82 FR 17042 - An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 66 (April 7, 2017)
| Page Range | 17042-17044 | |
| FR Document | 2017-06939 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 17042-17044] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-06939] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2012-0110] An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk- Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is re-issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1285, ``An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis.'' The guide was initially issued for public comment in 2012 as noticed in the Federal Register under NRC Docket number NRC-2012-0110. Subsequently, the NRC decided to incorporate additional information related to evaluation of the defense-in-depth philosophy that was not included in the original publication of DG-1285. This proposed revision of the guide, Revision 3, includes significant expansion of the guidance on the meaning of, and the process for, assessing the defense-in-depth evaluation factors. DATES: Submit comments by May 22, 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. This [[Page 17043]] public review and comment period is 45 days. This is shorter than the typical public review and comment period for draft RGs of 60 days because the staff has discussed the defense-in-depth concepts in this RG in numerous public meetings and has addressed multiple comments from the public. 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:Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0110. 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-12H08, 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: Anders Gilbertson, Telephone: 301-415- 1541, email: [email protected], and Harriet Karagiannis, Telephone: 301-415-2493, email: [email protected]. Both are staff members of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 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-2012-0110 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-2012-0110. 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. ML16358A153. 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-2012-0110 in your comment submission in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make your comment submission available to the public in this docket. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC posts all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as 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, ``An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis,'' is a proposed revision temporarily identified by its task number, DG-1285. Draft Guide 1285 is proposed revision 3 of RG 1.174, ``An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk- Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis.'' This revision proposes revised guidance that uses precise language to assure that the defense-in-depth philosophy is interpreted and implemented consistently, as directed by the Commission in SRM-SECY-11- 0014, ``Staff Requirements--SECY-11-0014--Use of Containment Accident Pressure in Analyzing Emergency Core Cooling System and Containment Heat Removal System Pump Performance in Postulated Accidents'' (see ADAMS under Accession No. ML110740254). Significant changes in this proposed revision include expansion of the guidance on the meaning of, and the process for, assessing the defense-in-depth evaluation factors. Other changes include the introduction of language for new reactors related to the transitioning from large release frequency and conditional containment failure probability to large early release frequency after fuel loading; introduction of language related to containment performance expectations for new reactors; clarifications related to guidance on the treatment of uncertainty, combining risk results, and the nature of the acceptance guideline boundaries; incorporation of language on defense-in-depth from other NRC guidance documents; and changes to conform to the latest NRC staff program guidance for draft guides. In addition, the terms ``PRA quality'' and ``technical adequacy'' were replaced with the term ``PRA acceptability.'' The NRC is specifically requesting comment on this terminology changes to ensure the revised terms are clearly understood by the users of the guidance. The NRC staff conducted four public meetings to solicit public feedback on DG-1285, Revision 3, and keep the public informed regarding the proposed changes regarding defense-in-depth guidance as it was being developed. These public meetings were held on May 2, May 23, July 7, and September 1, and the summaries are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML16148A758, ML16169A343, ML16215A455, and ML162565A448, respectively. Draft versions of the revised guidance on defense-in- depth were made publicly available on May 19, June 20, and July 27, and are available in ADAMS under accession numbers ML16265A451, ML16172A343, and ML16209A221, respectively. The NRC is issuing for public comment the revised DG-1285 for the reasons mentioned above. Comments received from the public review and [[Page 17044]] comment period in 2012 were addressed as part of developing this proposed revision of DG-1285. Documentation of the NRC's resolution of public comments on DG-1285 from 2012 are available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML16348A180. III. Backfitting and Issue Finality Draft guide 1285 describes an approach that the NRC staff considers acceptable for applications for licensing basis changes by considering engineering issues and applying risk insights at light-water reactors. Issuance of this DG, if finalized, would not constitute backfitting as defined in section 50.109 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) (the Backfit Rule) and would not otherwise be inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in 10 CFR part 52. As discussed in the ``Implementation'' section of this DG, the NRC has no current intention to impose this guidance, if finalized, on holders of current operating licenses or combined licenses. This DG may be applied to applications for amendments to operating licenses or combined licenses docketed by the NRC as of the date of issuance of the final regulatory guide, as well as future applications submitted after the issuance of the regulatory guide. Such action would not constitute backfitting as defined in the Backfit Rule or be otherwise inconsistent with the applicable issue finality provision in 10 CFR part 52, inasmuch as such applicants or potential applicants are not within the scope of entities protected by the Backfit Rule or the relevant issue finality provisions in part 52. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of April 2017. 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. 2017-06939 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![17042 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices
battery monitors and their respective D. special circumstances are present with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant
Class 1E battery banks. in that the application of the rule in this to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental
Part of the justification for granting circumstance is not necessary to serve impact statement or environmental
the exemption was provided by the the underlying purpose of the rule; assessment need be prepared for these
review of the amendment. Because the E. the special circumstances outweigh amendments.
exemption is necessary in order to issue any decrease in safety that may result
from the reduction in standardization IV. Conclusion
the requested license amendment, the
NRC granted the exemption and issued caused by the exemption; and Using the reasons set forth in the
the amendment concurrently, rather F. the exemption will not result in a combined safety evaluation, the staff
than in sequence. This included issuing significant decrease in the level of safety granted the exemption and issued the
a combined safety evaluation containing otherwise provided by the design. amendment that the licensee requested
the NRC staff’s review of both the 2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted on September 28, 2016. The exemption
exemption request and the license an exemption from the certified DCD and amendment were issued on March
amendment. The exemption met all Tier 1 information, with corresponding 7, 2017 as part of a combined package
applicable regulatory criteria set forth in changes to Appendix C of the Facility to the licensee (ADAMS Accession No.
