt the SRPs already covered these areas 1

16 sufficiently.

17 The next bullet, I think, is probably the biggest i

18 discussion item.

The ACRS basically stated a disagreement 19 with the scope and definition of the issues, in the sense --

20 I believe the terms were -- in the longer term the Staf f 21 should initiate appropriate studies, which we interpreted as 22 leading to a search for a method to deal with all types of f

23 systems interactions.

24 I will have more to say about that on the last 25 f slide as to what we propose to do about that in our d

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1-resolution'as it is right now.-

2 The other item in-the letter of May 13th J

3 recommended'the removal of the single failure guidance.

It-4 didn't disagree with it.

It just said that there should be 5

.another forum or another mechanism to deal with that aspect i

6 of what we were proposing as added guidance for single i

7 failure.

s

.8 Basically, that is the way the Staff read and I:

9 interpreted the letter, and that is what we responded tc, 10 and we think;that our program today is along the lines of' 11 what we said in our August 1st letter, which.was the 12 response to this, and what is in the package today.

13 (Slide.)

14 Getting to our revised resolution, basically-I 15 think one could characterize what we are trying to do as, i

16 number one, resolving A-17 and, number two, if there's other 17 things outside the definition of this issue and a number of 18 other issues, actually, that they should be dealt with in 19 the longer term, in a different way maybe, and I will talk 20 more about that.

21 Specifically, actions for A-17 are kind of broken 22 I down by what actions we think are being done under A-17 and 3

23 '

what one can maybe call spinoff actions.

l 24 First, and pretty much consistent throughout all 25 the drafts of the resolution of this issue, we are proposing i

i i

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to issue a generic letter for information only.

It will 2

deal with about five areas of functional interactions.

3 As I said, it is for information only.

It would 4

go to all the licensees as a generic letter, and we would 5

expect that it would get treatment under their ongoing 6

activities to review all sorts of I&E notices, generic 7

letters, and so forth.

8 The next aspect is a statement on the reliance on 9

the resolution of USI A-46, which is seismic qualification 10 of equipment and operating plants.

-11 Specifically as part of the original draft 12 resolution of A-17 Dr. Okrent referred to back in August of

)

13

'85, as I said before, we had a recommendation for spatial 3

14 walkdowns.

The two areas that we were focusing on in that 15 proposal were related to seismic.

The other one was related 16 to an area I will just refer to as flooding right now, but 17 it is certainly more than just flooding.

18 The resolution of A-46 over the last year has, I 19 will say, broadened somewhat, in the sense that they are 20 lealing with some seismic -- potentially seismically induced i

21 systems interaction.

Based on that somewhat expansion of 22,

scope, A-17 is relying on that work.

l 23 l Now, admittedly, A-46 addresses operating plants, 24 and it is a certain set of operating plants, but along with 25 that we believe that newer plants are covered by SRP ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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requirements' and specifically Reg Guide 1.29, which all~ talk 2

about the possibility of seismically: induced systems 3

interaction.

4 Now, the A-46 program goes from the first 5

operating plants up through the plants-that are committed to 6

IEEE requirements before 344, 1975.

The reg guide that.I 7

referred to that covers newer plants was issued, I -.t h i n k,. a s 8

a safety guide in 1972.

9 So we think there is sufficient overlap there to 10 cover all plants, but there is a possibility that some may 11

'have slipped by, and we are going to cover those plants if 12 they exist.

We are going to look at the possibility that

)

13 there are plants like that and in some way have confirmation 14 that all plants do indeed -- are either covered by A-46 or 15 by more current requirements in the SRP, and particularly 16 Reg Guide 1.29.

17 So based on that, we think that a major portion 18 of the seismic aspect or the spatial aspect, that being 19 seismic, is covered by the USI A-46 activities.

20 Now, I also mentioned that the original proposal 21 had or required more activity in the area of flooding.

In 22 our resolution package that came before you back in the 23 April-May timeframe, we were proposing not to take any 24 action on flooding.

We were going to rely on ongoing 25 industry activities in that particular area.

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1 In our present day resolution we have changed

'2

- this.

We now are going to go out with a request, which is a 3

- requirement that they respond,'a request'for verification of 4

flooding.

5 It may be interpreted as reliance on industry, 6

but we considered the fact that we are going out with a set 4

7

' of quest. ions, a very specific set of questions.-

We think 8

that way we can audit what was done by the industry and by-i 9

the utilities in response to a number of' flooding concerns.

10 11 2

12 13 14 15 16 17 l

18 i.

19 20 l

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Now, the definition of flooding that we've used 2

in our program is, as I said before, much broader than just 3

' how much water. gets on the floor' during an event.

4 We have made the definition address' things like 5

spray, moisture, generally all kinds of water intrusion 6

problems.

7 As I said, it's now a 5054(F) request, which is a 8

requirement that all utilities respond.

That's how we're 9

now proposing to follow up on the original concerns 10 expressed in a-17 on Flooding.

11 Now, a number of spinoff actions we are 12 proposing.

The first one on here is:

()

13 Provide for integration of electrical power 14 concerns.

Back in May, we were also stating that aspect of 15 the program.

At this point, we' re a little bit further 16 along than at that time.

We've now got a generic issue, 17 generic issue 128, which is an integration of a number of 18 previously existing generic issues on electric power 19 systems; specifically, for example, A-30 on DC power; GI-48 20 on limiting conditions of operation on vital buses.

And 21 GI-49, which had to do with tie-breakers.

22 But there were a number of ongoing generic issues j

23 in the area of electrical power.

And we've now integrated 24 them into a single program, which I mentioned was GI-128, 25 We are proposing that the information that's ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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coming out of A-17 in its first redaction be. utilized in 2

that program.

3 If you look at the generic letter for 4

information, for example, the first item in that letter 5

that's highlighted is the electrical power system area.

6 So there is a definite, natural flow out of what 7

is going on in A-17.

And what is flowing out of there into 8

this new generic issue 128.

9 The next item is:

10 Provide guidance for PRAs.

We always have that 11 in the program.

I think what we stated from the beginning 12 was that we couldn't make a recommendation on a method that

()

13 a PRA used, but we could make some recommendations on where 14 they looked the hardest, where the problems have been, and 15 so forth.

And we're still proposing that same kind of 16 guidance.

17 And, really, the guidance, again, flows out of 18 those first three items.

The generic letter for information 19 talks about areas to look at.

The second one of course is 20 l in the coismic area.

And the third one is the flooding 21 l area.

22 !

Those are the areas that A-17 I think should be 23 focused on in any kind of PRA work.

24 As far as future plants go, we originally, as I 25 said, had a standard review plan cect ion proposed.

We i

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removed it based on the fact that people thought the SRP 2

.already covered the kinds of things that we were talking 3

about.

4 We now are proposing that we develop a reg 5

guide.

We envision that that reg guide would have guidanca, 6

as reg guides typically do, guidance in where to look, and 7

again flowing out of the first three bullets would be most 8

of the information for the development of that reg guide.

