82_FR_18235 82 FR 18163 - Regulatory Analysis Guidelines

82 FR 18163 - Regulatory Analysis Guidelines

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 72 (April 17, 2017)

Page Range18163-18165
FR Document2017-07623

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft NUREG, NUREG/BR-0058, Revision 5, ``Regulatory Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. NRC.'' This proposed revision to NUREG/ BR-0058 would update and restructure the NRC's cost-benefit guidance documents by incorporating information contained in NUREG/BR-0184, ``Regulatory Analysis Technical Handbook,'' into this document and would expand the discussion of cost-benefit analyses in NRC's regulatory analyses, backfitting analyses, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses. Additionally, the update incorporates improvements in methods for assessing factors that are difficult to quantify, incorporates relevant cost estimating best practices, and includes improvements in uncertainty analyses for use in cost-benefit analyses.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 72 (Monday, April 17, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 72 (Monday, April 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18163-18165]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07623]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2017-0091]


Regulatory Analysis Guidelines

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft NUREG; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for 
public comment a draft NUREG, NUREG/BR-0058, Revision 5, ``Regulatory 
Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. NRC.'' This proposed revision to NUREG/
BR-0058 would update and restructure the NRC's cost-benefit guidance 
documents by incorporating information contained in NUREG/BR-0184, 
``Regulatory Analysis Technical Handbook,'' into this document and 
would expand the discussion of cost-benefit analyses in NRC's 
regulatory analyses, backfitting analyses, and National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) analyses. Additionally, the update incorporates 
improvements in methods for assessing factors that are difficult to 
quantify, incorporates relevant cost estimating best practices, and 
includes improvements in uncertainty analyses for use in cost-benefit 
analyses.

DATES: Submit comments by June 16, 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-2017-0091. 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: Pamela Noto, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, telephone: 301-415-6795, 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-2017-0091 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-2017-0091.
     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]. For 
the convenience of the reader, instructions about obtaining materials 
referenced in this document are provided in the ``Availability of 
Documents'' section.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2017-0091 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 will post all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into 
ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove 
identifying or contact information.
    If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons 
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to 
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. 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 into ADAMS.

II. Discussion

    The proposed revision to NUREG/BR-0058 is the first of two phases 
to update the NRC's cost-benefit guidance documents, primarily NUREG/
BR-0058, Revision 4, ``Regulatory Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. 
NRC,'' and NUREG/BR-0184, ``Regulatory Analysis Technical Handbook.'' 
This update identifies potential changes to current methods and tools 
related to performing cost-benefit analyses in support of regulatory 
analyses, backfitting analyses, and environmental analyses.
    In response to questions posed after the accident at the Fukushima 
Dai-ichi plant in Japan, the NRC staff recommended enhancing the 
currency and consistency of the existing regulatory framework through 
updates to cost-benefit analysis guidance documents, including aligning 
cost-benefit guidance across the agency in both reactor and materials 
program areas in SECY-12-0110, ``Consideration of Economic Consequences 
in the NRC's

[[Page 18164]]