10 CFR 50.12, 10 CFR 52.7, and Section Combined Licenses as described in the ML17046A104).
VIII.A.4 of appendix D to 10 CFR part licensee’s request dated September 28, Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day
52. The license amendment was found 2016. This exemption is related to, and of March 2017.
to be acceptable as well. The combined necessary for, the granting of License For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
safety evaluation is available in ADAMS Amendment No. 63, which is being
Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
under Accession No. ML17046A161. issued concurrently with this
exemption. Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New
Identical exemption documents Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors.
(except for referenced unit numbers and 3. As explained in Section 5.0,
‘‘Environmental Consideration,’’ of the [FR Doc. 2017–06991 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am]
license numbers) were issued to the
licensee for VCSNS Units 2 and 3 (COLs NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NPF–93 and NPF–94). The exemption Accession No. ML17046A161), this
documents for VCSNS Units 2 and 3 can exemption meets the eligibility criteria
for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 NUCLEAR REGULATORY
be found in ADAMS under Accession COMMISSION
Nos. ML17046A145 and ML17046A151, CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to
respectively. The exemption is 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental [NRC–2012–0110]
reproduced (with the exception of impact statement or environmental
assessment needs to be prepared in An Approach for Using Probabilistic
abbreviated titles and additional
connection with the issuance of the Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed
citations) in Section II of this document.
exemption. Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes
The amendment documents for COLs
4. This exemption is effective as of the to the Licensing Basis
NPF–93 and NPF–94 are available in
date of its issuance.
ADAMS under Accession Nos. AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
ML17046A129 and ML17046A134, III. License Amendment Request Commission.
respectively. A summary of the By letter dated September 28, 2016, ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request
amendment documents is provided in the licensee requested that the NRC for comment.
Section III of this document. amend the COLs for VCSNS, Units 2
and 3, COLs NPF–93 and NPF–94. The SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
II. Exemption Commission (NRC) is re-issuing for
proposed amendment is described in
Reproduced below is the exemption Section I of this Federal Register notice. public comment draft regulatory guide
document issued to VCSNS Units 2 and The Commission has determined for (DG), DG–1285, ‘‘An Approach for
Unit 3. It makes reference to the these amendments that the application Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in
combined safety evaluation that complies with the standards and Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-
provides the reasoning for the findings requirements of the Atomic Energy Act Specific Changes to the Licensing
made by the NRC (and listed under Item of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Basis.’’ The guide was initially issued
1) in order to grant the exemption: Commission’s rules and regulations. for public comment in 2012 as noticed
1. In a letter dated September 28, The Commission has made appropriate in the Federal Register under NRC
2016, the licensee requested from the findings as required by the Act and the Docket number NRC–2012–0110.
Commission an exemption from the Commission’s rules and regulations in Subsequently, the NRC decided to
provisions of 10 CFR part 52, appendix 10 CFR chapter I, which are set forth in incorporate additional information
D, Section III.B, as part of license the license amendment. related to evaluation of the defense-in-
amendment request 16–16, ‘‘IDS Fuse A notice of consideration of issuance depth philosophy that was not included
Isolation Panel Additions (LAR 16–16).’’ of amendment to facility operating in the original publication of DG–1285.
For the reasons set forth in Section license or combined license, as This proposed revision of the guide,
3.1, ‘‘Evaluation of Exemption,’’ of the applicable, proposed no significant Revision 3, includes significant
NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation, which hazards consideration determination, expansion of the guidance on the
can be found in ADAMS under and opportunity for a hearing in meaning of, and the process for,
Accession No. ML17046A161, the connection with these actions, was assessing the defense-in-depth
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
Commission finds that: published in the Federal Register on evaluation factors.
A. The exemption is authorized by October 25, 2016 (81 FR 73428). No DATES: Submit comments by May 22,
law; comments were received during the 30- 2017. Comments received after this date
B. the exemption presents no undue day comment period. will be considered if it is practical to do
risk to public health and safety; The Commission has determined that so, but the NRC is able to ensure
C. the exemption is consistent with these amendments satisfy the criteria for consideration only for comments
the common defense and security; categorical exclusion in accordance received on or before this date. This
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![17044 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 66 / Friday, April 7, 2017 / Notices
comment period in 2012 were addressed SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
as part of developing this proposed Commission (NRC) invites public please contact the NRC’s Public
revision of DG–1285. Documentation of comment on the renewal of Office of Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
the NRC’s resolution of public Management and Budget (OMB) 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
comments on DG–1285 from 2012 are approval for an existing collection of email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. A copy
available in ADAMS under Accession information. The information collection of the collection of information and
No. ML16348A180. is entitled, NRC Form 5, ‘‘Occupational related instructions may be obtained
Dose Record for a Monitoring Period.’’ without charge by accessing ADAMS
III. Backfitting and Issue Finality
DATES: Submit comments by June 6, Accession No. ML17090A545. The
Draft guide 1285 describes an supporting statement and Occupational
2017. Comments received after this date
approach that the NRC staff considers Dose Record for a Monitoring Period is
will be considered if it is practical to do
acceptable for applications for licensing available in ADAMS under Accession
so, but the Commission is able to ensure
basis changes by considering No. ML16357A680.
