ML003759130

09/27/2000 Meeting Summary with Nuclear Energy Institute and Public Re Power Reactor Decommissioning Issues

ML003759130
Person / Time
Site:	Nuclear Energy Institute
Issue date:	10/11/2000
From:	Wrona D J NRC/NRR/DLPM
To:	Nuclear Energy Institute
Wrona D J, NRR/DLPM, 415-1924
Shared Package
ML003761299	List: ML003759130
References
-nr
Download: ML003759130 (8)

Text

October11,2000ORGANIZATION:NuclearEnergyInstitute

SUMMARY

OFPUBLICMEETINGWITHTHENUCLEARENERGYINSTITUTE(NEI)ANDTHEPUBLICREGARDINGPOWERREACTOR DECOMMISSIONINGISSUESOnSeptember27,2000,theNRCstaffmetwithrepresentativesofNEIandmembersofthepublictoinformandreceivefeedbackaboutongoingNRCeffortstodeterminetheriskposed bypermanentlyshutdownnuclearpowerplantsandthestatusofNRCeffortstoamendits regulationstoproperlyreflecttheriskposedbythesefacilities.Themeetingagendais providedinEnclosure1.AlistofattendeesisprovidedinEnclosure2.NRCbeganthemeetingbydiscussingthestatusofthespentfuelpoolriskstudy(thedraftversionwasissuedFebruary2000,andisinADAMSunderAccessionNo.ML003683371).

TheNRCstaffstatedthattheworkonthespentfuelpoolriskstudycontinues.Thecurrent scheduleistocompletethestudyandsubmitittotheCommissiononOctober31,2000.

IssuesbeingaddressedbytheNRCthatcouldaffectthestudyconclusionsincludeNEI's seismicfrequencyconcern,acommentregardingthereleaseofruthenium,andconsideration ofapartialspentfuelpooldraindown.Toaddresstheaboveconcerns,seismichazardcurves fornuclearpowerplantsgeneratedbytheElectricPowerResearchInstituteandbyLawrence LivermoreNationalLaboratorywillbeincludedintheevaluationofspentfuelpoolfailure probabilities,rutheniumwillbeconsideredinpostulatedreleases,andpartialdraindownofthe spentfuelpoolwillbeaddressed.NEIandmembersofthepublicweregivenanopportunityto askquestionsregardingthespentfuelpoolriskstudy.TheNRCstaffrespondedtothe questions.Next,NRCpresentedthestatusoftheintegratedrulemakinginitiative,asdescribedinSECY-00-145,"IntegratedRulemakingPlanforNuclearPowerPlantDecommissioning" (ADAMSAccessionNo.ML003721626).TheNRCstaffstatedthatSECY-00-145was submittedtotheCommissiononJune28,2000.Therulemakingplanaddressesemergency preparedness,insurance,security,staffingandtraining,andbackfit.Therulemakingplanwas basedonconclusionsofthedraftspentfuelpoolriskstudy,previouslyissuedexemptionsto NRCrequirements,andcodificationofcurrentTechnicalSpecificationrequirements.Thestaff indicatedthatchangesinthespentfuelpoolriskstudycouldresultinchangestotheproposed rulemakingplanwhichwouldberevisedasnecessaryandresubmittedtotheCommission.NEI andmembersofthepublicweregivenanopportunitytoaskquestionsregardingthe rulemakingplan.NEIstatedthattheproposedrulemakingplanwasbasedondeterministic methodsanddidnotconsiderreducingrequirementsbasedonrisk.TheNRCstaffdisagreed, statingthatriskinsightshadbeencarefullyconsideredintheplan.NEImentionedthatthismay beapolicyissuethatwillhavetobedecidedonbytheCommission.Then,NEIpresentedcommentsontheBrookhavenNationalLaboratoryreport(ADAMSAccessionNo.ML003730203)whichreviewedregulationstodetermineapplicabilityto decommissioning.NEIstatedthatitwasathoroughevaluationoftheregulationsapplicableto decommissioningpowerreactors.NEIindicatedthattheCommissionorOfficeoftheGeneral CounselshoulddeterminewhichregulationsaresubjecttomisinterpretationandthattheNRC shouldusethespentfuelpoolriskstudyasabasisformodifyingtheregulations.NEIstated thattheregulationsthatneededtobechangedareidentifiedinthewhitepaperitsubmittedonMay17,2000(ADAMSAccessionNo.ML003718357).NRCaskedifregulationsweretobe changedbyafewatatime,shouldtheNRCfocusontheregulationsidentifiedintheNEIwhite paper?NEIagreed.Next,NRCsummarizedtheregulatoryimprovementinitiativerulemakingoptionscurrentlyunderconsideration.Thestaffhasidentifiedsixoptionsonhowtoproceedintheareaof rulemakingoncethespentfuelpoolriskstudyiscompleted.Theoptionsrangefromno rulemakingactivitytoaddinganentirenewsectiontotheregulations.Theoptionswere presentedinahandoutprovidedinEnclosure3.TheNRCstaffexplainedthatitisseeking commentsontheproposedoptionsfrominterestedstakeholders,andisparticularlylookingfor optionsnotaddressed.Personsororganizationsthathavecommentsontheoptionscan contactRichardDudley(301-415-1116;rfd@NRC.gov).TheNRCstaffstatedthatthe regulatoryimprovementinitiativewillbesubmittedtotheCommission3monthsafterthespent fuelpoolriskstudyisfinalized.NEIandmembersofthepublicweregivenanopportunityto askquestionsregardingthespentfuelpoolriskstudy.TheNRCstaffrespondedtothe questions.Mr.Lochbaum,oftheUnionofConcernedScientists,handdeliveredaletterfromMr.Shadis,FriendsoftheCoast,toDr.Masnik,SectionChief,ProjectDirectorateIV&Decommissioning, DivisionofLicensingProjectManagement,on"RequestforUSNRC/PublicInterestStakeholder MeetingtoDiscussRiskInformingPowerReactorDecommissioningIssues,"dated September27,2000(ADAMSAccessionNo.ML003755946).Themeetingwasthen

