83 FR 4520 - An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 21 (January 31, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 21 (January 31, 2018)
| Page Range | 4520-4521 | |
| FR Document | 2018-01901 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 4520-4521] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-01901] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2012-0110] An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk- Informed Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 3 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.174, ``An Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions on Plant- Specific Changes to the Licensing Basis.'' This proposed guide, Revision 3, has been revised to incorporate additional information related to the evaluation of defense-in-depth since Revision 2 of RG 1.174 was issued in 2011. The proposed revision includes additional guidance on defense-in-depth to assure the defense-in-depth philosophy is interpreted and implemented consistently. DATES: Revision 3 to RG 1.174 is available on January 31, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0110 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 website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0110. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this document. Revision 3 to RG 1.174 and the regulatory analysis may be found in ADAMS under Accession Nos. ML17317A256 and ML16358A156 respectively. 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: Anders Gilbertson, telephone: 301-415- 1541, email: [email protected], and Harriet Karagiannis, telephone: 301-415-2493, email: [email protected]. Both are staff of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 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 3 of RG 1.174 describes an approach that is acceptable to the staff of the NRC when developing risk-informed applications for a licensing basis change that considers engineering issues and applies risk insights. Revision 3 of RG 1.174 was issued with a temporary identification of Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1285. This revision (Revision 3) presents up-to-date defense-in-depth guidance using precise language to assure the defense-in-depth philosophy is interpreted and implemented consistently. Revision 3 contains significant changes including expansion of the guidance on the meaning of, and the process for assessing, the defense-in-depth considerations. In addition, this revision adopts the term ``PRA Acceptability,'' including related phrasing variants, in place of terms such as ``PRA quality,'' ``PRA technical adequacy,'' and ``technical [[Page 4521]] adequacy'' to describe the appropriateness of the PRA used to support risk-informed licensing submittals. Other changes in this revision include expanding the discussions on uncertainties, including aggregation of risk results, consistent with NUREG-1855, ``Guidance on the Treatment of Uncertainties Associated with PRAs in Risk-Informed Decisionmaking'' (ADAMS Accession No. ML17062A466), updating the risk acceptance guideline figures, and incorporating discussions related to application of this guide to new reactors. Regarding the guidance in Section C.6.3 of the guide on the licensee submittal documentation, the NRC has accepted via a letter issued on May 3, 2017 (See ADAMS Accession No. ML17079A427), an industry process entitled ``Close-out of Facts and Observations (F&Os)'' (See ADAMS Accession No. ML17086A431) that allows a licensee to formally close F&Os that were generated during a peer review process. If a licensee meets the conditions of acceptance as described in the NRC's letter, a licensee does not need to submit the closed F&Os in any future applications. It should be noted that the NRC position in the May 3rd letter is expected to be incorporated into the next revision of RG 1.200, ``An Approach for Determining the Technical Adequacy of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Results for Risk-Informed Activities.'' II. Additional Information The NRC published a notice of the availability of DG-1285 in the Federal Register on April 7, 2017 (82 FR 17042), for a 45-day public comment period. The public comment period closed on May 22, 2017. Public comments on DG-1285 and the staff responses to the public comments are available under ADAMS under Accession No. ML17261A618. 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 RG 1.174 describes an approach that the NRC staff considers acceptable when developing risk-informed applications for a licensing basis change that considers engineering issues and applies risk insights. Issuance of this RG does not constitute backfitting as defined in section 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 10 CFR 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 amendments to operating licenses or combined licenses docketed by the NRC as of the date of issuance, as well as future applications submitted after the issuance of this regulatory guide. Such action would not constitute backfitting as defined in the Backfit Rule or be otherwise inconsistent with the applicable issue finality provision in 10 CFR part 52, inasmuch as such applicants or potential applicants are not within the scope of entities protected by the Backfit Rule or the relevant issue finality provisions in part 52. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of January 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. 2018-01901 Filed 1-30-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![4520 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 21 / Wednesday, January 31, 2018 / Notices
Currently, the other employees in this Dated: January 26, 2018. email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
Region work in Seattle, Washington and Roxanne Rothschild, ADAMS accession number for each
Portland, Oregon. The Seattle and Deputy Executive Secretary. document referenced (if it is available in
Portland offices will continue to be [FR Doc. 2018–01921 Filed 1–30–18; 8:45 am] ADAMS) is provided the first time that
open. The geographical area covered by BILLING CODE 7545–01–P
it is mentioned in this document.