consideration only for comments
engineering issues and applying risk
received on or before this date. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
insights at light-water reactors. Issuance purchase copies of public documents at
of this DG, if finalized, would not ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
constitute backfitting as defined in by any of the following methods: White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
section 50.109 of title 10 of the Code of • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Federal Regulations (10 CFR) (the http://www.regulations.gov and search • NRC’s Clearance Officer: A copy of
Backfit Rule) and would not otherwise for Docket ID NRC–2017–0065. Address the collection of information and related
be inconsistent with the issue finality questions about NRC dockets to Carol instructions may be obtained without
provisions in 10 CFR part 52. As Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; charge by contacting NRC’s Clearance
discussed in the ‘‘Implementation’’ email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For Officer, David Cullison, Office of the
section of this DG, the NRC has no technical questions, contact the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear
current intention to impose this individual listed in the FOR FURTHER Regulatory Commission, Washington,
guidance, if finalized, on holders of INFORMATION CONTACT section of this DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
current operating licenses or combined document. 2084; email: INFOCOLLECTS.Resource@
licenses. • Mail comments to: David Cullison, NRC.GOV.
This DG may be applied to Office of the Chief Information Officer,
applications for amendments to Mail Stop: T–5 F53, U.S. Nuclear B. Submitting Comments
operating licenses or combined licenses Regulatory Commission, Washington, Please include Docket ID NRC–2017–
docketed by the NRC as of the date of DC 20555–0001. 0065 in the subject line of your
issuance of the final regulatory guide, as For additional direction on obtaining comment submission, in order to ensure
well as future applications submitted information and submitting comments, that the NRC is able to make your
after the issuance of the regulatory see ‘‘Obtaining Information and comment submission available to the
guide. Such action would not constitute Submitting Comments’’ in the public in this docket.
backfitting as defined in the Backfit SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of The NRC cautions you not to include
Rule or be otherwise inconsistent with this document. identifying or contact information in
the applicable issue finality provision in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: comment submissions that you do not
10 CFR part 52, inasmuch as such David Cullison, Office of the Chief want to be publicly disclosed in your
applicants or potential applicants are Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear comment submission. The NRC will
not within the scope of entities Regulatory Commission, Washington, post all comment submissions at http://
protected by the Backfit Rule or the DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– www.regulations.gov as well as enter the
relevant issue finality provisions in part 2084; email: INFOCOLLECTS.Resource@ comment submissions into ADAMS,
52. NRC.GOV. and the NRC does not routinely edit
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: comment submissions to remove
of April 2017. identifying or contact information.
I. Obtaining Information and If you are requesting or aggregating
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Submitting Comments comments from other persons for
Thomas H. Boyce,
A. Obtaining Information submission to the NRC, then you should
Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic inform those persons not to include
Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2017–
of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
identifying or contact information that
0065 when contacting the NRC about they do not want to be publicly
[FR Doc. 2017–06939 Filed 4–6–17; 8:45 am] the availability of information for this disclosed in their comment submission.
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P action. You may obtain publicly- Your request should state that the NRC
available information related to this does not routinely edit comment
action by any of the following methods: submissions to remove such information
NUCLEAR REGULATORY • Federal rulemaking Web site: Go to
COMMISSION before making the comment
http://www.regulations.gov and search submissions available to the public or
[NRC–2017–2017–0065] for Docket ID NRC–2017–0065. entering the comment into ADAMS.
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Information Collection: NRC Form 5, Access and Management System II. Background
nlaroche on DSK30NT082PROD with NOTICES
Occupational Dose Record for a (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- In accordance with the Paperwork
Monitoring Period available documents online in the Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory ADAMS Public Documents collection at Chapter 35), the NRC is requesting
Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ public comment on its intention to
adams.html. To begin the search, select request the OMB’s approval for the
ACTION: Renewal of existing information
‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then information collection summarized
collection; request for comment.
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS below.
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Document Created: 2017-04-06 23:49:50
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 23:49:50
| 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 May 22, 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. This public review and comment period is 45 days. This is shorter than the typical public review and comment period for draft RGs of 60 days because the staff has discussed the defense-in-depth concepts in this | |
| Contact | Anders Gilbertson, Telephone: 301-415- 1541, email: [email protected], and Harriet Karagiannis, Telephone: 301-415-2493, email: [email protected] Both are staff members of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 17042 |
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