80_FR_27282 80 FR 27191 - Evaluation of a Proposed Risk Management Regulatory Framework

80 FR 27191 - Evaluation of a Proposed Risk Management Regulatory Framework

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 91 (May 12, 2015)

Page Range27191-27193
FR Document2015-11454

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comment on a draft document entitled, ``NRC Staff White Paper on Options for Responding to the June 14, 2012 Chairman's Tasking Memorandum on `Evaluating Options Proposed for a More Holistic Risk- Informed, Performance-Based Regulatory Approach' '' (hereinafter referred to as NRC Staff White Paper). The draft NRC Staff White Paper discusses three items that the NRC staff expects to present to the Commission for its consideration: Options for enhancing the risk management approach used to ensure nuclear power reactor safety; re- evaluations of two ``improvement activities'' from Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendation 1 that the Commission deferred; and consideration of an over-arching, agencywide policy statement on using the risk management approach to ensure safety and security.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27191-27193]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11454]


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

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2013-0254]


Evaluation of a Proposed Risk Management Regulatory Framework

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft white paper; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public 
comment on a draft document entitled, ``NRC Staff White Paper on 
Options for Responding to the June 14, 2012 Chairman's Tasking 
Memorandum on `Evaluating Options Proposed for a More Holistic Risk-
Informed, Performance-Based Regulatory Approach' '' (hereinafter 
referred to as NRC Staff White Paper). The draft NRC Staff White Paper 
discusses three items that the NRC staff expects to present to the 
Commission for its consideration: Options for enhancing the risk 
management approach used to ensure nuclear power reactor safety; re-
evaluations of two ``improvement activities'' from Fukushima Near-Term 
Task Force Recommendation 1 that the Commission deferred; and 
consideration of an over-arching, agencywide policy statement on using 
the risk management approach to ensure safety and security.

DATES: Submit comments by June 11, 2015. Comments received after this 
date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC staff 
is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date. Although the NRC staff will consider all timely comments, 
the NRC does not intend to prepare detailed comment responses.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comment by any of the following methods 
(unless this document describes a different method for submitting 
comments on a specific subject):
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2013-0254. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, 
Mail Stop: OWFN-12-H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001.
    For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting 
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard F. Dudley, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1116; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2013-0254 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain 
publicly-available information related to this action by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2013-0254.
     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 [email protected]. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available 
in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
     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-2013-0254 in the subject line of your 
comment submission.
    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 will post all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enter 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.

[[Page 27192]]