9 Now the last one.

Develop scope concerns as 10 potential issues for prioritization.

11 As I mentioned on the previous slide, the biggest 12 area that we saw as a problem area was the question of A

(_/

13 definition and scope.

In our response on August 1st, I 14 think we used the words, or words that could imply that we 15 were going to develop one generic issue that would be 16 prioritized, that generic issue being what flowed out of 17 these kinds of meetings as not being covered by our A-17 i

18 program.

i 19 I think now that we've further defined what we 20 !

plan to do, we're thinking that maybe it isn't going to be 21 f just one issue, that it's maybe multiple issues.

I 22 j The staff, I think, has learned that broad safety 1

23 i concerns do not get addressed well and that we need more l

24 focusing.

l 25 i So we're proposing that a number of scope ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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on issues like A-17, but also A-48,-there were a number of 3

discussions on scope.

And that was highlighted.in the~ACRS 4

letter on A-46 also.

5 You will probably also be hearing about USIA 47, 6

which is control systems in the near future.

And you will 7

see in that program that there's limitations on scope in 8

what they're doing.

They're stated pretty clearly up 9

front.

1.0 The program that we' re initiating right now is to 11 deal with all these areas that have been raised that are not 12 addressed by those kinds of USIs.

And also other programs.

()

13 It's not just USIs, it's the fire protection program.

It's 14 the environmental qualification because, as I'm sure you're 15 all aware, they all have some relationship to systems 16 interaction.

17 of course, the only problem with that is that 18 almcot everything that's a safety problem is a systems 19 interaction.

But we do intend to try to develop the 20 concerns.

And I think the words are importants 21 Try to develop the concerns in the issues that we i

22 can work, and that's the major aspect that I think we'll try j

l 23 to deal with thin question of scope and definition of the i

l

}

24 l issues.

25 ;

That'n basically all I had to say.

Of course, 1

i I

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we' re available for comments.

I hope I covered everything 2

that Dr. Okrent promised I would.

3 DR. OKRENT:

I think you did what we asked.

4 Mr. Ebersole.

5 MR. EBERSOLE:

This was the undisturbed portion.

6 Now, can you back up on the slides again?

7 MR. THATCHER:

Did I make it in 15 minutes?

8 DR. OKRENT:

You did it in sufficient time.

9 MR. THATCHER:

Which one?

10 MR. EBERSOLE:

Let's see, the third one, where it 11 starts:

Recommend more walkdowns.

12 MR. THATCHER:

That's the ACRS letter?

Okay.

)

13 MR. EBERSOLE:

I have a problem with walkdown as 14 identifying what really needs to be done.

For one, I don't 15 think you can get special perspective just by pure visual 16 perception frcm wherever you happen to be, surrounded by 17 walls and equipment.

i 18 DR. KERR Excuse me, Mr. Ebersole.

Are you 19 disagreeing with the ACRS letter?

20 MR. EBERSOLE:

I'm asking for an expansion of the 21 term "walkdown".

22 DR. KERR:

You are stating that the ACRS letter 1

23 I is incomprehensible?

24 (Laughter.)

O 25 I MR. EDERSOLE:

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walkdown activities, we ought to elaborate on what we mean I

2 by "walkdown".

It's just a term.

3 And I think the consideration in spacial 4

arrangements, in particular, the coupling of spacial 5

volumes, is a vital part of this because you just can' t 6

stare at a room and forget perhaps that on the other side of 7

it is a boiler or a huge tank of CO 2 or something that 8

ought not to be there.

f 9

So, an extension of the term "walkdown", I think 10 is critical to understanding what you've got to do.

11 MR. THATCHER:

I think you've caught me with the 12 problem I had with Dr. Okrent yesterday.

He said that I

()

13 needed to elaborate on some of my terminology that I used 14 because of different interpretations, and so forth.

15 And given the time limitations, I didn' t do all 16 the terminology.

But, from the beginning, I think, you i

17 know, if you look at the proposals, we meant by "walkdown",

18 I mean we used the term "walkdown" to mean an investigation 19,

that started with a paper review to know what your systems I

20 '

are.

i 21 MR. EBERSOLE:

Spacial allocation of functions.

22 l Where do you put the furnishings?

What is the potential 1

4 23 implication of the furnishings being in the same room?

l 24 l DR. OKRENT:

Would you accept walkdown using O'

I 25 (

x-ray vision?

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(Laughter.)

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2 MR. EBERSOLE:

I can recall a particular case 3

where a huge CO 2 tank.was put,'in essence, in the spreading-4 room of a plant.

And the design of that_ invoked the theory 5

that NRC said vessels don't fail.

He was extrapolating.

6 Anyway, that's just one point.

Now,'the ACRS 7

letter recommended new standard review plants.

And I think 8

11t'73 extremely unfortunately that that has not come to pass.

9 It's been removed by the staff'.

I say that's a 10 natural result of tossing the problem to a compartmentalized 11 review process which will not see a need for doing anything 12 in their domain.

O)

\\,_

13 It's a bureaucratic problem.

It's standard that 14 it would come out analyzed the way that it did because, I 15 know, I've been through it.

I used to catch myself in the 16 wrong department because I was an electrical engineer and I 17 was in the civil section -- what the hell are you doing 18 here?

i l

19 So that compartmentalized attitude and all of the l

20 l politics, if you will, of reviewing these things inevitably 21 leads tot 22 Don't get some generalist in here to cause any I

23 problems.

I've got my job to do.

The hell with you, get 24 out of my room.

j 25 l And that's what produces the refusal to put this i

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as really sort'of in a system integration portion of the 2

standard review plan, which I think is sadly needed.

3 It's a natural result of the review process which 4

you used to get it examined.

5 In a further extension of this notion, I suggest 6

that it would be your problem, if you haven't already done 7

it, to come up to us and, in the actual language of the SRP, 8

validate the position taken by the staff.

9 Go through the SRPs and cut out the words that 10 say:

They do consider system integration and system 11 interactive matters in the degree which we think is 12 important; that might result in about 50 papes of paper.

()

13 MR. THATCHER:

More than that.- Definitely, more 14 than that.

15 MR. EBERSOLE:

As the project leader on this, you 16 must see yourself, not rely on their position.

You ought to 17 look at that.

18 MR.' THATCHER:

I think we can provide you those 19 papers.

20 l MR. EBERSOLE:

These would be excerpts.

21 MR. THATCHER:

It would be a significant portion 22 !

of the SRP.

i 23 !

MR. EBERSOLE:

Just get out the excerpts to I

24 l validate what you have taken for granted as a position from O

i 25 l them.

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MR. THATCHER:

I don't think we've taken it for 2

granted.

I don't think that's true.

I have personally been 3

through significant portions of the SRP.

I threw one out 4

yesterday at the subcommittee, and then I went back to make 5

sure that what I said was really true.

And I got it.

6 MR. EBERSOLE:

On the matter of flooding, I think 7

we talked at the subcommittee meeting flooding means more 8

than flooding.

