81 FR 83288 - Pressurized Water Reactor Control Rod Ejection and Boiling Water Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 224 (November 21, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 224 (November 21, 2016)
| Page Range | 83288-83289 | |
| FR Document | 2016-27903 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 224 (Monday, November 21, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 83288-83289] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-27903] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2016-0233] Pressurized Water Reactor Control Rod Ejection and Boiling Water Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents 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-1327, ``Pressurized Water Reactor Control Rod Ejection and Boiling Water Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents.'' This DG proposes new guidance for analyzing accidents such as control rod ejection for pressurized water reactors and control rod drop for boiling-water reactors. It defines fuel cladding failure thresholds for ductile failure, brittle failure, and pellet-clad mechanical interaction and provides radionuclide release fractions for use in assessing radiological consequences. It also describes analytical limits and guidance for demonstrating compliance with regulations governing reactivity limits. DATES: Submit comments by February 21, 2017. 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-2016-0233. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: OWFN-12H-08, 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: Paul Clifford, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, telephone: 301-415-4043, email: [email protected] and Edward O'Donnell, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, telephone: 301-415-3317 email: [email protected]. 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-2016-0233 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this action. You may obtain publically-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-2016-0233. 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 DG is electronically available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML16124A200. 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-2016-0233 in 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 posts all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enters the comment submissions into ADAMS. [[Page 83289]] 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 ``Pressurized Water Reactor Control Rod Ejection and Boiling Water Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents,'' is a proposed new guide temporarily identified by its task number, DG-1327. DG-1327 proposes new guidance for analyzing reactivity-initiated accidents such as control rod ejection for pressurized water reactors and control rod drop for boiling-water reactors. It defines fuel cladding failure thresholds for ductile failure, brittle failure, and pellet-clad mechanical interaction and provides radionuclide release reactions for use in assessing radiological consequences. It also describes analytical limits and guidance for demonstrating compliance with regulations governing reactivity limits. The draft guide also incorporates new empirical data from in-pile, prompt power pulse test programs and analyses from several international publications on fuel rod performance under reactivity initiated accident conditions to provide guidance on acceptable analytical methods, assumptions, and limits for evaluating a pressurized water reactor control rod ejection accident. The draft guide expands the existing guidance for control rod ejection accidents in Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.77, ``Assumptions Used for Evaluation a Control Rod Ejection Accident for Pressurized Water Reactors.'' However, the NRC intends to maintain RG 1.77 for existing licensees who do not make any design changes within the scope of RG 1.77. III. Backfitting and Issue Finality Draft regulatory guide DG-1327 describes one acceptable method for demonstrating compliance with Appendix A of part 50 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``General Design Criteria 28, Reactivity Limit,'' with respect to control rod ejection (CRE) for pressurized-water reactors (PWRs) and a control rod drop (CRD) for boiling-water reactors (BWRs). It addresses fuel cladding failure thresholds for ductile failure, brittle failure, and pellet-clad mechanical interaction (PCMI), provides radionuclide release fractions for use in assessing radiological consequences, and describes analytical limits and guidance for demonstrating compliance with GDC 28 governing reactivity limits. This 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.'' 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 CRE for PWRs or CRD for BWRs, and where the NRC determines that the safety review must include consideration of these events. 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, protected 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 will address the criteria for avoiding issue finality as described in the applicable issue finality provision. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of November 2016. 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. 2016-27903 Filed 11-18-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![83288 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / Notices
available in ADAMS under Accession For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,
No. ML16315A300. Anthony R. Bowers, Office of Administration, Mail Stop:
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Chief, Financial Analysis and International OWFN–12H–08, U.S. Nuclear
purchase copies of public documents at Projects Branch, Division of Inspection and Regulatory Commission, Washington,
Regional Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor DC 20555–0001.
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
Regulation. For additional direction on accessing
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. [FR Doc. 2016–27945 Filed 11–18–16; 8:45 am] information and submitting comments,
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
B. Submitting Comments Submitting Comments’’ in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
Please include Docket ID NRC–2016– NUCLEAR REGULATORY
0220 in your comment submission. this document.
