ML20129G602

Summary of 431st ACRS Meeting on 960523-25 Re Potential Ipe/ IPEEE Results to Compare Risk of Current Population of Plants W/Safety Goals,Resolution of Multiple Sys Responses Program Issues & Proposed Rule on Shutdown Operations

ML20129G602
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry, Catawba
Issue date:	06/26/1996
From:	Kress T Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
To:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
RTR-REGGD-01.160, RTR-REGGD-1.160 ACRS-SL-0440, ACRS-SL-440, NUDOCS 9610070232
Download: ML20129G602 (8)

Text

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" ~g UNITED STATES SL-0440

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS [,

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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3 7e I June 26, 1996 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 4

Dear Chairman Jackson:

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SUMMARY

REPORT - FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-FIRST MEETING OF THE l ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS, MAY 23-25, l 1996, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE During its 431st meeting, May 23-25, 1996, the Advisory Committee I on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) discussed several matters and completed the following report and letters. In addition, the Committee authorized Dr. Larkins, Executive Director, to transmit l the memoranda noted below:

l REPORT ,

I e Potential Use of IPE/IPEEE Results to Comoare the Risk of the

Current Pooulation of Plants with the Safety Goals (Report to Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman, NRC, from T.S. Kress, Chairman, ACRS, dated June 6, 1996.)

LETTERS e Resolution of tb3 Multiole System Resconses Procram Issues (Letter to Janus M. Taylor, Executive Director for Opera-tions, from T.S. Kress, Chairman, ACRS, dated June 3, 1996) o Pronomed Rule on Shutdown Ooerations (Letter to James M.

Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from T.S. Kress, Chairman, ACRS, dated June 4, 1996) e Imolementation of the Reculatory Review Grouc Recommendations (Letter to James M. Taylor, Executive Director for Opera-tions, from T.S. Kress, Chairman, ACRS, dated June 5, 1996)

I e Reculatory Guidance Documents Related to Dicital Instrumenta-tion and Control Systems (Letter to James M. Taylor, Execu-tive Director for Operations, from T.S. Kress, Chairman, ACRS, dated June 6, 1996) 00 2 960626 DESIGNATED ORIGINAL SL-0440 PDR Ce:ttt'ed By-C L s D '] N ' d '

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POL ibt b Pc a naa cl

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,- . I The Honorable Shirley Jackson 2

, MEMORANDA e Issuance of the Undated Standard Review Plan for Public l Comment Without ACRS Review (Memorandum to James M. Taylor,  !

Executive Director for Opcrations, from John T. Larkins,  !

Executive Director, ACRS, dated May 31, 1996) - Consistent l with the Committee's decision, Dr. Larkins informed Mr. Taylor that the committee has no objection to the NRC staff proposal to issue the subject updated Standard Review Plan (SRP) for public comment without ACRS review. The Committee may wish to review portions of the proposed final SRP following reconcili-ation of public comments by the staff.

o Draft Reaulatory Guide Pertainina to the Prenaration of Petitions for Rulamakina under 10 CFR 2.802 (Memorandum to j James M. Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from John T. Larkins, Executive Director, ACRS, dated June 3, 1996) -

Consistent with the Committee's decision, Dr. Larkins informed Mr. Taylor that the Committee has decided not to review the subject Guide.

e Ernadited Issuance of Revision 2 to Reculatory Guide 1.160.

"Monitorina the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants" (Memorandum to James M. Taylor, Executive Director 1 for Operations, from John T. Larkins, Executive Director, 1 ACRS, dated June 12, 1996) - Consistent with the Committee's deci'sion, Dr. Larkins informed Mr. Taylor that the Committee

! has no objection to the NRC staff proposal to waive the ACRS i review and endorsement of the subject Regulatory Guide. The Committee may wish'to review the experience gained in imple-menting the provisions of this Guide sometime in the future.

HIGHLIGHTS OF KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED BY THE COMMITTEE

1. IPE Insiahts Renort The Committee heard presentations by and held discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and its contractor, Brook-haven National Laboratory (BNL) , regarding the draf t Individu-

, al Plant Examination (IPE) Insights Report. This report documents perspectives gained from the review of 75 IPE submittals covering 108 nuclear power plant units.

- Conclusion I

The Committee plans to continue its review of this matter during future ACRS Subcommittee and Full Committee meetings.

