82 FR 48728 - Quality Assurance Program Criteria (Design and Construction)
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)
| Page Range | 48728-48729 | |
| FR Document | 2017-22670 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 48728-48729] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-22670] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2017-0079] Quality Assurance Program Criteria (Design and Construction) AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 5 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.28, ``Quality Assurance Program Criteria (Design and Construction).'' This regulatory guide (RG 1.28) updates the guidance to endorse, with clarification or exceptions, multiple revisions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard NQA-1 titled ``Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications.'' The proposed revision describes methods that the NRC considers acceptable for establishing and implementing a quality assurance (QA) program for the design and construction of nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing plants. DATES: Revision 5 to RG 1.28 is available on October 19, 2017. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2017-0079 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0079. 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. 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 [[Page 48729]] 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. The RG is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML17207A293. 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. Regulatory guides are not copyrighted, and NRC approval is not required to reproduce them. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Ferguson, Office of New Reactors, telephone: 301-415-6638, email: [email protected], and Stephen Burton, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, telephone: 301- 415-7000, email: [email protected]. Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Discussion The NRC is issuing a revision to an existing guide 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 agency's regulations, techniques that the NRC staff uses in evaluating specific issues or postulated events, and data that the NRC staff needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses. Revision 5 of RG 1.28 was issued with a temporary identification of Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1326. This revision of the guide (Revision 5) updates the guidance to endorse, with clarification or exceptions, multiple revisions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standard NQA-1 titled ``Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications.'' II. Additional Information The NRC published a notice of the availability of DG-1326 in the Federal Register on March 27, 2017 (82 FR 15242), for a 60-day public comment period. The public comment period closed on May 26, 2017. Public comments on DG-1326 and the staff responses to the public comments are available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML17207A289. III. Congressional Review Act This RG is a rule as defined in the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801-808). However, the Office of Management and Budget has not found it to be a major rule as defined in the Congressional Review Act. IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality This RG 1.28 describes methods that the NRC considers acceptable for establishing and implementing a QA program for the design and construction of nuclear power plants and fuel reprocessing plants. Issuance of this RG does not constitute backfitting as defined in Sec. 50.109 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), (the Backfit Rule) and is not otherwise inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in part 52. As discussed in the ``Implementation'' section of this RG, the NRC has no current intention to impose this guidance on holders of current operating licenses or combined licenses. This RG may be applied to applications for operating licenses, combined licenses, early site permits, and certified design rules docketed by the NRC as of the date of issuance of this RG, 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 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 13th day of October, 2017. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Edward O'Donnell, Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. [FR Doc. 2017-22670 Filed 10-18-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![48728 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2017 / Notices
while allowing flexibility in disposal disposal of VLLW by finalizing the draft For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
options. guidance document. Per the Andrea Kock,
One high priority task (Task 2) in the Programmatic Assessment, this final Deputy Director, Division of
Strategic Assessment was to address the draft would be published for public Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and
challenge of alternative disposal of Very comment, then issued as a final Waste Programs, Office of Nuclear Material
Low-Level Waste (VLLW), in document. Safety and Safeguards.
accordance with § 20.2002 of title 10 of [FR Doc. 2017–22694 Filed 10–18–17; 8:45 am]
Accordingly, the purpose of this draft
the Code of Federal Regulations (10 BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
revision to the guidance is to improve
CFR), in non-traditional LLRW facilities
such as Resource Conservation and the alternative disposal process by
Recovery Act facilities, as well as the providing more clarity, consistency, and NUCLEAR REGULATORY
regulatory review and approval needed transparency to the process. In addition, COMMISSION
for such disposal. In response to this draft revision to the guidance also
clarifies the meaning of disposal relative [NRC–2017–0079]
stakeholder input regarding the 2007
assessment, the NRC determined that to 10 CFR 20.2002 authorizations to
Quality Assurance Program Criteria
the process for authorizing these include recycling and reuse of materials.
(Design and Construction)
disposals needed more consistency and The draft revision to the guidance is
clarity. The NRC committed to available for public comment as AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
addressing these concerns through the ADAMS Accession No. ML16326A063. Commission.
development of new regulatory The NRC is interested in receiving ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance.
guidance. comments related to the draft revision to
the guidance from stakeholders, SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
On August 31, 2009, the NRC issued
including professional organizations, Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 5
interim staff procedure, ‘‘Review,
licensees, Agreement States, and to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.28, ‘‘Quality
Approval, and Documentation of Low-
members of the public. Comments will Assurance Program Criteria (Design and
Activity Waste Disposals in Accordance
be considered to determine if additional Construction).’’ This regulatory guide
with 10 CFR 20.2002 and 10 CFR
changes to the draft revision to the (RG 1.28) updates the guidance to
40.13(a)’’ (ADAMS Accession No.
