[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 173 (Monday, September 8, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47272-47273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23598]
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 173 / Monday, September 8, 1997 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 47272]]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR Part 50
RIN 3150-AF75
Definition of Safety-Related Structures, Systems, and Components;
Technical Amendment
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is amending its regulations
to correct an error in the language of several sections in the
regulations governing nuclear power plant licensing that define the
term, ``safety-related structures, systems, and components.'' These
definitions are inconsistent with the definition in regulations
applicable to the siting of nuclear power plants and the Commission's
longstanding practice and interpretation of that term.
DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before
October 8, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff. Hand deliver comments to 11555 Rockville Pike,
Maryland, between 7:30 am and 4:15 pm on Federal workdays.
For information on submitting comments electronically, see the
discussion under Electronic Access in the Supplementary Information
Section.
Copies of any comments received may be examined at the NRC Public
Document Room, 2120 L Street NW (Lower Level), Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geary S. Mizuno, Office of General
Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001,
telephone (301) 415-1639; e-mail [email protected], or Clark Prichard, Office
of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone (301) 415-6203; e-mail
[email protected]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For additional information, see the
direct final rule published in the Rules and Regulations Section of
this Federal Register.
Procedural Background
Because the NRC considers these amendments to be of a corrective
nature, do not involve any change in existing policy or otherwise
constitute a new policy, clarify the original intent of the Commission
and therefore can be considered to be interpretive, the proposed rule
is being published concurrently as a direct final rule. The direct
final rule will become effective on November 7, 1997. However, if the
NRC receives significant adverse comments on the direct final rule by
October 8, 1997, the NRC will publish a document that withdraws the
direct final rule. If the direct final rule is withdrawn, the NRC will
address the comments received in response to the proposed revisions in
a subsequent final rule. The NRC will not initiate a second comment
period on this action in the event the direct final rule is withdrawn.
Electronic Access
Comments may be submitted electronically, in either ASCII text or
Word Perfect format (version 5.1), by calling the NRC Electronic
Bulletin Board on FedWorld or connecting to the NRC interactive
rulemaking web site, ``Rulemaking Forum.'' The bulletin board may be
accessed using a personal computer, a modem, and one of the commonly
available communications software packages, or directly via Internet.
Background documents on the rulemaking are also available for
downloading and viewing on the bulletin board.
If using a personal computer and modem, the NRC subsystem on
FedWorld can be accessed directly by dialing the toll-free number: 1-
800-303-9672. Communications software parameters should be set as
follows: parity to none, data bits to 8, and stop bits to 1 (N,8,1).
Using ANSI or VT-100 terminal emulation, the NRC rulemaking subsystems
can then be accessed by selecting the ``Rules Menu'' option from the
``NRC Main Menu.'' For further information about options available for
NRC at FedWorld, consult the ``Help/Information Center'' from the ``NRC
Main Menu.'' Users will find the ``FedWorld Online User's Guides''
particularly helpful. Many NRC subsystems and databases also have a
``Help/Information Center'' option that is tailored to the particular
subsystem.
The NRC subsystem on FedWorld can also be accessed by a direct-dial
phone number for the main FedWorld BBS: 703-321-3339; Telnet via
Internet: fedworld.gov (192.239.93.3); File Transfer Protocol (FTP) via
Internet:ftp:fedworld.gov (192.239.92.205); and World Wide Web using:
http://www.fedworld.gov (this is the Uniform Resource Locator (URL)).
If using a method other than the toll-free number to contact
FedWorld, access the NRC subsystem from the main FedWorld menu by
selecting ``F--Regulatory, Government Administration and State
Systems,'' then selecting ``A--Regulatory Information Mall.'' At that
point, a menu will be displayed that has an option ``A--U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission'' that will take you to the NRC Online Main Menu.
You can also go directly to the NRC Online area by typing ``/go nrc''
at a FedWorld command line. If you access NRC from FedWorld's Main
Menu, then you may return to FedWorld by selecting the ``Return to
FedWorld'' option from the NRC Online Main Menu. However, if you access
NRC at FedWorld by using NRC's toll-free number, then you will have
full access to all NRC systems, but you will not have access to the
main FedWorld system.
If you contact FedWorld using Telnet, you will see the NRC area and
menus, including the Rules menu. Although you will be able to download
documents and leave messages, you will not be able to write comments or
upload files (comments). If you contact FedWorld using FTP, all files
can be accessed and downloaded but uploads are not allowed; all you
will see is a list of files without descriptions (normal Gopher look).