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f The Honorable Shirley Jackson 3

2. PronosedmRule on Shutdown Operations i

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) The NBC -staf f and a representative of the Nuclear Energy l Institute (NEI) briefed the Committee regarding the proposed l rule on Shutdown Operations and an associated Regulatory Guide

as well as studies on shutdown risk at the Surry and Grand j Gulf nuclear power plants. The proposed Shutdown Operations i

rule and Regulatory Guide are being developed with emphasis upon using a risk-informed performance-oriented approach. The

cbjective was to provide a regulatory basir for shutdown

operation that minimizes occurrence of events which may challenge fission product barriers and assures mitigation of l events that do occur. '

j The staff and its contractors presented the objectives and the i results of the shutdown risk studies for the Surry and Grand Gulf nuclear power plants. These two studies were performed

! concurrently by the BNL and Sandia National Laboratories. The l l objectives of these studies were to assess the risks of severe l l accidents due to internal events, internal fires, internal l i floods, and seismic events initiated during various plant

operational states other than full power operation and to i compare the estimated core-damage frequencies, the nature of I l important accident sequences and other qualitative results j with those resulting from the evaluations of full power

operation described in NUREG 1150, " Severe Accident Risks

An l Assessment for Five U.S. Nuclear Power Plants." l 1

An NEI representative provided comments on the proposed rule l and stated that the industry continues to dispute the need f ir i

a Shutdown Operations rule. .

. Conclusion l The Committee issued a letter to the Executive Director for Operations dated June 4, 1996, on this matter.

! 3. Diaital Instrumentation and Control Systems 4 The Committee heard presentations by and held discussions with 1 representatives of the NRC Staff and its contractor, the

! Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The purpose of this

{ meeting was to continue the ACRS review of the staff efforts j to update the existing SRP Chapter 7 and associated guidance related to digital instrumentation and control systems. To date, the Committee has reviewed four proposed SRP sections,

, two Branch Technical Positions (BTPs), snd six regulatory

guides which endorse eight industry stanudds. The Committee

! has completed its review of all currently issued draft NRC j staff regulatory guidance documents.

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The Honorable Shirley Jackson 4 i

l Conclusion The Committee issued a letter to the Executive Director for Operations, dated June 6, 1996, on this matter. The Committee plans to complete its review of the remaining SRP Sections and BTPs, as well as the National Academy of Sciences / National Research Council Phase 2 Study Report when they become avail-able.

4. Reaulatory Review Group Reco==andations The Committee heard a presentation by and held discussions with a representative of the NRC staff concerning the status of resolution and implementation of the recommendations of the Regulatory Review Group (RRG). The RRG developed recom-mandations based on a disciplined review of power reactor regulations and related processes, programs, and practices.

. The staff developed a plan for implementing the RRG recommen-dations. Most implementation plan items have been completed and the responsibility for completing the remaining items has been formally transferred to appropriate NRC line organiza-tions.

Conclusion The Committee issued a letter to the Executive Director for l Oper,ations, dated June 5, 1996, on this matter. I

5. Meetina with the NRC Commissioners The ACRS met with the NRC Commissioners on May 24, 1996 and discussed the following topics:

A. Use of IPEs in the regulatory process, PRA framework document, pilot applications, and the next steps to expand the use of PRA in the regulatory decision-making  ;

process B. Fire protection issues, including fire PRA models and PRA-based scoping analysis of degraded fire barriers C. Proposed final revisions to 10 CFR Parts 50 and 100 D. Status of ACRS review of Regulatory Guidance documents related to digital instrumentation and control systems.

E. Status of ACRS review of standard plant designs:

e ABWR and System 80+ design certification rules e AP600 design

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4 The Honorable Shirley Jackson 5

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e . Test and analysis programs associated with the AP600 and SBWR designs 4 F. Conformance of operating plants with NRC safety l goals.

j In the June 11, 1996 Staff Requirements Memorandum resulting

from this meeting, the Commission requested that the ACRS

provide advice on some specific issues. The Committee will review these matters and report back to the Commission.

RECONCILIATION OF ACRS COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee discussed the response from the NRC Executive Director for Operations, dated April 24, 1996, responding to ACRS comments and reconimendations included in the ACRS report dated March 15, 1996, concerning Review of Recent Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment Reports by Brookhaven National Laboratory and Certain Fire Barrier Issues.

The Committee decided that it was satisfied with the EDO's response.

QTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE During the period from April 11 through May 22, 1996, the following Subcommittee meetings were held:

e Thermal Hydraulic Phenomena Subcommittee - May 9-10, 1996 The Subcommittee continued its review of the Westinghouse i

Test and Analysis Program being conducted in support of the AP600 passive plant design certification.

l e Plant Operations Subcommittee - May 21. 1996 4

The Subcommittee discussed the proposed Rule on Shutdown Operations and an associated Regulatory Guide, as well as studies on the shutdown risk associated with the Surry and Grand Gulf nuclear power plants.

e Instrumentation and Control Systems and Comouters Subcommittee - May 22, 1996 The Subcommittee continued its discussion of the proposed SRP sections, BTPs, and Regulatory Guides related to digital instrumentation and control systems.