It means intrusion of vapor, hot air, dust, 9

whatever you want to call it.

10 So, flooding is a too narrowly-defined function j

11 of invasion, influx.

12 Okay, that's all I had to say.

O l

(_)

13 DR. KERR Other comments or questions?

14 DR. OKRENT:

Carl, any comments?

15 MR. MICHELSON:

I had a number of comments, but l

l 16 not any questions on the presentation.

I think the l

17 presentation covered what was covered in the subcommittee, l

l 18 so maybe I'll be just giving my comments.

19 DR. OKRENT:

I think it's appropriate.

20 l MR. MICHELSON:

As a personal matter, I was l

j 21 l disappointed in the progress that was made on systeins i

22 i interaction, but certainly in no way fault the people who l

I 23 l were doing the work.

I think they've actually made 24 commendable progress, it just fell somewhat short of what I

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I 25 would have liked to have thought we would get to at this l

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point in time.

2 But, certainly we're a lot closer to I think now 3

understanding what systems interaction might-involve, 4

although there are many areas yet that we don't understand 5

because we haven't really sat down and thought through 6

carefully.

7 I assume that's a part of what will go on when 8

they start to scope the next phase of system interaction, 9

which I believe is a promise that the staff is making, that 10 they will go and scope some new potential generic issues and 11 then see if they are sufficiently important to pursue it.

12 So I guess the disappointment derives from not O

(_j 13 seeing it done already but rather now having to wait another 14 year.

15 We haven' t heard very clearly the schedules on 16 all of this.

Maybe the staff could, first of all, tell us l

17 the regulatory guide schedule which you have in mind, and 18 also the scoping.

19 When do you think these scoping documents for

)

20 future generic issues will be completed?

21 MR. THATCHER:

On the reg guide, right now we 22,

don't have a schedule for that.

I admit I didn't 23 particu1~arly worry about that because of the lack of new 24 j licensing activities.

25 But the other one, the scopo questions, which I ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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feel is the more important one to start tying some of these 2

loose ends down, we presently have -- I thought it was going 3

to go out about two weeks ago.

4 But it got hung up in somebody's office.

4 5

technical assistance program that's basically outlined to do 6

this scoping type of study.

And the schedule on that, as I 7

recall -- now, of course, we might get a month late start--

8 I think was supposed to be finished in September of this 9

year.

10 MR. MICHELSON:

What will be finished?

11 MR. THATCHER:

Finished as far as what we have in 12 that.

It's a description of the concerns that have been

)

13 expressed by yourself, other members, staf f members, and so 14 forth, in those areas.

15 Maybe I should mention that the title of the 16 program is called multiple system responses to plantwide 17 events.

I'm not sure about the end of that.

But it's 18 certainly a broad umbrella.

19 Under that broad umbrella, we want to look at the 20 !

concerns that have been raised and describe those concerns, 21 e develop those concerns so that we can turn them into what we 22 call issues to be worked.

23 }

MR. MICHELSON:

And the issue is to be identified 24 by September?

Is that the idea?

And then it will go out.

G5J 25 You'll pick somebody to work on the issue, and so forth?

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MR. ANDERSON:

There's one step in there.

Then 2

the issue will be prioritized.

3 MR. MICHELSON:

By the staff or by a contractor?

4 MR. ANDERSON:

Well, by a contractor through the 5

staff.

6 MR. THATCHER:

But that process wouldn' t start 7

'til September.

8 MR. MICHELSON:

When do you think the 9

prioritization will come by?

Is that another three months, 10 or something?

11 MR. THATCHER:

The latest thing I had seen on 12 prioritization was that they typically, given that an issue

()

13 was given to them with enough background information and 14 specifically NRR of fice letter 40 type material, there had 15 been at one timo at least, I recall, a commitment to 16 prioritizing within a six-month time frame.

Maybe three 17 months.

18 MR. ANDERSON:

The six month is probably a pretty 19 good number if there is sufficient information.

The 20 problem that's hung up a lot of prioritizations is they're 21 very ill-defined issues and we really didn't know what to do 22 with them.

l l

23 '

MR. MICHELSON:

This will perhaps be in that i

j 24 category until everybody agroes it's fully defined.

You 1

25 will send us a copy of the issue in September, I assumo, and l

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we may or may not h5ve comments on it.

2 MR. THATCHER:

That copy of the issue, as I tried.

3 to indicate in our letter response, did kind of imply that 4

it would be one issue.

5 But based on what we see right now, it may be 6

many.

7 MR. MICHELSON:

If I may proceed, let me go 8

through some of my other comments.

9 In the near-term now, your resolution calls for 10 sending a generic letter to the licensees for information.

11 At the subcommittee meeting, we brought up the question of, 12 well, to what extent do licensees necessarily even have a

()

13 program to review information notices?

14 To what extent are they required to review 15 information notices?

16 And you are I think going to come back and tell 17 us what you found out.

18 MR. TilATCllER:

We didn't really do any more in 19 this investigation.

20 MR. MICilELSON:

It was an important thing though 21 because I know, in the case of LERs, they're not required to 22 review any LERs except on their own plants.

23 The question was, woll, how about information 24 noticon?

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MR. ANDERSON:

They are not required.

We are not i

2 really expecting them to come back with any formal 3

response.

4 MR. MICHELSON:

The question is:

are they 5

required to review the information documents in documents 6

that they have reviewed?

7 I think they can ignore them completely.if they 8-wish.

9 MR. ANDERSON:

That is their right.

They can.

10 MR. THATCHER:

I don't know if that is entirely 11 true.

12 MR. MICHELSON:

I don' t know what they do with 13 them.

They are not required, I believe, to do anything with 14 what you are going to send them.

15 VOICE:

Periodically -- and this is done in the 16 regions periodically -- the inspectors that go out, both at 17 the site, the residence, and the ones that come in from the 18 regional headquarters, look at what is being done.

This I

19 goes in through their periodic SALP ratings.

20 l MR. MICHELSON:

All they can do is look and see 21 l what, if anything, the licensee did with the information you 22 sont them, but they in no way can regulate this.

It is 23 '

really difficult to even spot them for not having reviewed 24 it, since there is no requirement.

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'do at this point.

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3

_ VOICE:

It will bring all of these matters to 4

their attention not called in a systematic way.

5 MR. MICHELSON:

It.certainly will inform them of 6

your. concern.

7 These flooding studies now that they are going to 8

do, I think you clarified and I assume that the few comments 9

that we had will be made sufficiently clear in your final 10 documentation, that it makes it clear that they go beyond 11 water, and I am sure you realize they have to go beyond the 12 liquid phase.

)

13 DR. MOELLER:

Excuse me.

What do you mean they 14 go beyond water?

15 MR. MICHELSON:

The important thing is that the 16 early pipe break studies done back in the early '70s in 17 response to the Giambusso letter addressed only what they 18 called flooding, which was interpreted to mean water on the 19 floor that was rising.

