80 FR 37666 - Acceptance of Commercial-Grade Design and Analysis Computer Programs for Nuclear Power Plants
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 126 (July 1, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 126 (July 1, 2015)
| Page Range | 37666-37667 | |
| FR Document | 2015-16131 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 37666-37667] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-16131] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2015-0153] Acceptance of Commercial-Grade Design and Analysis Computer Programs for Nuclear Power Plants 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-1305, ``Acceptance of Commercial-Grade Design and Analysis Computer Programs for Nuclear Power Plants.'' This DG provides new (i.e., not preceded by earlier guidance on the same subject) guidance that describes acceptance methods that the staff of the NRC considers acceptable in meeting regulatory requirements for acceptance and dedication of commercial- grade design and analysis computer programs for nuclear power plants. DATES: Submit comments by August 31, 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-2015-0153. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; email: [email protected]. 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-12-H08, 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: George Lipscomb, Office of New [[Page 37667]] Reactors, 301-415-6838, email: [email protected], or Steve Burton, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 301-415-7000, email: [email protected]. 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-2015-0153 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-2015-0153. 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 available in ADAMS), is provided the first time that a document is referenced. The DG is electronically available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML14119A286. 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-2015-0153 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 will post all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enters 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 issues or postulated events, and data that the staff needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses. The DG, entitled, ``Acceptance of Commercial-Grade Design and Analysis Computer Programs for Nuclear Power Plants,'' is temporarily identified by its task number, DG-1305. This DG provides new guidance that describes acceptance methods that the staff of the NRC considers acceptable in meeting regulatory requirements for acceptance and dedication of commercial-grade design and analysis computer programs for nuclear power plants. II. Backfitting and Issue Finality Draft Guide-1305 describes acceptable methods for meeting the dedication requirements in part 21 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and 10 CFR 50.55(e) with respect to design and analysis computer programs for nuclear power plants. The draft regulatory guide, if finalized, would not constitute backfitting as defined in 10 CFR 50.109 (the Backfit Rule) and is not otherwise inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in 10 CFR part 52, ``Licenses, Certifications and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.'' This regulatory guide, if finalized, represents the first NRC guidance on this subject. Issuance of new guidance, by itself, does not represent backfitting unless the NRC intends to impose the guidance on existing licensees and currently-approved design certification rules issued under part 52. The NRC does not have such an intention. Existing licensees and applicants of final design certification rules will not be required to comply with the positions set forth in this draft regulatory guide, unless the licensee or design certification rule applicant seeks a voluntary change to its licensing basis with respect to safety-related power operated valve actuators, and where the NRC determines that the safety review must include consideration of the qualification of the valve actuators. Further information on the staff's use of the draft regulatory guide, if finalized, is contained in the draft regulatory guide under Section D. Implementation. Applicants and potential applicants are not, with certain exceptions, afforded protection by either the Backfit Rule or any issue finality provisions under part 52. Neither the Backfit Rule nor the issue finality provisions under part 52--with certain exclusions discussed below--were intended to apply to every NRC action which substantially changes the expectations of current and future applicants. Therefore, the positions in any final draft regulatory guide, if imposed on applicants, would not represent backfitting (except as discussed below). The exceptions to the general principle are applicable whenever a combined license applicant references a part 52 license (i.e., an early site permit or a manufacturing license) and/ or part 52 regulatory approval (i.e., a design certification rule or design approval. The staff does not, at this time, intend to impose the positions represented in the draft regulatory guide in a manner that is inconsistent with any issue finality provisions in these part 52 licenses and regulatory approvals. If, in the future, the staff seeks to impose a position in this regulatory guide in a manner which does not provide issue finality as described in the applicable issue finality provision, then the staff must address the criteria for avoiding issue finality as described applicable issue finality provision. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of June, 2015. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Thomas H. Boyce, Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. [FR Doc. 2015-16131 Filed 6-30-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![37666 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 126 / Wednesday, July 1, 2015 / Notices
The NRC invites the following entities contacting the NRC Project Manager, NUCLEAR REGULATORY
to participate in scoping: Michael Wentzel, by telephone at 1– COMMISSION
a. The applicant, PG&E; 800–368–5642, extension 6459, or by
b. Any Federal agency which has [NRC–2015–0153]
email at Michael.Wentzel@nrc.gov, no
jurisdiction by law or special expertise later than July 31, 2015. Members of the Acceptance of Commercial-Grade
with respect to any environmental public may also register to speak at the Design and Analysis Computer
impact involved or which is authorized meeting within 15 minutes of the start Programs for Nuclear Power Plants
to develop and enforce relevant
of each session. Individual oral
environmental standards; AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
c. Affected State and local agencies, comments may be limited by the time
available, depending on the number of Commission.
including those authorized to develop ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request
and enforce relevant environmental persons who register. Members of the
public who have not registered may also for comment.
