82 FR 10504 - Initiatives To Address Gas Accumulation Following Generic Letter 2008-01
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 28 (February 13, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 28 (February 13, 2017)
| Page Range | 10504-10505 | |
| FR Document | 2017-02866 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 28 (Monday, February 13, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 10504-10505] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-02866] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2017-0040] Initiatives To Address Gas Accumulation Following Generic Letter 2008-01 AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft regulatory issue summary; request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comment on a draft regulatory issue summary (RIS) setting forth a licensee's responsibility for ensuring systems remain operable with respect to the accumulation of gas, regardless of whether the licensee chooses to voluntarily implement two industry initiatives to address weaknesses in the management of gas accumulation. DATES: Submit comments by March 15, 2017. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0040. 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: Diana Woodyatt, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1245, email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2017-0040 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-2017-0040. 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 this document. 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-2017-0040 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 entering the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information. If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS. II. Discussion The NRC issues RISs to communicate with stakeholders on a broad range of matters. This may include communicating previous NRC endorsement of industry guidance on technical or regulatory matters. The NRC is issuing this RIS to inform affected entities that licensees who choose not to implement two voluntary industry efforts to address gas accumulation issues \1\ must ensure that systems remain operable with respect to the potential for accumulation of gas, in accordance with their plant-specific technical specifications (TSs) and their plants' licensing basis. Generic programmatic and licensing concerns with respect to gas accumulation were identified through the NRC's review of responses to Generic Letter (GL) 2008-01, ``Managing Gas Accumulation in Emergency Core Cooling, Decay Heat Removal, and Containment Spray Systems,'' dated January 11, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML072910759). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 09-10, ``Guidelines for Effective Prevention and Management of System Gas Accumulation,'' Revision 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML110030892); and Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF)-523, ``Generic Letter 2008-01, Managing Gas Accumulation,'' Revision 2 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13053A075). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The NRC issued GL 2008-01 to (1) request that licensees submit information to demonstrate that the [[Page 10505]] subject systems are in compliance with the current licensing and design bases and applicable regulatory requirements, and that suitable design, operational, and testing control measures are in place for maintaining this compliance; and (2) collect the requested information to determine whether additional regulatory action is required. As a result of its review of the GL 2008-01 responses, the NRC identified that some plant- specific TS did not cover all systems or locations susceptible to gas accumulation. Accordingly, the NRC staff determined that enhancements to TSs and the standard technical specifications (STSs) were desirable. The nuclear industry undertook two primary initiatives to address the desired regulatory guidance and TS enhancements, NEI 09-10 and TSTF- 523. The NRC issued RIS 2013-09, ``NRC Endorsement of NEI 09-10, Revision 1a-A, `Guidelines for Effective Prevention and Management of System Gas Accumulation''' (ADAMS Accession No. ML13178A152), to endorse NEI 09-10 as an acceptable and recommended approach for managing gas accumulation. The NRC staff approved for use TSTF-523, Revision 2, in a Federal Register notice on January 15, 2014 (79 FR 2700). Although the NRC issued plant-specific closure letters following its review of information submitted in response to GL 2008-01, the closure letters did not address development of additional regulatory guidance or enhancements to both plant-specific TS and STS requirements. The NRC staff accepted the incorporation of a gas management program consistent with NEI 09-10 and the adoption of TSTF- 523 as approaches for plants to sufficiently demonstrate the continued operability of safety significant systems susceptible to gas accumulation. III. Request for Comment This draft RIS sets forth the regulatory history of the NRC's concerns with gas accumulation, as summarized above in Section II, ``Background.'' This draft RIS, if finalized would advise affected entities that those licensees who choose not to implement NEI 09-10 and TSTF-523 must ensure, through some appropriate means, that systems remain operable with respect to the potential for accumulation of gas, in accordance with their plant-specific TSs and their plants' licensing basis. The NRC requests public comments on the draft RIS. The NRC staff will make a final determination regarding issuance of the RIS after it considers any public comments received in response to this request. The draft RIS is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML16244A787. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 06th day of February 2017. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Sheldon D. Stuchell, Chief, Generic Communications Branch, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2017-02866 Filed 2-10-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![10504 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 28 / Monday, February 13, 2017 / Notices
activities. The revised RG follows the so, but the Commission is able to ensure White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
approach to implementing the rule that consideration only for comments Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
is discussed in interim staff guidance received on or before this date.
B. Submitting Comments
COL/ESP–ISG–4 (ADAMS Accession ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
No. ML082970729). The NRC is seeking by any of the following methods: Please include Docket ID NRC–2017–
input regarding the best method to • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to 0040 in your comment submission.
address these impacts in environmental http://www.regulations.gov and search The NRC cautions you not to include
reports. for Docket ID NRC–2017–0040. Address identifying or contact information that
2. Are there changes that should be questions about NRC dockets to Carol you do not want to be publicly
made to the RG to reduce the amount of Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; disclosed in your comment submission.
information evaluated in ERs and the email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For The NRC posts all comment
environmental impact statements, while technical questions, contact the submissions at http://
still meeting applicable environmental individual listed in the FOR FURTHER www.regulations.gov as well as entering
laws and regulations? INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
the comment submissions into ADAMS.