endorse, with clarification or
ML092460058). Prior to its issuance, guidance and the alternative disposal
exceptions, multiple revisions of the
there had been no single procedure request process are needed.
covering safety and security reviews, the American Society of Mechanical
During the comment period, the NRC Engineers standard NQA–1 titled
preparation of an environmental will conduct a public meeting at the
assessment, and coordination with ‘‘Quality Assurance Requirements for
NRC’s Headquarters that will explain Nuclear Facility Applications.’’ The
internal and external stakeholders for the draft revision to the guidance and
alternative disposal requests. proposed revision describes methods
address questions. Information that the NRC considers acceptable for
Accordingly, this document was regarding the public meeting will be
developed and issued to provide establishing and implementing a quality
posted on the NRC’s public meeting assurance (QA) program for the design
consistency and guidance for NRC
Web site at least 10 calendar days before and construction of nuclear power
staff’s review of alternative disposal
the meeting. The NRC’s public meeting plants and fuel reprocessing plants.
requests received from licensees,
Web site is located at https:// DATES: Revision 5 to RG 1.28 is available
applicants, and other entities for
www.nrc.gov/public-involve.html. on October 19, 2017.
alternative disposal of licensed material.
In addition, the NRC determined that The NRC will also post the meeting ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
this guidance would be finalized after it notice on the Federal rulemaking Web NRC–2017–0079 when contacting the
had been implemented and used for site at http://www.regulations.gov under NRC about the availability of
more alternative disposal requests. Docket ID NRC–2017–0198. The NRC information regarding this document.
In order to set the direction for the may post additional materials related to You may obtain publicly-available
NRC’s LLRW regulatory program in the this document, including public information related to this document
next several years, including the comments, on the Federal rulemaking using any of the following methods:
alternative disposal request review Web site. The Federal rulemaking Web • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
process, the NRC decided to conduct a site allows you to receive alerts when http://www.regulations.gov and search
new evaluation of the NRC’s LLRW changes or additions occur in a docket for Docket ID NRC–2017–0079. Address
program (referred to as a Programmatic folder. To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the questions about NRC dockets to Carol
Assessment). The results of this docket folder (NRC–2017–0198); (2) Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
assessment were published in October click the ‘‘Sign up for Email Alerts’’ email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
2016, in SECY–16–0118, ‘‘Programmatic link; and (3) enter your email address technical questions, contact the
Assessment of Low-Level Radioactive and select how frequently you would individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER
Waste Regulatory Program’’ (ADAMS like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
Accession No. ML15243A192). The monthly). document.
objectives of the 2016 assessment were • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
similar to the objectives of the 2007 III. Requested Information and Access and Management System
Strategic Assessment. Both assessments Comments (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
also have considered future needs and available documents online in the
rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with NOTICES
changes that may occur in the nation’s The NRC staff will treat all public ADAMS Public Documents collection at
commercial LLRW management system. feedback as public comments on the http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
One of the high priority tasks (Task 5) draft revision to the guidance and adams.html. To begin the search, select
included within Enclosure 1 (ADAMS consider them as it finalizes the revision ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
Accession No. ML15243A205) of the to the guidance. select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
Programmatic Assessment was to Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 16th day Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
address the challenge of alternative of October 2017. please contact the NRC’s Public
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 201 / Thursday, October 19, 2017 / Notices 48729
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 801–808). However, the Office of whether the information has practical
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by Management and Budget has not found utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB’s
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The it to be a major rule as defined in the estimate of the burden of the collection
ADAMS accession number for each Congressional Review Act. of the information; (c) ways to enhance
document referenced (if it is available in the quality, utility, and clarity of the
IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality
ADAMS) is provided the first time that information to be collected; and (d)
it is mentioned in this document. The This RG 1.28 describes methods that ways to minimize the burden related to
RG is available in ADAMS under the NRC considers acceptable for the collection of information on
Accession No. ML17207A293. establishing and implementing a QA respondents, including the use of
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and program for the design and construction automated collection techniques or
purchase copies of public documents at of nuclear power plants and fuel other forms of information technology.