concluded./RA/DavidJ.Wrona,ProjectManager DecommissioningSection ProjectDirectorateIV&Decommissioning DivisionofLicensingProjectManagement OfficeofNuclearReactorRegulationProjectNo.689

Enclosures:

1.Agenda2.Attendees 3.RegulatoryImprovementrulemakingoptionsccw/encls:Seenextpage thattheregulationsthatneededtobechangedareidentifiedinthewhitepaperitsubmittedonMay17,2000(ADAMSAccessionNo.ML003718357).NRCaskedifregulationsweretobe changedbyafewatatime,shouldtheNRCfocusontheregulationsidentifiedintheNEIwhite paper?NEIagreed.Next,NRCsummarizedtheregulatoryimprovementinitiativerulemakingoptionscurrentlyunderconsideration.Thestaffhasidentifiedsixoptionsonhowtoproceedintheareaof rulemakingoncethespentfuelpoolriskstudyiscompleted.Theoptionsrangefromno rulemakingactivitytoaddinganentirenewsectiontotheregulations.Theoptionswere presentedinahandoutprovidedinEnclosure3.TheNRCstaffexplainedthatitisseeking commentsontheproposedoptionsfrominterestedstakeholders,andisparticularlylookingfor optionsnotaddressed.Personsororganizationsthathavecommentsontheoptionscan contactRichardDudley(301-415-1116;rfd@NRC.gov).TheNRCstaffstatedthatthe regulatoryimprovementinitiativewillbesubmittedtotheCommission3monthsafterthespent fuelpoolriskstudyisfinalized.NEIandmembersofthepublicweregivenanopportunityto askquestionsregardingthespentfuelpoolriskstudy.TheNRCstaffrespondedtothe questions.Mr.Lochbaum,oftheUnionofConcernedScientists,handdeliveredaletterfromMr.Shadis,FriendsoftheCoast,toDr.Masnik,SectionChief,ProjectDirectorateIV&Decommissioning, DivisionofLicensingProjectManagement,on"RequestforUSNRC/PublicInterestStakeholder MeetingtoDiscussRiskInformingPowerReactorDecommissioningIssues,"dated September27,2000(ADAMSAccessionNo.ML003755946).Themeetingwasthen

concluded./RA/DavidJ.Wrona,ProjectManager DecommissioningSection ProjectDirectorateIV&Decommissioning DivisionofLicensingProjectManagement OfficeofNuclearReactorRegulationProjectNo.689

Enclosures:

1.Agenda2.Attendees 3.RegulatoryImprovementrulemakingoptionsccw/encls:Seenextpage DISTRIBUTION