3. Are there topics that are not document. The NRC does not routinely edit
addressed in the RG that should be • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, comment submissions to remove
addressed? Conversely, are there topics Office of Administration, Mail Stop: identifying or contact information.
addressed in the RG that need not be If you are requesting or aggregating
OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear
addressed? comments from other persons for
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
submission to the NRC, then you should
IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality DC 20555–0001.
inform those persons not to include
For additional direction on obtaining
Issuance of this DG does not identifying or contact information that
information and submitting comments,
constitute backfitting as defined in 10 they do not want to be publicly
see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
CFR 50.109 (the Backfit Rule), nor disclosed in their comment submission.
Submitting Comments’’ in the
would it be regarded as backfitting Your request should state that the NRC
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
under the Commission and the does not routinely edit comment
this document.
Executive Director for Operations submissions to remove such information
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: before making the comment
guidance, and is not otherwise
inconsistent with the issue finality Diana Woodyatt, Office of Nuclear submissions available to the public or
provisions in 10 CFR part 52. Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear entering the comment submissions into
Regulatory Commission, Washington DC ADAMS.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–1245,
of February, 2017. email: Diana.Woodyatt@nrc.gov. II. Discussion
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC issues RISs to communicate
Thomas H. Boyce, with stakeholders on a broad range of
Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic I. Obtaining Information and
matters. This may include
Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office Submitting Comments
communicating previous NRC
of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
A. Obtaining Information endorsement of industry guidance on
[FR Doc. 2017–02885 Filed 2–10–17; 8:45 am]
technical or regulatory matters. The
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2017–
NRC is issuing this RIS to inform
0040 when contacting the NRC about
affected entities that licensees who
the availability of information for this
choose not to implement two voluntary
NUCLEAR REGULATORY action. You may obtain publicly-
industry efforts to address gas
COMMISSION available information related to this
accumulation issues 1 must ensure that
action by any of the following methods:
[NRC–2017–0040] systems remain operable with respect to
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
the potential for accumulation of gas, in
Initiatives To Address Gas http://www.regulations.gov and search
accordance with their plant-specific
Accumulation Following Generic Letter for Docket ID NRC–2017–0040.
technical specifications (TSs) and their
2008–01 • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
plants’ licensing basis. Generic
Access and Management System
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory programmatic and licensing concerns
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
Commission. with respect to gas accumulation were
available documents online in the
identified through the NRC’s review of
ACTION: Draft regulatory issue summary; ADAMS Public Documents collection at
responses to Generic Letter (GL) 2008–
request for comment. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
01, ‘‘Managing Gas Accumulation in
adams.html. To begin the search, select
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Emergency Core Cooling, Decay Heat
‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
Commission (NRC) is seeking public Removal, and Containment Spray
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
comment on a draft regulatory issue Systems,’’ dated January 11, 2008
Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
summary (RIS) setting forth a licensee’s (ADAMS Accession No. ML072910759).
please contact the NRC’s Public
responsibility for ensuring systems The NRC issued GL 2008–01 to (1)
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
remain operable with respect to the request that licensees submit
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
accumulation of gas, regardless of information to demonstrate that the
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
whether the licensee chooses to ADAMS accession number for each 1 Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 09–10,
voluntarily implement two industry document referenced (if it is available in ‘‘Guidelines for Effective Prevention and
initiatives to address weaknesses in the ADAMS) is provided the first time that Management of System Gas Accumulation,’’
management of gas accumulation. it is mentioned in this document. Revision 1 (ADAMS Accession No. ML110030892);
and Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF)-523,
DATES: Submit comments by March 15, • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and ‘‘Generic Letter 2008–01, Managing Gas
2017. Comments received after this date purchase copies of public documents at Accumulation,’’ Revision 2 (ADAMS Accession No.
will be considered if it is practical to do the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One ML13053A075).
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:41 Feb 10, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_10532/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 28 / Monday, February 13, 2017 / Notices 10505
subject systems are in compliance with in ADAMS under Accession No. 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
the current licensing and design bases ML16244A787. email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
and applicable regulatory requirements, Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 06th day ADAMS accession number for each
and that suitable design, operational, of February 2017. document referenced (if it is available in
and testing control measures are in For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ADAMS) is provided the first time that
place for maintaining this compliance; it is mentioned in this document.
Sheldon D. Stuchell,
and (2) collect the requested Revision 4 to Regulatory Guide 1.20,
Chief, Generic Communications Branch,
information to determine whether and the regulatory analysis may be
Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office
additional regulatory action is required. of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. found in ADAMS under Accession Nos.
As a result of its review of the GL 2008– ML16056A338 and ML15083A388,
[FR Doc. 2017–02866 Filed 2–10–17; 8:45 am]
01 responses, the NRC identified that respectively.
