Section 20
FINAL SUPPORTING STATEMENT
FOR
ANTICIPATED TRANSIENT WITHOUT SCRAM
10 CFR 50.62
DESCRIPTION OF THE INFORMATION COLLECTION
10 CFR 50.62 requires the installation of certain equipment in nuclear power plants to prevent and mitigate anticipated transient without scram (ATWS) events. The licensee for a nuclear power plant is required, by 10 CFR 50.62(c)(6), to submit a copy of equipment design and installation plans to the NRC to ensure that the equipment will perform its intended safety function.
In addition, 10 CFR 50.62(d) requires the licensee to submit a schedule to the NRC for implementing the requirements of 10 CFR 50.62. This provision allows the establishment of implementation schedules that are tailored to the safety priority needs and resources of the individual licensee.
All licensees for nuclear power plants have submitted design and installation plans to the NRC as required by 10 CFR 50.62. Licensees have also submitted schedules for implementing these requirements. Thus, all information collection is now complete.
JUSTIFICATION
1. Need for and Practical Utility of the Collection of Information
An ATWS is an expected operational transient (such as a loss of feedwater, loss of condenser, or loss of offsite power to the reactor) which is accompanied by a failure of the reactor trip system (RTS) to shut down the reactor. The RTS consists of those power sources, sensors, initiation circuits, logic matrices, bypasses, circuit breakers, interlocks, racks, panels and control boards, and actuation and actuated devices, that are required to initiate reactor shutdown, and includes the control rods and control rod mechanisms as well. That portion of the RTS exclusive of the control rods and control rod mechanisms is referred to as the scram system. ATWS is a cause of concern because under certain postulated conditions it could lead to severe core damage and release of radioactivity to the environment. The ATWS question involves safe shutdown of the reactor during a transient if there is a failure of the RTS. There have been precursors to an ATWS such as the failure of the automatic portion of the RTS at the Salem 1 nuclear generating station on February 25, 1983, although manual shutdown was accomplished after 30 seconds, and no core damage or release of radioactivity occurred. 10 CFR 50.62 requires improvements in the design and operation of nuclear power plants to reduce the likelihood of failure of the reactor protection system to shut down the reactor following anticipated transients and to mitigate the consequences of ATWS events. This will significantly reduce the risks of nuclear power plant operation.
2. Agency Use of Information
The NRC has reviewed the design and installation plans to ensure that the equipment will perform its intended safety function.
3. Reduction of Burden Through Information Technology
There are no legal obstacles to reducing the burden associated with this information collection. The NRC encourages respondents to use information technology when it would be beneficial to them. The NRC issued a regulation on October 10, 2003 (68 FR 58791), consistent with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, which allows its licensees, vendors, applicants, and members of the public the option to make submissions electronically via CD-ROM, e-mail, special Web-based interface or other means. However, because this task is complete, there will be no submissions.
4. Effort to Identify Duplication and Use Similar Information
No sources of similar information are available. There is no duplication of requirements. NRC has in place an ongoing program to examine all information collections with the goal of eliminating all duplication and/or unnecessary information collections.
5. Effort to Reduce Small Business Burden
Not applicable. Task is complete.
6. Consequences to Federal Program or Policy Activities if the Collection is Not Conducted or is Conducted Less Frequently
This was a one-time requirement for each respondent, and it has been completed.
7. Circumstances which Justify Variation from OMB Guidelines
The information collection did not vary from OMB guidelines.
8. Consultations Outside the NRC
Opportunity for public comment on the information collection requirements for this clearance package was published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2013 (78 FR 28244). No comments were received.
9. Payment or Gift to Respondents
Not applicable.
10. Confidentiality of Information
Confidential and proprietary information is protected in accordance with NRC regulations at 10 CFR 9.17(a) and 10 CFR 2.390(b). However, no information normally considered confidential or proprietary is requested.
11. Justification for Sensitive Questions
No sensitive information was requested.
12. Estimated Industry Burden and Burden Hour Cost
None.
13. Estimate of Other Additional Costs
None.
14. Estimated Annualized Cost to the Federal Government
None.
15. Reasons for Changes in Burden or Cost
There is no change in burden. All licensees for nuclear power plants have submitted design and installation plans to NRC as required by 10 CFR 50.62. Licensees have also submitted schedules for implementing the requirements of 10 CFR 50.62. NRC has completed its review of the proposed schedules and the design and installation plans and has completed inspections of the installed systems. Therefore, the information collection requirement for the ATWS issue is complete.
16. Publication for Statistical Use
The collected information is not published for statistical purposes.
17. Reason for Not Displaying the Expiration Date
The requirement is contained in a regulation. Amending the Code of Federal Regulations to display information that, in an annual publication, could become obsolete would be unduly burdensome and too difficult to keep current.
18. Exceptions to the Certification Statement
None.
COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
Not applicable.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | Section 20 |
| Author | Leslie A. Hill |
| Last Modified By | Donnell, Tremaine |
| File Modified | 2014-10-14 |
| File Created | 2014-10-14 |