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One reprocessing plants. Issuance of this RG 1. Title and purpose of information
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville does not constitute backfitting as collection: RUIA Claims Notification
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. defined in § 50.109 of title 10 of the and Verification System; OMB 3220–
Regulatory guides are not Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), 0171. Section 5(b) of the Railroad
copyrighted, and NRC approval is not (the Backfit Rule) and is not otherwise Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA),
required to reproduce them. inconsistent with the issue finality requires that effective January 1, 1990,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: provisions in part 52. As discussed in when a claim for benefits is filed with
Ashley Ferguson, Office of New the ‘‘Implementation’’ section of this the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB),
Reactors, telephone: 301–415–6638, RG, the NRC has no current intention to the RRB shall provide notice of the
email: Ashley.Ferguson@nrc.gov, and impose this guidance on holders of claim to the claimant’s base year
Stephen Burton, Office of Nuclear current operating licenses or combined employer(s) to provide them an
Regulatory Research, telephone: 301– licenses. opportunity to submit information
415–7000, email: Stephen.Burton@ This RG may be applied to relevant to the claim before making an
nrc.gov. Both are staff of the U.S. applications for operating licenses, initial determination. If the RRB
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, combined licenses, early site permits, determines to pay benefits to the
Washington, DC 20555–0001. and certified design rules docketed by claimant under the RUIA, the RRB shall
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: the NRC as of the date of issuance of notify the base-year employer(s).
this RG, as well as future applications
I. Discussion The purpose of the RUIA Claims
submitted after the issuance of the
Notification and Verification System is
The NRC is issuing a revision to an regulatory guide. Such action would not
to provide two notices, pre-payment
existing guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory constitute backfitting as defined in the
Form ID–4K, Prepayment Notice of
Guide’’ series. This series was Backfit Rule or be otherwise
Employees’ Applications and Claims for
developed to describe and make inconsistent with the applicable issue
Benefits Under the Railroad
available to the public information finality provision in part 52, inasmuch
Unemployment Insurance Act, and post-
regarding methods that are acceptable to as such applicants or potential
payment Form ID–4E, Notice of RUIA
the NRC staff for implementing specific applicants are not within the scope of
Claim Determination. Prepayment Form
parts of the agency’s regulations, entities protected by the Backfit Rule or
ID–4K provides notice to a claimant’s
techniques that the NRC staff uses in the relevant issue finality provisions in
base-year employer(s), of each
evaluating specific issues or postulated part 52.
unemployment application and
events, and data that the NRC staff Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day unemployment and sickness claim filed
needs in its review of applications for of October, 2017. for benefits under the RUIA and
permits and licenses. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. provides the employer an opportunity to
Revision 5 of RG 1.28 was issued with Edward O’Donnell, convey information relevant to the
a temporary identification of Draft Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and proper adjudication of the claim.
Regulatory Guide, DG–1326. This Generic Issues Branch, Division of The railroad employer can elect to
revision of the guide (Revision 5) Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory receive Form ID–4K by one of three
updates the guidance to endorse, with Research.
options: A computer-generated paper
clarification or exceptions, multiple [FR Doc. 2017–22670 Filed 10–18–17; 8:45 am] notice, by Electronic Data Interchange
revisions of the American Society of BILLING CODE 7590–01–P (EDI), or online via the RRB’s Employer
Mechanical Engineers standard NQA–1
Reporting System (ERS). The railroad
titled ‘‘Quality Assurance Requirements
employer can respond to the ID–4K
for Nuclear Facility Applications.’’ RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD notice by telephone, manually by
II. Additional Information mailing a completed ID–4K back to the
Proposed Collection; Comment RRB, or electronically via EDI or ERS.
The NRC published a notice of the Request
availability of DG–1326 in the Federal Completion is voluntary. The RRB
Register on March 27, 2017 (82 FR Summary: In accordance with the proposes to replace using EDI with the
15242), for a 60-day public comment requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of use of secure File Transfer Protocol
period. The public comment period the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (FTP), which is the standard network
closed on May 26, 2017. Public which provides opportunity for public protocol used for transferring files
comments on DG–1326 and the staff comment on new or revised data between a railroad employer and the
rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with NOTICES
responses to the public comments are collections, the Railroad Retirement RRB. The RRB proposes no changes to
available in ADAMS under Accession Board (RRB) will publish periodic the other versions of the ID–4K.
No. ML17207A289. summaries of proposed data collections. Once the RRB determines to pay a
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether claim post-payment Form Letter ID–4E,
III. Congressional Review Act the proposed information collection is Notice of RUIA Claim Determination, is
This RG is a rule as defined in the necessary for the proper performance of used to notify the base-year employer(s).
Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. the functions of the agency, including This gives the employer a second
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Document Created: 2017-10-19 02:56:57
Document Modified: 2017-10-19 02:56:57
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Regulatory guide; issuance. | |
| Dates | Revision 5 to RG 1.28 is available on October 19, 2017. | |
| Contact | Ashley Ferguson, Office of New Reactors, telephone: 301-415-6638, email: [email protected], and Stephen Burton, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, telephone: 301- 415-7000, email: [email protected] Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 48728 |
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