Regulatory Framework.'' In the staff requirements memorandum (SRM) for 
SECY-12-0110, the Commission approved this recommendation and directed 
the NRC staff to identify potential changes to current methodologies 
and tools to perform cost-benefit analyses in support of regulatory, 
backfit, and environmental analyses. Further, the Commission directed 
the NRC staff to provide a regulatory gap analysis prior to developing 
new cost-benefit guidance.
    In response to Commission direction, the NRC staff prepared SECY-
14-0002, ``Plan for Updating NRC's Cost-Benefit Guidance;'' SECY-14-
0087, ``Qualitative Consideration of Factors in the Development of 
Regulatory Analyses and Backfit Analyses;'' and SECY-14-0143, 
``Regulatory Gap Analysis of the NRC's Cost-Benefit Guidance and 
Practices.'' Further details regarding these documents are provided 
below.
    In response to the SRM for SECY-12-0110, the NRC staff wrote SECY-
14-0002. The NRC staff identified potential changes to current 
methodologies and tools related to performing cost-benefit analyses in 
support of regulatory, backfit, and environmental analyses. In this 
SECY paper, the NRC staff recommended a two-phased approach to revise 
the content and structure of the cost-benefit guidance documents. Phase 
1 begins to align regulatory guidance across the agency in both reactor 
and materials program areas by restructuring and pursuing some policy 
revisions. This SECY paper describes Phase 1 as a restructuring of the 
three main NRC cost-benefit guidance documents, where NUREG/BR-0184 and 
NUREG-1409, ``Backfitting Guidelines,'' are incorporated into NUREG/BR-
0058. Because of the June 9, 2016, ``Tasking Related to Implementation 
of Agency Backfitting and Issue Finality Guidance,'' NUREG-1409 will be 
kept as a stand-alone document. Cost-benefit information related to 
backfitting will be incorporated into the proposed revision to NUREG/
BR-0058. Phase 1 will now consist of revising and consolidating two 
NUREG documents into a single NUREG; updating data, methods, and 
references; and addressing audit findings and case-study 
recommendations. Subsequently, Phase 2 will identify and discuss 
potential policy issues for Commission consideration that could affect 
the NRC's cost-benefit guidance and incorporate updates to guidance on 
backfitting. Phase 1 of the proposed revision to NUREG/BR-0058 includes 
outlines for future appendices.
    The NRC staff wrote SECY-14-0087 in response to the SRM-SECY-12-
0157, ``Consideration of Additional Requirements for Containment 
Venting Systems for Boiling Water Reactors with Mark I and Mark II 
Containments,'' which directed the NRC staff to seek guidance regarding 
the use of qualitative factors. The SECY-14-0087 proposed updating the 
cost-benefit guidance to include a set of methods that could be used 
for qualitative consideration of factors within a cost-benefit analysis 
for regulatory and backfit analyses. In the SRM for SECY-14-0087, the 
Commission approved the plans for updating guidance regarding 
qualitative factors, including the treatment of uncertainties, and 
directed the update to focus on capturing best practices for the 
consideration of qualitative factors. The Commission also directed the 
NRC staff to develop a toolkit for the analyst to clarify how to 
consider and document the use of qualitative factors. Appendix A, 
``Qualitative Factors Assessment Tools,'' of the proposed revision to 
NUREG/BR-0058 provides this toolkit for considering qualitative 
factors.
    In 2014, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted 
a performance audit in which the NRC's cost-estimating procedures were 
reviewed. The GAO audit report, GAO-15-98, ``NRC Needs to Improve its 
Cost Estimates by Incorporating More Best Practices,'' recommended that 
the NRC align its cost estimating procedures with relevant cost 
estimating best practices identified in the ``GAO Cost Estimating and 
Assessment Guide'' (GAO-09-3SP). The NRC staff has addressed the GAO 
recommendations in Appendix B, ``Cost Estimating and Best Practices,'' 
of the proposed revision to NUREG/BR-0058.
    This proposed revision to NUREG/BR-0058 would make three main 
changes. First, the revision to NUREG/BR-0058 consolidates cost-benefit 
guidance that is used across the agency. The NRC staff has expanded the 
draft document to provide additional guidance for performing the NRC's 
materials licensee regulatory analyses, backfit analyses, and NEPA 
analyses.
    Second, this revision provides methods for assessing factors that 
are difficult to quantify, incorporates cost-estimating best practices, 
and expands on methods to quantify uncertainties. This revision 
provides guidance intended to enhance clarity, transparency, and 
consistency of analyses for the decisionmaker.
    Finally, this revision uses appendices to provide detailed 
technical material that is subject to change. These appendices will be 
issued and controlled separately to facilitate the maintenance of this 
information. Appendices that will be issued initially include Appendix 
A, ``Qualitative Factors Assessment Tools''; Appendix B, ``Cost 
Estimating and Best Practices''; Appendix C, ``The Treatment of 
Uncertainty''; Appendix D, ``Guidance on Regulatory Analyses Related to 
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Code Changes''; and 
Appendix E, ``Special Circumstances.''
    The NRC staff held a Category 3 public meeting on July 16, 2015, to 
discuss the proposed structure and changes to the NRC cost-benefit 
guidance in Phase 1. The NRC presentation can be found in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML15189A463, and the meeting summary can be found in 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML15217A420. The NRC staff also held a 
Category 3 public workshop on March 3, 2016, to discuss NRC activities 
to improve its cost-benefit guidance including the newly developed 
qualitative factors assessment tools, cost estimating and best 
practices, and the treatment of uncertainty. The NRC presentation can 
be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML16061A139, and the meeting 
summary can be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML16084A167. 
Additionally, the NRC staff held an Advisory Committee on Reactor 
Safeguards (ACRS) Regulatory Policies and Practices Subcommittee 
meeting on February 7, 2017, and an ACRS Full Committee meeting on 
March 9, 2017.

