Energia i regulacje · 25.01.2006

Risk-Informed Changes to Loss-of-Coolant Accident Technical Requirements; Extension of Comment Period

On November 7, 2005 (70 FR 67598), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published for public comment a proposed rule amending its regulations to permit current power reactor licensees to implement a voluntary, risk-informed alternative to the current requirements for analyzing the performance of emergency core cooling systems during loss-of-coolant accidents. On December 6, 2005, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) requested a 30 day extension to the comment period for the proposed rule. On December 20, 2005, the Westinghouse Owners Group submitted a letter endorsing the NEI extension request. The extension requests were based on the occurrence of two major holidays during the comment period which limited the time available to coordinate industry comments from owners groups, vendors, and licensees. The NRC is extending the comment period on the proposed rule by an additional 30 days from the original February 6, 2006 deadline until March 8, 2006. This comment period extension also applies to related public comments submitted on the NRC report on Seismic Considerations for the Transition Break Size (70 FR 75501).