[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 35741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15121]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Sump 
Recirculation at Pressurized-Water Reactors

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of issuance.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Bulletin 
(BL) 2003-01 to all holders of operating licenses for pressurized-water 
reactors (PWRs), except those who have permanently ceased operations 
and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the 
reactor vessel. The bulletin informs PWR licensees of the results of 
NRC-sponsored research which identified the potential susceptibility of 
recirculation sump screens to debris blockage in the event of a high-
energy line break requiring recirculation operation of the emergency 
core cooling system (ECCS) or containment spray system (CSS), and of 
the potential for debris blockage of flowpaths necessary for system 
recirculation operation and containment drainage. In light of these 
potentially adverse effects of debris blockage, the bulletin requests 
that licensees confirm their compliance with section 50.46(b)(5) of 
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.46(b)(5)) 
concerning long term ECCS performance, and other existing applicable 
regulatory requirements, or describe any compensatory measures 
implemented to reduce the potential risk due to post-accident debris 
blockage as evaluations to determine compliance proceed.

DATES: The bulletin was issued on June 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Not applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Architzel, at 301-415-2804, John 
Lehning, at 301-415-3285, or John Lamb, at 301-415-1446.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bulletin 2003-01 may be examined and/or 
copied for a fee at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at One 
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland, and is accessible electronically from the Agencywide 
Documents Access and Management Systems (ADAMS) Public Electronic 
Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. The ADAMS Accession No. for the bulletin is 
ML031600259.
    If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in 
accessing documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public Document 
Room (PDR) Reference staff at 301-415-4737 or 1-800-397-4209, or by e-
mail to [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of June 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
William D. Beckner,
Program Director, Operating Reactor Improvements Program, Division of 
Regulatory Improvement Programs, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 03-15121 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P