III. Availability of Documents

    The NRC may post additional materials related to this activity to 
the Federal rulemaking Web site at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID 
NRC-2017-0091. These documents will inform the public of the current 
status of this activity and/or provide additional material for use at 
future public meetings.
    The Federal rulemaking Web site allows you to receive alerts when 
changes or additions occur in a docket folder. To subscribe: (1) 
Navigate to the docket folder (NRC-2017-0091); (2) click the ``Sign up 
for Email Alerts'' link; and (3) enter your email address and select 
how frequently you would like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or 
monthly).
    The documents identified in the following table are available to 
interested persons as indicated.

[[Page 18165]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Document                                       ADAMS accession No./web link
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUREG/BR-0058, Revision 5, ``Regulatory         ML17101A355.
 Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. NRC''.
NUREG/BR-0058, Revision 4, ``Regulatory         ML042820192.
 Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. NRC''.
NUREG/BR-0184, ``Regulatory Analysis Technical  ML050190193.
 Evaluation Handbook''.
SECY-14-0002, ``Plan for Updating NRC's Cost-   ML13274A519.
 Benefit Guidance,'' January 2, 2014.
SECY-14-0087, ``Qualitative Consideration of    ML14127A458 (Package).
 Factors in the Development of Regulatory
 Analyses and Backfit Analyses,'' September
 11, 2014.
SECY-14-0143, ``Regulatory Gap Analysis of the  ML14280A426 (Package).
 NRC's Cost-Benefit Guidance and Practices,''
 December 16, 2014.
SECY-12-0110, ``Consideration of Economic       ML12173A478 (Package).
 Consequences within the U.S. NRC's Regulatory
 Framework,'' August 14, 2012.
SRM for SECY-12-0110, ``Consideration of        ML13079A055.
 Economic Consequences within the U.S. NRC's
 Regulatory Framework,'' March 20, 2013.
SRM for SECY-14-0087, ''Qualitative             ML15063A568.
 Consideration of Factors in the Development
 of Regulatory Analyses and Backfit
 Analyses,'' March 4, 2015.
NUREG-1409, ``Backftting Guidelines''.........  ML032230247.
``Tasking Related to Implementation of Agency   ML16133A575.
 Backfitting and Issue Finality Guidance,''
 June 9, 2016.
AO-15-98, ``NRC Needs to Improve its Cost       http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/667501.pdf.
 Estimates by Incorporating More Best
 Practices''.
GAO-09-3SP, ``GAO Cost Estimating and           http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d093sp.pdf.
 Assessment Guide''.
SRM for SECY-12-0157, ``Consideration of        ML13078A017.
 Additional Requirements for Containment
 Venting Systems for Boiling Water Reactors
 with Mark I and Mark II Containments,'' March
 12, 2013.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of April 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Anita L. Lund,
Director, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2017-07623 Filed 4-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 72 / Monday, April 17, 2017 / Notices                                           18163

