[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]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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