[en] This report represents a validation study of the cost methodologies and quantitative factors derived in Labor Productivity Adjustment Factors and Generic Methodology for Estimating the Labor Cost Associated with the Removal of Hardware, Materials, and Structures From Nuclear Power Plants. This cost methodology was developed to support NRC analysts in determining generic estimates of removal, installation, and total labor costs for construction-related activities at nuclear generating stations. In addition to the validation discussion, this report reviews the generic cost analysis methodology employed. It also discusses each of the individual cost factors used in estimating the costs of physical modifications at nuclear power plants. The generic estimating approach presented uses the /open quotes/greenfield/close quotes/ or new plant construction installation costs compiled in the Energy Economic Data Base (EEDB) as a baseline. These baseline costs are then adjusted to account for labor productivity, radiation fields, learning curve effects, and impacts on ancillary systems or components. For comparisons of estimated vs actual labor costs, approximately four dozen actual cost data points (as reported by 14 nuclear utilities) were obtained. Detailed background information was collected on each individual data point to give the best understanding possible so that the labor productivity factors, removal factors, etc., could judiciously be chosen. This study concludes that cost estimates that are typically within 40% of the actual values can be generated by prudently using the methodologies and cost factors investigated herein

[en] The Vital Area Committee (VAC) recently recommended changes to vital area requirements of nuclear power plants. Vital areas are those areas which contain vital equipment, and therefore, must be protected against radiological sabotage. In general, these recommendations are more relaxed than the current criteria contained in Review Guide 17 (RG-17). Before the VAC recommendations can be implemented, the NRC must perform a regulatory analysis. This study is a cost analysis of the RG-17 criteria and VAC recommendations to serve as one input to the regulatory analysis. The approach was to apportion the nuclear power industry into groups of similar plants, perform the cost analysis on selected plants from the groups, and extrapolate the results to the entire industry

[en] The Energy Economic Data Base (EEDB) provides complete plant construction cost estimates for boiling water reactors (BWRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs). The generic cost estimating methods developed for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) utilize the EEDB cost data as a basis for estimating the costs of physical modifications to nuclear plants. Such modifications may be mandated by new or revised NRC regulatory requirements. The costs presented in the EEDB are often given at a relatively high level of aggregation. The definition of material, labor, and equipment costs is seldom given at the same level as that encountered in plant modification projects. Additional definition is needed to adequately estimate the costs of many proposed changes. This report presents material and equipment costs and labor manhours/costs at the component, subcomponent, and subsystem level that support and correspond to the more highly aggregated data presented in the EEDB. It is intended to be a supplement to the EEDB. Specifically, unit labor and material/equipment costs are defined for the following types of materials and equipment: rotating machinery, piping and piping related commodities (piping, valves, hangers, and insulation), instrumentation and control, lighting and service power, and skid mounted equipment. 4 refs., 1 fig., 7 tabs

[en] The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has identified several potential improvements to BWRs with Mark 1 containments. The Mark 1 containments have been chosen for this initial effort because they appear to have a relatively high conditional probability of failure for severe accidents. This study is a cost analysis of three potential areas of Mark 1 containment improvement. Considered were: Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) enhancements; back-up water supply enhancements; and wetwell venting enhancements. These cost analyses are comprehensive. In addition to the costs of physical modifications, they also include aspects such as engineering and quality assurance, radiation exposure, health physics support, and anti-contamination clothing. Also considered are licensee costs associated with technical specification changes, writing or rewriting operating procedures, and staff training. The analyses show that the industry costs per reactor for installation of all improvements range from about $1.6 million for the low cost options to $3.15 million for the high cost options. In addition, these physical modifications are estimated to result in occupational radiation exposures ranging from about 20 person-rem to 150 person-rem per reactor. 7 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab

[en] A broad spectrum of environmental and reclamation issues associated with mine development were discussed at this conference along with rehabilitation of lands disturbed by resource exploration; metal, placer and coal mining; and, sand and gravel quarries. Research has shown that it is possible to minimize or eliminate environmental damage, even in challenging terrain, by using appropriate remedial methods such as revegetation, reforestation, soil conservation, resloping, and recontouring of the soil to return the ecosystem to a natural self-sustaining state. It was noted that revegetation and reforestation efforts typically involves the selection of appropriate species that will adapt to climatic and local soil conditions. The conference featured 21 presentations, of which 4 have been indexed separately for inclusion in this database. refs., tabs., figs

[en] The report examines the differences between the existing and proposed Appendix J and identifies eleven substantive areas where quantifiable impacts will likely result. The analysis indicated that there are four areas of change which tend to dominate all others in terms of cost impacts. The applicable paragraph numbers from Draft E2 of the Appendix J revision and the nature of the change follows: III.A(4) and III.A(6) - Test Pressure and Testing at Reduced Pressure No Longer Allowed; III.A(7)(b)(i) Acceptance Criteria 1.0 L/sub a/ Acceptable ''As Found'' Leakage; III.A(8)(2) Retesting Following Failure of ''As Found'' Type A Test - Corrective Action Plan, and III.A(8)(b)(ii) Option To Do More Frequent Type B and C Testing Rather Than More Type A Penalty Tests. The best estimate is that the proposed Appendix J would result in a cost savings ranging from about $100 million to $160 million, and increase routing occupational exposure on the order of 10,000 person-rem. These estimates capture the total impact to industry and the NRC over the assumed operating life of all existing and planned future power reactors. All dollar impacts projected to occur in future years have been present worthed at discount rates ranging from 5% to 10%

[en] Mining operators in Canada are now aiming to minimize the environmental damages and impacts to wildlife posed by resource development. Attempts to reduce impacts are now focusing on the use of appropriate soil and reforestation practices. This annual symposium provided a forum for the discussion of a wide variety of issues related to mine reclamation and land use in British Columbia (BC). The environmental impacts of mine development and land rehabilitation were discussed, and new remedial methods for soil conservation and reforestation were presented. Safety and sustainable habitat considerations were discussed. Land reclamation practices and new technologies developed in Western Australia and the Amazon were presented. The results of several bio- and geochemical studies conducted in BC were also presented. The conference featured 18 presentations, of which 7 have been catalogued separately for inclusion in this database. refs., tabs., figs

[en] The first experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have employed the first four beams to measure propagation and laser backscattering losses in large ignition-size plasmas. Gas-filled targets between 2 mm and 7 mm length have been heated from one side by overlapping the focal spots of the four beams from one quad operated at 351 nm (3ω) with a total intensity of 2 x 10¹⁵ W cm^-2. The targets were filled with 1 atm of CO₂ producing of up to 7 mm long homogeneously heated plasmas with densities of n_e = 6 x 10²⁰ cm^-3 and temperatures of T_e = 2 keV. The high energy in a NIF quad of beams of 16kJ, illuminating the target from one direction, creates unique conditions for the study of laser plasma interactions at scale lengths not previously accessible. The propagation through the large-scale plasma was measured with a gated x-ray imager that was filtered for 3.5 keV x rays. These data indicate that the beams interact with the full length of this ignition-scale plasma during the last ∼1 ns of the experiment. During that time, the full aperture measurements of the stimulated Brillouin scattering and stimulated Raman scattering show scattering into the four focusing lenses of 6% for the smallest length (∼2 mm). increasing to 12% for ∼7 mm. These results demonstrate the NIF experimental capabilities and further provide a benchmark for three-dimensional modeling of the laser-plasma interactions at ignition-size scale lengths