83 FR 30469 - Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 125 (June 28, 2018)

Page Range		30469-30470
FR Document		2018-13876

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1336, ``Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants.'' This proposed guide, Revision 4, has been revised to addresses new issues identified since Revision 3 of RG 1.160 was issued and endorses with clarification NUMARC 93-01, ``Industry Guidelines for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants,'' Revision 4F. The proposed revision describes methods that are acceptable to the NRC staff for compliance with the requirements for monitoring the effectiveness of maintenance at nuclear power plants.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 125 (Thursday, June 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30469-30470]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13876]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2018-0131]


Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power 
Plants

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for 
public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1336, ``Monitoring the 
Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants.'' This proposed 
guide, Revision 4, has been revised to addresses new issues identified 
since Revision 3 of RG 1.160 was issued and endorses with clarification 
NUMARC 93-01, ``Industry Guidelines for Monitoring the Effectiveness of 
Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants,'' Revision 4F. The proposed 
revision describes methods that are acceptable to the NRC staff for 
compliance with the requirements for monitoring the effectiveness of 
maintenance at nuclear power plants.

DATES: Submit comments by July 30, 2018. Comments received after this 
date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is 
able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date. Although a time limit is given, comments and suggestions in 
connection with items for inclusion in guides currently being developed 
or improvements in all published guides are encouraged at any time.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0131. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287-
9127; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this document.
     Mail comments to: May Ma, Office of Administration, Mail 
Stop: TWFN-7A60, 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: Ami Agrawal, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, telephone: 301-415-8310, 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. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0131 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 website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0131.
     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-1336 is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML18129A080.
     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-2018-0131 in your comment submission.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC posts all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enters the comment submissions into 
ADAMS. 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 Maintenance Rule (Part 50.65 of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR)) requires each holder of an operating license for 
a nuclear power plant under 10 CFR part 50 and each holder of a 
combined license under 10 CFR part 52 (after the Commission makes 
certain findings) to monitor the performance or condition of 
structures, systems, or components, against licensee-established goals, 
in a manner sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that in-scope 
structures, systems, and components intended functions. The Maintenance 
Rule also applies to nuclear power plant for which the licensee has 
submitted the certifications that it has ceased operating permanently, 
but limited to structures, systems, or components associated with the 
storage, control, and maintenance of spent fuel in a safe condition, in 
a manner sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that these 
structures, systems, and components are

[[Page 30470]]

capable of fulfilling their intended functions. Last, an application 
for a combined license shall contain a final safety analysis report 
that provides a description of the program, and its implementation, for 
monitoring the effectiveness of maintenance necessary to meet the 
requirements of 10 CFR 50.65.
    The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is submit revision 4F of NUMARC 
93-01, ``Industry Guideline for Monitoring the Effectiveness of 
Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants'' for endorsement. NEI explained 
that NUMARC 93-01 was developed to establish an acceptable approach for 
licensees to meet the Maintenance Rule. Revision 4F of NUMARC 93-01 
addresses the application of the Maintenance Rule to the use of diverse 
and flexible coping strategies (FLEX) support guidelines (FSGs) in 
plant emergency operating procedures (EOPs), as well as some other 
minor wording changes.
    The DG, entitled, ``Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at 
Nuclear Power Plants,'' is a proposed revision temporarily identified 
by its task number, DG-1336. DG-1336 is proposed revision 4 of RG 
1.160, ``Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power 
Plants.'' The NRC's proposed revision to RG 1.160 would endorse with 
clarification NUMARC 93-01 Revision 4F. The NRC finds that endorsement 
would be beneficial in that the agency positions with respect to FLEX 
equipment, the Maintenance Rule, and Revision 4F of NUMARC 93-01 would 
be readily understood.

III. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    This DG describes methods acceptable to the staff of the NRC for 
demonstrating compliance with the provisions of 10 CFR 50.65, 
``Requirements for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at 
Nuclear Power Plants,'' of 10 CFR part 50, ``Domestic Licensing of 
Production and Utilization Facilities.'' As discussed in Section D. 
``Implementation'' of this DG, the NRC does not intend to impose this 
guide, if finalized, on applicants for, or holders of, licenses.
    This DG may be applied to applications for combined licenses under 
10 CFR part 52 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 10 CFR 50.109 or be otherwise 
inconsistent with the applicable issue finality provision in 10 CFR 
part 52, inasmuch as such applicants or potential applicants, with 
certain exceptions, are not within the scope of entities that are the 
subject of the Backfit Rule or an issue finality provision in 10 CFR 
part 52. However, the scope of backfitting and issue finality extends 
only to the matters resolved in the license or regulatory approval. The 
matters addressed in this DG (concerning monitoring the effectiveness 
of maintenance at nuclear power plants) has not previously been 
proposed to be for a construction permit, design certification rule, or 
standard design approval. Therefore, the extent to which an applicant 
can rely on a backfitting or issue finality provision is limited to the 
extent that the applicant has addressed the matters in this regulatory 
guide during the review and approval of the construction permit, design 
certification rule, or standard design approval.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of June, 2018.