                                                  recordings will be permitted only                       analyses, and National Environmental                  Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
                                                  during those portions of the meeting                    Policy Act (NEPA) analyses.                           please contact the NRC’s Public
                                                  that are open to the public. Detailed                   Additionally, the update incorporates                 Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
                                                  procedures for the conduct of and                       improvements in methods for assessing                 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
                                                  participation in ACRS meetings were                     factors that are difficult to quantify,               email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. For the
                                                  published in the Federal Register on                    incorporates relevant cost estimating                 convenience of the reader, instructions
                                                  October 17, 2016, (81 FR 71543).                        best practices, and includes                          about obtaining materials referenced in
                                                     Detailed meeting agendas and meeting                 improvements in uncertainty analyses                  this document are provided in the
                                                  transcripts are available on the NRC                    for use in cost-benefit analyses.                     ‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section.
                                                  Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-                 DATES: Submit comments by June 16,                       • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                                  rm/doc-collections/acrs. Information                    2017. Comments received after this date               purchase copies of public documents at
                                                  regarding topics to be discussed,                       will be considered if it is practical to do           the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
                                                  changes to the agenda, whether the                      so, but the Commission is able to ensure              White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                                  meeting has been canceled or                            consideration only for comments                       Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                                                  rescheduled, and the time allotted to                   received on or before this date.                      B. Submitting Comments
                                                  present oral statements can be obtained                 ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                  from the Web site cited above or by                                                                             Please include Docket ID NRC–2017–
                                                                                                          by any of the following methods:                      0091 in your comment submission.
                                                  contacting the identified DFO.                            • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
                                                  Moreover, in view of the possibility that                                                                       The NRC cautions you not to include
                                                                                                          http://www.regulations.gov and search                 identifying or contact information that
                                                  the schedule for ACRS meetings may be                   for Docket ID NRC–2017–0091. Address
                                                  adjusted by the Chairman as necessary                                                                         you do not want to be publicly
                                                                                                          questions about NRC dockets to Carol                  disclosed in your comment submission.
                                                  to facilitate the conduct of the meeting,               Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
                                                  persons planning to attend should check                                                                       The NRC will post all comment
                                                                                                          email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For                   submissions at http://
                                                  with these references if such                           technical questions, contact the
                                                  rescheduling would result in a major                                                                          www.regulations.gov as well as enter the
                                                                                                          individual listed in the FOR FURTHER                  comment submissions into ADAMS.
                                                  inconvenience.                                          INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
                                                     If attending this meeting, please enter                                                                    The NRC does not routinely edit
                                                                                                          document.                                             comment submissions to remove
                                                  through the One White Flint North                         • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,
                                                  building, 11555 Rockville Pike,                                                                               identifying or contact information.
                                                                                                          Office of Administration, Mail Stop:                    If you are requesting or aggregating
                                                  Rockville, Maryland 20852. After                        OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear                             comments from other persons for
                                                  registering with Security, please contact               Regulatory Commission, Washington,                    submission to the NRC, then you should
                                                  Mr. Theron Brown (Telephone 240–                        DC 20555–0001.                                        inform those persons not to include
                                                  888–9835) to be escorted to the meeting                   For additional direction on obtaining               identifying or contact information that
                                                  room.                                                   information and submitting comments,                  they do not want to be publicly
                                                    Dated: April 7, 2017.                                 see ‘‘Obtaining Information and                       disclosed in their comment submission.
                                                  Michael Snodderly,                                      Submitting Comments’’ in the                          Your request should state that the NRC
                                                  Acting Branch Chief, Technical Support                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of                  does not routinely edit comment
                                                  Branch, Advisory Committee on Reactor                   this document.                                        submissions to remove such information
                                                  Safeguards.                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      before making the comment
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–07704 Filed 4–14–17; 8:45 am]             Pamela Noto, Office of Nuclear Reactor                submissions available to the public or
                                                  BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                  Regulation, telephone: 301–415–6795,                  entering the comment into ADAMS.
                                                                                                          email: Pamela.Noto@nrc.gov, U.S.                      II. Discussion
                                                                                                          Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
                                                  NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                      Washington, DC 20555–0001.                               The proposed revision to NUREG/BR–
                                                  COMMISSION                                                                                                    0058 is the first of two phases to update
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                the NRC’s cost-benefit guidance
                                                  [NRC–2017–0091]
                                                                                                          I. Obtaining Information and                          documents, primarily NUREG/BR–0058,
                                                  Regulatory Analysis Guidelines                          Submitting Comments                                   Revision 4, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis
                                                                                                                                                                Guidelines of the U.S. NRC,’’ and
                                                                                                          A. Obtaining Information
                                                  AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory                                                                                    NUREG/BR–0184, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis
                                                  Commission.                                                Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2017–                Technical Handbook.’’ This update
                                                  ACTION: Draft NUREG; request for                        0091 when contacting the NRC about                    identifies potential changes to current
                                                  comment.                                                the availability of information for this              methods and tools related to performing
                                                                                                          action. You may obtain publicly                       cost-benefit analyses in support of
                                                  SUMMARY:  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                   available information related to this                 regulatory analyses, backfitting
                                                  Commission (NRC) is issuing for public                  action by any of the following methods:               analyses, and environmental analyses.
                                                  comment a draft NUREG, NUREG/BR–                           • Federal rulemaking Web site: Go to                  In response to questions posed after
                                                  0058, Revision 5, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis                 http://www.regulations.gov and search                 the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi
                                                  Guidelines of the U.S. NRC.’’ This                      for Docket ID NRC–2017–0091.                          plant in Japan, the NRC staff
                                                  proposed revision to NUREG/BR–0058                         • NRC’s Agencywide Documents                       recommended enhancing the currency
                                                  would update and restructure the NRC’s                  Access and Management System                          and consistency of the existing
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  cost-benefit guidance documents by                      (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly                      regulatory framework through updates
                                                  incorporating information contained in                  available documents online in the                     to cost-benefit analysis guidance
                                                  NUREG/BR–0184, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis                    ADAMS Public Documents collection at                  documents, including aligning cost-
                                                  Technical Handbook,’’ into this                         http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                        benefit guidance across the agency in
                                                  document and would expand the                           adams.html. To begin the search, select               both reactor and materials program
                                                  discussion of cost-benefit analyses in                  ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then                   areas in SECY–12–0110, ‘‘Consideration
                                                  NRC’s regulatory analyses, backfitting                  select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                        of Economic Consequences in the NRC’s