As long as the water didn' t, for 20 instance, rise up to a pump level, the pump might still be 21 considered operable.

22 They didn't consider the fact that the flood was 23 on the floor above and dripping down on the junction box, or 24 whatever.

They also didn't consider the steam around the 25 building, but they looked at the water coming from the ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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3 They looked at the water flood but didn' t look at' 4

the steam, and of course that is where you begin to get your 5

potential for system interaction.

6 MR. NYLIE:

Carl,'in that regard, can it be 7

concluded then that flooding includes all hazards that may 8

be in the area?

9 MR. THATCHER:

How about we stop right here, and' 10 I will read you the definition that we are using in the 11 Generic 50-54(f) request.

12 MR. MICHELSON:

That would be useful.

13 MR. THATCHER:

As you will see -- I think I heard 14 dust here.

It is not dust -- internal flooding, as used in 15 this document.

16

" Internal flooding includes all 17 forms of water or moisture release 18 internal to plant structures; for 19 example, leak or ruptures of water 20 or steam, fire protection system 21 actuation, et cetera.

Regardless 22 of the means of release, the failure 23 mechanism is intrusion of water or 24 moisture to critical components."

25 MR. EBERSOLE:

Question.

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lost in that some phenomenon, which has been happening to 2

the embarrassment, I hope, of the people to whom it has 3

happened.

4 As you know, in its wisdom NRC elected not to 5

make fire equipment seismically competent or 1E or otherwise 6

safety oriented.

So we have large manifolded systems of 7

carbon dioxide which, upon just minor faults, can be 8

triggered into spatial areas containing critical 9

equipment -- that is why you want to protect it -- in 10 unlimited amounts sufficient to explode in the various 11 places they discharge into just by the failure of a single 12 timing valve, which is supposed to emit just so many cubic n(j 13 feet into that space but can instead discharge the whole 14 tank farm into it.

15 We had rooms blow up for this.

So I can easily 16 give you an example of a system interaction in the seismic 17 event.

18 If I have one of these systems that feeds into a 19 l battery room, I don' t need hydrogen to blow it up.

I am k

20 going to blow it up with CO-2.

In the sense that these are I

t 21 '

adjacent walls, I will take both of them down.

I DR. KERRt Mr. Ebersole, is this simply --

22 23 MR. EBERSOLE:

It is an example of a system 24l1 interaction that is not covered in the scope.

I think you f^

(s)'

25 !

are talking about water sprinklers.

I l

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~DR.

KERR Your point is that you don't think 2

that the scope is being considered?

3 MR. EBERSOLE:

Sharply defined, it might be.

4 when we said vapors.

I 5

MR. MICHELSON:

'I don't know the rewording and 6

' don't want to pretend to reword it for you, but I'think'the.

7 point is that you really are considering=the rupture of both-8 high and moderate energy lines, and whatever they contain, 9

whether it be CO-2, water, steam, hot water, cold water, i

10 whatever.

You are looking at the rupture of these lines and 11 the effect on the plant.

12 MR. THATCHER:

You may be looking at that.

We 13 are not.

14 MR. MICHELSON:

I thought that is what this was 15 going to do.

16 MR. WYLIE:

-I think this is basically limited to-17 water and water vapor.

18 MR. THATCHER:

I think you are right.

19 MR. MICHELSON:

And not to high energy steam, 20 although he says steam in there, but I am not sure where it 21 is coming from.

22 MR. THATCHER:

Only as a moisture intrusion.

I 23 think I just heard an example of one of our numerous systems 24 interactions of something going into an area and exploding.

25 No, water intrusion into critical equipment.

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MR. MICHELSON:

I am just trying to find out what 2

-your scope is.

I would suggest that your intrusion of 3

steam --

4 DR. KERR:

Have you read the Staff's response 5

letter to our previous concern about pipe break?

This may 6

bear on some of the questions.

7 OR. SHEWMON:

Is that addressed to srl or the 8

speaker?

9 DR. KERR:

Carl.

10 MR. MICHELSON:

I am sorry, I didn' t hear.

I was 11 talking to Paul.

12 DR. KERR:

Have you read the Staf f's December

()

13 18th response to our comments on SRP 3.6.1.

14 MR. MICHELSON:

Yes, I have.

15 DR. KERR:

Are there further questions of 16 Mr. Thatcher or comments?

17 MR. MICHELSON:

I haven't finished my comments 18 yet, but if you wish we can cease.

19 DR. KERR I was waiting for Mr. Ebersole to make 20 comments and I didn't realize you hadn't finished.

21 MR. MICHELSON:

I still have a couple of 22 comments.

23 DR. KERR:

Please go ahead.

i 24 MR. MICHELSON:

One of the other points that you 25 brought up -- and it is quite right -- A-46 is going to s

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resolve some of these problems.

Until'I see the resolution-2' of'A-46, which I don't know yet how they are. going.to

[

'3 handle'it -- we have heard from the Staff as to how they 4

might be handling it ;-- we are not quite 'sure what portion 5

of our' letter is addressed.

6 We will just have to reserve it till later.

7 The question that was raised in our letter, of s

8 course, was what happens when a tank on one side of the room' 9

fails during a seismic event and the water runs across the I

10 floor to an inverter on the other side of the room.

We said 11 that seemed like a 1caical interaction, already. accounted 12 for in A-46.

.( )

13 The A-46 people in the past said, no, they 14 weren't going to account for it until recently.

Well, it is 15 no longer clear whether they are or they aren't.

16 As I understand it, the CRGR package would not

~

i 17 require it, but the industry thinks they are going to do it 18 anyway, which is commendable.

But I don't know the l

19 situation.

20 DR. KERRt What is your point here, Carl?

{

21 MR. MICHELSON:

The point here is that that is a i

22 part of our letter, that is a part of our concern.

I just 1

l 23 want to bring to the committee the fact that that part of 24 our letter has been rejected, at least by the Staff, i

i 25 although it may be picked up by the industry.

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Is that correct?

2 MR. ANDERSON:

I think that is essentially it.

3 This particular item, we have told you we were concerned 4

about something structurally falling onto a component, but 5

we are not worrying about its contents.

6 In-A-46 we had taken the position then -- and I 7

think it is still true -- that that type of floo6ing is part 8

of this 50-54(f) letter we are proposing under A-17.

9 MR. MICHELSON:

For which no action is required?

r 10 MR. ANDERSON:

No, no, no.

This is the part 11 which requires an action.

12 MR. MICHELSON:

All you are requiring -- this

()

13 should be made clear to the committee, too -- all you are 14 requiring is that they tell you what they have done?-

15 MR. ANDERSON:

That is correct.

16 MR. MICHELSON:

And if they have done nothing, 17 that is a correct answer, also?

18 MR. ANDERSON:

That is correct.

They submit that 19 under oath and affirmation, and we will go from there.

If 20 there is something they haven't done that falls within their 21 licensing basis and previous requirements, we could go out 22 under the order and make them do it.