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. Background

    In early 2011, the NRC formed a Risk Management Task Force (RMTF) 
to evaluate how the agency should be regulating 10 to 15 years in the 
future. More specifically, the RMTF was chartered ``to develop a 
strategic vision and options for adopting a more comprehensive and 
holistic risk-informed, performance-based regulatory approach for 
reactors, materials, waste, fuel cycle, and transportation that would 
continue to ensure the safe and secure use of nuclear material.'' The 
task force report, NUREG-2150, ``A Proposed Risk Management Regulatory 
Framework'' (ADAMS Accession No. ML12109A277), was published in April 
2012. The report provides findings and recommendations in two 
categories. The first category addresses strategic, agencywide issues, 
recommending that ``[t]he NRC should formally adopt the proposed Risk 
Management Regulatory Framework through a Commission Policy 
Statement.'' The second category addresses what changes could be made 
in specific regulatory program areas (power reactors, nuclear 
materials, etc.) in the next several years to support implementation of 
the risk management regulatory framework.
    On June 14, 2012, the NRC Chairman issued a tasking memorandum, 
``Evaluating Options Proposed for a More Holistic Risk-Informed, 
Performance-Based Regulatory Approach'' (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML121660102), directing the NRC staff to ``. . . review NUREG-2150 and 
provide a paper to the Commission that would identify options and make 
recommendations, including the potential development of a Commission 
policy statement.''
    In response to this direction, the NRC staff prepared a draft NRC 
Staff White Paper (ADAMS Accession No. ML15107A402) that discusses 
three items it expects to present to the Commission for its 
consideration. The following discussion briefly describes these three 
items.
    Item 1: Three options for enhancing the risk management approach 
used to ensure nuclear power reactor safety.
    The NRC staff formed a working group to review NUREG-2150 and make 
recommendations to the Commission regarding possible implementation of 
an agencywide Risk Management Regulatory Framework (RMRF). The staff's 
evaluation determined that the existing Policy Statements on ``Safety 
Goals for the Operation of Nuclear Power Plants'' (51 FR 30028; August 
21, 1986), and ``Use of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methods in 
Nuclear Regulatory Activities'' (60 FR 42622; August 16, 1995), in 
concert with increasing experience with risk-informed regulation and 
integrated risk-informed decision making processes, have already 
established a de-facto RMRF for the nuclear power reactor safety 
program area. Furthermore, the existing risk-informed regulatory 
guidance, risk tools, and risk information provide a sufficient 
foundation to allow the NRC staff to proceed with recommending specific 
risk management implementation options for nuclear power reactor 
safety. Therefore, to obtain Commission direction on whether the 
current risk-informed regulatory approach for nuclear power reactor 
safety should be enhanced, the NRC staff intends to provide the 
Commission with an RMRF paper that includes three specific options for 
increasing the use of risk information. These options are discussed in 
Section I of the NRC Staff White Paper. The NRC staff is seeking public 
comments on these options for enhancing the risk management approach 
for nuclear power reactor safety.
    Item 2: Re-evaluations of two ``improvement activities'' from 
Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendation 1 that the Commission 
deferred.
    On March 11, 2011, the Great Tohoku Earthquake off the coast of 
Japan caused a series of events that led to core damage at three of the 
six nuclear power reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi site. The NRC 
established a senior-level agency task force, referred to as the Near 
Term Task Force (NTTF), to conduct a review of the NRC's processes and 
regulations to determine whether the agency should make additional 
improvements to its regulatory system and to make recommendations to 
the Commission for its policy direction. The NTTF issued its report on 
July 12, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML111861807), as an enclosure to 
Commission Paper, SECY-11-0093, ``Near-Term Report and Recommendations 
for Agency Actions Following the Events in Japan'' (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML11186A959). The NTTF developed 12 overarching recommendations for 
nuclear power reactors. Recommendation 1 was to establish a ``logical, 
systematic, and coherent regulatory framework for adequate protection 
that appropriately balances defense-in-depth and risk considerations.'' 
The June 14, 2012, tasking memorandum on the RMTF report also directed 
the NRC staff to consider, when developing options for the disposition 
of NTTF Recommendation 1, the regulatory framework recommendations for 
nuclear power reactors in the RMTF report. The NRC staff provided its 
evaluation of NTTF Recommendation 1 and the RMTF report recommendations 
related to nuclear power reactors on December 6, 2013, in SECY-13-0132, 
``U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff Recommendation for the 
Disposition of Recommendation 1 of the Near-Term Task Force Report'' 
(ADAMS Package Accession No. ML13277A413). In its staff requirements 
memorandum (SRM) for SECY-13-0132 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14139A104), 
the Commission closed NTTF Recommendation 1. The Commission directed 
the NRC staff to reevaluate the objectives of the staff's proposed 
Improvement Activity 1 (establish new design-basis extension category) 
and Improvement Activity 2 (establish Commission expectations for 
defense-in-depth) ``in the context of the Commission direction on a 
long-term Risk Management Regulatory Framework (RMRF). . . .'' The NRC 
staff believes that these two improvement activities are key elements 
involved in evaluating an RMRF for nuclear power reactors as described 
in NUREG-2150. Therefore, the NRC staff has reevaluated these 
improvement activities and provides recommendations for how Improvement 
Activities 1 and 2 could be addressed under each of the three RMRF 
nuclear power reactor implementation options discussed in Item 1. These 
proposed activities are discussed in Section II of the draft NRC Staff 
White Paper. The NRC staff is seeking public comments on these proposed 
regulatory framework improvement activities for nuclear power reactor 
safety.
    Item 3: Consideration of an over-arching, agencywide policy 
statement on using the risk management approach to ensure safety and 
security.
    Early in its review of NUREG-2150, the NRC staff determined that it 
would provide an example of a conceptual RMRF policy statement for 
Commission consideration. The RMRF working group drafted a conceptual 
example of a policy statement and made it publicly available in ADAMS 
under Accession No. ML13273A517. The NRC staff then published a notice 
in the Federal Register on November 25, 2013 (78 FR 70354), requesting 
public comments on the document (ADAMS Accession No.

