80 FR 21658 - Alternate Risk-Informed Approach for Addressing the Effects of Debris on Post-Accident Long-Term Core Cooling

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 75 (April 20, 2015)

Page Range		21658-21659
FR Document		2015-08964

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1322, ``Alternate Risk- Informed Approach for Addressing the Effects of Debris On Post-Accident Long-Term Core Cooling.'' This DG proposes new guidance that describes methods and procedures that the NRC staff considers acceptable for complying with a voluntary, risk-informed alternative in a proposed revision of the NRC's regulation governing the design of emergency core cooling systems (ECCS).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21658-21659]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08964]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 21658]]



NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Parts 50 and 52

[NRC-2015-0095]
RIN 3150-AH42


Alternate Risk-Informed Approach for Addressing the Effects of 
Debris on Post-Accident Long-Term Core Cooling

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for 
public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1322, ``Alternate Risk-
Informed Approach for Addressing the Effects of Debris On Post-Accident 
Long-Term Core Cooling.'' This DG proposes new guidance that describes 
methods and procedures that the NRC staff considers acceptable for 
complying with a voluntary, risk-informed alternative in a proposed 
revision of the NRC's regulation governing the design of emergency core 
cooling systems (ECCS).

DATES: Submit comments by July 6, 2015. Comments received after this 
date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is 
able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date. Although a time limit is given, comments and suggestions in 
connection with items for inclusion in guides currently being developed 
or improvements in all published guides are encouraged at any time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(unless this document describes a different method for submitting 
comments on a specified subject):
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0095. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individual(s) listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this document.
     Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, 
Mail Stop: OWFN-12H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001.
    For additional direction on accessing information and submitting 
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven A. Laur, telephone: 301-415-
1465, email: Steven.Laur@nrc.gov, and Steve Burton, telephone: 301-415-
7000, email: Stephen.Burton@nrc.gov. Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0095 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information regarding this document. You may 
obtain publically-available information related to this document by any 
of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0095.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and 
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, 
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it available in 
ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. The DG 
is electronically available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML15023A025.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2015-0095 in the subject line of your 
comment submission, in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make 
your comment submission available to the public in this docket.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC posts all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as entering the comment submissions into 
ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove 
identifying or contact information.
    If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons 
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to 
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should 
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove such information before making the comment submissions available 
to the public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS.

II. Additional Information

    The NRC is issuing for public comment a DG in the NRC's 
``Regulatory Guide'' series. This series was developed to describe and 
make available to the public information regarding methods that are 
acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing specific parts of the 
NRC's regulations, techniques that the staff uses in evaluating 
specific problems or postulated accidents, and data that the staff 
needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses.
    The DG, entitled, ``Alternate Risk-Informed Approach for Addressing 
the Effects of Debris On Post-Accident Long-Term Core Cooling,'' is a 
proposed new guide temporarily identified by its task number, DG-1322. 
This DG-1322 proposes new guidance that describes methods and 
procedures that the staff considers acceptable for complying with a 
voluntary, risk-informed alternative in a proposed revision of the 
NRC's regulation governing the design of ECCS, section 50.46c of Title 
10 of the

[[Page 21659]]

Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Emergency core cooling system 
performance during loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCA),'' with respect to 
the effects of debris during long-term cooling.
    The voluntary alternative was included in the proposed 10 CFR 
50.46c rule at the direction of the Commission in the Staff 
Requirements Memorandum (SRM) regarding SECY-12-0093 ``Closure Options 
for Generic Safety Issue--191, Assessment of Debris Accumulation on 
Pressurized-Water Reactor Sump Performance,'' and in the SRM regarding 
SECY-12-0034 ``Proposed Rulemaking--10 CFR 50.46c: Emergency Core 
Cooling System Performance During Loss-of-Coolant Accidents (RIN 3150-
AH42).'' This guide is intended to provide a consistent approach for 
licensees to use when performing a risk assessment of the complex 
phenomena associated with debris generation and transport, and the 
resulting effect on long-term core cooling.

III. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    This DG, if finalized, would not constitute backfitting as defined 
in Sec.  50.109 (the Backfit Rule), and would not be otherwise 
inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in 10 CFR part 52, 
``Licenses, Certifications and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.'' 
The NRC published a proposed revision of 10 CFR 50.46c on March 24, 
2014 (79 FR 16106). The proposed rule includes the option of allowing 
an applicant or licensee to address the effects of debris on longterm 
cooling with respect to ECCS performance requirements in Sec.  50.46c 
and GDC-35 using a risk-informed approach. The proposed rule would also 
allow applicants and licensees who select the option to use the same 
approach in demonstrating compliance with GDC-38 and GDC-41. This DG 
provides guidance on one possible means for implementing that option. 
The proposed guidance does not exceed the scope of the proposed rule. 
Therefore, the backfitting and issue finality discussion for the 
proposed rule applies to this DG, and further consideration and 
discussion of backfitting and issue finality for the DG is not 
necessary.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of April 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Harriet Karagiannis,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch, Division 
of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2015-08964 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules 21659

Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. • Hand Delivery/Courier: Bernadette
‘‘Emergency core cooling system Harriet Karagiannis, Wilson, Acting Executive Officer,
performance during loss-of-coolant Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Executive Secretariat, Equal
accidents (LOCA),’’ with respect to the Generic Issues Branch, Division of Employment Opportunity Commission,
effects of debris during long-term Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Research. Commission, 131 M Street NE.,
cooling.
[FR Doc. 2015–08964 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am] Washington, DC 20507.
The voluntary alternative was
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P Instructions: The Commission invites
included in the proposed 10 CFR 50.46c comments from all interested parties.
rule at the direction of the Commission All comment submissions must include
in the Staff Requirements Memorandum the agency name and docket number or
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
(SRM) regarding SECY–12–0093 the Regulatory Information Number
COMMISSION
‘‘Closure Options for Generic Safety (RIN) for this rulemaking. Comments
Issue—191, Assessment of Debris 29 CFR Part 1630 need be submitted in only one of the
Accumulation on Pressurized-Water above-listed formats. All comments
Reactor Sump Performance,’’ and in the RIN 3046–AB01
received will be posted without change
SRM regarding SECY–12–0034 Amendments to Regulations Under the to http://www.regulations.gov, including
‘‘Proposed Rulemaking—10 CFR 50.46c: Americans With Disabilities Act any personal information you provide.
Emergency Core Cooling System Docket: For access to the docket to
Performance During Loss-of-Coolant AGENCY: Equal Employment read background documents or
Accidents (RIN 3150–AH42).’’ This Opportunity Commission. comments received, go to http://
guide is intended to provide a ACTION: Proposed rule. www.regulations.gov. Copies of the
consistent approach for licensees to use received comments also will be
when performing a risk assessment of SUMMARY: The Equal Employment available for review at the Commission’s
the complex phenomena associated Opportunity Commission (‘‘EEOC’’ or library, 131 M Street NE., Suite
with debris generation and transport, ‘‘Commission’’) is issuing a proposed 4NW08R, Washington, DC 20507,
rule that would amend the regulations between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:00
and the resulting effect on long-term
and interpretive guidance implementing p.m., from June 19, 2015 until the
core cooling.
Title I of the Americans with Commission publishes the rule in final
III. Backfitting and Issue Finality Disabilities Act (ADA) as they relate to form.
employer wellness programs. The FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
This DG, if finalized, would not proposed rule amends the ADA Christopher J. Kuczynski, Assistant
constitute backfitting as defined in regulations to provide guidance on the Legal Counsel, (202) 663–4665, or Joyce
§ 50.109 (the Backfit Rule), and would extent to which employers may use Walker-Jones, Senior Attorney Advisor,
not be otherwise inconsistent with the incentives to encourage employees to at (202) 663–7031, or (202) 663–7026
issue finality provisions in 10 CFR part participate in wellness programs that (TTY), Office of Legal Counsel, U.S.
52, ‘‘Licenses, Certifications and include disability-related inquiries and/ Equal Employment Opportunity
Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.’’ or medical examinations. Commission. (These are not toll free
The NRC published a proposed revision DATES: Comments regarding this numbers.) Requests for this notice in an
of 10 CFR 50.46c on March 24, 2014 (79 proposal must be received by the alternative format should be made to the
FR 16106). The proposed rule includes Commission on or before June 19, 2015. Office of Communications and
the option of allowing an applicant or Please see the sections below entitled Legislative Affairs at (202) 663–4191
licensee to address the effects of debris ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY (voice) or (202) 663–4494 (TTY). (These
on longterm cooling with respect to INFORMATION for additional information are not toll free numbers.)
ECCS performance requirements in on submitting comments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
§ 50.46c and GDC–35 using a risk- ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
informed approach. The proposed rule identified by RIN number 3046–AB01, Introduction
would also allow applicants and by any of the following methods: The Equal Employment Opportunity
licensees who select the option to use • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Commission (‘‘EEOC’’ or
the same approach in demonstrating www.regulations.gov. Follow the ‘‘Commission’’) is issuing a proposed
compliance with GDC–38 and GDC–41. instructions for submitting comments. rule that would amend the regulations
This DG provides guidance on one • Fax: (202) 663–4114. (There is no and interpretive guidance implementing
possible means for implementing that toll free FAX number). Only comments Title I of the Americans with
option. The proposed guidance does not of six or fewer pages will be accepted Disabilities Act (ADA) as they relate to
exceed the scope of the proposed rule. via FAX transmittal, in order to assure employer wellness programs. Congress
Therefore, the backfitting and issue access to the equipment. Receipt of FAX enacted the ADA in 1990 to prohibit
finality discussion for the proposed rule transmittals will not be acknowledged, discrimination against individuals with
except that the sender may request disabilities. The EEOC issued
applies to this DG, and further
confirmation of receipt by calling the implementing regulations in 1991 to
consideration and discussion of
Executive Secretariat staff at (202) 663–
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

backfitting and issue finality for the DG provide additional guidance on the
4070 (voice) or (202) 663–4074 (TTY). law’s requirements and prohibited
is not necessary. (These are not toll free numbers). practices with respect to employment.1
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day • Mail: Bernadette B. Wilson, Acting
of April 2015. Executive Officer, Executive Secretariat, 1 The citations in this proposed rule are to the

Equal Employment Opportunity 2011 regulations. In 2011, EEOC issued amended
regulations to revise the definition of disability and
Commission, U.S. Equal Employment other provisions to conform to changes to the ADA
Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street made by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, but
NE., Washington, DC 20507. Continued

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Apr 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\20APP1.SGM 20APP1

Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:13:11
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:13:11

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Draft regulatory guide; request for comment.
Dates		Submit comments by July 6, 2015. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. Although a time limit is given, comments and suggestions in connection with items for inclusion in guides currently being developed or improvements in all published guides are encouraged at any time.
Contact		Steven A. Laur, telephone: 301-415- 1465, email: [email protected], and Steve Burton, telephone: 301-415- 7000, email: [email protected] Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
FR Citation		80 FR 21658
RIN Number		3150-AH42
CFR Citation		10 CFR 50 10 CFR 52