An index file listing all files within a subdirectory, with
descriptions, is included. There is a 15-minute time limit for FTP
access.
Although FedWorld can be accessed through the World Wide Web, like
FTP that mode only provides access for downloading files and does not
display the NRC Rules menu.
You may also access the NRC's interactive rulemaking web site
through the NRC home page (http://www.nrc.gov). This site provides the
same access as the FedWorld bulletin board, including the facility to
upload comments as files (any format), if your web browser supports
that function.
For more information on NRC bulletin boards, call Mr. Arthur Davis,
Systems Integration and Development Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Telephone: 301-415-5780; e-mail: AXD3@nrc.gov. For
information about the interactive rulemaking site, contact Ms. Carol
Gallagher, (301) 415-6215; e-mail [email protected]
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 50
Antitrust, Classified information, Criminal penalties, Fire
protection, Intergovernmental relations, Nuclear power plants and
reactors, Radiation protection, Reactor siting criteria, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Energy Reorganization
Act of 1974, as amended, and 5 U.S.C. 553, the NRC
[[Page 47273]]
proposes to adopt the following amendments to 10 CFR Part 50.
PART 50--DOMESTIC LICENSING OF PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION
FACILITIES
1. The authority citation for Part 50 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 102, 103, 104, 105, 161, 182, 183, 186, 189, 68
Stat. 936, 937, 938, 948, 953, 954, 955, 956, as amended, sec. 234,
83 Stat. 1244, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2201,
2232, 2233, 2236, 2239, 2282); secs. 201, as amended, 202, 206, 88
Stat. 1242, as amended, 1244, 1246 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846).
Section 50.7 also issued under Pub. L. 95-601, sec. 10, 92 Stat.
2951 (42 U.S.C. 5851). Section 50.10 also issued under secs. 101,
185, 68 Stat. 955 as amended (42 U.S.C. 2131, 2235), sec. 102, Pub.
L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 853 (42 U.S.C. 4332). Sections 50.13, and
50.54(dd), and 50.103 also issued under sec. 108, 68 Stat. 939, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 2138). Sections 50.23, 50.35, 50.55, and 50.56
also issued under sec. 185, 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S.C. 2235). Sections
50.33a, 50.55a and Appendix Q also issued under sec. 102, Pub. L.
91-190, 83 Stat. 853 (42 U.S.C. 4332). Sections 50.34 and 50.54 also
issued under sec. 204, 88 Stat. 1245 (42 U.S.C. 5844). Sections
50.58, 50.91, and 50.92 also issued under Pub. L. 97-415, 96 Stat.
2073 (42 U.S.C. 2239). Section 50.78 also issued under sec. 122, 68
Stat. 939 (42 U.S.C. 2152). Sections 50.80-50.81 also issued under
sec. 184, 68 Stat. 954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2234). Appendix F also
issued under sec. 187, 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S.C. 2237).
2. In Sec. 50.2, the definition of safety-related structures,
systems, and components is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 50.2 Definitions.
* * * * *
Safety-related structures, systems, and components means those
structures, systems, and components that are relied upon to remain
functional during and following design basis events to assure:
(1) The integrity of the reactor coolant pressure boundary;
(2) The capability to shut down the reactor and maintain it in a
safe shutdown condition; or
(3) The capability to prevent or mitigate the consequences of
accidents which could result in potential offsite exposures comparable
to the applicable guideline exposures set forth in Sec. 50.34(a)(1) or
Sec. 100.11 of this chapter, as applicable.
* * * * *
3. In Sec. 50.49, paragraph (b)(1)(i)(B) is revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 50.49 Environmental qualification of electric equipment important
to safety for nuclear power plants.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) * * *
(B) The capability to shut down the reactor and maintain it in a
safe shutdown condition; or
* * * * *
4. In Sec. 50.65, paragraph (b)(1) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 50.65 Requirements for monitoring the effectiveness of
maintenance at nuclear power plants.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) Safety-related structures, systems, and components that are
relied upon to remain functional during and following design basis
events to ensure the integrity of the reactor coolant pressure
boundary, the capability to shut down the reactor and maintain it in a
safe shutdown condition, or the capability to prevent or mitigate the
consequences of accidents that could result in potential offsite
exposure comparable to the guidelines in Sec. 50.34(a)(1) or
Sec. 100.11 of this chapter, as applicable.
* * * * *
Dated at Rockville, MD, this 5th day of August 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
L. Joseph Callan,
Executive Director for Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-23598 Filed 9-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