PUBLICJSheaRidsNrrPMMRipleyPDIV-Dr/fCACarpenter(RidsDripRgeb)RidsNrrPMDWrona RidsOgcMailCenterJHannon(RidsDssaSplb)GKellyRidsAcrsAcnwMailCenterBJorgensen(RidsRgn3MailCenter)RSavioSCollins(RidsNrrOd)DBSpitzberg(RidsRgn4MailCenter)MEl-Zeftawy BSheron(RidsNrrAdpt)AMarkleyDBarss JZwolinski/SBlack(RidsNrrDlpm)MCaseCFeldman GHolahan(RidsNrrDssa)MSatoriusKLandis SRichards(RidsNrrDlpmLpdiv)RidsNrrPMJBirminghamTCollins MMasnik(RidsNrrDlpmLpdiv3)LPittiglioFKantor RidsNrrPMRDudleyRidsNmssPMSBrownGBagchi RidsNrrPMWHuffmanCPoslusnyGMencinsky RidsNrrPMJMinnsRBellamy(RidsRgn1MailCenter)JBeall RidsNrrPMLWheelerLCamperRidsNrrPMJHickman RidsNrrPMPRayGHubbardRidsNrrPMDScaletti RidsNrrPMMWebbRidsNmssPMRNelsonRidsNrrPMPHarris RidsNrrLACJamersonMMalloySLewisACCESSIONNUMBER:ML003759130Pkg:ML003761299NRC-001OFFICIALRECORDCOPYOFFICEPDIV-D/PMPDIV-D/LAPDIV-D/SCNAMEDWronaCJamersonRDudleyforMMasnikDATE10/10/0010/10/0010/10/00 NEI/PublicMeetingonDecommissioningRulemakingSeptember27,2000Purpose:ToinformandreceivefeedbackfrominterestedindustryrepresentativesandmembersofthepublicaboutongoingNRCeffortstodeterminetheriskposedby permanentlyshutdownnuclearpowerplantsandthestatusofNRCeffortsto amenditsregulationstoproperlyreflecttheriskposedbythesefacilities.Outcomes:*TheNRCwillinformtheindustryandpublicstakeholdersofthestatusofNRCriskquantificationandrulemakingefforts*Industryandpublicstakeholderswillprovidetheircommentsontheabovetopicstothe NRC*IndustrywillprovidecommentstoNRContheBrookhavenNationalLaboratoryreviewofNRCregulationsforproperapplicabilitytopermanentlyshutdownpowerreactors*IndustryandpublicstakeholderswillcommentonNRCrulemakingoptionsforthedecommissioningregulatoryimprovementinitiativeProcess:1.Introductionsandreviewofpurpose/agenda5min 2.NRCdiscussionofstatusofspentfuelpoolriskstudy(T.Collins)15min 3.Industry/publicstakeholdercomments/questions15min 4.NRCdiscussionofstatusofIntegratedRulemakingeffort(W.Huffman)5min 5.Industry/publicstakeholdercomments/questions10min 6.IndustrycommentsonBrookhavenreport(NEI)20min 7.NRC/publicstakeholdercomments/questions15min 8.NRCsummaryofRegulatoryImprovementInitiativerulemakingoptions(R.Dudley)10min 9.Industry/publicstakeholdercomments/questions20min 10.Summaryofcommitments/Adjourn5minEnclosure1 POWERREACTORDECOMMISSIONINGISSUESMEETINGSeptember27,2000NRCHeadquartersRockville,MDATTENDEESNAMEORGANIZATIONBrianSheronNRC/NRRJohnZwolinskiNRC/NRR/DLPM TimothyE.CollinsNRC/NRR/DSSA StuartRichardsNRC/NRR/DLPM MichaelMasnikNRC/NRR/DLPM RichardDudleyNRC/NRR/DLPM BillHuffmanNRC/NRR/DLPM MikeRipleyNRC/NRR/DLPM DavidWronaNRC/NRR/DLPM CarlFeldmanNRC/NRR/DLPM DukeWheelerNRC/NRR/DLPM GoutamBagchiNRC/NRR/DE FalkKantorNRC/NRR/DIPM GeorgeMencinskyNRC/NRR/DRIP DanBarssNRC/NRR/DIPM MedEl-ZeftawyNRC/ACRS StephenLewisNRC/OGC J.E.BeallNRC/OCM/EM ScottDamBNFL DaveLochbaumUnionofConcernedScientists AltheiaWycheSERCHLicensing/Bechtel EdWenzingerNUS JennyWeilMcGraw-Hill P.J.AthertonPublic A.J.MichaelsEPRI HughThompsonScientech LynetteHendricksNEI AlanNelsonNEI MikeMeisnerMYAPC A.E.SchererSCE J.T.ReillySCE JerryDelezenskiRanchoSecoEnclosure2 Enclosure3RegulatoryImprovementInitiativeOptionsForOptions1-3below,theIntegratedRulemakingplanwouldnotbe pursued.ÿOption1:Intheabsenceofanyanticipatednuclearpowerplantdecommissioningsinthenearterm,suspendanyfurtherdecommissioning rulemakingeffortsatthistimeanddiverttheassociateddecommissioning sectionresourcestohigherpriorityagencyneeds.Aregulatoryguide discussingapplicabilityofregulationsandguidanceforexemptionswould beconsidered.

