The complexity of tectonic environments and the limited data available for seismic source and ground motion characterization make the use of a significant level of expert judgment in seismic hazard assessment studies unavoidable. In the mid-90s the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Electric Power Research Institute sponsored a study to develop recommendations for how studies incorporating the use of expert assessments should be conducted in the future. The Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee (SSHAC) developed a structured, multi-level assessment...

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has conducted several risk assessments and other analysis to evaluation the safety of transportation of spent power reactor nuclear fuel during the past 35 years.

This document is a safety evaluation report (SER) on the license renewal application (LRA) for Columbia Generating Station (Columbia), as filed by Energy Northwest (the applicant). By letter dated January 19, 2010, Energy Northwest submitted its application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for renewal of the Columbia operating license for an additional 20 years. The NRC staff (the staff) prepared this report to summarize the results of its safety review of the LRA for compliance with Title 10, Part 54, "Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants,"...

Section 208 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-438) defines an "abnormal occurrence" (AO) as an unscheduled incident or event that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determines to be significant from the standpoint of public health or safety. The Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-66) requires that the NRC report AOs to Congress annually.

Under the auspices of an addendum to the memorandum of understanding between the Electric Power Research Institute and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research for cooperative research, a pilot study has been completed to evaluate the feasibility of developing a fully probabilistic, fracture-mechanics-based computational tool to evaluate the rupture probability of reactor coolant piping. This project, known as xLPR for Extremely Low Probability of Rupture, is initially focused on evaluating pipe rupture probabilities within Alloy 82/182 dissimilar metal...

This report documents the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) staff review and safety and safeguards evaluation of International Isotopes Fluorine Products, Inc.=s (IIFP), application for a license to construct a Fluorine Extraction Process & Depleted Uranium Deconversion Plant (FEP/DUP) and possess and use source materials. INIS proposes that the FEP/DUP be located in Lea County, New Mexico, approximately 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of the city of Hobbs. The facility will possess natural and depleted uranium, and significant quantities of hazardous chemicals derived from licensed...

The ultimate heat sink is defined as the complex of sources service or house water supply necessary to safely operate, shut down, and cool down a nuclear power plant.

The ultimate heat sink is defined as the complex of cooling-water sources necessary to safely shut down and cool down a nuclear power plant. Cooling ponds, spray ponds, and mechanical draft cooling towers are some examples of the types of ultimate heat sinks in use today.