[[Page 27193]]

ML13273A493). The NRC staff held public meetings on June 5, 2013 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML13197A216), and January 30, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML14064A550). Public comments were accepted and are available at the 
Federal rulemaking Web site (www.regulations.gov) under Docket ID NRC-
2013-0254. The public comments that were received on the draft 
conceptual agencywide policy statement varied greatly. The NRC staff's 
overall assessment was that the comments indicated a need to revise the 
staff's approach. The NRC staff is now seeking public comments on a 
revised policy statement approach as described in Section III of the 
draft NRC Staff White Paper.

III. Opportunity for Public Comment

    The NRC staff notes that the draft NRC Staff White Paper represents 
work in progress; the information may be modified before the NRC staff 
provides its recommendation to the Commission for a decision, as a 
result of internal NRC review and/or consideration of public comments 
received. The NRC staff will review and consider all timely comments 
received on the draft NRC Staff White Paper, but the staff does not 
intend to provide detailed comment responses for all comments received. 
Should the Commission proceed with these initiatives, the public will 
be afforded opportunity to provide formal comment to the NRC through 
the rulemaking or policy statement development process.
    Persons interested in monitoring this activity can do so by 
searching for Docket ID NRC-2013-0254 on the Federal Rulemaking Web 
site at https://www.regulations.gov. The Federal Rulemaking Web site 
allows you to receive alerts when changes or additions occur in a 
docket folder. To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the docket folder (NRC-
2013-0254); (2) click the ``Email Alert'' link; and (3) enter your 
email address and select how frequently you would like to receive 
emails (daily, weekly, or monthly).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of May, 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lawrence E. Kokajko,
Director, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2015-11454 Filed 5-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P



                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 91 / Tuesday, May 12, 2015 / Notices                                                     27191

                                                                                                                                                                                                        ADAMS
                                                                                                                    Document                                                                         Accession No.

                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Submittal of Supplement to Combined License Application ‘‘Safeguards Information,’’ Part                       ML102010268
                                                    8, Revision 3, July 15, 2010.
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 4, October 5, 2010 ................................................     ML102861292
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Submittal of Supplement to Combined License Application ‘‘Safeguards Information,’’ Part                       ML110400425
                                                    8, Revision 4, February 3, 2011.
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Update to Change in Lead Applicant, January 19, 2011 .......................................................   ML110250369
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 5, January 26, 2011 ..............................................      ML110340451
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Submittal of Supplement to Combined License Application ‘‘Safeguards Information,’’ Part                       ML11243A171
                                                    8, Revision 5, August 30, 2011.
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 6, August 30, 2011 ...............................................      ML11252A505
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 7, February 1, 2012 ..............................................      ML12048A714
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 8, September 17, 2012 .........................................         ML12291A415
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 9, April 17, 2013 ...................................................   ML13115A094
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 10, October 29, 2013 ............................................       ML13310A599
                                                  South Texas Project, Units 3 and 4, Combined License Application, Revision 11, October 21, 2014 ............................................       ML14307A876



