[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61835-61836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30332]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Assurance of Equipment Operability and Containment Integrity 
During Design-Basis Accident Conditions; Issue

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Issuance.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Generic 
Letter (GL) 96-06, Supplement 1 to inform all holders of operating 
licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those who have permanently 
ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently 
removed from the reactor vessel, about ongoing efforts and new 
developments associated with GL 96-06, and to provide additional 
guidance that addressees may find useful in planning and scheduling 
future actions associated with GL 96-06. This generic letter is for 
information

[[Page 61836]]

only; no specific action or written response is required. Conformance 
with the guidance provided in the generic letter is voluntary.
    The generic letter is available in the NRC Public Document Room 
under accession number 9711050091.

DATES: The generic letter was issued on November 13, 1997.

ADDRESSEES: Not applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth A. Wetzel at (301) 415-1355.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Addressees of GL 96-06 have experienced 
difficulty in determining and implementing corrective actions for 
resolving the issues identified in the generic letter. Additionally, 
questions have been raised regarding (1) the risk implications of 
installing relief valves to deal with the thermal overpressurization 
issue; (2) the use of the ASME Code, Section III, Appendix F, criteria 
for permanent resolution of the thermal overpressurization issue; and 
(3) the NRC staff's closure of Generic Safety Issue 150, 
``Overpressurization of Containment Penetrations.'' Given these 
considerations, risk insights, and industry initiatives that are being 
considered or that may be proposed, addressees may require additional 
time to fully evaluate and resolve the GL 96-06 issues. Therefore, 
addressees who find it necessary to revise their corrective actions or 
schedular commitments for resolving GL 96-06 issues may submit a 
revised response to the generic letter. Nevertheless, specific 
corrective actions that have been defined and are clearly needed should 
not be delayed without suitable justification.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of November 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
David B. Matthews,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-30332 Filed 11-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P