The IDCOR Program—Severe Accident Issues, Individual Plant Examinations and Source Term Developments

Abstract

The Industry Degraded Core Rulemaking (IDCOR) Program has established a technical foundation for resolving the severe accident issues associated with the operation of light water reactor (LWR) nuclear power plants. The technical program began in early 1981 and was completed by 1984. IDCOR cam to three primary technical conclusions and one major policy conclusion. First, the probabilities of severe nuclear accidents occurring are extremely low. Second, the fission product source terms--quantities and types of radioactive material released in the event of severe accidents--are likely to be much less than had been calculated in previous studies. Third, the risks and consequence’s to the public of severe nuclear accidents are significantly below those predicted by previous studies and are much smaller than the risk levels incorporated in the NRC interim safety goals. From a policy standpoint, IDCOR concluded that major design or operational changes in reactors are not warranted. To maintain an industry presence with the NRC to close open technical issues and assure appropriate industry input into the NRC decision processes. To deomonstrate generic applicability of IDCOR results and support the development of an integrated approach for individual plant examinations. To use IDCOR results and other information to improve the source terms used in regulatory nuclear plants and to improve emergency planning.