96-11875. NRC Bulletin 96-03, Potential Plugging of Emergency Core Cooling Suction Strainers by Debris in Boiling-Water Reactors

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 22076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11875]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

NRC Bulletin 96-03, Potential Plugging of Emergency Core Cooling 
Suction Strainers by Debris in Boiling-Water Reactors

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of issuance.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Bulletin 
96-03 to request boiling-water reactor (BWR) licensees to implement 
measures to ensure the capability of the emergency core cooling system 
(ECCS) to perform its safety function following a loss-of-coolant 
accident (LOCA), and require that BWR licensees report to the NRC 
whether and to what extent the requested actions will be taken and to 
notify the NRC when the actions associated with the bulletin are 
complete. This bulletin is available in the NRC Public Document Room 
under accession number 9605020119. This bulletin is discussed in 
Commission information paper SECY-96-087 which is also available in the 
NRC Public Document Room.

DATES: The bulletin was issued on May 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Not applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert B. Elliott, [phone] or 
Internet: [e-mail], or M. David Lynch, [phone] or Internet: 
[e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC issued this bulletin to request BWR 
licensees to implement appropriate procedural measures and plant 
modifications to minimize the potential for clogging of ECCS 
suppression pool suction strainers by debris generated during a LOCA. 
The NRC has identified three potential resolution options, which 
include (1) the installation of a large capacity passive strainer 
design, (2) the installation of a self-cleaning strainer, and (3) the 
installation of a backflush system. However, licensees may propose an 
alternative course of action provided it offers an equivalent level of 
assurance that the ECCS will be able to perform its safety function 
following a LOCA. The actions requested by this bulletin are considered 
backfits in accordance with NRC procedures and are necessary to ensure 
compliance with existing NRC rules and regulations. In particular, 
Section 50.46 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 
50.46) requires that adequate ECCS flow be provided to maintain the 
core temperature at an acceptably low value and to remove decay heat 
for the extended period of time required by the long-lived 
radioactivity remaining in the core following a design basis accident. 
Therefore, this bulletin was issued as a compliance backfit under the 
terms of 10 CFR 50.109(a)(4)(i).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of May, 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Brian K. Grimes,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-11875 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]
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