ML19257F079
| ML19257F079 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/01/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| References | |
| TASK-IR, TASK-SE SECY-80-227, NUDOCS 8007030519 | |
| Download: ML19257F079 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 May 1, 1980 SECY-80-227 INFORMATION REPORT For:
The Commissioners From:
Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation h
Thru:
Acting Executive Director for Operations U
Subject:
STATUS AND SCHEDULE FOR STAFF /S REVIEW 0F FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS ON DECOMMISSIONING, MAJOR ACCIDENT CLEANUP AND R0G0 VIN REPORT CONCERNS
Purpose:
To inform the Commission of the status and schedule for completion of the staff /s review of financial require-ments in the areas of decommissioning, major accident cleanup costs and the Rogovin Report concerns that financial considerations may affect the safety of start-up, operational and shutdown activities.
Discussion:
In a memorandum of March 11, 1980, from the Secretary, the Commission requested the staff to " continue or initiate a review of financial requirements in the areas of decommissioning, major accident cleanup costs and the Rogovin Report concerns that financial consid-erations may affect start-up and operational activities."
In response to the Commission!s request a status report and schedule for completion for each of the three areas is presented below.
DECOMMISSIONING - The staff is engaged in a comprehensive study of decommissioning which will include a proposed rule that would establish more explicit overall policy for nuclear facility decommissioning. The study includes an exhaustive review of methods for financing both planned and premature decommissioning.
In this regard, the staff has recently published a draft report, "Assur-ing the Availability of Funds for Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities"(NUREG-0584,Rev.1).
Dec.1979 - Staff published draft NUREG-0584, Rev. 1, referred to above, and draft NUREG-0590, Rev.1, " Thoughts on Regulation Changes for De-commi ssioni ng."
These documents have been sub-mitted for comment to interested parties includ-ing electric utility industry, nuclear industry, state public utility commissions and other state officials.
NUREG-0584 presents analyses of alternative methods for ass': Ping that funds will be available for decommissioning.
0 7 o 3,0 Uf CONTACT:
60 Jim C. Petersen, NRR
.:9 492-7331
The Commissioners July 1980 - Final NUREG-0584 published.
Jan.1981 - Publish draft GEIS (NUREG-0586) on de-commissioning nuclear facilities for p.blic comment.
GEIS will reflect financial assurance provisions of NUREG-0584.
March 1981 - Send decommissioning policy s'.atement to Commission for review and approval.
August 1981 - Send proposed rules on decommission-ing to Commission for review and approval.
Sept. 1981 - Publish poli,v statement.
Nov.1981 - Publish final GEIS.
Jan. 1982 - Publish proposed rules.
Jan.1983 - Rules on decommissioning become effective.
MAJOR ACCIDENT CLEANUP COSTS - The staff sent an infor-mation paper to the Commission on Januar - 30, 1980 (SECY-80-60, " Assuring Licensee Financili Arrangements for Recovery from a Major Accident").
in this paper the staff discussed' insurance coverage! that are avail-able to nuclear power plant owners in relation to the various financial risks taken in the event of a major nuclear accident. The insurance plan to cover replace-ment power costs during prolonged accidental outages of nuclear power generating units is currently under devel-opment by joint effort of the utility and nuclear in-dustries. A mutual insurance antity, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited ("NEIL") is being famed to provide this coverage.
Jan. 1980 - SECY-80-60, " Assuring Licensee Finan-cial Arrangements for Recovery from a Major Accident" sent to Commission.
March - Dec. 1980 - Staff monitors NEIL activities.
Dec.1980 - Staff reports to Commission on implement-ation of NEIL and actual coverage achieved by utility
The Commissioners industry to pay for replacement power costs during prolonged accidental outages of nuclear generating units.
Staff suggests, where necessary, areas of further Commission action.
ROG0 VIN REPORT CONCERNS - The staff is currently develop-ing a "Tril-2 Task Action Plan" to provide a comprehensive and integrated plan for all actions judged necessary by the NRC to correct or improve the regulation and operation of nuclear facilities based on the experience from the accident at TMI-2 and the official studies and investiga-tions of the accident. The TMI-2 Task Action Plan will be submitted to the Commission for approval. One task in the plan is identified " Financial Disincentives to Safety,"
corresponding to the Rogovin Report concerns at pp. 161-164 of Volume I and pp. 293-365 of Vol. II. The staff proposes in the plan to complete its recommendations to the Commis-sion on Rogovin financial concerns by July 1981.
In its study of the concerns raised by Rogovin, the staff plans to address questions such as those listed below:
(1) Does the financial status of a utility impact safety or indicate when impacts of a safety nature may occur?
(2) Would continuing evaluation of a licensee!s financial condition be a useful method to alert IE to times when the licensee might be tempted to cut corners, or are there more pragmatic actions that accomplish this objective?
(3) Will improved communications with NARUC, PUC ?s, IRS, FERC and other governmental bodies sufficiently increase their understanding of a sensitivity to safety matters and financial disincentives?
(4) Do the requirements of the various financial regula-tory agencies result in reducing nuclear safety, and, if so, how could improvements in financial reg-ulation best be achieved?
The Commissioners Coordination:
The Antitrust and Indemnity Group of NRR and the Office of Standards Development concur in this paper. The Office of the Executive Legal Director has no legal objection.
pff Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION Comissioners Comission Staff Offices Exec Dir for Operations ACRS Secretariat