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:14 Apr 14, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00065   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM   17APN1


                                                  18164                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 72 / Monday, April 17, 2017 / Notices

                                                  Regulatory Framework.’’ In the staff                       The NRC staff wrote SECY–14–0087                   appendices will be issued and
                                                  requirements memorandum (SRM) for                       in response to the SRM–SECY–12–0157,                  controlled separately to facilitate the
                                                  SECY–12–0110, the Commission                            ‘‘Consideration of Additional                         maintenance of this information.
                                                  approved this recommendation and                        Requirements for Containment Venting                  Appendices that will be issued initially
                                                  directed the NRC staff to identify                      Systems for Boiling Water Reactors with               include Appendix A, ‘‘Qualitative
                                                  potential changes to current                            Mark I and Mark II Containments,’’                    Factors Assessment Tools’’; Appendix
                                                  methodologies and tools to perform                      which directed the NRC staff to seek                  B, ‘‘Cost Estimating and Best Practices’’;
                                                  cost-benefit analyses in support of                     guidance regarding the use of qualitative             Appendix C, ‘‘The Treatment of
                                                  regulatory, backfit, and environmental                  factors. The SECY–14–0087 proposed                    Uncertainty’’; Appendix D, ‘‘Guidance
                                                  analyses. Further, the Commission                       updating the cost-benefit guidance to                 on Regulatory Analyses Related to
                                                  directed the NRC staff to provide a                     include a set of methods that could be                American Society of Mechanical
                                                  regulatory gap analysis prior to                        used for qualitative consideration of                 Engineers (ASME) Code Changes’’; and
                                                  developing new cost-benefit guidance.                   factors within a cost-benefit analysis for            Appendix E, ‘‘Special Circumstances.’’
                                                     In response to Commission direction,                 regulatory and backfit analyses. In the
                                                  the NRC staff prepared SECY–14–0002,                                                                             The NRC staff held a Category 3
                                                                                                          SRM for SECY–14–0087, the
                                                  ‘‘Plan for Updating NRC’s Cost-Benefit                                                                        public meeting on July 16, 2015, to
                                                                                                          Commission approved the plans for
                                                  Guidance;’’ SECY–14–0087,                                                                                     discuss the proposed structure and
                                                                                                          updating guidance regarding qualitative
                                                  ‘‘Qualitative Consideration of Factors in                                                                     changes to the NRC cost-benefit
                                                                                                          factors, including the treatment of
                                                  the Development of Regulatory Analyses                                                                        guidance in Phase 1. The NRC
                                                                                                          uncertainties, and directed the update to
                                                  and Backfit Analyses;’’ and SECY–14–                                                                          presentation can be found in ADAMS
                                                                                                          focus on capturing best practices for the
                                                  0143, ‘‘Regulatory Gap Analysis of the                  consideration of qualitative factors. The             under Accession No. ML15189A463,
                                                  NRC’s Cost-Benefit Guidance and                         Commission also directed the NRC staff                and the meeting summary can be found
                                                  Practices.’’ Further details regarding                  to develop a toolkit for the analyst to               in ADAMS under Accession No.
                                                  these documents are provided below.                     clarify how to consider and document                  ML15217A420. The NRC staff also held
                                                     In response to the SRM for SECY–12–                  the use of qualitative factors. Appendix              a Category 3 public workshop on March
                                                  0110, the NRC staff wrote SECY–14–                      A, ‘‘Qualitative Factors Assessment                   3, 2016, to discuss NRC activities to
                                                  0002. The NRC staff identified potential                Tools,’’ of the proposed revision to                  improve its cost-benefit guidance
                                                  changes to current methodologies and                    NUREG/BR–0058 provides this toolkit                   including the newly developed
                                                  tools related to performing cost-benefit                for considering qualitative factors.                  qualitative factors assessment tools, cost
                                                  analyses in support of regulatory,                         In 2014, the U.S. Government                       estimating and best practices, and the
                                                  backfit, and environmental analyses. In                 Accountability Office (GAO) conducted                 treatment of uncertainty. The NRC