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The Honorable Shirley Jackson 6 i

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j LIST OF FOf fnWeUP MATTERS FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS

1. The Cotsittee decided not to review the updated SRP at this i

time. The Committee may, however, review portions of the i

proposed final SRP after reconciliation of public comments.

[A memorandum was issued to James M. Taylor, Executive

Director for Operations, from John T. Larkins, Executive i

1 Director, ACRS, dated May 31, 1996.]

I 2. The Committee decided not to review the Draft Regulatory Guide i Pertaining to the Preparation of Petitions for Rulemaking

! under 10 CFR 2. 802. (A memorandum was issued to James M.

! Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from John T.

Larkins, Executive Director, ACRS, dated June 3, 1996.]

l 1 3. The Committee decided not to review Revision 2 to Regulatory i Guide 1.160, " Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at

} Nuclear Power Plants." The Committee may wish to review the j i

experience gained in implementing the provisions of this Guide  !

sometime in the future. (A memorandum was issued to James M. <

Taylor, Executive Director for Operations, from John T. '

l Larkins, Executive Director, ACRS, dated June 12, 1996.]

4. During the discussion of the reconciliation of ACRS comments l and recommendations, the Committse noted that in its February

} 26, 1996 report to the Commission concerning the Proposed J

Fina,1 NRC Bulletin and Revision 2 to Regulatory Guide 1.82

! dealing with potential plugging of emergency core cooling J

suction strainers, the ACRS commented that a diverse means of I providing emergency core cooling is desirable because of the difficulty in predicting with confidence the amount of debris

. that would challenge the emergency core cooling system i strainers. In a letter dated March 22, 1996, the Executive i Director for Operations stated that the staff concurs with i

this comment and will revise the Regulatory Guide and the j bulletin to place more emphasis on the need to improve, where appropriate, the procedures to better address core cooling j from alternative sources of water.

1 i Stating that the bulletin was issued without the changes j committed to by the Executive Director for Operations, the l Committee asked for an explanation. Mr. Soffer, Office of the

Executive Director for Operations, agreed to provide an j explanation at the June ACRS meeting.

i i PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR THE 432ND ACRS MEETING 1,

j The Committee agreed to consider the following during the 432nd j ACRS Meeting, June 12-14, 1996:

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The Honorable Shirley Jackson 7 l Draft Reaulatorv Guide. DG-1047. " Standard Format and Content for 1 ADolications to Renew Nuclear Power Plant Operatina Licenses" -

The Committesw ill hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1047.

l Representatives of the nuclear industry will participate, as appropriate.

9 IPE Insichts Recort - The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and its i

contractors regarding the draft IPE Insights Report.

Representatives of the nuclear industry will participate, as appro-priate.

Loss of Offaite Power at Catawba. Unit 2 - The Committee will hear presenta.tions by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding the findings and recommendations of the NRC Special Inspection Team which investigated the loss of offsite l power that occurred on February 6, 1996 at the Catawba Nuclear '

Plant, Unit 2.

Representatives of the licensee will participate, as appropriate.

Issues Associated with Steam Generators - The Committee will hear presentat, ions by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and NEI regarding issues associated with steam genera- l tors.

Representatives of other interested parties will participate, as appropriate.

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Unit 3 -

The Committee will hear-presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the licensee (Tennessee Valley Authority) regarding issues that led to the shutdown of Browns Ferry Unit 3, and the corrective actions taken by the licensee prior to restart.

Representatives of the NRC staff will participate, as appropriate.

Health Effects of Low-Levels of Ionizina Radiation - The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representa-tives of the NRC staff and the Health Physics Society regarding the health effects of low levels of ionizing radiation.

Representatives of the nuclear industry and other interested parties will participate, as appropriate.

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• 1 s l The Honprable Shirley Jackson 8

l NRC Policy Renardina the Use of Potassium Iodide after a Severe )

Accident -

The Committee will hear presentations by and hold  !

discussions: with representatives of the NRC staff and NEI, the  !

author of the petition for rulemaking, and an invited expert  !

regarding the NRC policy associated with the stockpiling of potassium iodide near nuclear power plants. J j

Other interested parties will participate, as appropriate.

(Note: This item has been deferred indefinitely as requested by the NRC Staff.)

Sincerely, f.

T. S. Kress Chairman t

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