the Region will not be changed. Revision 3 to RG 1.174 and the
The most recent list of Regional and regulatory analysis may be found in
Subregional Offices was published at 65 NUCLEAR REGULATORY ADAMS under Accession Nos.
FR 53228–53229 on August 29, 2000, as COMMISSION ML17317A256 and ML16358A156
amended at 78 FR 44602–44603 on respectively.
Wednesday, July 24, 2012. [NRC–2012–0110] • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
purchase copies of public documents at
Concurrent with this Notice, the An Approach for Using Probabilistic the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
NLRB is revising its Statement of Risk Assessment in Risk-Informed White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Organization and Functions to delete Decisions on Plant-Specific Changes Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
reference to the Anchorage office as a to the Licensing Basis Regulatory guides are not
place where persons can obtain service copyrighted, and NRC approval is not
in Region 19. The revision to the AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
Commission. required to reproduce them.
Board’s Statement of Organization and
ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Functions is attached.
Anders Gilbertson, telephone: 301–415–
Since July 20, 2017, the NLRB has SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 1541, email: Anders.Gilbertson@nrc.gov,
solicited and received feedback on the Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 3 and Harriet Karagiannis, telephone:
proposed closure of the Anchorage, to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.174, ‘‘An 301–415–2493, email:
Alaska office. The decision to close this Approach for Using Probabilistic Risk Harriet.Karagiannis@nrc.gov. Both are
office and restructure the Agency’s Assessment in Risk-Informed Decisions staff of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory
operations in the manner set forth here on Plant-Specific Changes to the Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
was informed by comments from Licensing Basis.’’ This proposed guide, Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
stakeholders. Because this is a general Revision 3, has been revised to 0001.
notice that is related to the organization incorporate additional information SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
of the NLRB, it is not a regulation or related to the evaluation of defense-in-
rule subject to Executive Order 12866. depth since Revision 2 of RG 1.174 was I. Discussion
Pursuant to the change set forth here, issued in 2011. The proposed revision The NRC is issuing a revision to an
the National Labor Relations Board has includes additional guidance on existing guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory
amended its Statement of Organization defense-in-depth to assure the defense- Guide’’ series. This series was
and Functions as follows: in-depth philosophy is interpreted and developed to describe and make
implemented consistently. available to the public information
Part 201—Description of Organization
DATES: Revision 3 to RG 1.174 is regarding methods that are acceptable to
Subpart B—Description of Field available on January 31, 2018. the NRC staff for implementing specific
Organization ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID parts of the agency’s regulations,
NRC–2012–0110 when contacting the techniques that the NRC staff uses in
(A) ‘‘Areas Served by Regional and
NRC about the availability of evaluating specific issues or postulated
Subregional Offices’’ is amended in
information regarding this document. events, and data that the NRC staff
following manner:
You may obtain publicly-available needs in its review of applications for
(1) Region 19 is amended to read as information related to this document permits and licenses. Revision 3 of RG
follows: using any of the following methods: 1.174 describes an approach that is
Region 19. Seattle, Washington. • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to acceptable to the staff of the NRC when
Services Alaska and all counties in http://www.regulations.gov and search developing risk-informed applications
Washington except Clark; in Idaho, for Docket ID NRC–2012–0110. Address for a licensing basis change that
services Adams, Benewah, Bonner, questions about NRC dockets to Carol considers engineering issues and
Boundary, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; applies risk insights.
