ABSTRACIPacific Northwest Laboratory conducted a study to evaluate alternatives to the design and operation of nuclear power plants, emphasizing a reduction of their vulnerability to sabotage. Estimates of core melt accident frequency during normal operations and from sabotage/tampering events were used to rank the alternatives. Core melt frequency for normal operations was estimated using sensitivity analysis of results of probabilistic risk assessments. Core melt frequency for sabotage/tampering was estimated by developing a model based on probabilistic risk analyses, historic data, engineering judgment, and safeguards analyses of plant locations where core melt events could be initiated. Results indicate the most effective alternatives focus on large areas of the plant, increase safety system redundancy, and reduce reliance on single locations for mitigation of transients. Less effective options focus on specific areas of the plant, reduce reliance on some plant areas for safe shutdown, and focus on less vulnerable targets. ; i i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) has conducted a study that evaluates alternatives to the basic design of nuclear power plants, based on reducing plant vulnerability to sabotage. This study was completed for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRCl in support of Generic Safety Issue A-29. Nuclear Power Plant Design for the Reduction of Vulnerability to Sabotage
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