# NRC Bulletin 96-03, Potential Plugging of Emergency Core Cooling Suction Strainers by Debris in Boiling-Water Reactors

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-11875

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Notice
- **Published:** May 13, 1996
- **Citation:** 61 FR 22076

## Text

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

NRC Bulletin 96-03, Potential Plugging of Emergency Core Cooling
Suction Strainers by Debris in Boiling-Water Reactors

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of issuance.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Bulletin
96-03 to request boiling-water reactor (BWR) licensees to implement
measures to ensure the capability of the emergency core cooling system
(ECCS) to perform its safety function following a loss-of-coolant
accident (LOCA), and require that BWR licensees report to the NRC
whether and to what extent the requested actions will be taken and to
notify the NRC when the actions associated with the bulletin are
complete. This bulletin is available in the NRC Public Document Room
under accession number 9605020119. This bulletin is discussed in
Commission information paper SECY-96-087 which is also available in the
NRC Public Document Room.

DATES: The bulletin was issued on May 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Not applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert B. Elliott, (301) 415-1397 or
Internet: [email protected], or M. David Lynch, (301) 415-3023 or Internet:
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC issued this bulletin to request BWR
licensees to implement appropriate procedural measures and plant
modifications to minimize the potential for clogging of ECCS
suppression pool suction strainers by debris generated during a LOCA.
The NRC has identified three potential resolution options, which
include (1) the installation of a large capacity passive strainer
design, (2) the installation of a self-cleaning strainer, and (3) the
installation of a backflush system. However, licensees may propose an
alternative course of action provided it offers an equivalent level of
assurance that the ECCS will be able to perform its safety function
following a LOCA. The actions requested by this bulletin are considered
backfits in accordance with NRC procedures and are necessary to ensure
compliance with existing NRC rules and regulations. In particular,
Section 50.46 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR
50.46) requires that adequate ECCS flow be provided to maintain the
core temperature at an acceptably low value and to remove decay heat
for the extended period of time required by the long-lived
radioactivity remaining in the core following a design basis accident.
Therefore, this bulletin was issued as a compliance backfit under the
terms of 10 CFR 50.109(a)(4)(i).

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of May, 1996.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Brian K. Grimes,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-11875 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-11875. Public record. Not legal advice.