83_FR_50148 83 FR 49956 - Nuclear Criticality Safety Standards for Nuclear Materials Outside Reactor Cores

83 FR 49956 - Nuclear Criticality Safety Standards for Nuclear Materials Outside Reactor Cores

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 192 (October 3, 2018)

Page Range49956-49956
FR Document2018-21534

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 3 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.71, ``Nuclear Criticality Safety Standards for Nuclear Materials Outside Reactor Cores.'' Revision 3 endorses guidance in multiple American National Standards Institute/ American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS)-8 standards, as well as a specific International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard. In addition, the scope of this guide is expanded to include packaging and transportation and certain storage facilities because many of the standards are based on broad principles that are not limited solely to fuel processing facilities.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 49956]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21534]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2017-0183]


Nuclear Criticality Safety Standards for Nuclear Materials 
Outside Reactor Cores

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing 
Revision 3 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.71, ``Nuclear Criticality Safety 
Standards for Nuclear Materials Outside Reactor Cores.'' Revision 3 
endorses guidance in multiple American National Standards Institute/
American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS)-8 standards, as well as a specific 
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard. In 
addition, the scope of this guide is expanded to include packaging and 
transportation and certain storage facilities because many of the 
standards are based on broad principles that are not limited solely to 
fuel processing facilities.

DATES: Revision 3 to RG 3.71 is available on October 3, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2017-0183 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-2017-0183. 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.
     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 ``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 3.71 and 
the regulatory analysis may be found in ADAMS under Accession Nos. 
ML18169A258 and ML17055B588, 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: Christopher Tripp, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-8741, email: 
[email protected], and Harriet Karagiannis, telephone: 301-415-
2493, email: [email protected], Office of Nuclear Regulatory 
Research. Both are staff members 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 3 to 
RG 3.71 describes procedures for preventing nuclear criticality 
accidents in operations that involve handling, processing, storing, or 
transporting special nuclear materials (or a combination of these 
activities).
    Revision 3 was issued with a temporary identification of Draft 
Regulatory Guide, (DG)-3053, ``Nuclear Criticality Safety Standards for 
Nuclear Materials outside Reactor Cores,'' (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML17055B591).
    This revision endorses the most recent American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI)-approved versions of American Nuclear Society (ANS) 
Subcommittee-8 (ANSI/ANS-8) standards, as well as ISO Standard 
7753:1987, ``Nuclear Energy--Performance and Testing Requirements for 
Criticality Detection and Alarm Systems.'' In addition, the scope of 
this guide is expanded beyond 10 CFR part 70 fuel facilities to include 
packaging and transportation under 10 CFR part 71 and storage 
facilities under 10 CFR part 72, because many of the standards are 
based on broad principles that are not limited solely to fuel 
processing facilities.

II. Additional Information

    The NRC published a notice of the availability of DG-3053 in the 
Federal Register on August 24, 2017 (82 FR 40173), for a 60-day public 
comment period. The public comment period closed on October 23, 2017. 
Public comments on DG-3053 and the staff responses to the public 
comments are available under ADAMS under Accession No. ML18169A253.

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 provides updates based on changes to ANSI/ANS standards, as 
well as endorsing an ISO standard, and expands the scope of the RG 
beyond 10 CFR part 70 to include 10 CFR part 71 and 10 CFR part 72 
licensees. Issuance of RG 3.71 would not constitute backfitting under 
10 CFR part 70 or 10 CFR part 72. As discussed in the 
``Implementation'' section of this RG, the NRC has no current intention 
to impose the RG on current holders of 10 CFR part 70 or 10 CFR part 72 
licenses. The RG could be applied to applications for licenses issued 
under 10 CFR part 70 or 10 CFR part 72 or amendments thereto. Such 
action would not constitute backfitting as defined in 10 CFR 70.76 or 
10 CFR 72.62, inasmuch as such applicants are not within the scope of 
entities protected by 10 CFR 70.76 or 10 CFR 72.62. Backfit and issue 
finality considerations do not apply to licensees and applicants under 
10 CFR part 71.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of September 2018.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Boyce,
Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch, Division of 
Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2018-21534 Filed 10-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

