[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 17330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9667]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Issuance of Bulletin; NRC Bulletin 96-02, Movement of Heavy Loads
Over Spent Fuel, Over Fuel in the Reactor Core, or Over Safety-Related
Equipment
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of issuance.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued NRC
Bulletin 96-02 to holders of operating licenses for nuclear power
reactors to verify that licensees are complying with the current
licensing basis for each of their facilities with respect to the proper
handling and control of heavy loads at nuclear power plants when the
plant is operating (in all modes other than cold shutdown, refueling
and defueled). The issuance of this bulletin is justified on the basis
of the need to ensure compliance with the current licensing basis
regarding the weight of heavy loads being moved over spent fuel, over
fuel in the reactor core, or over safety-related equipment, and the
potentially severe consequences that can result if a load is dropped.
Although this bulletin is particularly concerned with heavy load
movements while the reactor is operating, the NRC staff is considering
further generic actions on the issue of handling heavy loads both while
the reactor is operating and during shutdown. This bulletin is
available in the NRC Public Document Room under accession number
9604080259. This bulletin is discussed in Commission information paper
SECY-96-073 which is also available in the NRC Public Document Room.
DATES: The bulletin was issued on April 11, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Not applicable.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian E. Thomas, (301) 415-1210 (or
Internet:[email protected]).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC has determined that some licensees
have engaged in, or are planning to engage in, heavy load handling
activities that may not be within the current licensing basis of their
respective facilities. As defined in Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, under Section 50.59(c), if an activity is found to involve
an unreviewed safety question, an application for a license amendment
must be filed with the Commission pursuant to 10 CFR 50.90.
Consequently, the NRC has requested that holders of operating licenses
for nuclear power reactors review their plans and capabilities for
handling heavy loads in accordance with existing regulatory guidelines,
determine whether the activities are within their licensing basis as
previously analyzed in the final safety analysis report (and, as
appropriate, submit a license amendment request), and determine whether
changes to Technical Specifications will be required. All licensees
that are planning to implement activities involving the handling of
heavy loads during reactor operation (i.e., other than when the reactor
is in cold shutdown, refueling or defueled), within the next 2 years
from the date of this bulletin, are required to submit a report that
addresses the information requested above, and to submit license
amendment requests 6-9 months in advance of the planned heavy load
movements to give the NRC sufficient time to perform an appropriate
safety review.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of April, 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Dennis M. Crutchfield,
Director, Division of Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-9667 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