23 Now, as I mentioned to you Wednesday, the Senior 24 Seismic Advisory Panel are recommending that when they do go

/

25 through, they do look at the water, and they think it is e

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reasonable.

They are very reluctant at this time, with the 2

state of the A-46 package, to go back and revise that and go 3

through this process again.

4 I think we are covered under the A-17, asking the 5

detailed questions, and I think there is a high probability 6

that this review will get done in the A-46 implementation.

7 DR. OKRENT:

Can I ask a question in this regard?

8 Mr. Hernan mentioned during the subcommittee 9

meeting on Wednesday that there was a letter from the Staff 10 to the ACRS, or a copy of a letter, which described in some 11 way some modifications, I think, in the scope of A-46.

12 Do I remember this correctly?

(m

()

13 MR. HERNAN:

There was a letter in response from 14 the Staff to the ACRS on A-46, specifically on ACRS ' letter 15 of concern that A-46 did not cover plants that are yet to be 16 licensed or plants that fall under the A-46 response.

17 I have not been back to my office since then, and 18 I have not tracked down the letter.

I don' t know if 19 Mr. Anderson brought it in or not.

20 MR. ANDERSON:

I am sorry, I did not.

21 MR. HERNAN:

We will get a copy of that letter.

22 DR. OKRENT:

I just don't remember having 23 received the letter.

4 24 MR. HERNAN:

It is a fairly recent letter.

I O

25 would guess the end of November, early December.

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DR. OKRENT:

It will probably reach us for 2

Chinese New Year.

3 MR. HERNAN:

If we are lucky.

4 MR. MICHELSON:

I would like to get to my bottom 5

line so that at least you know my views on it.

6 I think the Staff has done the best job that-they 7

can in view of the controversial nature of the subject, in 8

view of the poor definition of some of it, the lack of full 9

understanding of what might be involved in this issue.

10 I believe the promises that they have made, when 11 properly implemented, will eventually get to a new issue 12 here.

()

13 I believe the resolution they are proposing is 14 only hitting the easier part of the issue,-but certainly one 15 that they can manage.

16 So my own view is that we should go ahead and do 17 nothing at this time.

I would propose that we review the 18 public comments when they come back, and unless we have 19 strong feelings at that point in time about the situation, 20 we should go ahead and accept this present resolution, with 21 the understanding that these promises will be carried out 22 in some timely fashion, and that we work closely with the 23 definition of the scope next time to see that they do cover 24 the areas that we are concerned with.

25 That is my position.

Thank you.

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.DR.

KERR ' Can I interpret some of those 2

comments.as somewhat complimentary?

3 MR. MICHELSON:

I think the Staff-did a fine job, 4

you know..This is not a simple, easily dealt with issue.-

5 It is a sensitive issue.

6 MR. EBERSOLE:

What I hear you saying, though, 7

Carl, is that they have put a valiant, desperate effort to 8

do something but they have been defeated by other 9

processes.

10 MR. MICHELSON:

You can say it that way if you 11 wish.

That is probably another view of the-same thing.

12 RD:R. KERR:

That is an interesting translation.

-( )

13 Are there further questions or comments?

14 Mr. Wylie?

i 15 MR. WYLIE:

I will just say this.

16.

I just think it is unfortunate and unfair to the 17 utilities to go forward with the resolution of A-46 and do 18 l the plant walkdowns and not look for the other potential 19 hazards that are there at that time and then come back later 20 and make them do it again.

And I think that is where we are 21 headed.

22 I just think that is unfortunate.

I think it 23 ought to be done where they do it one time.

24 MR. MICHELSON:

In that case, then, one should I

l 25 vote against the resolution.

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DR. KERR:

Mr. Thatcher?

2 MR. THATCHER:

I just wanted to make a comment on 3

that.

4 We view the flooding work that we are asking 5

questions about as mostly having been done.

6 We also see that possibly A-46 walkdowns that are 7

yet to be done may be looking at some tank failures and some 8

water problems, too, which could be supplemental information 9

to respond to our flooding concerns.

10 I think this.is a good example of the overlap of 11 systems interaction.

It wasn't planned that A-46 be around 12 and A-17 was coming to a conclusion or anything like that, f'(,j) 13 but it just so happens that almost all these safety issues 14 could involve systems interaction.

15 And I think the Staf f on A-17 is not asking for 16 more walkdowns unless they haven' t done anything.

Maybe 17 then they ought to be doing something.

18 MR. WYLIE:

But how are you going to know that l

19 there is not a potential hazard out there -- say, for I

20 example, in hydrogen gas?

How are you going to do that?

21 MR. THATCHER:

We are not going to do it under l

22 A-17.

1.

l 23-MR. WYLIE:

That is right.

24 i Would you be concerned if you had a seismic event (d

l

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gas?

2 MR. THATCHER:

That -- you know, the seismic 3

aspects, the seismic-induced kinds of things are definitely 4

the kinds of things that we are going to be'looking at in 5

this program that we said we are going to work now to 6

define, the things that weren' t covered under A-46, A-17, 7

A-47.

8 MR. WYLIE:

What you are saying, though, is you 9

are going to go back and do it again?

10 MR. THATCHER:

But we think that we will go 11 back -- if we do go back and do it again, we will ask the 12 utilities if it comes out that way to go out and look for

)

13 hydrogen bottles or something.

That is very specific.

14 MR. WYLIE:

What about hydrogen pipes for bulk 15 storage throughout the plant?

16 MR. THATCHER:

I don't know.

17 MR. WYLIE:

You don't know.

That is the point.

I 18 MR. EBERSOLE:

I think he is right.

15et me give 19 you a more delicate thing.

20 i I just have a modest earthquake someplace, and 21 these great big weight-operated seal pumps and CO-2 control 22 systems, they blow uncontrolled volumes of CO-2 into a 23 battery room and blow down both walls.

I haven't really had 24 a big earthquake, but I have blown up the batteries.

25 MR. THATCHER:

That is another example.

+

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If I can respond to these comments, I notice s_

2 Victor Stello said the same thing, but I don' t know if there 3

is a question on some of these.

Sometimes I feel like I am 4

interrupting your discussion.

5 But we come down to ACRS meetings, my 6

predecessors came down to ACRS meetings, and there's 7

examples.

We can all think of them.

Like we can go around 8

the table.

We can all think of them.

9 But it borders on asking the utility if you think 10 that systems interaction is a focused safety issue instead 11 of what I consider a broad safety concern.

It borders on 12 going and asking the utilities to go out-and do -- hey, it

()

13 is more than walkdowns, in my opinion, that they have to do, 14 but go out and do good.

It borders on that being that 15 broad.

16 And I don' t think the Staf f would know what to do t

17 with the response to a position -- go out and do good; go

[

18 out and look for your hydrogen bottles; go out and look for 19 your CO-2 problems.

20 We wouldn't even be able to list them because we 21 would come down with a list and everybody would have ten s

J 22 l more.

23 So our requirement would be go out and do good.

24 25 ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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DR. KERR:

Let me try to formulate one.