                                                    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day            consideration only for comments                           • Federal rulemaking Web site: Go to
                                                  of May 2015.                                            received on or before this date.                       http://www.regulations.gov and search
                                                    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                Although the NRC staff will consider all               for Docket ID NRC–2013–0254.
                                                  Samuel Lee,                                             timely comments, the NRC does not                         • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
                                                  Chief, Licensing Branch 2, Division of New              intend to prepare detailed comment                     Access and Management System
                                                  Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors.              responses.                                             (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–11549 Filed 5–11–15; 8:45 am]             ADDRESSES: You may submit comment                      available documents online in the
                                                  BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                  by any of the following methods (unless                ADAMS Public Documents collection at
                                                                                                          this document describes a different                    http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
                                                                                                          method for submitting comments on a                    adams.html. To begin the search, select
                                                  NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                      specific subject):                                     ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
                                                  COMMISSION                                                • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to                 select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
                                                                                                          http://www.regulations.gov and search                  Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
                                                  [NRC–2013–0254]
                                                                                                          for Docket ID NRC–2013–0254. Address                   please contact the NRC’s Public
                                                  Evaluation of a Proposed Risk                           questions about NRC dockets to Carol                   Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
                                                  Management Regulatory Framework                         Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;                    1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
                                                                                                          email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For                    email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
                                                  AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory                                                                                     ADAMS accession number for each
                                                                                                          technical questions, contact the
                                                  Commission.                                                                                                    document referenced (if it is available in
                                                                                                          individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
                                                  ACTION: Draft white paper; request for                                                                         ADAMS) is provided the first time that
                                                                                                          INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
                                                  comment.                                                document.                                              it is mentioned in the SUPPLEMENTARY
                                                  SUMMARY:    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                   • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,                    INFORMATION section.
                                                                                                          Office of Administration, Mail Stop:                      • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                                  Commission (NRC) is seeking public                                                                             purchase copies of public documents at
                                                  comment on a draft document entitled,                   OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear
                                                                                                          Regulatory Commission, Washington,                     the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
                                                  ‘‘NRC Staff White Paper on Options for                                                                         White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                                  Responding to the June 14, 2012                         DC 20555–0001.
                                                                                                            For additional direction on obtaining                Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                                                  Chairman’s Tasking Memorandum on
                                                  ‘Evaluating Options Proposed for a More                 information and submitting comments,                   B. Submitting Comments
                                                  Holistic Risk-Informed, Performance-                    see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
                                                                                                          Submitting Comments’’ in the                             Please include Docket ID NRC–2013–
                                                  Based Regulatory Approach’ ’’                                                                                  0254 in the subject line of your
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
                                                  (hereinafter referred to as NRC Staff                                                                          comment submission.
                                                  White Paper). The draft NRC Staff White                 this document.
                                                                                                                                                                   The NRC cautions you not to include
                                                  Paper discusses three items that the                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                                 identifying or contact information that
                                                  NRC staff expects to present to the                     Richard F. Dudley, Office of Nuclear
                                                                                                                                                                 you do not want to be publicly
                                                  Commission for its consideration:                       Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear
                                                                                                                                                                 disclosed in your comment submission.
                                                  Options for enhancing the risk                          Regulatory Commission, Washington,
                                                                                                                                                                 The NRC will post all comment
                                                  management approach used to ensure                      DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
                                                                                                                                                                 submissions at http://
                                                  nuclear power reactor safety; re-                       1116; email: Richard.Dudley@nrc.gov.
                                                                                                                                                                 www.regulations.gov as well as enter the
                                                  evaluations of two ‘‘improvement                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             comment submissions into ADAMS.
                                                  activities’’ from Fukushima Near-Term                   I. Obtaining Information and                           The NRC does not routinely edit
                                                  Task Force Recommendation 1 that the                    Submitting Comments                                    comment submissions to remove
                                                  Commission deferred; and consideration
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                                                                                                                                                                 identifying or contact information.
                                                  of an over-arching, agencywide policy                   A. Obtaining Information                                 If you are requesting or aggregating
                                                  statement on using the risk management                    Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2013–                  comments from other persons for
                                                  approach to ensure safety and security.                 0254 when contacting the NRC about                     submission to the NRC, then you should
                                                  DATES: Submit comments by June 11,                      the availability of information for this               inform those persons not to include
                                                  2015. Comments received after this date                 action. You may obtain publicly-                       identifying or contact information that
                                                  will be considered if it is practical to do             available information related to this                  they do not want to be publicly
                                                  so, but the NRC staff is able to assure                 action by any of the following methods:                disclosed in their comment submission.