COMMISSION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
The NRC cautions you not to include Clifford, Office of Nuclear Reactor
[NRC–2016–0233]
identifying or contact information that Regulation, telephone: 301–415–4043,
you do not want to be publicly Pressurized Water Reactor Control email: Paul.Clifford@nrc.gov and
disclosed in your comment submission. Rod Ejection and Boiling Water Edward O’Donnell, Office of Nuclear
The NRC will post all comment Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents Regulatory Research, telephone: 301–
submissions at http:// 415–3317 email: Edward.ODonnell@
www.regulations.gov as well as enter the AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
Commission. nrc.gov. Both are staff of the U.S.
comment submissions into ADAMS. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
The NRC does not routinely edit ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request
Washington, DC 20555–0001.
comment submissions to remove for comment.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
identifying or contact information.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
If you are requesting or aggregating Commission (NRC) is issuing for public I. Obtaining Information and
comments from other persons for comment draft regulatory guide (DG) Submitting Comments
submission to the NRC, then you should DG–1327, ‘‘Pressurized Water Reactor A. Obtaining Information
inform those persons not to include Control Rod Ejection and Boiling Water
identifying or contact information that Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2016–
Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents.’’ 0233 when contacting the NRC about
they do not want to be publicly This DG proposes new guidance for
disclosed in their comment submission. the availability of information regarding
analyzing accidents such as control rod
Your request should state that the NRC this action. You may obtain publically-
ejection for pressurized water reactors
does not routinely edit comment available information related to this
and control rod drop for boiling-water
submissions to remove such information action, by any of the following methods:
reactors. It defines fuel cladding failure • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
before making the comment thresholds for ductile failure, brittle
submissions available to the public or http://www.regulations.gov and search
failure, and pellet-clad mechanical for Docket ID NRC–2016–0233.
entering the comment into ADAMS. interaction and provides radionuclide • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
II. Discussion release fractions for use in assessing Access and Management System
radiological consequences. It also (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly
NUREG–1307, Revision 16, ‘‘Report describes analytical limits and guidance available documents online in the
on Waste Burial Charges: Changes in for demonstrating compliance with ADAMS Public Documents collection at
Decommissioning Waste Disposal Costs regulations governing reactivity limits. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
at Low-Level Waste Burial Facilities,’’ DATES: Submit comments by February adams.html. To begin the search, select
modifies the previous revision to this 21, 2017. Comments received after this ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
report issued in January 2013 (ADAMS date will be considered if it is practical select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
Accession No. ML13023A030), and to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
incorporates updates to the adjustment consideration only for comments please contact the NRC’s Public
factors for the labor, energy, and waste received on or before this date. Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
components of the NRC minimum Although a time limit is given, 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
decommissioning fund formula. This comments and suggestions in email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The DG
revision also incorporates changes connection with items for inclusion in is electronically available in ADAMS
resulting from newly available low-level guides currently being developed or under Accession No. ML16124A200.
waste disposal capacity at the Andrews improvements in all published guides • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
County, Texas facility established in are encouraged at any time. purchase copies of public documents at
2012, and changes made to waste ADDRESSES: You may submit comments the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
disposal costs resulting from a by any of the following methods (unless White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
contractor reassessment of the this document describes a different Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
assumptions for LLW classification. As method for submitting comments on a
a result of these changes, the minimum specified subject): B. Submitting Comments
decommissioning fund formula amounts • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to Please include Docket ID NRC–2016–
calculated by licensees, based on http://www.regulations.gov and search 0233 in your comment submission. The
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
revised low-level waste burial factors for Docket ID NRC–2016–0233. Address NRC cautions you not to include
presented in this report, will likely questions about NRC dockets to Carol identifying or contact information that
reflect (on average) lower minimum Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; you do not want to be publicly
decommissioning fund requirements email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For disclosed in your comment submission.
than those previously reported by technical questions, contact the The NRC posts all comment
licensees in 2015. individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER submissions at http://
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day INFORMATION CONTACT section of this www.regulations.gov as well as enters
of November 2016. document. the comment submissions into ADAMS.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 224 / Monday, November 21, 2016 / Notices 83289
The NRC does not routinely edit design changes within the scope of RG the draft regulatory guide in a manner
comment submissions to remove 1.77. that is inconsistent with any issue
identifying or contact information. finality provisions in these part 52
If you are requesting or aggregating III. Backfitting and Issue Finality
licenses and regulatory approvals. If, in
comments from other persons for Draft regulatory guide DG–1327 the future, the staff seeks to impose a
submission to the NRC, then you should describes one acceptable method for position in this regulatory guide in a
inform those persons not to include demonstrating compliance with manner which does not provide issue
identifying or contact information that Appendix A of part 50 of title 10 of the finality as described in the applicable
they do not want to be publicly Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), issue finality provision, then the staff
disclosed in their comment submission. ‘‘General Design Criteria 28, Reactivity will address the criteria for avoiding
Your request should state that the NRC Limit,’’ with respect to control rod issue finality as described in the
does not routinely edit comment ejection (CRE) for pressurized-water applicable issue finality provision.
submissions to remove such information reactors (PWRs) and a control rod drop
(CRD) for boiling-water reactors (BWRs). Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day
before making the comment of November 2016.