49956 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 192 / Wednesday, October 3, 2018 / Notices Dated: September 28, 2018. 415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@ 70 fuel facilities to include packaging Mark L. Banks, nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number and transportation under 10 CFR part 71 Chief, Technical Support Branch, Advisory for each document referenced (if it is and storage facilities under 10 CFR part Committee on Reactor Safeguards. available in ADAMS) is provided the 72, because many of the standards are [FR Doc. 2018–21530 Filed 10–2–18; 8:45 am] first time that it is mentioned in this based on broad principles that are not BILLING CODE 7590–01–P document. Revision 3 to RG 3.71 and limited solely to fuel processing the regulatory analysis may be found in facilities. ADAMS under Accession Nos. NUCLEAR REGULATORY ML18169A258 and ML17055B588, II. Additional Information COMMISSION respectively. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and The NRC published a notice of the [NRC–2017–0183] availability of DG–3053 in the Federal purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One Register on August 24, 2017 (82 FR Nuclear Criticality Safety Standards for 40173), for a 60-day public comment Nuclear Materials Outside Reactor White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. period. The public comment period Cores Regulatory guides are not closed on October 23, 2017. Public AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory copyrighted, and NRC approval is not comments on DG–3053 and the staff Commission. required to reproduce them. responses to the public comments are ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: available under ADAMS under Christopher Tripp, Office of Nuclear Accession No. ML18169A253. SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Material Safety and Safeguards, Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 3 III. Congressional Review Act telephone: 301–415–8741, email: to Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.71, ‘‘Nuclear Christopher.Tripp@nrc.gov, and Harriet This RG is a rule as defined in the Criticality Safety Standards for Nuclear Karagiannis, telephone: 301–415–2493, Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. Materials Outside Reactor Cores.’’ email: Harriet.Karagiannis@nrc.gov, Revision 3 endorses guidance in 801–808). However, the Office of Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Management and Budget has not found multiple American National Standards Both are staff members of the U.S. Institute/American Nuclear Society it to be a major rule as defined in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Congressional Review Act. (ANSI/ANS)–8 standards, as well as a Washington, DC 20555–0001. specific International Organization for IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Standardization (ISO) Standard. In addition, the scope of this guide is I. Discussion This RG provides updates based on expanded to include packaging and changes to ANSI/ANS standards, as well The NRC is issuing a revision to an transportation and certain storage as endorsing an ISO standard, and existing guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory facilities because many of the standards expands the scope of the RG beyond 10 Guide’’ series. This series was are based on broad principles that are CFR part 70 to include 10 CFR part 71 developed to describe and make not limited solely to fuel processing and 10 CFR part 72 licensees. Issuance available to the public information facilities. of RG 3.71 would not constitute regarding methods that are acceptable to DATES: Revision 3 to RG 3.71 is available the NRC staff for implementing specific backfitting under 10 CFR part 70 or 10 on October 3, 2018. parts of the agency’s regulations, CFR part 72. As discussed in the ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID techniques that the NRC staff uses in ‘‘Implementation’’ section of this RG, NRC–2017–0183 when contacting the evaluating specific issues or postulated the NRC has no current intention to NRC about the availability of events, and data that the NRC staff impose the RG on current holders of 10 information regarding this document. needs in its review of applications for CFR part 70 or 10 CFR part 72 licenses. You may obtain publicly-available permits and licenses. Revision 3 to RG The RG could be applied to applications information related to this document 3.71 describes procedures for preventing for licenses issued under 10 CFR part 70 using any of the following methods: nuclear criticality accidents in or 10 CFR part 72 or amendments • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to operations that involve handling, thereto. Such action would not http://www.regulations.gov and search processing, storing, or transporting constitute backfitting as defined in 10 for Docket ID NRC–2017–0183. Address special nuclear materials (or a CFR 70.76 or 10 CFR 72.62, inasmuch questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer combination of these activities). as such applicants are not within the Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127; Revision 3 was issued with a scope of entities protected by 10 CFR email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For temporary identification of Draft 70.76 or 10 CFR 72.62. Backfit and issue technical questions, contact the Regulatory Guide, (DG)-3053, ‘‘Nuclear finality considerations do not apply to individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER Criticality Safety Standards for Nuclear licensees and applicants under 10 CFR INFORMATION CONTACT section of this Materials outside Reactor Cores,’’ part 71. document. (ADAMS Accession No. ML17055B591). • NRC’s Agencywide Documents This revision endorses the most Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day Access and Management System recent American National Standards of September 2018. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- Institute (ANSI)-approved versions of For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. available documents online in the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Thomas H. Boyce, daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES ADAMS Public Documents collection at Subcommittee-8 (ANSI/ANS–8) Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ standards, as well as ISO Standard Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office adams.html. To begin the search, select 7753:1987, ‘‘Nuclear Energy— of Nuclear Regulatory Research. ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For Performance and Testing Requirements [FR Doc. 2018–21534 Filed 10–2–18; 8:45 am] problems with ADAMS, please contact for Criticality Detection and Alarm BILLING CODE 7590–01–P the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) Systems.’’ In addition, the scope of this reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301– guide is expanded beyond 10 CFR part VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Oct 02, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM 03OCN1


Document Created: 2018-10-03 02:30:23
Document Modified: 2018-10-03 02:30:23
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
ActionRegulatory guide; issuance.
DatesRevision 3 to RG 3.71 is available on October 3, 2018.
ContactChristopher Tripp, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-8741, email: [email protected], and Harriet Karagiannis, telephone: 301-415- 2493, email: [email protected], Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. Both are staff members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
FR Citation83 FR 49956 
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