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                                                  27192                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 91 / Tuesday, May 12, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Your request should state that the NRC                  Regulatory Framework (RMRF). The                      balances defense-in-depth and risk
                                                  does not routinely edit comment                         staff’s evaluation determined that the                considerations.’’ The June 14, 2012,
                                                  submissions to remove such information                  existing Policy Statements on ‘‘Safety                tasking memorandum on the RMTF
                                                  before making the comment                               Goals for the Operation of Nuclear                    report also directed the NRC staff to
                                                  submissions available to the public or                  Power Plants’’ (51 FR 30028; August 21,               consider, when developing options for
                                                  entering the comment submissions into                   1986), and ‘‘Use of Probabilistic Risk                the disposition of NTTF
                                                  ADAMS.                                                  Assessment Methods in Nuclear                         Recommendation 1, the regulatory
                                                                                                          Regulatory Activities’’ (60 FR 42622;                 framework recommendations for
                                                  II. Background
                                                                                                          August 16, 1995), in concert with                     nuclear power reactors in the RMTF
                                                     In early 2011, the NRC formed a Risk                 increasing experience with risk-                      report. The NRC staff provided its
                                                  Management Task Force (RMTF) to                         informed regulation and integrated risk-              evaluation of NTTF Recommendation 1
                                                  evaluate how the agency should be                       informed decision making processes,                   and the RMTF report recommendations
                                                  regulating 10 to 15 years in the future.                have already established a de-facto                   related to nuclear power reactors on
                                                  More specifically, the RMTF was                         RMRF for the nuclear power reactor                    December 6, 2013, in SECY–13–0132,
                                                  chartered ‘‘to develop a strategic vision               safety program area. Furthermore, the                 ‘‘U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
                                                  and options for adopting a more                         existing risk-informed regulatory                     Staff Recommendation for the
                                                  comprehensive and holistic risk-                        guidance, risk tools, and risk                        Disposition of Recommendation 1 of the
                                                  informed, performance-based regulatory                  information provide a sufficient                      Near-Term Task Force Report’’ (ADAMS
                                                  approach for reactors, materials, waste,                foundation to allow the NRC staff to                  Package Accession No. ML13277A413).
                                                  fuel cycle, and transportation that                     proceed with recommending specific                    In its staff requirements memorandum
                                                  would continue to ensure the safe and                   risk management implementation                        (SRM) for SECY–13–0132 (ADAMS
                                                  secure use of nuclear material.’’ The                   options for nuclear power reactor safety.             Accession No. ML14139A104), the
                                                  task force report, NUREG–2150, ‘‘A                      Therefore, to obtain Commission                       Commission closed NTTF
                                                  Proposed Risk Management Regulatory                     direction on whether the current risk-                Recommendation 1. The Commission
                                                  Framework’’ (ADAMS Accession No.                        informed regulatory approach for                      directed the NRC staff to reevaluate the
                                                  ML12109A277), was published in April                    nuclear power reactor safety should be                objectives of the staff’s proposed
                                                  2012. The report provides findings and                  enhanced, the NRC staff intends to                    Improvement Activity 1 (establish new
                                                  recommendations in two categories. The                  provide the Commission with an RMRF                   design-basis extension category) and
                                                  first category addresses strategic,                     paper that includes three specific                    Improvement Activity 2 (establish
                                                  agencywide issues, recommending that                    options for increasing the use of risk                Commission expectations for defense-
                                                  ‘‘[t]he NRC should formally adopt the                   information. These options are                        in-depth) ‘‘in the context of the
                                                  proposed Risk Management Regulatory                     discussed in Section I of the NRC Staff               Commission direction on a long-term
                                                  Framework through a Commission                          White Paper. The NRC staff is seeking                 Risk Management Regulatory
                                                  Policy Statement.’’ The second category                 public comments on these options for                  Framework (RMRF). . . .’’ The NRC