ÿOption2:PursuetheNEI"cleanslate"approachthatispredicatedontheriskofdecommissioningnuclearpowerplantsbeingsolowthatmost regulationsarenotapplicable.Theminimumsetofregulationsnecessary topreservetheassumptionsoftheTWGriskstudywouldbeidentifiedand developedintoprescriptive,predictablerequirements.

ÿOption3:Pursuea"performance-based,cleanslate"approachthatwoulddevelopanewperformance-basedregulatoryframeworkfor decommissioningthatcapturesthesevencornerstonesofgoodlicensee performance.Theupper-tierdecommissioningregulationswouldbethe minimumneededtopreservetheconclusionsoftheTWGreport(similarto theNEIapproach)butwouldbeorientedmoretowardsperformance measuringindicatorsandinspections.ThefollowingOptions(4-6)assumethattheIntegratedRulemakingplanisimplemented(althoughsomemodificationstotheplanmaybenecessarydependinguponthefinalresultsoftheTWGriskstudy)

ÿOption4:Proceedwiththeintegratedrulemakingplananddiscontinueanyadditionalbroad-scopeddecommissioningregulatoryimprovement

efforts.ÿOption5:Proceedwiththeintegratedrulemakingplan,butforsubsequentdecommissioningregulatoryimprovementrulemaking,adopt anincrementalapproach.Developabroad-scopeplanofactionovera multi-yeartimeframethatidentifiestheregulationstobemodifiedand prioritizesthembasedonacombinationofindustryinputandassessmentagainstthefourNRCpillars.Subsequentrulemakingwillbeaccomplished sequentiallyinmanageableincrementsbasedontheavailabilityofstaff resourcesandcontractfunds.

ÿOption6:Modify,asnecessary,alltheregulationsin10CFRapplicabletodecommissioningnuclearpowerplants(basedontheBNLstudyandas otherwisenecessarybasedonrecentdecommissioningexperience)inone largerulemakingeffort.

September2000NuclearEnergyInstituteProjectNo.689/+decom cc:Mr.RalphBeedle SeniorVicePresidentandChiefNuclearOfficerNuclearEnergyInstitute 1776IStreet,NW,Suite400 Washington,DC20006-3708Mr.AlexMarion,DirectorPrograms NuclearEnergyInstitute 1776IStreet,Suite400 Washington,DC20006-3708Mr.DavidModeen,DirectorEngineering NuclearEnergyInstitute 1776IStreet,NW,Suite400 Washington,DC20006-3708Mr.AnthonyPietrangelo,Director Licensing NuclearEnergyInstitute 1776IStreet,NW,Suite400 Washington,DC20006-3708Mr.JimDavis,DirectorOperations NuclearEnergyInstitute 1776IStreet,NW,Suite400 Washington,DC20006-3708Ms.LynnetteHendricks,DirectorPlantSupport NuclearEnergyInstitute 1776IStreet,NW,Suite400 Washington,DC20006-3708Mr.H.A.Sepp,ManagerRegulatoryandLicensingEngineering WestinghouseElectricCompany P.O.Box355 Pittsburgh,PA15230-0355Mr.CharlesB.Brinkman,DirectorWashingtonOperations ABB-CombustionEngineering,Inc.

12300TwinbrookParkway,Suite330 Rockville,MD20852Mr.MichaelMeisnerMaineYankeeAtomicPowerCo.

321OldFerryRoad Wiscassett,ME04578-4922Mr.PaulBlanchEnergyConsultant 135HydeRoad WestHartford,CT06117NewEnglandCoalitiononNuclearPollutionP.O.Box545 Brattleboro,VT05302Mr.RayShadisFriendsoftheCoast P.O.Box98 Edgecomb,ME04556Mr.DavidLochbaumNuclearSafetyEngineer UnionofConcernedScientists 1707HStreet,NW,Suite600 Washington,D.C.20006Mr.PaulGunterNuclearInformationResourceService 142416 thSt.NW,Suite404Washington,DC20036Mr.PeterJamesAthertonP.O.Box2337 Washington,DC20013Mr.H.G.BrackCenterforBiologicalMonitoring P.O.Box144 Hull'sCove,ME04644Ms.DeborahB.KatzCitizen'sAwarenessNetwork P.O.Box3023 Charlemont,MA01339-3023Mr.RobertHoldenNationalCongressofAmericanIndians Suite200 1301ConnecticutAve,NW WashingtonDC,20036