Resolution of Generic Safety Issues: Item A-36: Control of Heavy Loads near Spent Fuel (Rev. 2) ( NUREG-0933, Main Report with Supplements 1–35 )
DESCRIPTION
At all nuclear plants, overhead cranes are used to lift heavy objects in the vicinity of spent fuel. If a heavy object such as a spent fuel shipping cask or shielding block were to fall onto spent fuel in the storage pool or reactor core during refueling and damage the fuel, there could be a release of radioactivity to the environment. Such an occurrence also has the potential for overexposing plant personnel to radiation. If the dropped object were large and the damaged fuel contained a considerable amount of undecayed fission products, radiation releases to the environment could exceed 10 CFR Part 100 guidelines. With the advent of increased and longer-term storage of spent fuel, the NRC determined that there was a need for a systematic review of requirements, facility designs, and TS regarding the movement of heavy loads to assess safety margins and improve them where necessary. This item was originally identified in NUREG-03712 and was later determined to be a USI in NUREG-0510.186
CONCLUSION
This USI was RESOLVED in December 1980 with the issuance of GL 80-113, 1842 following publication of the report on the NRC review of nuclear power plant load-handling operations in NUREG-0612. 747 GL 80-113 1842 requested licensees to review their controls for the handling of heavy loads to determine the extent to which guidelines in NUREG-0612 747 were being satisfied, and to identify the changes and modifications that would be required in order to fully satisfy the guidelines. GL 81-07 1843 was subsequently issued to correct errors in GL 80-113. 1842
Licensee responses to NUREG-0612747 were requested in two parts: Phase I (6-month response); and Phase II (9-month response). For operating plants, MPAs C-10 and C-15 were established by NRR/DL to track the implementation of Phases I and II, respectively.60 For future plants, SRP11 Section 9.1.5. was revised. At the completion of Phase II, the results of the NRC findings were published in GL 85-11.1844 However, in April 1999, Issue 186 was identified to address the NRR concern that licensees operating within the GL 85-111844 regulatory guidelines were not taking adequate measures to assess and mitigate the consequences of dropped heavy loads.
REFERENCES
|