Would 2

you think it would make sense to have two separate 3

walkdowns, both of which would be effectively systems 4

interaction?

5 That was the question Mr. Wylie was raising and I 6

don't believe you've responded to it.

7 MR. THATCHER:

I don' t think it's logical to do 8

that.

But, given the way -- it's not logical on one hand, 9

but on the other hand, maybe it is.

10 What are all the systems interaction issues we 11 should be looking at when we send them out to do this 12 wonderful, first and forever all walkdown?

I don't think we

)

13 know them all.

14 There may have to be a second walkdown; I don't 15 know.

If, today, we knew all the systems interaction and 16 all the things to look for...

17 DR. KERR:

If you don't know what to look for, 18 '

now certainly you have to ask people to look for something 19 later on.

But, if it's all a matter of waiting two or three 20 l months, or six months, until we know what we're looking for, 21 !

it strikes me that might be something worth considering.

22 '

MR. THATCHER:

I don't think it's six months to 23 find out what we're looking for.

24 DR. KERR:

Maybe it's a good idea to encourage 1

(9

\\/

25 ;

people to have an annua walkdown, I don't know.

1 1

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1 MR. THATCHER:

Given the modifications, maybe it 2

is.

3 DR.'KERR:

Mr. Okrent.

4 MR. OKRENT:

I'm not clear on what the 5

responsibility of INPO is.

But certainly systems 6

interaction can be interpteted in large part as operating 7

an safety question.

8 I'm just wondering if we were to follow Carl's 9

proposal of not holding up the staff with this proposed 10 approach, which they would have to send out for comment 11' anyway, and perhaps, at that point, judging whether we 12 should write what amounts to a strong letter, it is still-r 13 not relevant somehow to point out to the Commission that the 14 current efforts by the staff are limited in the kinds of 15 systems interaction that they are both looking at; and 16 proposing to call to the attention, or ask that the 17 utilities review, and that we think that it may be 18 appropriate for INPO to develop a broader scope of systems 19 interaction approach.

20 That is done by the utilities with the help, 21 formulation, structuring of INPO and review by INPO.

I'll 22 put that on the table.

23 DR. KERR:

Have we got other questions for 24 Mr. Thatcher?

o k-25 (No response.)

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MR. HERNAN:

Mr. Chairman, I would like to 2

correct the record on one ir, sue, if I may.

The statement 3

was made that there was no obligation on the part of 4

utilities to look at information notices, generic letters, 5

and the like.

6 There was a TMI action item, 1C5, entitled I

procedures for feedback of operating experience from plant 7

0 8

staff, which, to my knowledge, has been implemented at all 9

plants, and very specifically requires that the plants have 10 procedures to feed back any information relative to the 11 safety and operation of the plants, and any procedures to 12 specify who within their organization gets this information, o

(_)

13 down by position.

14 From this standpoint, it's my belief that the 15 information such as we would issue on A-17 will reach or i

16 l will receive some attention by the utility if they properly i

17 l implemented this TMI action plan item.

18 MR. MICHELSON:

I would strongly recommend you 19 talk to Jack Heltemes on this matter.

He'll refresh your 20 i memory.

What I want to know if the current status.

21 l Back in 1980 or about

'81, I signed out a letter 22 l in which we reached agreement between the agency and INPO 23 i that INPO was going to do this job except for events 24,

occurring directly on that plant.

INPO was going to do all

(~/

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'm 25 !

the review because each utility couldn't possibly review all i

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the LERs, the effect of all the information notices, and so 2

forth.

3 It was to be done as a consolidated job by INPO.

4 Now, I think that's still the case.

5 MR. HERNAN:

I don't believe that letter relieved 6

the utility.

l 7

MR. MICHELSON:

Yes, that letter superceded the i

8 requirement.

Essentially, it satisfied the action plan item l

9 as to how this done.

Now, each utility must still name a 10 person to coordinate this activity at the utility, 11 But the utility is not responsible to sit down 12 and read every LER, for instance.

I didn' t know on p

(_)

13 information notices, and that's why I asked for the 14 clarification.

15 Are they actually still expected to read and act 16 on every information notice as appropriate, and document 17 that they've done it?

18 MR. THATCHER:

I think the answer to that is yes.

19 MR. MICHELSON:

I don't know the answer.

20 MR. THATCHER:

LERs may be passed on, but you 21 must remember that, on A-17, we did look at LERs and we 22 !

condensed that information into possible applicability to 1

23 !

all plants.

And that's what our generic is.

I 24 l MR. MICHELSON:

I think it's important to get it m

25 ;

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obligation.

All it takes is a call to Jack and ask~him to 2

tell you.

3 MR. HERNAN:

I'll get that clarification.

4 DR. KERR:

Mr Shewmon.

5 DR. SilEWMON:

I guess I'll say this to 6

Mr. Thatcher, and anybody else can listen.

7 Some people who are inherently more optimistic, 8

perhaps more naive, such as myself, feel that, indeed, if 9

there are things out there which are going to rise up and 10 bite you, that you'll see them and perhaps CO 2 won' t blow

'll out the walls on the worst possible day of the year, when 12 you have something else going on.

)

13 And then, indeed, the systems interactions, which 14 are important and bothersome, will show up over a period of 15 time for people who are at least interested in seeing these 16 precursors.

17 And they'll get a pretty good idea of the ones 18 that are important without having to go out and having to 19 kick over all the rocks and keep harrassing themselves and 20 others about whether or not they have found all the 21 i conceivable interactions.

22 l So, over the years, perhaps you'll get to know I

23 I what the important systems interactions are simply if we 24,

keep our eyes open.

Without doing all the things you're i

Os 25 '

afraid we might be asked to do.

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DR. KERR:

Mr. Thatcher.

2 MR. MICHELSON:

I think that's a good follow-on 3

statement of pre:isely what INPO was supposed to do, so each 4

utility didn't have to bother.

5 DR. KERR:

Mr. Thatcher, we thank you for your 6

presentation.

And the staff members.

I declare a recess 7

until 10:4 5.

8 (Recess.)

9 DR. OKRENT:

I said there were going to be 10 several options.

The committee could'make a choice for 11 either action or inaction.

And one can do that either now 12 or on Saturday.

()

13 DR. KERR:

Is it the sense of the committee that 14 we should write a letter at this meeting, or that we wait?

15 MR. MICHELSON:

Do you want to ask for a vote?

16 DR. SHEWMON:

I'd rather hear some discussion, so 17 I can know which way to vote.

18 MR. WARD:

What would the letter say, in general?

19 MR. EBERSOLE:

I think it would say two things.

20 Extrapolate funding that would include more than liquid water.

And I would personally make the complain'. that this 21 l 22 doesn't appear as the part of the SRP, the integrating 23 l aspects of the SRP; because I'm perfectly confident it's i

24 j been stamped out by a proceeding through the 25 compartmentalized process.

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MR. MICHELSON:

Would it_make any difference if 2

we say that now or say it three months from now?