                                                  this SECY paper, the NRC staff                          a performance audit in which the NRC’s                presentation can be found in ADAMS
                                                  recommended a two-phased approach to                    cost-estimating procedures were                       under Accession No. ML16061A139,
                                                  revise the content and structure of the                 reviewed. The GAO audit report, GAO–                  and the meeting summary can be found
                                                  cost-benefit guidance documents. Phase                  15–98, ‘‘NRC Needs to Improve its Cost                in ADAMS under Accession No.
                                                  1 begins to align regulatory guidance                   Estimates by Incorporating More Best                  ML16084A167. Additionally, the NRC
                                                  across the agency in both reactor and                   Practices,’’ recommended that the NRC                 staff held an Advisory Committee on
                                                  materials program areas by restructuring                align its cost estimating procedures with             Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) Regulatory
                                                  and pursuing some policy revisions.                     relevant cost estimating best practices               Policies and Practices Subcommittee
                                                  This SECY paper describes Phase 1 as                    identified in the ‘‘GAO Cost Estimating               meeting on February 7, 2017, and an
                                                  a restructuring of the three main NRC                   and Assessment Guide’’ (GAO–09–3SP).                  ACRS Full Committee meeting on
                                                  cost-benefit guidance documents, where                  The NRC staff has addressed the GAO                   March 9, 2017.
                                                  NUREG/BR–0184 and NUREG–1409,                           recommendations in Appendix B, ‘‘Cost                 III. Availability of Documents
                                                  ‘‘Backfitting Guidelines,’’ are                         Estimating and Best Practices,’’ of the
                                                  incorporated into NUREG/BR–0058.                        proposed revision to NUREG/BR–0058.                      The NRC may post additional
                                                  Because of the June 9, 2016, ‘‘Tasking                     This proposed revision to NUREG/                   materials related to this activity to the
                                                  Related to Implementation of Agency                     BR–0058 would make three main                         Federal rulemaking Web site at
                                                  Backfitting and Issue Finality                          changes. First, the revision to NUREG/                www.regulations.gov under Docket ID
                                                  Guidance,’’ NUREG–1409 will be kept                     BR–0058 consolidates cost-benefit                     NRC–2017–0091. These documents will
                                                  as a stand-alone document. Cost-benefit                 guidance that is used across the agency.              inform the public of the current status
                                                  information related to backfitting will be              The NRC staff has expanded the draft                  of this activity and/or provide
                                                  incorporated into the proposed revision                 document to provide additional                        additional material for use at future
                                                  to NUREG/BR–0058. Phase 1 will now                      guidance for performing the NRC’s                     public meetings.
                                                  consist of revising and consolidating                   materials licensee regulatory analyses,
                                                  two NUREG documents into a single                                                                                The Federal rulemaking Web site
                                                                                                          backfit analyses, and NEPA analyses.
                                                  NUREG; updating data, methods, and                         Second, this revision provides                     allows you to receive alerts when
                                                  references; and addressing audit                        methods for assessing factors that are                changes or additions occur in a docket
                                                  findings and case-study                                 difficult to quantify, incorporates cost-             folder. To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the
                                                  recommendations. Subsequently, Phase                    estimating best practices, and expands                docket folder (NRC–2017–0091); (2)
                                                  2 will identify and discuss potential                   on methods to quantify uncertainties.                 click the ‘‘Sign up for Email Alerts’’
                                                  policy issues for Commission                            This revision provides guidance                       link; and (3) enter your email address
                                                  consideration that could affect the                     intended to enhance clarity,                          and select how frequently you would
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                                                  NRC’s cost-benefit guidance and                         transparency, and consistency of                      like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or
                                                  incorporate updates to guidance on                      analyses for the decisionmaker.                       monthly).
                                                  backfitting. Phase 1 of the proposed                       Finally, this revision uses appendices                The documents identified in the
                                                  revision to NUREG/BR–0058 includes                      to provide detailed technical material                following table are available to
                                                  outlines for future appendices.                         that is subject to change. These                      interested persons as indicated.




