[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64176-64177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30713]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Updated Standard Review Plan Chapter 7: Availability
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared an update
to Chapter 7 of NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of
Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants,'' (SRP) for review
and comments. The updated SRP Chapter 7 incorporates changes in the NRC
review criteria in the area of instrumentation and control (I&C)
systems, particularly digital computer-based I&C systems of nuclear
power plants that have occurred since the last major revision of the
SRP in 1981.
The revisions were derived from the following programmatic areas:
NRC regulatory documents issued after the 1981 SRP revision; NRC staff
positions related to digital I&C retrofits at operating nuclear power
plants as documented in relevant safety evaluation reports; industry
consensus standards applicable to I&C systems; NRC staff positions
related to evolutionary and advanced light water reactor design reviews
as presented in SECY-91-292, ``Digital Computer Systems for Advanced
Light Water Reactors,'' and the Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-
93-087, ``Policy, Technical, and Licensing Issues Pertaining to
Evolutionary and Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) Designs;'' NRC
design certification safety evaluation reports for the General Electric
Advanced Boiling Water Reactor Design and the ABB-CE System 80+ Design;
and nuclear power plant operating experience.
DATES: The comment period expires January 31, 1997. Comments received
after this date will be considered if practical to do so, but the
Commission is able to assure consideration only of comments received on
or before this date.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch,
Division of Freedom of Information and Publication Services, Mail Stop
T-6D59, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
Comments may be hand delivered to 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal work-days. Comments may be
submitted electronically as specified in the supplementary information
section of this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Chiramal, Instrumentation and
Controls Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Mail Stop O-8H3,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001,
Telephone No. (301) 415-2845.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed revised text to Chapter 7 of
NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis
Reports for Nuclear Power Plants--LWR Edition,'' (SRP), is being
published as a draft report for comments. Further NRC staff review and
evaluation, including resolution of public comments, will be needed
before a final revision of Chapter 7 of the SRP can be published.
The draft Chapter 7 of the SRP that is available for public review
consists of revised SRP sections and appendices with side-bars that
show the major technical changes resulting from the updating of the
existing SRP Chapter 7 sections and new sections, appendices and branch
technical positions. Three new sections are added: Section 7.0,
Introduction, Section 7.8, Diverse Instrumentation and Control Systems,
and Section 7.9, Data Communication Systems. Section 7.1 which contains
the general I&C system requirements and guidance has been revised to
incorporate (1) references to new regulatory guides (RGs) and branch
technical positions (BTPs) on digital computer-based I&C system issues,
(2) review areas, acceptance criteria, and review process for digital
computer-based I&C systems, and (3) discussion of standard plant
reviews. Sections 7.2 through 7.9 that focus on specific nuclear power
plant I&C systems have been revised to add reference to the digital I&C
system guidance contained in the revised Section 7.1. Two new
appendices have been added and three have been revised. Appendix 7.0-A
is a new appendix that describes the overall NRC review process for
digital computer-based I&C systems and new Appendix 7.1-C provides
guidance with
[[Page 64177]]
respect to the NRC review according to IEEE Standard 603. Revised
Appendix 7.1-A addresses rule changes (10 CFR Part 52 and revisions to
10 CFR Part 50) and identifies new regulatory guides on the digital
system design process. Revised Appendix 7.1-B incorporates digital I&C
system topics into the review for compliance with the requirements of
IEEE Standard 279 as stated in 10 CFR 50.55a(h). Revised Appendix 7-A
includes the new BTPs.
The updated SRP Chapter 7 does not, by itself, establish any new or
revised requirements. It incorporates lessons learned from the
completed reviews of I&C systems in the advanced light water reactors
and digital I&C system retrofits of operating reactors. The review
guidance described in the updated SRP Chapter 7 will be used by the NRC
staff in the evaluation of submittals in connection with applications
for construction permits, standard design certifications and design
approvals, combined operating licenses, and operating plant license
amendments.
Work related to updating SRP Chapter 7 was performed in accordance
with the guidance in NUREG-1447, ``Standard Review Plan Update and
Development Program--Implementing Procedures Document,'' dated May
1992.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on whether
the revised text accurately and fully reflects established NRC staff
review criteria, positions and existing regulations. The updated draft
SRP Chapter 7 and the supporting referenced documents provide
traceability back to the changes made to the SRP Chapter 7 currently in
effect. The draft SRP Chapter 7 is made available to the public as part
of the NRC's policy to inform the nuclear industry and the general
public of regulatory procedures and policies. Comments will be
considered and revisions made to the draft SRP Chapter 7 as appropriate
based on the comments received. The final SRP Chapter 7 update will be
issued in approximately mid-1997. SRP Chapter 7 will be revised
periodically, as appropriate, to accommodate future new technologies,
information, and experience. The NRC encourages comment from interested
parties; however, public review is not intended to reopen a dialogue on
the merits of the requirements themselves, but should be focused on the
purpose stated above. The NRC also requests specific comments on
whether an appropriate level of detailed guidance has been provided for
the NRC staff reviewers in the proposed Chapter 7 update particularly
with regard to digital I&C review criteria.
Electronic Submission of Comments
The draft SRP Chapter 7 can be accessed from the NRC Homepage on
the World Wide Web--URL: http://www.nrc.gov under the ``News and
Information'' or the ``Nuclear Reactors'' menu options by selecting
``Standard Review Plan Chapter 7, Instrumentation and Controls--Draft
report for comments.'' Specific guidance is provided on-line to guide
the user on the various options available for reading, commenting on,
and downloading the document.
Chapter 7 of the SRP is available in printed form on paper for
inspection and copying for a fee at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120
L Street NW (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555.
A limited number of copies of the draft SRP Chapter 7 in the
printed form on paper are available free, to the extent of supply, upon
written request to the Office of Administration, Distribution Section,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of November, 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jared Wermiel,
Chief, Instrumentation and Controls Branch, Division of Reactor
Controls and Human Factors, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-30713 Filed 12-2-96; 8:45 am]
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