3 MR. EBERSOLE:

I don't think it would make any 4

difference anyway because they're going to have to wait for 5

something to happen.

6 DR. KERR:

I've heard one suggestion that we-7 should write a letter.

Does anyone else think we should?

8 (No response.)

9 DR. KERR:

My sense is that we don' t write a 10 letter at this point.

11 Mr. Okrent, you are next on the agenda, for some 12 odd reason, to discuss Chernobyl.

()

13 DR. OKRENT:

You will recall that, at the last 14 meeting, we spent some time on the draft Chernobyl letter.

15 And toward the end of the discussion, our wise, then 16 cha i rman...

17 DR. SHEWMON:

Then wise or still wise?

18 DR. OKRENT:

Our then chairman said that he 19 thought this was an important letter.

We probably didn' t 20 have to get it out in December, and it might be well to i

21 reflect on it for a month.

22 And I certainly wouldn' t disagree.

So we asked 23 that people provide comments in the office that they might 24 have on the letter.

25 I must say there was one very detailed comment i

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'l from Paul Shewmon.

It'was sufficiently detailed that I 2

thought I could use it to prepare an alternate draft 3

letter.

I didn't want to throw away the first one because 4

of a suggestion by one member, but it leads to a shorter 5

letter which cuts out some of the recommendations and 6

shortens discussions on some of the recommendations, and so 7

forth.

8

-And I made only what I would call no major 9

changes in what I'll call the old letter -- sort of 10 editorial type things.

And I still left some things in 11 there repetitive because I didn't know, if the committee 12 stays with that one, which of two short paragraphs or long 13 paragraphs on the same subject they would like.

14 I didn't make any effort to remove duplication 15 from that letter since, again, that letter is somewhat of a 16 camel with contributions from various members.

17 I would propose that we quickly read through.

18 Before we do that, we have Brian Sheron and the staff.

I 19 propose we hear from them very briefly -- maybe.five 20 minutes.

He said maybe he might not even need that much.

21 He can tell us in the first place what the 22 schedule is, whether they need a letter from us, and any 23 changes if major in what they have written that we had 24 available to us in December, et cetera.

25 So I'd like to start with Brian Sheron and only ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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pose questions to him that we think are really important for 2

purposes of our own letter.

3 Either you'd like to know more about why 4

Chernobyl did what it did -- we're not even going to discuss 5

that in the letter, for example.

6 So, if it's agreeable, let's hear from Brian.

7 MR. SHERON:

Thank you.

The status righ: now of 8

the two reports.

One is the factual report.

There was a 9

meeting on December 19th with all of the authorc from 10 various agencies and organizations.

11 We agreed at that time that we would publish the 12 report as a review draft.

This basically means that we are

()

13 going to issue it, we think now, on February 6th for about a l

14 45-day comment period.

15 We wculd not be issuing it in the Federal 16 Register, but rather issuing it to cognizant people.

Each 17 agency will issue it to their own constituency.

18 For example, EPA may have people they would like 19 to have review or comment on it.

NRC would issue it, and 20 the like.

21 At the end of that 45-day comment period, the 22 d proposal was for all of the organizations that participated i

I 23 ';

to get back together again and see if we could agree on a i

I 24 i final version which would be released as the U.S.

report, l

/~T kl 25 I'd say.

I 1

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If there was no agreement that could be reached 2

and each agency could do what it liked with the report, for 3

example, we will be assigning a NUREG number to the report.

4 We asked each of the agencies if they wouldn't 5

like to assign a number, a report number from their agency 1

6 to it.

7 I think all of them declined at this time.

So 8

we'll only have a NUREG report, although the title will-9 identify each agency which contributed.

10 We're preparing right now to brief the Commission 11 on both the factual report as well as the implications 12 report on Februaryr 6th.

We're scheduled, I believe, at 10 (m_)

13 in the morning.

14 We are going to send down to the Commission a 15 Commission paper transmitting both the factual report and 16 the implications report the week of January 20th.

17 And I think really that's going to be dictated ?)y 18 the printing schedule for the report.

How soon we can get 19 it turned around and printed.

20 '

With respect to the implications report, we have 21 really done very little since we have spoken to the 22 committee last time, which I believe was around December the 23 12th.

The only thing that we've done is some minor cleanup, 24 editing, and the like.

O-25 l There's been no change in the conclusions that i

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were reached or the recommendations.

We did find that the 2

committee's comments in three arqas of the operator section, 3

which I believe is chapter one, were very helpful.

And we 4

made some changes to reflect those comments in the writeup.

5 other than that, the report remains basically 6

unchanged from what you've seen last' time.

And, again, we 7

are preparing to send our Commission paper the week of 8

January the 20th, so we would very much like to have a 9

letter from the committee prior to that so we could 10 certainly reference it.

11 And in our Commission paper, I think from my 12 point of view at least, what we would hopefully be seeing in

-s s

(_)

13 the committee's letter is we would like to know if there's 14 any major omissions that you think we have not covered 15 properly, or any other major problems that you think we 16 might have with the report.

17 l I guess my feeling now is that I've not heard any 18 in the past two weeks, so I'm sort of presuming that there's 19 no major objections to what was covered in there.

20 But, if there are, we would certainly like the 21 committee to note them in their letter.

22 That's really all I have in terms of status, but 23 we can answer any questions.

24 DR. MARK:

You speak of a mysterious bunch of 25 agencies.

Is this one report subscribed to by everybody, ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

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like the Food and Drug-Administration, the Department of 2

Labor and the Department of Justice?

3 DR. SHEWMON:

These are only agencies that would 4

find Chernobyl has some relevance to-the areas which they're 5

involved in.

6 DR. MARK:

Then who are they?

7 DR. SHEWMON:

It's the Department of Energy, the 8

Electric Power Research Institute, the Institute for Nuclear 9

Power Operations, FEMA -- the Federal Emergency Management 10 Agency, and our Environmental Protection Agency.

11 Those are the agencies that are involved in the 12 preparation of the factual report.

()

13 DR. MARK:

The Department of Health doesn' t come 14 in?

15 DR. SHEWMON:

No.

16 DR. MARK:

And there's one-report which may have 17 a stamp from each of these sources, but it would be the same 18 words?

19 DR. SHEWMON:

Let me find one viewgraph.

If I 20 could put it up, maybe that will help.

21 (Slide.)

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1 MR. SHERON:

What we had agreed to early on was 2

that we didn't really see the need for a whole bunch of 3

different agencies writing their own report on Chernobyl and 4

therefore.having the U.S. have four or five or six factual 5

reports floating around, each one maybe contradicting one 1

6 another.

7 We decided early on that really what we needed 8

was just one U.S.

report.

P 9

So we sat down and we divided up the subject 10 areas.

We said, okay, each agency and one person in that 11

' agency is the lead author.

They are responsible for writing 12 up the facts associated with that subject area.

()

13 This is how it-fell out, as you can see, and also 14 NRC assumed the role of the overall coordinator for the 15 report.

