[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70546-70547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31210]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Workshop on Options for Non-LWR Containment Functional 
Performance

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has requested the staff to 
develop options for containment functional performance requirements and 
criteria for future non-light water reactors, taking into account 
design features such as fuel, core, and cooling systems. The options 
selected will also be used for the development of the new regulatory 
framework for a risk-informed regulatory structure for advanced 
reactors.

DATES: January 14, 2004, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Doubletree Hotel; 1750 Rockville Pike; Rockville, MD 20852-
1699

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shana Browde, Office of Nuclear 
Regulatory Research, Mail Stop: T-10 F13A, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001, (301) 415-7652, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves as initial notification 
of a public workshop to provide for the exchange of information with 
all stakeholders regarding the staff's efforts to develop options for 
containment functional performance requirements and criteria for future 
non-light water reactors. The meeting will focus on the current work 
being performed by the NRC staff. A preliminary agenda is attached.

Workshop Meeting Information

    The staff intends to conduct a workshop to provide for an exchange 
of information related to the staff's initial efforts to develop 
options for containment functional performance requirements and 
criteria for future non-light water reactors. Persons other than NRC 
staff and NRC contractors interested in making a presentation at the 
workshop should notify Shana Browde, Office of Nuclear Regulatory 
Research, Mail Stop: T-10 F13A, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington DC 20555-0001, (301) 415-7652, e-mail: [email protected].

Registration

    There is no registration fee for the workshop; however, so that 
adequate space, materials, etc., for the workshop can be arranged, 
please provide notification of attendance to Shana Browde, Office of 
Nuclear Regulatory Research, Mail Stop: T-10 F13A, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001, (301) 415-7652, e-
mail: [email protected].

Background

    The possibility of using alternatives to the traditional 
``essentially leak-tight'' containment structures for non-LWRs has been 
the subject of Commission policy review, beginning with SECY-93-092, 
``Issues Pertaining to the Advanced Reactor (PRISM, MHTGR, and PIUS) 
and CANDU 3 Designs and Their Relationship to Current Regulatory 
Requirements,'' dated April 8, 1993. More recently, in SECY-02-0139, 
``Plan for Resolving Policy Issues Related to Licensing Non-Light Water 
Reactor Designs,'' dated July 22, 2002 the staff informed the 
Commission of its plan to develop policy options for the design and 
safety performance of the containment structure and related systems for 
non-LWRs.
    In SECY-03-0047, ``Policy Issues Related to Licensing Non-Light-
Water Reactor Designs,'' dated March 28, 2003, staff discussed the 
policy issue of the conditions, if any, that would be acceptable for 
licensing a plant without a pressure-retaining containment building. In 
SECY-03-0047, the staff recommended to the Commission that (1) 
Functional performance requirements be approved for use in establishing 
the acceptability of either a pressure retaining, low leakage 
containment or a non-pressure retaining building for future non-LWR 
reactor designs and, if approved, (2) the staff develop the functional 
performance requirements using the guidance contained in the July 30, 
1993 Commission Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) for SECY-93-092 and 
the Commission's guidance on the other issues in SECY-03-0047. In the 
June 26, 2003 SRM for SECY-03-0047, the Commission requested the staff 
to submit options and recommendations to the Commission on functional 
performance requirements and criteria for the containment of non-LWRs.
    Options for containment functional performance requirements and 
criteria for future non-LWRs are under development by the staff. The 
final options and recommendations are due in April 2004. To assist in 
developing and evaluating the options and in identifying the 
recommended options, the NRC staff is planning to hold a workshop and 
solicit feedback from the public. Key considerations for discussion 
include:

[[Page 70547]]

    [sbull] Are the identified containment functions being considered 
appropriate?
    [sbull] Are the options for containment performance criteria 
appropriate?
    [sbull] Are there other or alternative containment functions and 
options which should be considered?
    [sbull] What metrics should be considered in evaluating the 
options, including specific advantages and disadvantages for the 
identified options?

Preliminary Workshop Agenda

January 14, 2004
8:30-10:15--NRC Presentation and Discussion on Options for Non-LWR 
Containment Functional Performance Requirements and Criteria
10:15-10:30--BREAK
10:45-noon--NRC Presentation and Discussion on Options for Non-LWR 
Containment Functional Performance Requirements and Criteria 
(continued)
Noon-1--LUNCH
1-2:15--NRC Presentation and Discussion on Options for Non-LWR 
Containment Functional Performance requirements and Criteria
2:15-2:30--BREAK
2:30-5--General discussion and wrap-up

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of December, 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Farouk Eltawila,
Director, Division of Systems Analysis and Regulatory Effectiveness, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 03-31210 Filed 12-17-03; 8:45 am]
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