Lessons Learned from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident for Improving Safety of U.S. Nuclear Plants (2014) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix F: Regulator and Industry Actions in the United States
Appendix F: Regulator and Industry Actions in the United States
Pages 328-336
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From page 328... ...
F.1 REGULATOR ACTIONS The USNRC took several near-term actions in the weeks following the Fukushima Daiichi accident: • On March 18, 2011, the USNRC issued Information Notice 201105,1 "Tohoku-Taiheiyou-Oki Earthquake Effects on Japanese Nuclear Power Plants." This notice was intended to "inform [U.S. nuclear plant licensees]
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From page 329... ...
Nuclear Regulatory Commission are warranted." • On March 23, 2011, the chairman of the USNRC directed the agency's executive director of operations to establish a task force composed of senior-level staff to conduct a review of the agency's processes and regulations and make recommendations to improve them.4 A six-member task force, the Near-Term Task Force Review of Insights from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Accident (NTTF) , was established to undertake this review.
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8. The Task Force recommends strengthening and integrating onsite emergency response capabilities such as emergency operating procedures, severe accident management guidelines, and extensive damage mitigation guidelines.
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These actions are summarized in Table F.1 and described below. TABLE F.1 Summary of USNRC Actions following the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Through May 2014 Regulatory Action Summary Description Method Seismic and flood Inspect existing protection features Information request walkdownsa against seismic and flood design basis events; correct degraded conditions Seismic reevaluationsb Reanalyze potential seismic effects Information request using present-day information to determine if safety upgrades are needed Flooding reevaluationsc Reanalyze potential flooding effects Information request using present-day information to determine if safety upgrades are needed Emergency preparednessd Assess staffing needs and Information request communication capabilities to effectively respond to an event affecting multiple units Spent fuel pool Provide a reliable wide-range Regulatory order instrumentatione indication of water level in spent fuel storage pools continued
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From page 332... ...
nuclear plants needed to reconfirm their existing ability to resist seismic and flooding events. On March 12, 2012, the USNRC requested that plant licensees perform detailed inspections ("walkdowns")
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From page 333... ...
F.1.5 Containment Venting Systems Order The USNRC issued an order on March 12, 2012, requiring all licensees of boiling water reactors with Mark I and Mark II containments to install reliable, hardened vents that can be used to vent containments. After issuing the order, additional USNRC evaluations examined the benefits of venting after reactor core damage occurs.
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From page 334... ...
The rule will include training, qualification, and evaluation requirements for the key personnel expected to implement the procedures and strategies. F.1.10 Risk-Informed Regulatory Framework The task force recommended that the NRC establish a logical, systematic, and coherent regulatory framework that appropriately balances multiple layers of protection and risk considerations to deal with beyonddesign-basis events.
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From page 335... ...
To develop programmatic controls that will ensure personnel are well trained and equipment is maintained; FIGURE F.1 FLEX is intended to augment coping capabilities for beyond-designbasis events involving the simultaneous loss of emergency AC power and ultimate heat sink at all units at a nuclear plant, thereby increasing defense in depth.
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From page 336... ...
The USNRC issued a statement and interim staff guidance (USNRC, 2012c) concluding that the FLEX plan successfully implements the Mitigation Strategies Order and is an acceptable approach to meet the December 31, 2016, compliance deadline in that order.
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