Energia i regulacje · 25.02.1998

Proposed Generic Communication; Laboratory Testing of Nuclear- Grade Activated Charcoal (M97978)

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to issue a generic letter concerning the laboratory testing of nuclear-grade activated charcoal that is used in the safety-related air-cleaning units of engineered safety feature ventilation systems of nuclear power plants to reduce the potential onsite and offsite consequences of a radiological accident by adsorbing iodine. The purpose of the proposed generic letter is to: (1) Alert addressees that the NRC has determined that testing nuclear-grade activated charcoal to standards other than American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D3803-1989, ``Standard Test Method for Nuclear-Grade Activated Carbon,'' does not provide assurance for complying with their current licensing basis as it relates to the dose limits of General Design Criterion (GDC) 19 of Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 50 and Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 100, and that ASTM D3803-1989 should be used for both new and used charcoal because it allows for accurately monitoring the degradation of the charcoal over time; (2) request that addressees determine whether their technical specifications (TS) reference ASTM D3803-1989 for charcoal filter laboratory testing and if not,