NRC: Staff Requirements - SECY-01-0162 - Staff Plans for Proceeding with the Risk-Informed Alternative to the Standards for Combustible Gas Control Systems in Light-Water-Cooled Power Reactors in 10 CFR 50.44

				Search Options
Index \| Site Map \| FAQ \| Facility Info \| Reading Rm \| New \| Help \| Glossary \| Contact Us

December 31, 2001

MEMORANDUM TO:	William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations
FROM:	Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary /RA/
SUBJECT:	STAFF REQUIREMENTS - SECY-01-0162 - STAFF PLANS FOR PROCEEDING WITH THE RISK-INFORMED ALTERNATIVE TO THE STANDARDS FOR COMBUSTIBLE GAS CONTROL SYSTEMS IN LIGHT-WATER-COOLED POWER REACTORS IN 10 CFR 50.44

The Commission has approved staff's recommended Option 1 to revise 10 CFR 50.44 to remove requirements for hydrogen recombiners. Staff should proceed with the rulemaking without preparation of a rulemaking plan. In the proposed rule package, the staff should explain to the public in more detail why installing passive autocatalytic recombiners for hydrogen control in all PWR reactors (as is being done in France) would not pass a cost/benefit test in the United States.

(EDO)

(SECY Suspense: Proposed rule 4/30/02)

Staff should provide the Commission with recommendations for revising existing guidance in order to implement a disciplined, meaningful, and scrutable methodology for evaluating the value-impact of any new requirements that could be added by a risk-informed alternative rule.

(EDO)

(SECY Suspense: 8/30/02)

The Commission supports the continued granting of exemption requests for hydrogen control systems during the next year of rulemaking.

The staff should resolve Generic Issue 189 (GI-189) expeditiously and should keep the Commission appropriately informed as progress is made.

The staff should continue to emphasize clear communication with the public and other stakeholders as we proceed with risk-informed initiatives.

cc:	Chairman Meserve Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield OGC CFO OCA OIG OPA Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (via E-Mail) PDR