Availability of Supplements 2 and 3 TO NUREG-0933, "A Prioritization of Generic Safety Issues" (Generic Letter No. 85-17)

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

                               August 23, 1985

TO ALL LICENSEES OF OPERATING REACTORS, APPLICANTS FOR OPERATING LICENSES, 
AND HOLDERS OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITS (GENERIC LETTER 85-17) 

Gentlemen: 

SUBJECT:  AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLEMENTS 2 and 3 TO NUREG-0933, "A 
          PRIORITIZATION OF GENERIC SAFETY ISSUES" 

This letter is to inform you that Supplements 2 and 3 to NUREG-0933, "A 
Prioritization of Generic Safety Issues," were published in January and July
1985, respectively. These supplements present the priority rankings for 
generic safety issues related to nuclear power plants. The purpose of these 
rankings is to assist in the timely and efficient allocation of NRC 
resources for the resolution of those safety issues that have a significant 
potential for reducing risk. The safety priority rankings of HIGH, MEDIUM, 
LOW, and DROP have been assigned on the basis of risk significance 
estimates, the ratio of risk to costs and other impacts estimated to result 
if resolutions of the safety issues were implemented, and the consideration 
of uncertainties and other quantitative or qualitative factors, as discussed 
in the Introduction of NUREG-0933. To the extent practical, estimates are 
quantitative. Although changes to nuclear power plant designs or operation 
are assumed, the sole purpose in prioritizing the issues is to estimate 
costs and other impacts that might result if such changes were implemented. 

The priority rankings in the report are based on generic assessments, i.e., 
assessments of plants thought to be typical of a class of plants. Thus, the 
safety significance of an issue might be greater (or less) for a specific 
plant because of features of the design or operation that are different from
those assumed in the generic assessments. 

The supplements contain: (1) the issues that have been resolved since the 
publication of NUREG-0933 Supplement l in July 1984; (2) the issues that 
have been removed from further consideration by the NRC (i.e., those issues 
with LOW or DROP priority rankings); and (3) the issues that are in the 
process of resolution (i.e., those issues nearly-resolved or with HIGH or 
MEDIUM priority rankings). 

NUREG-0933 and its 3 supplements may be purchased by calling (202) 275-2060 
or (202) 275-2171 or by writing to the Superintendent of Documents, U.S 
Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, Washington, D.C. 
200137082, or the National Technical Information Service, Department of 
Commerce, 5258 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. 


8508210259 

                                    - 2 -

This letter does not contain any new requirements or guidance for licensees 
of operating reactors, applicants for operating licenses, and holders of 
construction permits. No reply is required. If you have any questions on the
subject, please contact Ronald Emrit on (301) 492-4960. 


                              Hugh L. Thompson, Jr., Director 
                              Division of Licensing 
                              Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

cc:  List of Generic Letters