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
some plant-specific TS did not cover all • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
systems or locations susceptible to gas purchase copies of public documents at
accumulation. Accordingly, the NRC the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
staff determined that enhancements to White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
COMMISSION
TSs and the standard technical Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
specifications (STSs) were desirable. [NRC–2015–0161] Regulatory guides are not
The nuclear industry undertook two copyrighted, and NRC approval is not
primary initiatives to address the Comprehensive Vibration Assessment required to reproduce them.
desired regulatory guidance and TS Program for Reactor Internals During
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
enhancements, NEI 09–10 and TSTF– Preoperational and Startup Testing
Thomas Scarbrough, Office of New
523. The NRC issued RIS 2013–09, AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Reactors, telephone: 301–415–2794,
‘‘NRC Endorsement of NEI 09–10, Commission. email: Thomas.Scarbrough@nrc.gov;
Revision 1a-A, ‘Guidelines for Effective Yuken Wong, Office of New Reactors,
ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance.
Prevention and Management of System telephone: 301–415–0500, email:
Gas Accumulation’’’ (ADAMS SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Yuken.Wong@nrc.gov, and Stephen
Accession No. ML13178A152), to Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 4 Burton, Office of Nuclear Regulatory
endorse NEI 09–10 as an acceptable and to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.20, Research, telephone: 301–15–7000,
recommended approach for managing ‘‘Comprehensive Vibration Assessment email: Stephen.Burton@nrc.gov. All are
gas accumulation. The NRC staff Program for Reactor Internals During staff members of the U.S. Nuclear
approved for use TSTF–523, Revision 2, Preoperational and Startup Testing.’’ Regulatory Commission, Washington,
in a Federal Register notice on January This RG describes methods and DC 20555–0001.
15, 2014 (79 FR 2700). procedures that the NRC staff considers
Although the NRC issued plant- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
acceptable when developing a
specific closure letters following its comprehensive vibration assessment I. Introduction
review of information submitted in program for reactor internals during
response to GL 2008–01, the closure The NRC is issuing a revision to an
preoperational and startup testing. existing guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory
letters did not address development of
DATES: Revision 4 to RG 1.20 is available Guide’’ series. This series was
additional regulatory guidance or
enhancements to both plant-specific TS on February 13, 2017. developed to describe and make
and STS requirements. The NRC staff ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID available to the public information
accepted the incorporation of a gas NRC–2015–0161 when contacting the regarding methods that are acceptable to
management program consistent with NRC about the availability of the NRC staff for implementing specific
NEI 09–10 and the adoption of TSTF– information regarding this document. parts of the agency’s regulations,
523 as approaches for plants to You may obtain publically-available techniques that the NRC staff uses in
sufficiently demonstrate the continued information related to this document, evaluating specific issues or postulated
operability of safety significant systems using the following methods: events, and data that the NRC staff
susceptible to gas accumulation. • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to needs in its review of applications for
http://www.regulations.gov and search permits and licenses.
III. Request for Comment for Docket ID NRC–2015–0161. Address Revision 4 of RG 1.20 was issued with
This draft RIS sets forth the regulatory questions about NRC dockets to Carol a temporary identification of Draft
history of the NRC’s concerns with gas Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; Regulatory Guide, DG–1323. This
accumulation, as summarized above in email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For revision expands the guidance related to
Section II, ‘‘Background.’’ This draft technical questions, contact the flow-induced vibration, acoustic
RIS, if finalized would advise affected individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER resonance, acoustic-induced vibration,
entities that those licensees who choose INFORMATION CONTACT section of this and mechanical-induced vibration for
not to implement NEI 09–10 and TSTF– document. boiling water reactor, pressurized water
523 must ensure, through some • NRC’s Agencywide Documents reactor, and small modular reactor
appropriate means, that systems remain Access and Management System (SMR) nuclear power plants. For SMRs,
operable with respect to the potential (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- this includes guidance for the control
for accumulation of gas, in accordance available documents online in the rod drive system and control rod drive
ADAMS Public Document collection at mechanisms, which might be contained
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
with their plant-specific TSs and their
plants’ licensing basis. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ in an integral reactor vessel module.
The NRC requests public comments adams.html. To begin the search, select The additional guidance in Revision 4 is
on the draft RIS. The NRC staff will ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then based in part on lessons learned from
make a final determination regarding select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS the review of recent applications,
issuance of the RIS after it considers any Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, including both new plant applications
public comments received in response please contact the NRC’s Public and extended power uprate
to this request. The draft RIS is available Document Room (PDR) reference staff at applications. In addition, Revision 4 re-
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:41 Feb 10, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_10532/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2017-02-11 00:59:33
Document Modified: 2017-02-11 00:59:33
| 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 issue summary; request for comment. | |
| Dates | Submit comments by March 15, 2017. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. | |
| Contact | Diana Woodyatt, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1245, email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 10504 |
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