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                                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 72 / Monday, April 17, 2017 / Notices                                                             18165

                                                                                                          Document                                                                        ADAMS accession No./web link

                                                  NUREG/BR–0058, Revision 5, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. NRC’’ ..................                                ML17101A355.
                                                  NUREG/BR–0058, Revision 4, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis Guidelines of the U.S. NRC’’ ..................                                ML042820192.
                                                  NUREG/BR–0184, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis Technical Evaluation Handbook’’ ...............................                            ML050190193.
                                                  SECY–14–0002, ‘‘Plan for Updating NRC’s Cost-Benefit Guidance,’’ January 2, 2014 .............                                  ML13274A519.
                                                  SECY–14–0087, ‘‘Qualitative Consideration of Factors in the Development of Regulatory                                           ML14127A458 (Package).
                                                     Analyses and Backfit Analyses,’’ September 11, 2014.
                                                  SECY–14–0143, ‘‘Regulatory Gap Analysis of the NRC’s Cost-Benefit Guidance and Prac-                                            ML14280A426 (Package).
                                                     tices,’’ December 16, 2014.
                                                  SECY–12–0110, ‘‘Consideration of Economic Consequences within the U.S. NRC’s Regu-                                              ML12173A478 (Package).
                                                     latory Framework,’’ August 14, 2012.
                                                  SRM for SECY–12–0110, ‘‘Consideration of Economic Consequences within the U.S. NRC’s                                            ML13079A055.
                                                     Regulatory Framework,’’ March 20, 2013.
                                                  SRM for SECY–14–0087, ’’Qualitative Consideration of Factors in the Development of Regu-                                        ML15063A568.
                                                     latory Analyses and Backfit Analyses,’’ March 4, 2015.
                                                  NUREG–1409, ‘‘Backftting Guidelines’’ .......................................................................................   ML032230247.
                                                  ‘‘Tasking Related to Implementation of Agency Backfitting and Issue Finality Guidance,’’ June                                   ML16133A575.
                                                     9, 2016.
                                                  AO–15–98, ‘‘NRC Needs to Improve its Cost Estimates by Incorporating More Best Prac-                                            http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/667501.pdf.
                                                     tices’’.
                                                  GAO–09–3SP, ‘‘GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide’’ ................................................                       http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d093sp.pdf.
                                                  SRM for SECY–12–0157, ‘‘Consideration of Additional Requirements for Containment Venting                                        ML13078A017.
                                                     Systems for Boiling Water Reactors with Mark I and Mark II Containments,’’ March 12,
                                                     2013.