We prepared the introduction, the summary, and a i

16 description of the accident scenario, and the radionuclide 17 dispersion and transport.

j 18 The Department of Energy wrote up the section on 19 the plant design description.

20 EPRI wrote up the safety analysis of the RDMK 21 reactors.

22 INPO wrote up the role of the operating 23 personnel.

24 FEMA logically wrote up the section on emergency I

i 25 preparedness.

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And ' EPA did the environmental consequences.

2 The ground rules were that we did not have to W iwere having some 3

have every agency bless every chapter.

e 4'

trouble because there was disagreement.

5 For example, I believe EPA used.the Bier reports,:

l 6

and there were some other people in different agencies which 7

. felt that they were maybe not the most appropriate reports-8 to use when looking at the radiological consequences or the 9

health effects, and'we can see that we would never get a 10 report out if we were trying to make everybody happy because 11' every agency has its own agenda.

12 So what we decided was that we would all comment

(

13 on one of those chapters and review it and try and provide.

14 constructive comments, but in the end each agency and 15 organization was ultimately responsible for that chapter.

16 And what that means is that when the report goes 17 out it does not mean that every agency endorses every 18 chapter in that report.

When the report goes out, it is 19 nothing more than a compendium of different chapters written 20 by different organizations.

21 If somebody calls up and says, hey, we don' t like 22 what we saw about the emergency preparedness, then if DOE 23 disagreed with that, they can say, well, we didn' t like it 24 either and we don't acknowledge that we endorse that, and if 25 you have problems with it, go talk to FEMA.

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So'the report will go out.- We are going _'to try 2

and solicit comments from knowledgeable people.

At the end 3

of 45 days we propose to get back-together again as a group, 4

the authors, sit down, digest the comments, try and put 5

together a final report that everybody can agree with.

6 If we can all agree with the report that these 7

are indeed a good description of the facts, then the 8

arrangement is that we would issue the report as a joint 9

agency report.

Each agency would put their number at the 10 top, and they would endorse the entire report.

11 If we couldn't reach agreement, then each agency 12 could either join in or not in terms of endorsing the

()

13 report.

14 DR. OKRENT:

Excuse me a minute.

I am sorry to 15 interrupt.

16 But in a sense this is a topic that is not 17 directly related to what the committee has to comment on.

I 18 was worried, when Brian said he was going to mention this, 19 thuat there would be committee interest in this.

20 I would like to use the available time, because 21 there is not a lot of time on the agenda today -- we now 22 have three versions of the letter -- if the committee will 23 permit me to sort of get on with the question of the l

24 '

committee reports?

O 25 DR. KERR:

I am sure Brian won't be hurt.

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1 DR.'OKRENT:

Is that'okay, Brian?

2 MR. SHERON:

Fine.

3 DR. OKRENT:

I warned him before that I didn' t 4

want to take too much time.

5' DR. MARK:

I am sorry I went into that diversion, 6

but I really --

7 DR._OKRENT:

No, no, no.

It is a very logical 8

question.

I knew -- and as a matter of fact, I almost said 9

don't mention it -- I knew there were going to be' questions 10 on it.

11 DR. KERR:

I should say I put this on the 12 bulletin board.

)

13 DR. OKRENT:

I am sorry, I missed it.

I have 14 been checking it for the-last couple of. days before I left.

15 I guess I had other things.

16 DR. KERR:

I looked, and I thought it indicated 17 that you had seen it.

I 18 DR. OKRENT:

In any event, we have three.

Let me 19 read them through, if my voice permits, and I will give you 20 a personal opinion when I am done on how I think the 21 committee -- I think we will have to take a vote.

22 DR. KERR:

Do you really want to read this 23 through?

i l

i 24 DR. OKRENT:

Let's do it.

r I

25 DR. SHEWMON:

Do we want to take a vote on which l

1 l

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ef the three e

ane te reed 2 2

DR. OKRENT:

Are there more than three?

3 I think the committee should.

4 I can skip the first paragraph, I think.

I will 5

read the thick one first, going from thick to thin, okay?

6 (Whereupon, at 11:05 a.m.,

the committee went i

7 into unrecorded session.)

8 i

9 i

10 11 12 13 14 l

15 16 17 P

18 19 I

20 21 22 23 j

I 24 25 4 t

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CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL REPORTER

~ OL This is to certify that. the attached proceedings before

-the UNITED ' STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION in the matter of:

NAME OF PROCEEDING:

' ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS 321ST GENERAL MEETING DOCKET NO.:

PLACE:

WASHINGTON, D.

C.

-DATE:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1987 were held as herein appears, and that this is the original transcript thereof for the file of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(sigt)

(TYPED)

DAVID L.

HOFFMAN Official Reporter ACE-FEDERAL REPORTERS, INC.

Reporter's Affiliation O

\\(e NRR STAFF PRESENTATION TO THE ACRS

~

SUBJECT:

USI A-17 " SYSTEMS INTERACTIONS" DATE: January 1, 1987 PRESENTER: DALE THATCHER O

PRESENTER'S TITLE / BRANCH /DIV:

TASK MANAGER (USI A-17)

ENGINEERING ISSUES BRANCH, DIVISION OF l

SAFETY REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT PRESENTER'S NRC TEL. NO.:

492-8358 I

(

l0 a

~ --

b A-17 MILESTONES RESOLUTION PACKAGE TO CRGR MAR 86 CRGR MEETING APR. 86 ACRS MEETING MAY 86 ACRS LETTER MAY 13, 1986 O

NRC STAFF RESPONSE AUGUST 1, 1986 i

REVISED RESOLUTION PACKAGE TO 0FFICE AND DIVISION DIRECTORS FOR COMMENT NOVEMBER 2Li, 1986 O

e f

r

9 w

b ACRS MAY 13, 1986 LETTER RECOMMENDED MORE WALKDOWN ACTIVITIES FOR SPATIAL INTERACTIONS AGREED WITH INF0 LETTER FOR FUNCTIONAL INTERACTIO;is

!c RECOMMENDED NEW~ STANDARD REVIEW PLAN SECTION C.

DISAGREED WITH THE SCOPE AND DEFINITION OF THE ISSUE RECOMMENDED REMOV L OF THE SINGLE FAILURE GUIDANCE

?

1 A

O 5.

I

....?

O A-17 REVISED RESOLUTION A-17 ACTIONS GENERIC LETTER FOR INFORMATION RELY ON RESOLUTION OF USI A-46 (SEISMIC)

GENERIC LETTER - 50.54(F) - REQUEST VERIFICATION OF FLOODING REVIEWS SPINOFF ACTIONS PROVIDE FOR' INTEGRATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER. CONCERNS' PROVIDE' GUIDANCE FOR PRAS

~*

FUTURE PLANTS - DEVELOP A REGULATORY GUIDE DEVELOP SCOPE CONCERNS AS POTENTIAL ISSUES FOR PRIORITIZATION l

1 i

I O

l

_ I,