Functional Criteria for Emergency Response Facilities (NUREG-0696) (Generic Letter No. 81-17)

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

                                March 5, 1981

TO ALL LICENSEES OF OPERATING PLANTS AND HOLDERS OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITS 
                                             (GENERIC LETTER No. 17) 

Gentlemen: 

SUBJECT:  FUNCTIONAL CRITERIA FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE FACILITIES (NUREG-0696)

On February 18, 1981 the NRC staff sent you a clarification (in connection 
with NUREG-0737) for TMI Action Plan item III.A.1.2, Upgrade Emergency 
Support Facilities. That letter further stated that NUREG-0696, "Functional 
Criteria for Emergency Response Facilities," would be issued in the near 
future. Enclosed is a copy of NUREG-0696. 

The Commission has approved NUREG-0696 and noted that this document provides
general guidance only, is an acceptable way to meet the NRC rules and 
regulations, and that compliance with NUREG-0696 is not a requirement. The 
staff intends to use these criteria as an acceptable method for meeting the 
requirements of the regulations for ERFs and will use them to evaluate 
conceptual design submittals for adequacy. 

Your attention is directed to page 18 of NUREG-0696 regarding the proposed 
EOF locations beyond 20 miles of the site. Any such facility would require 
an exemption for EOF location. 

Any questions you may have concerning your specific project should be 
addressed to your Project Manager or to Steve Ramos (301-492-9700) of NRC's 
Division of Emergency Preparedness. 

                              Sincerely, 


                              Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                              Division of Licensing 
                              Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Enclosure: NUREG-0696