                                                    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day                    Register. The following executives have                          SUMMARY:   The Service Employees
                                                  of April 2017.                                                   been designated as members of the                                International Union Local 1 Cleveland
                                                    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                         Performance Review Board for the U.S.                            Pension Plan requested the Pension
                                                  Anita L. Lund,                                                   Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board:                            Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) to
                                                  Director, Division of Policy and Rulemaking,                     Steven M. Becker, Board Member, U.S.                             approve a plan amendment providing
                                                  Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.                              Nuclear Waste Technical Review                                 for special withdrawal liability rules for
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–07623 Filed 4–14–17; 8:45 am]                        Board                                                          employers that maintain the Plan. PBGC
                                                  BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                           Linda K. Nozick, Board Member, U.S.                              published a Notice of Pendency of the
                                                                                                                     Nuclear Waste Technical Review                                 Request for Approval of the amendment.
                                                                                                                     Board                                                          In accordance with the provisions of the
                                                  NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL                                          Paul J. Turinsky, Board Member, U.S.                             Employee Retirement Income Security
                                                  REVIEW BOARD                                                       Nuclear Waste Technical Review                                 Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), PBGC
                                                                                                                     Board                                                          is now advising the public that the
                                                  Formation of SES Performance Review                              Katherine R. Herrera, Deputy General                             agency has approved the requested
                                                  Board                                                              Manager, Defense Nuclear Facilities                            amendment.
                                                                                                                     Safety Board                                                   ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan’s
                                                  AGENCY: Nuclear Waste Technical                                  Timothy J. Dwyer, Member, Technical                              complete request may be requested from
                                                  Review Board.                                                      Staff, Defense Nuclear Facilities                              the Disclosure Officer, Pension Benefit
                                                  ACTION: Notice.                                                    Safety Board                                                   Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street
                                                                                                                   Richard E. Tontodonato, Deputy                                   NW., Suite 11101, Washington, DC
                                                  SUMMARY:   The Nuclear Waste Technical
                                                                                                                     Technical Director, Defense Nuclear                            20005 (fax 202–326–4042).
                                                  Review Board is announcing the
                                                                                                                     Facilities Safety Board                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  members Performance Review Board.
                                                  DATES: Effectively immediately and
                                                                                                                      Authority: 42 U.S.C. 10262.                                   Bruce Perlin, Assistant Chief Counsel
                                                  until April 30, 2018.                                              Dated: April 4, 2017.                                          (Perlin.Bruce@PBGC.gov), 202–326–
                                                                                                                   Debra L. Dickson,
                                                                                                                                                                                    4020, ext. 6818 or Jon Chatalian, Deputy
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                                                                                              Assistant Chief Counsel (Chatalian.Jon@
                                                  further information about the formation                          Director of Administration, U.S. Nuclear
                                                                                                                   Waste Technical Review Board.
                                                                                                                                                                                    PBGC.gov), ext. 6757, Office of the Chief
                                                  of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical                                                                                               Counsel, Suite 340, 1200 K Street NW.,
                                                  Review Board’s Performance Review                                [FR Doc. 2017–06998 Filed 4–14–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                                    Washington, DC 20005–4026; (TTY/
                                                  Board, please contact Debra L. Dickson                           BILLING CODE P
                                                                                                                                                                                    TDD users may call the Federal relay
                                                  at 703.235.4480 or via email at dickson@                                                                                          service toll-free at 1–800–877–8339 and
                                                  nwtrb.gov, or via mail at 2300 Clarendon                                                                                          ask to be connected to 202–326–4020.)
                                                  Blvd., Suite 1300, Arlington, VA 22201                           PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY                                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section                               CORPORATION
                                                  4314(c)(1) through (5) of Title 5 of the                                                                                          Background
                                                  United States Code, requires each                                Approval of Special Withdrawal                                     The Pension Benefit Guaranty
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  agency to establish, in accordance with                          Liability Rules: the Service Employees                           Corporation (PBGC) administers title IV
                                                  regulations prescribed by the Office of                          International Union Local 1 Cleveland                            of the Employee Retirement Income
                                                  Personnel Management, one or more                                Pension Plan                                                     Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
                                                  SES Performance Review Boards.                                   AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty                                   Under section 4201 of ERISA, an
                                                  Section 4314(c)(4) of Title 5 requires                           Corporation.                                                     employer that completely or partially
                                                  that notice of appointment of board                                                                                               withdraws from a defined benefit
                                                                                                                   ACTION: Notice of Approval.
                                                  members be published in the Federal                                                                                               multiemployer pension plan becomes


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Document Created: 2018-08-25 11:27:47
Document Modified: 2018-08-25 11:27:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionDraft NUREG; request for comment.
DatesSubmit comments by June 16, 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.
ContactPamela Noto, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, telephone: 301-415-6795, email: [email protected], U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
FR Citation82 FR 18163 

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