standards;
d. Any affected Indian tribe; have an opportunity to speak if time SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
e. Any person who has requested an permits. Public comments will be Commission (NRC) is issuing for public
opportunity to participate in the scoping considered in the scoping process for comment draft regulatory guide (DG),
process; and the supplement to the GEIS. Michael DG–1305, ‘‘Acceptance of Commercial-
f. Any person who has petitioned for Wentzel will need to be contacted no Grade Design and Analysis Computer
leave to intervene in the proceeding or later than July 22, 2015, if special Programs for Nuclear Power Plants.’’
who has been admitted as a party to the equipment or accommodations are This DG provides new (i.e., not
proceeding. needed to attend or present information preceded by earlier guidance on the
III. Public Scoping Meeting at the public meeting so that the NRC same subject) guidance that describes
staff can determine whether the request acceptance methods that the staff of the
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.26, the
can be accommodated. NRC considers acceptable in meeting
scoping process for an EIS may include
Participation in the scoping process regulatory requirements for acceptance
a public scoping meeting to help
and dedication of commercial-grade
identify significant issues related to a for the supplement to the GEIS does not
design and analysis computer programs
proposed activity and to determine the entitle participants to become parties to
for nuclear power plants.
scope of issues to be addressed in an the proceeding to which the supplement
EIS. The NRC has decided to hold DATES: Submit comments by August 31,
to the GEIS relates. Matters related to
public meetings for the DCPP license 2015. Comments received after this date
participation in any hearing are outside
renewal supplement to the GEIS. The will be considered if it is practical to do
the scope of matters to be discussed at
scoping meetings will be held on so, but the NRC is able to ensure
this public meeting.
August 5, 2015, and there will be two consideration only for comments
At the conclusion of the scoping received on or before this date.
sessions to accommodate interested
persons. The first session will convene process, the NRC will prepare a concise Although a time limit is given,
at 1:30 p.m. and will continue until 4:30 summary of the determination and comments and suggestions in
p.m., as necessary. The second session conclusions reached; including the connection with items for inclusion in
will convene at 7:00 p.m. with a repeat significant issues identified, and will guides currently being developed or
of the overview portions of the meeting send a copy of the summary to each improvements in all published guides
and will continue until 10:00 p.m., as participant in the scoping process. The are encouraged at any time.
necessary. Both sessions will be held at summary will also be available for ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
the Courtyard by Marriott San Luis inspection in ADAMS and the Federal by any of the following methods (unless
Obispo, 1605 Calle Joaquin Road, San Rulemaking Web site. The NRC staff this document describes a different
Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Both meetings will then prepare and issue for comment method for submitting comments on a
will be transcribed and will include: (1) the draft supplement to the GEIS, which specified subject):
An overview by the NRC staff of the will be the subject of a separate notice • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
NEPA environmental review process, and separate public meetings. Copies http://www.regulations.gov and search
the proposed scope of the supplement to will be available for public inspection at for Docket ID NRC–2015–0153. Address
the GEIS, and the proposed review the addresses listed in the ADDRESSES questions about NRC dockets to Carol
schedule; and (2) the opportunity for section of this Federal Register notice. Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
interested government agencies, After receipt and consideration of the email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
organizations, and individuals to submit comments, the NRC will prepare a final technical questions, contact the
comments or suggestions on the individual(s) listed in the FOR FURTHER
supplement to the GEIS, which will also
environmental issues or the proposed INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
be available for public inspection.
scope of the supplement to the GEIS. document.
Additionally, the NRC staff will host Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,
informal discussions one hour prior to day of June, 2015. Office of Administration, Mail Stop:
the start of each session at the same For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear
location. Written comments on the Brian Wittick, Regulatory Commission, Washington,
proposed scope of the supplement to the Chief, Projects Branch 2, Division of License
DC 20555–0001.
GEIS will be accepted during the Renewal, Office of Nuclear Reactor
For additional direction on accessing
information and submitting comments,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
informal discussions. To be considered, Regulation.
comments must be provided either at see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
[FR Doc. 2015–15921 Filed 6–30–15; 8:45 am]
the transcribed public meetings or in Submitting Comments’’ in the
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
writing, as discussed above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
Persons may register to attend or this document.
present oral comments at the meetings FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
on the scope of the NEPA review by George Lipscomb, Office of New
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 126 / Wednesday, July 1, 2015 / Notices 37667
Reactors, 301–415–6838, email: submission to the NRC, then you should applicant seeks a voluntary change to its
George.Lipscomb@nrc.gov, or Steve inform those persons not to include licensing basis with respect to safety-
Burton, Office of Nuclear Regulatory identifying or contact information that related power operated valve actuators,
Research, 301–415–7000, email: they do not want to be publicly and where the NRC determines that the
Stephen.Burton@nrc.gov. U.S. Nuclear disclosed in their comment submission. safety review must include
Regulatory Commission, Washington, Your request should state that the NRC consideration of the qualification of the
DC 20555–0001. does not routinely edit comment valve actuators. Further information on
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: submissions to remove such information the staff’s use of the draft regulatory
before making the comment guide, if finalized, is contained in the
I. Obtaining Information and submissions available to the public or draft regulatory guide under Section D.
Submitting Comments entering the comment submissions into Implementation.