                                                  addresses what changes could be made                    enhancing the risk management                         staff believes that these two
                                                  in specific regulatory program areas                    approach for nuclear power reactor                    improvement activities are key elements
                                                  (power reactors, nuclear materials, etc.)               safety.                                               involved in evaluating an RMRF for
                                                  in the next several years to support                       Item 2: Re-evaluations of two                      nuclear power reactors as described in
                                                  implementation of the risk management                   ‘‘improvement activities’’ from                       NUREG–2150. Therefore, the NRC staff
                                                  regulatory framework.                                   Fukushima Near-Term Task Force                        has reevaluated these improvement
                                                     On June 14, 2012, the NRC Chairman                   Recommendation 1 that the Commission                  activities and provides
                                                  issued a tasking memorandum,                            deferred.                                             recommendations for how Improvement
                                                  ‘‘Evaluating Options Proposed for a                        On March 11, 2011, the Great Tohoku                Activities 1 and 2 could be addressed
                                                  More Holistic Risk-Informed,                            Earthquake off the coast of Japan caused              under each of the three RMRF nuclear
                                                  Performance-Based Regulatory                            a series of events that led to core                   power reactor implementation options
                                                  Approach’’ (ADAMS Accession No.                         damage at three of the six nuclear power              discussed in Item 1. These proposed
                                                  ML121660102), directing the NRC staff                   reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi site.              activities are discussed in Section II of
                                                  to ‘‘. . . review NUREG–2150 and                        The NRC established a senior-level                    the draft NRC Staff White Paper. The
                                                  provide a paper to the Commission that                  agency task force, referred to as the Near            NRC staff is seeking public comments
                                                  would identify options and make                         Term Task Force (NTTF), to conduct a                  on these proposed regulatory framework
                                                  recommendations, including the                          review of the NRC’s processes and                     improvement activities for nuclear
                                                  potential development of a Commission                   regulations to determine whether the                  power reactor safety.
                                                  policy statement.’’                                     agency should make additional                            Item 3: Consideration of an over-
                                                     In response to this direction, the NRC               improvements to its regulatory system                 arching, agencywide policy statement
                                                  staff prepared a draft NRC Staff White                  and to make recommendations to the                    on using the risk management approach
                                                  Paper (ADAMS Accession No.                              Commission for its policy direction. The              to ensure safety and security.
                                                  ML15107A402) that discusses three                       NTTF issued its report on July 12, 2011                  Early in its review of NUREG–2150,
                                                  items it expects to present to the                      (ADAMS Accession No. ML111861807),                    the NRC staff determined that it would
                                                  Commission for its consideration. The                   as an enclosure to Commission Paper,                  provide an example of a conceptual
                                                  following discussion briefly describes                  SECY–11–0093, ‘‘Near-Term Report and                  RMRF policy statement for Commission
                                                  these three items.                                      Recommendations for Agency Actions                    consideration. The RMRF working
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                                                     Item 1: Three options for enhancing                  Following the Events in Japan’’                       group drafted a conceptual example of
                                                  the risk management approach used to                    (ADAMS Accession No. ML11186A959).                    a policy statement and made it publicly
                                                  ensure nuclear power reactor safety.                    The NTTF developed 12 overarching                     available in ADAMS under Accession
                                                     The NRC staff formed a working                       recommendations for nuclear power                     No. ML13273A517. The NRC staff then
                                                  group to review NUREG–2150 and make                     reactors. Recommendation 1 was to                     published a notice in the Federal
                                                  recommendations to the Commission                       establish a ‘‘logical, systematic, and                Register on November 25, 2013 (78 FR
                                                  regarding possible implementation of an                 coherent regulatory framework for                     70354), requesting public comments on
                                                  agencywide Risk Management                              adequate protection that appropriately                the document (ADAMS Accession No.


