Safety Concerns Associated with Pipe Breaks in the BWR Scram System (Generic Letter 81-34)
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
August 31, 1981
TO ALL GE BWR LICENSEES (EXCEPT HUMBOLDT BAY)
Gentlemen:
SUBJECT: SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH PIPE BREAKS IN THE BWR SCRAM
SYSTEM (GENERIC LETTER 81-34)
On July 7, 1981 the NRC staff sent a letter to all BWR licensees informing
them that the generic review of this issue had been completed. We indicated
that a NUREG report describing the results of this review would be issued.
This letter forwards NUREG-0803, "Generic Safety Evaluation Report Regarding
Integrity of BWR Scram System Piping," dated August 1981. Section 5 of
NUREG-0803 presents the staff's generic conclusions on this issue. Briefly,
the staff has concluded that the SDV piping system design is acceptable,
provided certain conditions are satisfied on a plant specific basis. The
staff further concluded that the safety concerns associated with a
postulated failure of the SDV piping system do not represent a dominant
contribution to the risk or core melt, provided certain assumptions used in
the risk assessment are validated on a plant specific basis.
NUREG-0803 provides the staff's guidance and schedule for implementation. As
provided in our July 7, 1981 letter, plant specific responses should be
provided within 120 days of the date of this letter. Plant specific
responses conforming to the guidance contained in NUREG-0803 will satisfy
the information requested in our April 10, 1981 letter.
As indicated in our April 10, 1981 letter, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.54(f),
provide your plant specific response within 120 days of the date of this
letter.
Sincerely,
Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director
Division of Licensing
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure
As Stated
cc: Service Lists
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