A. Obtaining Information ADAMS. Applicants and potential applicants
are not, with certain exceptions,
Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2015– II. Additional Information
afforded protection by either the Backfit
0153 when contacting the NRC about The NRC is issuing for public Rule or any issue finality provisions
the availability of information regarding comment a DG in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory under part 52. Neither the Backfit Rule
this document. You may obtain Guide’’ series. This series was nor the issue finality provisions under
publically-available information related developed to describe and make part 52—with certain exclusions
to this document, by any of the available to the public information discussed below—were intended to
following methods: regarding methods that are acceptable to apply to every NRC action which
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to the NRC staff for implementing specific substantially changes the expectations
http://www.regulations.gov and search parts of the NRC’s regulations, of current and future applicants.
for Docket ID NRC–2015–0153. techniques that the staff uses in Therefore, the positions in any final
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents evaluating specific issues or postulated draft regulatory guide, if imposed on
Access and Management System events, and data that the staff needs in applicants, would not represent
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly its review of applications for permits backfitting (except as discussed below).
available documents online in the and licenses. The exceptions to the general principle
ADAMS Public Documents collection at The DG, entitled, ‘‘Acceptance of are applicable whenever a combined
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ Commercial-Grade Design and Analysis license applicant references a part 52
adams.html. To begin the search, select Computer Programs for Nuclear Power license (i.e., an early site permit or a
‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then Plants,’’ is temporarily identified by its
manufacturing license) and/or part 52
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS task number, DG–1305. This DG
regulatory approval (i.e., a design
Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, provides new guidance that describes
certification rule or design approval.
please contact the NRC’s Public acceptance methods that the staff of the
The staff does not, at this time, intend
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at NRC considers acceptable in meeting
to impose the positions represented in
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by regulatory requirements for acceptance
the draft regulatory guide in a manner
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The and dedication of commercial-grade
that is inconsistent with any issue
ADAMS accession number for each design and analysis computer programs
finality provisions in these part 52
document referenced (if available in for nuclear power plants.
licenses and regulatory approvals. If, in
ADAMS), is provided the first time that II. Backfitting and Issue Finality the future, the staff seeks to impose a
a document is referenced. The DG is
Draft Guide-1305 describes acceptable position in this regulatory guide in a
electronically available in ADAMS
methods for meeting the dedication manner which does not provide issue
under Accession No. ML14119A286.
finality as described in the applicable
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and requirements in part 21 of title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) issue finality provision, then the staff
purchase copies of public documents at
and 10 CFR 50.55(e) with respect to must address the criteria for avoiding
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
design and analysis computer programs issue finality as described applicable
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
for nuclear power plants. The draft issue finality provision.
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
regulatory guide, if finalized, would not Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day
B. Submitting Comments constitute backfitting as defined in 10 of June, 2015.
Please include Docket ID NRC–2015– CFR 50.109 (the Backfit Rule) and is not For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
0153 in the subject line of your otherwise inconsistent with the issue Thomas H. Boyce,
comment submission, in order to ensure finality provisions in 10 CFR part 52, Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic
that the NRC is able to make your ‘‘Licenses, Certifications and Approvals Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office
comment submission available to the for Nuclear Power Plants.’’ This of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
public in this docket. regulatory guide, if finalized, represents [FR Doc. 2015–16131 Filed 6–30–15; 8:45 am]
The NRC cautions you not to include the first NRC guidance on this subject. BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
identifying or contact information that Issuance of new guidance, by itself, does
you do not want to be publicly not represent backfitting unless the NRC
disclosed in your comment submission. intends to impose the guidance on NUCLEAR REGULATORY
The NRC will post all comment existing licensees and currently- COMMISSION
submissions at http:// approved design certification rules
Advisory Committee On Reactor
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
www.regulations.gov as well as enters issued under part 52. The NRC does not
the comment submissions into ADAMS. have such an intention. Existing Safeguards
The NRC does not routinely edit licensees and applicants of final design
Notice of Meeting
comment submissions to remove certification rules will not be required to
identifying or contact information. comply with the positions set forth in In accordance with the purposes of
If you are requesting or aggregating this draft regulatory guide, unless the Sections 29 and 182b of the Atomic
comments from other persons for licensee or design certification rule Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 2039, 2232b), the
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 13:18:57
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 13:18:57
| 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 | Notices | |
| Action | Draft regulatory guide; request for comment. | |
| Dates | Submit comments by August 31, 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 | George Lipscomb, Office of New Reactors, 301-415-6838, email: [email protected], or Steve Burton, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 301-415-7000, email: [email protected] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 37666 |
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