    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. 2018-13876 Filed 6-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

30470 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 125 / Thursday, June 28, 2018 / Notices

capable of fulfilling their intended applicants or potential applicants, with II. Docketed Proceeding(s)
functions. Last, an application for a certain exceptions, are not within the I. Introduction
combined license shall contain a final scope of entities that are the subject of
safety analysis report that provides a the Backfit Rule or an issue finality The Commission gives notice that the
description of the program, and its provision in 10 CFR part 52. However, Postal Service filed request(s) for the
implementation, for monitoring the the scope of backfitting and issue Commission to consider matters related
effectiveness of maintenance necessary finality extends only to the matters to negotiated service agreement(s). The
to meet the requirements of 10 CFR resolved in the license or regulatory request(s) may propose the addition or
50.65. approval. The matters addressed in this removal of a negotiated service
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is DG (concerning monitoring the agreement from the market dominant or
submit revision 4F of NUMARC 93–01, effectiveness of maintenance at nuclear the competitive product list, or the
‘‘Industry Guideline for Monitoring the power plants) has not previously been modification of an existing product
Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear proposed to be for a construction currently appearing on the market
Power Plants’’ for endorsement. NEI permit, design certification rule, or dominant or the competitive product
explained that NUMARC 93–01 was standard design approval. Therefore, the list.
developed to establish an acceptable extent to which an applicant can rely on Section II identifies the docket
approach for licensees to meet the a backfitting or issue finality provision number(s) associated with each Postal
Maintenance Rule. Revision 4F of is limited to the extent that the Service request, the title of each Postal
NUMARC 93–01 addresses the applicant has addressed the matters in Service request, the request’s acceptance
application of the Maintenance Rule to this regulatory guide during the review date, and the authority cited by the
the use of diverse and flexible coping and approval of the construction permit, Postal Service for each request. For each
strategies (FLEX) support guidelines design certification rule, or standard request, the Commission appoints an
(FSGs) in plant emergency operating design approval. officer of the Commission to represent
procedures (EOPs), as well as some the interests of the general public in the
other minor wording changes. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd
day of June, 2018. proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505
The DG, entitled, ‘‘Monitoring the (Public Representative). Section II also
Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Edward O’Donnell,
establishes comment deadline(s)
Power Plants,’’ is a proposed revision pertaining to each request.
temporarily identified by its task Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and
Generic Issues Branch, Division of The public portions of the Postal
number, DG–1336. DG–1336 is
Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Service’s request(s) can be accessed via
proposed revision 4 of RG 1.160,
Research. the Commission’s website (http://
‘‘Monitoring the Effectiveness of
Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants.’’ [FR Doc. 2018–13876 Filed 6–27–18; 8:45 am] www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of
The NRC’s proposed revision to RG BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
the Postal Service’s request(s), if any,
1.160 would endorse with clarification can be accessed through compliance
NUMARC 93–01 Revision 4F. The NRC with the requirements of 39 CFR
finds that endorsement would be POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 3007.40.
beneficial in that the agency positions The Commission invites comments on
[Docket Nos. MC2018–186 and CP2018–260] whether the Postal Service’s request(s)
with respect to FLEX equipment, the
Maintenance Rule, and Revision 4F of in the captioned docket(s) are consistent
New Postal Products with the policies of title 39. For
NUMARC 93–01 would be readily
understood. AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. request(s) that the Postal Service states
ACTION: Notice. concern market dominant product(s),
III. Backfitting and Issue Finality applicable statutory and regulatory
This DG describes methods acceptable SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3622, 39
to the staff of the NRC for demonstrating recent Postal Service filing for the U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3010, and 39
compliance with the provisions of 10 Commission’s consideration concerning CFR part 3020, subpart B. For request(s)
CFR 50.65, ‘‘Requirements for negotiated service agreements. This that the Postal Service states concern
Monitoring the Effectiveness of notice informs the public of the filing, competitive product(s), applicable
Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants,’’ invites public comment, and takes other statutory and regulatory requirements
of 10 CFR part 50, ‘‘Domestic Licensing administrative steps. include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 U.S.C. 3633,
of Production and Utilization DATES: Comments are due: July 2, 2018. 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR part 3015, and
Facilities.’’ As discussed in Section D. 39 CFR part 3020, subpart B. Comment
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
‘‘Implementation’’ of this DG, the NRC deadline(s) for each request appear in
electronically via the Commission’s
does not intend to impose this guide, if section II.
Filing Online system at http://
finalized, on applicants for, or holders www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit II. Docketed Proceeding(s)
of, licenses. comments electronically should contact
This DG may be applied to 1. Docket No(s).: MC2018–186 and
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
applications for combined licenses CP2018–260; Filing Title: Request of the
INFORMATION CONTACT section by
under 10 CFR part 52 docketed by the United States Postal Service to Add
telephone for advice on filing
NRC as of the date of issuance of the Global Expedited Package Services—
alternatives.
final regulatory guide, as well as future Non-Published Rates 14 (GEPS—NPR
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1

applications submitted after the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 14) to the Competitive Products List and
issuance of the regulatory guide. Such David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at Notice of Filing GEPS—NPR 14 Model
action would not constitute backfitting 202–789–6820. Contract and Application for Non-
as defined in the 10 CFR 50.109 or be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Treatment of Materials Filed
otherwise inconsistent with the Under Seal; Filing Acceptance Date:
applicable issue finality provision in 10 Table of Contents June 22, 2018; Filing Authority: 39
CFR part 52, inasmuch as such I. Introduction U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30 et seq.;

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Document Created: 2018-11-06 09:55:21
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 09:55:21

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 July 30, 2018. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. Although a time limit is given, comments and suggestions in connection with items for inclusion in guides currently being developed or improvements in all published guides are encouraged at any time.
Contact		Ami Agrawal, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, telephone: 301-415-8310, 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		83 FR 30469