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 NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, DC 20555-001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

 Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov/OPA

No. 01-125 October 22, 2001

 NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS

 TO MEET NOVEMBER 8 - 10 IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

The Nuclear Regulatory Commissionís Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has

scheduled a meeting November 8 - 10 in Rockville, Maryland, to discuss among other items, the

agencyís safety research program, power uprates for the Quad Cities and Dresden nuclear power plants,

the application for the Hatch facility license renewal, early site permit regulations, and the licensing

approach for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor design. 

The meeting, most of which is open to the public, will be held in Room T-2B3 of the agencyís

Two White Flint North building, at 11545 Rockville Pike. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day. A

complete agenda is attached.

For additional information on the meeting or schedule changes, please contact Dr. Sher Bahadur

at 301-415-0138. ACRS meeting notices, transcripts and letters are available on the internet, at

http://www.nrc.gov/ACRS/ACNW .
ACRS Meeting Agenda

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8

8:30 - 8:35 A.M. Opening Remarks by the ACRS Chairman (Open)

1.1) Opening statement

1.2) Items of current interest

1.3) Priorities for preparation of ACRS reports 

8:35 - 10:00 A.M. Final Review of the Hatch License Renewal Application (Open)

2.1) Remarks by the Subcommittee Chairman

2.2) Briefing by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

and the Southern Nuclear Operating Company regarding the

license renewal application for the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant,

Units 1 and 2 and the associated NRC staffís final Safety

Evaluation Report (SER).

10:00 - 10:20 A.M. ***BREAK**

10:20 - 12:30 P.M. Dresden and Quad Cities Core Power Uprate (Open/Closed)

3.1) Remarks by the Subcommittee Chairman

3.2) Briefing by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

and the Exelon Generation Company regarding the license

amendment request to increase the core thermal power level for

Dresden Nuclear Power Station Units 2 and 3 and the Quad Cities

Nuclear Power Station Units 1 and 2, and the associated NRC

staffís SER.

[Note: A portion of this session will be closed to discuss General Electric Nuclear Energy proprietary

information on this matter]

12:30 - 1:30 P.M. ***LUNCH***

 1:30 - 3:30 P.M. NRC Safety Research Program (Open) 

4.1) Remarks by the Subcommittee Chairman

4.2) Briefing by and discussions with representatives of the NRC

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research regarding the NRC Safety Research

Program.

 3:30 - 3:50 P.M. ***BREAK***

 3:50 - 5:00 P.M. Proposed Update to 10 CFR Part 52 (Open) 

5.1) Remarks by the Subcommittee Chairman

5.2) Briefing by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding the proposed update to 10 CFR Part 52 that is based on

experience gained from previous design certification reviews and

discussions with stakeholders on the early site permit and

combined license processes.

Representatives of the nuclear industry may provide their views, as

appropriate.

5:00 - 5:15 P.M. ***BREAK***

5:15 - 7:00 P.M. Proposed ACRS Reports (Open)

Discussion of proposed ACRS reports on:

6.1) Final Review of the Hatch License Renewal Application)

6.2) Dresden and Quad Cities Core Power Uprate

6.3) Proposed Update to 10 CFR Part 52
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9

8:30 - 8:35 A.M. Opening Remarks by the ACRS Chairman (Open)

8:35 - 10:30 A.M. Circumferential Cracking of PWR Vessel Head Penetrations (Open) 

8.1) Remarks by the Subcommittee Chairman

8.2) Briefing by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding the status of staff activities associated with resolving

issues related to circumferential cracking of pressurized water

reactor (PWR) vessel head penetrations, including control rod

drive mechanism nozzles.

Representatives of the nuclear industry may provide their views, as

appropriate.

10:30 - 10:50 ***BREAK***

10:50 - 12:15 P.M. Licensing Approach for the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Design (Open) 

9.1) Remarks by Dr. Kress and Dr. Powers regarding the October 10-

12, 2001 future plant design workshop organized by the Office of

Nuclear Regulatory Research.

9.2) Briefing by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding the licensing approach for the Pebble Bed Modular

Reactor design.

Representatives of the nuclear industry may provide their views, as

appropriate.

12:15 - 1:15 P.M. ***LUNCH***

1:15 - 2:00 P.M. Future ACRS Activities/Report of the Planning and Procedures

Subcommittee (Open)

10.1) Discussion of the recommendations of the Planning and

Procedures Subcommittee regarding items proposed for

consideration by the full Committee during future ACRS

meetings.

10.2) Report of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee on

matters related to the conduct of ACRS business, and

organizational and personnel matters relating to ACRS.

2:00 - 2:15 P.M. Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and Recommendations (Open) 

Discussion of the responses from the NRC Executive Director 

for Operations to comments and recommendations included in 

recent ACRS reports and letters.

2:15 - 2:30 P.M. ***BREAK***

2:30 - 4:30 P.M. Discussion of Topics for Meeting with the NRC Commissioners (Open) 

Discussion of the following topics for meeting the NRC Commissioners

on December 5, 2001:

12.1) Regulatory Challenges for Future Plant Designs 

12.2) Reactor Oversight Process

12.3) ACRS Activities Associated with Power Uprates and Related

Matters 

12.4) ACRS Activities Associated with License Renewal and Related

Matters 

4:30 - 7:00 P.M. Proposed ACRS Reports (Open)
Discussion of proposed ACRS reports on:

13.1) Final Review of Hatch License Renewal Application

13.2) Dresden and Quad Cities Core Power Uprate 

13.3) Proposed Update to 10 CFR Part 52

13.4) Licensing Approach for the PBMR Design

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10

8:30 - 12:30 P.M. Proposed ACRS Reports (Open)

Continue discussion of proposed ACRS reports listed under 

Item 13.

12:30 - 1:00 P.M. Miscellaneous (Open)

Discussion of matters related to the conduct of Committee

activities and matters and specific issues that were not

completed during previous meetings, as time and availability

of information permit.

NOTE:

Presentation time should not exceed 50 percent of the total time allocated for a specific item. The

remaining 50 percent of the time is reserved for discussion.

Thirty-Five (35) copies of the presentation materials should be provided to the ACRS.

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