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 91 / Tuesday, May 12, 2015 / Notices                                             27193

                                                  ML13273A493). The NRC staff held                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                    Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear
                                                  public meetings on June 5, 2013                         COMMISSION                                            Regulatory Commission, Washington,
                                                  (ADAMS Accession No. ML13197A216),                                                                            DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
                                                                                                          [NRC–2015–0117]
                                                  and January 30, 2014 (ADAMS                                                                                   1927, email: Lynn.Ronewicz@nrc.gov.
                                                  Accession No. ML14064A550). Public                      Applications and Amendments to                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  comments were accepted and are                          Facility Operating Licenses and                       I. Obtaining Information and
                                                  available at the Federal rulemaking Web                 Combined Licenses Involving No                        Submitting Comments
                                                  site (www.regulations.gov) under Docket                 Significant Hazards Considerations
                                                  ID NRC–2013–0254. The public                                                                                  A. Obtaining Information
                                                                                                          AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory
                                                  comments that were received on the                                                                               Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2015–
                                                                                                          Commission.
                                                  draft conceptual agencywide policy                                                                            0117 when contacting the NRC about
                                                  statement varied greatly. The NRC staff’s               ACTION: Biweekly notice.
                                                                                                                                                                the availability of information for this
                                                  overall assessment was that the                         SUMMARY:   Pursuant to Section 189a. (2)              action. You may obtain publicly-
                                                  comments indicated a need to revise the                 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as                  available information related to this
                                                  staff’s approach. The NRC staff is now                  amended (the Act), the U.S. Nuclear                   action by any of the following methods:
                                                  seeking public comments on a revised                    Regulatory Commission (NRC) is                           • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
                                                  policy statement approach as described                  publishing this regular biweekly notice.              http://www.regulations.gov and search
                                                  in Section III of the draft NRC Staff                   The Act requires the Commission to                    for Docket ID NRC–2015–0117.
                                                  White Paper.                                            publish notice of any amendments                         • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
                                                                                                          issued, or proposed to be issued and                  Access and Management System
                                                  III. Opportunity for Public Comment                                                                           (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
                                                                                                          grants the Commission the authority to
                                                                                                          issue and make immediately effective                  available documents online in the
                                                     The NRC staff notes that the draft                                                                         ADAMS Public Documents collection at
                                                  NRC Staff White Paper represents work                   any amendment to an operating license
                                                                                                          or combined license, as applicable,                   http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
                                                  in progress; the information may be                                                                           adams.html. To begin the search, select
                                                  modified before the NRC staff provides                  upon a determination by the
                                                                                                          Commission that such amendment                        ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
                                                  its recommendation to the Commission                                                                          select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
                                                                                                          involves no significant hazards
                                                  for a decision, as a result of internal                                                                       Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
                                                                                                          consideration, notwithstanding the
                                                  NRC review and/or consideration of                                                                            please contact the NRC’s Public
                                                                                                          pendency before the Commission of a
                                                  public comments received. The NRC                                                                             Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
                                                                                                          request for a hearing from any person.
                                                  staff will review and consider all timely                  This biweekly notice includes all                  1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
                                                  comments received on the draft NRC                      notices of amendments issued, or                      email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
                                                  Staff White Paper, but the staff does not               proposed to be issued, from April 16,                 ADAMS accession number for each
                                                  intend to provide detailed comment                      2015, to April 29, 2015. The last                     document referenced (if it is available in
                                                  responses for all comments received.                    biweekly notice was published on April                ADAMS) is provided the first time that
                                                  Should the Commission proceed with                      28, 2015.                                             it is mentioned in the SUPPLEMENTARY
                                                  these initiatives, the public will be                                                                         INFORMATION section.
                                                                                                          DATES: Comments must be filed by June
                                                  afforded opportunity to provide formal                                                                           • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                                                                                          11, 2015. A request for a hearing must
                                                  comment to the NRC through the                                                                                purchase copies of public documents at
                                                                                                          be filed by July 13, 2015.
                                                  rulemaking or policy statement                                                                                the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
                                                                                                          ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                    White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                                  development process.                                    by any of the following methods (unless               Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                                                     Persons interested in monitoring this                this document describes a different
                                                  activity can do so by searching for                     method for submitting comments on a                   B. Submitting Comments
                                                  Docket ID NRC–2013–0254 on the                          specific subject):                                      Please include Docket ID NRC–2015–
                                                  Federal Rulemaking Web site at                             • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to               0117, facility name, unit number(s),
                                                  https://www.regulations.gov. The                        http://www.regulations.gov and search                 application date, and subject in your
                                                  Federal Rulemaking Web site allows                      for Docket ID NRC–2015–0117. Address                  comment submission.
                                                  you to receive alerts when changes or                   questions about NRC dockets to Carol                    The NRC cautions you not to include
                                                  additions occur in a docket folder. To                  Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;                   identifying or contact information that
                                                  subscribe: (1) Navigate to the docket                   email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For                   you do not want to be publicly
                                                  folder (NRC–2013–0254); (2) click the                   technical questions, contact the                      disclosed in your comment submission.
                                                  ‘‘Email Alert’’ link; and (3) enter your                individual listed in the FOR FURTHER                  The NRC posts all comment
                                                                                                          INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                   submissions at http://
                                                  email address and select how frequently
                                                                                                          document.                                             www.regulations.gov as well as entering
                                                  you would like to receive emails (daily,
                                                                                                             • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,                  the comment submissions into ADAMS.
                                                  weekly, or monthly).                                    Office of Administration, Mail Stop:                  The NRC does not routinely edit
                                                    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day            OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear                             comment submissions to remove
                                                  of May, 2015.                                           Regulatory Commission, Washington,                    identifying or contact information.
                                                    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                DC 20555–0001.                                          If you are requesting or aggregating
                                                                                                             For additional direction on obtaining
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  Lawrence E. Kokajko,                                                                                          comments from other persons for
                                                                                                          information and submitting comments,                  submission to the NRC, then you should
                                                  Director, Division of Policy and Rulemaking,
                                                  Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
                                                                                                          see ‘‘Obtaining Information and                       inform those persons not to include
                                                                                                          Submitting Comments’’ in the                          identifying or contact information that
                                                  [FR Doc. 2015–11454 Filed 5–11–15; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of                  they do not want to be publicly
                                                  BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                                                                                          this document.                                        disclosed in their comment submission.
                                                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Your request should state that the NRC
                                                                                                          Lynn M. Ronewicz, Office of Nuclear                   does not routinely edit comment


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Document Created: 2015-12-16 07:55:36
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 07:55:36
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionDraft white paper; request for comment.
DatesSubmit comments by June 11, 2015. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC staff is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. Although the NRC staff will consider all timely comments, the NRC does not intend to prepare detailed comment responses.
ContactRichard F. Dudley, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1116; email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 27191 

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