submissions available to the public or It addresses fuel cladding failure
thresholds for ductile failure, brittle For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
entering the comment submissions into
ADAMS. failure, and pellet-clad mechanical Thomas H. Boyce,
interaction (PCMI), provides Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic
II. Additional Information radionuclide release fractions for use in Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office
The NRC is issuing for public assessing radiological consequences, of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
comment a DG in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory and describes analytical limits and [FR Doc. 2016–27903 Filed 11–18–16; 8:45 am]
Guide’’ series. This series was guidance for demonstrating compliance BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
developed to describe and make with GDC 28 governing reactivity limits.
available to the public information This draft regulatory guide, if
regarding methods that are acceptable to finalized, would not constitute NUCLEAR REGULATORY
the NRC staff for implementing specific backfitting as defined in 10 CFR 50.109 COMMISSION
parts of the NRC’s regulations, (the Backfit Rule) and is not otherwise [Docket No. 040–08943; NRC–2008–0208]
techniques that the staff uses in inconsistent with the issue finality
evaluating specific issues or postulated provisions in 10 CFR part 52, ‘‘Licenses, Crow Butte Resources, Inc.
events, and data that the staff needs in Certifications and Approvals for Nuclear
its review of applications for permits Power Plants.’’ Existing licensees and AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
and licenses. applicants of final design certification Commission.
The DG, entitled ‘‘Pressurized Water rules will not be required to comply ACTION: Exemption; issuance.
Reactor Control Rod Ejection and with the positions set forth in this draft
Boiling Water Reactor Control Rod Drop regulatory guide, unless the licensee or SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Accidents,’’ is a proposed new guide design certification rule applicant seeks Commission (NRC) is issuing an
temporarily identified by its task a voluntary change to its licensing basis exemption to Crow Butte Resources, Inc.
number, DG–1327. DG–1327 proposes with respect to CRE for PWRs or CRD (CBR) for the purpose of complying with
new guidance for analyzing reactivity- for BWRs, and where the NRC occupational dose limits in response to
initiated accidents such as control rod determines that the safety review must a request from CBR dated September 21,
ejection for pressurized water reactors include consideration of these events. 2015. Issuance of this exemption will
and control rod drop for boiling-water Further information on the staff’s use of allow CBR to disregard certain
reactors. It defines fuel cladding failure the draft regulatory guide, if finalized, is radionuclides that contribute to the total
thresholds for ductile failure, brittle contained in the draft regulatory guide activity of a mixture when determining
failure, and pellet-clad mechanical under Section D. Implementation. internal dose to assess compliance with
interaction and provides radionuclide Applicants and potential applicants occupational dose equivalent limits at
release reactions for use in assessing are not, with certain exceptions, its in situ uranium recovery (ISR)
radiological consequences. It also protected by either the Backfit Rule or facility in Crawford, Nebraska.
describes analytical limits and guidance any issue finality provisions under part ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
for demonstrating compliance with 52. Neither the Backfit Rule nor the NRC–2008–0208 when contacting the
regulations governing reactivity limits. issue finality provisions under part 52— NRC about the availability of
The draft guide also incorporates new with certain exclusions discussed information regarding this document.
empirical data from in-pile, prompt below—were intended to apply to every You may obtain publicly-available
power pulse test programs and analyses NRC action which substantially changes information related to this document
from several international publications the expectations of current and future using any of the following methods:
on fuel rod performance under applicants. Therefore, the positions in • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
reactivity initiated accident conditions any final draft regulatory guide, if http://www.regulations.gov and search
to provide guidance on acceptable imposed on applicants, would not for Docket ID NRC–2008–0208. Address
analytical methods, assumptions, and represent backfitting (except as questions about NRC dockets to Carol
limits for evaluating a pressurized water discussed below). Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
reactor control rod ejection accident. The exceptions to the general email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
The draft guide expands the existing principle are applicable whenever a technical questions, contact the
guidance for control rod ejection combined license applicant references a individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
accidents in Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.77, part 52 license (i.e., an early site permit INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
‘‘Assumptions Used for Evaluation a or a manufacturing license) and/or part document.
Control Rod Ejection Accident for 52 regulatory approval (i.e., a design • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Pressurized Water Reactors.’’ However, certification rule or design approval. Access and Management System
the NRC intends to maintain RG 1.77 for The staff does not, at this time, intend (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
existing licensees who do not make any to impose the positions represented in available documents online in the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:09 Nov 18, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\21NON1.SGM 21NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_83512/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-14 08:34:28
Document Modified: 2018-02-14 08:34:28
| 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 February 21, 2017. 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 | Paul Clifford, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, telephone: 301-415-4043, email: [email protected] and Edward O'Donnell, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, telephone: 301-415-3317 email: Edward.ODonnel[email protected] Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 83288 |
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