Energia i regulacje · 11.06.1999
Laboratory Testing of Nuclear-Grade Activated Charcoal; Issue
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Generic Letter (GL) 99-02 to 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. It concerns 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 generic letter is to request licensees of operating nuclear power reactors to amend their facility technical specifications to reference either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard ASTM D3803- 1989, ``Standard Test Method for Nuclear-Grade Activated Carbon,'' or an alternate test protocol that has been demonstrated to give comparable results. Licensees may also propose another course of action, which would be subject to NRC review and approval. The objective is to assure licensee compliance with the licensing bases of their respective facilities, as they relate to the o