Fremont, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For Revision 3 of RG 1.174 was issued
Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone, and Valley technical questions, contact the with a temporary identification of Draft
Counties; and in Montana, services individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER Regulatory Guide, DG–1285. This
Beaverhead, Broadwater, Cascade, Deer INFORMATION CONTACT section of this revision (Revision 3) presents up-to-date
Lodge, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacia, document. defense-in-depth guidance using precise
Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis, and • NRC’s Agencywide Documents language to assure the defense-in-depth
Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, Access and Management System philosophy is interpreted and
Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Pondera, (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- implemented consistently. Revision 3
Powell, Ravatti, Sanders, Silver Bow, available documents online in the contains significant changes including
Teton, and Toole Counties. ADAMS Public Documents collection at expansion of the guidance on the
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Subregion 36. Portland, Oregon. meaning of, and the process for
Services Oregon and Clark County in adams.html. To begin the search, select assessing, the defense-in-depth
Washington. ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then considerations.
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS In addition, this revision adopts the
Persons may also obtain service from Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, term ‘‘PRA Acceptability,’’ including
a Resident Agent located in Anchorage, please contact the NRC’s Public related phrasing variants, in place of
Alaska. Document Room (PDR) reference staff at terms such as ‘‘PRA quality,’’ ‘‘PRA
By Direction of the Board. 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by technical adequacy,’’ and ‘‘technical
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 21 / Wednesday, January 31, 2018 / Notices 4521
adequacy’’ to describe the the Code of Federal Regulations (10 portion of this session may be closed in
appropriateness of the PRA used to CFR) (the Backfit Rule) and is not order to discuss and protect information
support risk-informed licensing otherwise inconsistent with the issue designated as proprietary, pursuant to 5
submittals. Other changes in this finality provisions in 10 CFR part 52. As U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)].
revision include expanding the discussed in the ‘‘Implementation’’ 10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: Biennial
discussions on uncertainties, including section of this RG, the NRC has no Review and Evaluation of the NRC
aggregation of risk results, consistent current intention to impose this Safety Research Program (Open)—The
with NUREG–1855, ‘‘Guidance on the guidance on holders of current Committee will hear discussion
Treatment of Uncertainties Associated operating licenses or combined licenses. regarding the NRC Safety Research
with PRAs in Risk-Informed This RG may be applied to Program.
Decisionmaking’’ (ADAMS Accession applications for amendments to 1:15 p.m.–6:00 p.m.: Preparation of
No. ML17062A466), updating the risk operating licenses or combined licenses ACRS Reports (Open/Closed)—The
acceptance guideline figures, and docketed by the NRC as of the date of Committee will continue its discussion
incorporating discussions related to issuance, as well as future applications of proposed ACRS reports [Note: A
application of this guide to new submitted after the issuance of this portion of this session may be closed in
reactors. regulatory guide. Such action would not order to discuss and protect information
Regarding the guidance in Section constitute backfitting as defined in the designated as proprietary, pursuant to 5
C.6.3 of the guide on the licensee Backfit Rule or be otherwise U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)].
submittal documentation, the NRC has inconsistent with the applicable issue Friday, February 9, 2018, Conference
accepted via a letter issued on May 3, finality provision in 10 CFR part 52, Room T–2B1, 11545 Rockville Pike,
2017 (See ADAMS Accession No. inasmuch as such applicants or Rockville, Maryland 20852
ML17079A427), an industry process potential applicants are not within the
entitled ‘‘Close-out of Facts and scope of entities protected by the Backfit 8:30 a.m.–10:00 a.m.: Future ACRS
Observations (F&Os)’’ (See ADAMS Rule or the relevant issue finality Activities/Report of the Planning and
Accession No. ML17086A431) that provisions in part 52. Procedures Subcommittee and
allows a licensee to formally close F&Os Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day Recommendations (Open/Closed)—The
that were generated during a peer of January 2018.
