NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

 Web Site: www.nrc.gov

No. 03-025 February 24, 2003

NRC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS

TO MEET MARCH 6 - 8 IN ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

will hold a meeting from March 6 - 8 in Rockville, Md., to discuss, among other items, the license

renewal application for the Peach Bottom nuclear plant, the NRC’s reactor oversight process, and

reactor vessel head degradation.

The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in Room T-2B3 of the agency’s 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, please contact Dr. Sher Bahadur, at 301-415-0138, between 

7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.
ACRS AGENDA

THURSDAY

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

Opening Statement

Items of current interest

8:35 - 10:15 A.M. Peach Bottom License Renewal Application (Open)

Presentations by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

and the Exelon Generation Corporation regarding the license renewal

application for the Peach Bottom Nuclear Plant, Units 2 and 3, and the

associated NRC staff’s final Safety Evaluation Report.

10:15 - 10:30 A.M. ***BREAK***

10:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. Reactor Oversight Process (Open)

Presentations by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding ACRS recommendation on thresholds for performance

indicators and other issues related to the revised reactor oversight process.

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

1:30 - 3:30 P.M. Vessel Head Penetration Cracking and Vessel Head Degradation (Open)

Presentations by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding industry responses to NRC Bulletin 2002-02, which deals with

revised inspection requirements for pressurized water reactor vessel

heads. This session will also deal with a proposed inspection program,

research into vessel head degradation, and related matters.

3:30 - 3:45 P.M. ***BREAK***

3:45 - 5:00 P.M. Draft Final Revision 1 to Regulatory Guide 1.180 (DG-1119) “Guidelines for

Evaluating Electromagnetic and Radio-Frequency Interference in Safety-Related

Instrumentation and Control Systems” (Open)

Presentations by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff on

the draft final revision 1 of DG-1119 and resolution of public comments.

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

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

Discussion of proposed ACRS reports on matters considered during this

meeting, as well as a proposed ACRS report on Safety Culture.
FRIDAY

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

8:35 - 10:30 A.M. Early Site Permit Process (Open)

Presentations by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding draft review standard RS-002, “Processing Applications for

Early Site Permits,” and related matters.

10:30 - 10:45 A.M. ***BREAK***

10:45 - 11:45 A.M. Overview of the Format and Content of the Fort Calhoun License Renewal

Application (Open)

Presentations by and discussions with representatives of the NRC staff

regarding the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant license renewal application, the

first to be submitted under generic license renewal guidance documents.

11:45 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. ***LUNCH***

12:45 - 1:30 P.M. Future ACRS Activities/Report of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee

(Open)

Discussion on the recommendations of the Planning and Procedures

Subcommittee regarding items proposed for consideration by the full

Committee during future meetings. Presentation of a report of the

Planning and Procedures Subcommittee on matters related to the conduct

of ACRS business, including anticipated workload and member

assignments.

1:30 - 1:45 P.M. Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and Recommendations (Open)

Discussion of the responses from the NRC Executive Director for

Operations (EDO) to comments and recommendations included in recent

ACRS reports and letters. The EDO responses are expected to be made

available to the Committee prior to the meeting.

1:45 - 2:00 P.M. ***BREAK***

2:00 - 4:00 P.M. Preparation for Meeting with the NRC Commissioners (Open)

Discussion of proposed topics at the meeting, scheduled for Friday, 

April 11.

4:00 - 4:15 P.M. ***BREAK***
4:15 - 7:00 P.M. Proposed ACRS Reports (Open)

Discussion of proposed ACRS reports.

SATURDAY

8:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.Proposed ACRS Reports (Open)

Continued discussion of proposed ACRS reports. In addition, the

Committee will discuss a draft white paper prepared by the ACRS Senior

Fellow on the role and use of PRA in the regulatory decision-making

process.

1:00 - 1:30 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.

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