Seismic Considerations for the Transition Break Size: An Overview of the Methodology

This paper describes the results of a study, sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to assess potential seismic effects on the postulated transition break size (TBS) in the proposed risk-informed revision of the regulatory requirements for the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) contained in Title 10, Section 50.46, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.46). The full report was provided on the NRC web site in mid-December 2005. The primary focus of this paper is to provide a summary of the study’s approach and results which was conducted to facilitate review and comment concerning the proposed rule and statement of considerations (SOC), entitled “Risk-Informed Changes to Loss-of-Coolant Accident Technical Requirements; Proposed Rule,” which the NRC published in the Federal Register (70 FR 67598) on November 7, 2005.