review process. If a licensee meets the Committee will hear discussion of the
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. recommendations of the Planning and
conditions of acceptance as described in
Edward O’Donnell, Procedures Subcommittee regarding
the NRC’s letter, a licensee does not
need to submit the closed F&Os in any Acting Chief, Regulatory Guidance and items proposed for consideration by the
Generic Issues Branch, Division of Full Committee during future ACRS
future applications. It should be noted Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory
that the NRC position in the May 3rd meetings. [Note: A portion of this
Research.
letter is expected to be incorporated into meeting may be closed pursuant to 5
[FR Doc. 2018–01901 Filed 1–30–18; 8:45 am] U.S.C. 552b(c)(2) and (6) to discuss
the next revision of RG 1.200, ‘‘An
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P organizational and personnel matters
Approach for Determining the Technical
Adequacy of Probabilistic Risk that relate solely to internal personnel
Assessment Results for Risk-Informed rules and practices of the ACRS, and
NUCLEAR REGULATORY information the release of which would
Activities.’’ COMMISSION constitute a clearly unwarranted
II. Additional Information invasion of personal privacy.]
Advisory Committee on Reactor
The NRC published a notice of the 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.: Preparation of
Safeguards; Notice of Meeting—
availability of DG–1285 in the Federal ACRS Reports (Open/Closed)—The
Revised
Register on April 7, 2017 (82 FR 17042), Committee will continue its discussion
for a 45-day public comment period. In accordance with the purposes of of proposed ACRS reports. [Note: A
The public comment period closed on Sections 29 and 182b of the Atomic portion of this session may be closed in
May 22, 2017. Public comments on DG– Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 2039, 2232b), the order to discuss and protect information
1285 and the staff responses to the Advisory Committee on Reactor designated as proprietary, pursuant to 5
public comments are available under Safeguards (ACRS) will hold a meeting U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)].
ADAMS under Accession No. February 8–10, 2018, 11545 Rockville
Saturday, February 10, 2018,
ML17261A618. Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Conference Room T–2B1, 11545
III. Congressional Review Act Thursday, February 8, 2018, Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland
This RG is a rule as defined in the Conference Room T–2B1, 11545 20852
Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Preparation of
801–808). However, the Office of 20852 ACRS Reports (Open/Closed)—The
Management and Budget has not found 8:30 a.m.–8:35 a.m.: Opening Committee will continue its discussion
it to be a major rule as defined in the Remarks by the ACRS Chairman of proposed ACRS reports. [Note: A
Congressional Review Act. (Open)—The ACRS Chairman will make portion of this session may be closed in
opening remarks regarding the conduct order to discuss and protect information
IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality of the meeting. designated as proprietary, pursuant to 5
RG 1.174 describes an approach that 8:35 a.m.–10:30 a.m.: NuScale Design
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
U.S.C. 552b(c)(4)].
the NRC staff considers acceptable when Certification Application Request for Procedures for the conduct of and
developing risk-informed applications Exemption from General Design participation in ACRS meetings were
for a licensing basis change that Criterion 27 (Open/Closed)—The published in the Federal Register on
considers engineering issues and Committee will hear briefings by and October 4, 2017 (82 FR 46312). In
applies risk insights. Issuance of this RG discussion with representatives of the accordance with those procedures, oral
does not constitute backfitting as NRC staff and NuScale regarding the or written views may be presented by
defined in section 50.109 of title 10 of subject exemption application. [Note: A members of the public, including
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Document Created: 2018-01-31 00:58:21
Document Modified: 2018-01-31 00:58:21
| 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 | Regulatory guide; issuance. | |
| Dates | Revision 3 to RG 1.174 is available on January 31, 2018. | |
| Contact | Anders Gilbertson, telephone: 301-415- 1541, email: [email protected], and Harriet Karagiannis, telephone: 301-415-2493, email: [email protected] Both are staff of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 4520 |
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