Design, Inspection, and Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and Adsorption Units of Normal Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Plants, 38857-38858 [2012-15960]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2012 / Notices and make available to the public such information as 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 problems or postulated accidents, and data that the staff needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses. These 4 draft regulatory guides are temporarily identified by their task numbers, DG–1285, DG–1286, DG–1287, and DG–1288. The focus of the revisions to these RGs addresses the Commission’s Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) (SECY–11–0014, issued 3–15–2011), titled ‘‘Use of Containment Accident Pressure in Analyzing Emergency Core Cooling System and Containment Heat Removal System Pump Performance in Postulated Accidents’’ directing the staff to revise the discussion on defense-indepth. Specifically, the SRM stated, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Because the statements in Regulatory Guide 1.174 are subject to different interpretations, the staff should revise this guide using precise language to assure that the defense-in-depth philosophy is interpreted and implemented consistently. To the extent that other regulatory guidance refers to defense in depth, the relevant documents should be updated also, as appropriate. In reviewing these RGs, it was observed that clarification could be added in several other places; for example: • The use of the terms ‘‘PRA technical acceptability,’’ ‘‘PRA technical adequacy,’’ and ‘‘PRA quality’’ were not clear. • References in the RGs, in places, have been either updated or are no longer in use. Although the focus of this proposed revision is to revise the discussion on defense-in-depth, the NRC staff believes that the identified clarifications should be addressed. In DG–1285 (proposed Rev. 3 of RG 1.174) the terms on PRA technical acceptability, PRA technical adequacy, and PRA quality are revised to be consistent with RG 1.200, ‘‘An Approach for Determining the Technical Adequacy of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Results for Risk-Informed Activities’’ and the references were updated. It is the intent of the staff, following the public review and comment period, to review all four RGs and identify administrative changes that will improve the consistency, quality, and usability of each guide. Stakeholders and the public are requested to provide any input regarding areas in these DGs where clarification and improvements may be needed. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 226001 DG–1285, is proposed revision 3 of Regulatory Guide 1.174 dated May 2011, it provides guidance on an approach the NRC finds acceptable for analyzing issues associated with proposed changes to a plant’s licensing basis and for assessing the impact of these changes on the risk associated with plant design and operation. One key element to this type of decisionmaking is an engineering analysis of the proposed change. As part of the engineering analysis, licensees evaluate the impact of the change on maintaining adequate defense-in-depth. This proposed revision incorporates additional language and specific examples of how maintaining defense-in-depth is achieved when licensees use riskinformed analysis of proposed changes to the plant’s licensing basis. DG–1286, is proposed revision 1 of Regulatory Guide 1.175 dated August 1998, it provides an approach to using risk-informed decisionmaking in developing inservice testing programs for nuclear power plants. This revision updates the defense-in-depth evaluation to be consistent with the proposed changes to Regulatory Position 2.1.1 in draft Regulatory Guide DG–1285, (above) which provides guidance on evaluating proposed changes to a plant’s licensing basis, including changes to the inservice testing program. DG–1287, is proposed revision 2 of Regulatory Guide 1.177 dated May 2011, it describes a method acceptable to the NRC for using probabilistic risk analysis to evaluate proposed changes to a plant’s technical specifications. As in evaluating changes to a plant’s licensing basis, a key element in evaluating changes to technical specifications is an engineering analysis of the proposed change. As part of the engineering analysis, licensees evaluate the impact of the change on maintaining adequate defense-in-depth. This revision updates the defense-in-depth evaluation to be consistent with the proposed changes to Regulatory Position 2.1.1 in draft Regulatory Guide DG–1285, (above) which provides guidance on evaluating proposed changes to the plant’s technical specifications. DG–1288, is proposed revision 2 of Regulatory Guide 1.178 dated September 2003, it provides an approach to using risk-informed decisionmaking in developing inservice inspection programs for piping in nuclear power plants. This revision updates the defense-in-depth evaluation to be consistent with the proposed changes to Regulatory Position 2.1.1 in draft Regulatory Guide DG–1285, which provides guidance on evaluating proposed changes to a plant’s licensing PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38857 basis, including changes to the inservice inspection program for piping systems. On May 17, 2012 (77 FR 29391), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) issued for public comment four (4) DGs (DG–1285, DG–1286, DG–1287 and DG–1288). By letter dated June 4, 2012, the Nuclear Energy Institute (ADAMS Accession No. ML12174A174) requested an extension of the stated comment period for the purpose of providing sufficient review of the changes involving defense-indepth evaluations. It is the desire of the NRC to receive comments of high quality from all stakeholders. Several factors have been considered in granting an extension. The requested comment period extension is reasonable and does not affect NRC deadlines. The additional time will allow for stakeholders to discuss the proposed guide during related meetings. Therefore, the comment submittal period is extended from the original date of June 29, 2012 to August 13, 2012. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of June, 2012. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Thomas H. Boyce, Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. [FR Doc. 2012–15962 Filed 6–28–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2012–0152] Design, Inspection, and Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and Adsorption Units of Normal Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in LightWater-Cooled Nuclear Power Plants AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request for comment. SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG–1280, ‘‘Design, Inspection, and Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and Adsorption Units of Normal Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in LightWater-Cooled Nuclear Power Plants.’’ This guide describes a method for design, inspection, and testing of normal atmosphere cleanup systems for controlling releases of airborne radioactive materials to the environment during normal operations, including E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1 38858 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2012 / Notices anticipated operational occurrences. This guide applies to all types of nuclear power plants that use water as the primary means of cooling. DATES: Submit comments by August 27, 2012. 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 access information and comment submissions related to this document, which the NRC possesses and are publically available, by searching on https:// www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC–2012–0152. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2012–0152. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–492–3668; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB), Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWB–05– B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001. • Fax comments to: RADB at 301– 492–3446. For additional direction on accessing information and submitting comments, see ‘‘Accessing Information and Submitting Comments’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mekonen Bayssie, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001, telephone: 301–251– 7489 or email: Mekonen.Bayssie@nrc.gov. • Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2012–0152. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/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 pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The draft regulatory guide is available electronically under ADAMS Accession Number ML11273A057. The regulatory analysis may be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML11273A060. Regulatory guides are not copyrighted, and NRC approval is not required to reproduce them. • 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. A. Accessing Information B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC–2012– 0152 in the subject line of your comment submission, in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make your comment submission available to the public in this docket. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information in comment submissions that you do not want to be publicly disclosed. The NRC posts all comment submissions at https://www.regulations.gov as well as enters the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not 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 in their comment submissions that they do not want to be publicly disclosed. Your request should state that the NRC will not edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS. Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2012– 0152 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may access information related to this document, which the NRC possesses and is publicly available, by the following methods: II. Further Information The NRC is issuing for public comment a draft guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory Guide’’ series. This series was developed to describe and make available to the public such information as methods that are acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing specific SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES I. Accessing Information and Submitting Comments VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:52 Jun 28, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 parts of the NRC’s regulations, techniques that the staff uses in evaluating specific problems or postulated accidents, and data that the staff needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses. The draft regulatory guide, entitled, ‘‘Design, Inspection, and Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and Adsorption Units of Normal Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in LightWater-Cooled Nuclear Power Plants,’’ is temporarily identified by its task number, DG–1280. The DG–1280 is proposed revision 3 of Regulatory Guide 1.140, dated June 2001. Since the last revision of RG 1.140, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Committee on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment (CONAGT) has revised and expanded the scope of equipment covered by ASME–AG–1, ‘‘Code on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment,’’ which the staff previously endorsed RG 1.140. The revision to ASME–AG–1b consolidated some requirements from ASME–N509, ‘‘Nuclear Power Plant Air Cleaning Units and Components’’; ASME–N510, ‘‘Testing of Nuclear AirTreatment Systems’’; and other documents previously endorsed by the staff in RG 1.140. In addition, CONAGT has developed and published a new standard, ASME N511–2007, ‘‘Inservice Testing of Nuclear Air Treatment, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems.’’ This new standard provides comprehensive test and inspection requirements and is written to complement the expanded ASME–AG–1b. This revision of the regulatory guide reflects the referenced industry standards. III. Backfitting and Issue Finality Because this regulatory guide reflects current regulatory practice, it does not require a backfit analysis as described in 10 CFR 50.109(c). Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of June, 2012. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Thomas H. Boyce, Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. [FR Doc. 2012–15960 Filed 6–28–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38857-38858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15960]


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

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2012-0152]


Design, Inspection, and Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and 
Adsorption Units of Normal Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in Light-Water-
Cooled Nuclear Power Plants

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) 
is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1280, 
``Design, Inspection, and Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and 
Adsorption Units of Normal Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in Light-Water-
Cooled Nuclear Power Plants.'' This guide describes a method for 
design, inspection, and testing of normal atmosphere cleanup systems 
for controlling releases of airborne radioactive materials to the 
environment during normal operations, including

[[Page 38858]]

anticipated operational occurrences. This guide applies to all types of 
nuclear power plants that use water as the primary means of cooling.

DATES: Submit comments by August 27, 2012. 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 access information and comment submissions related 
to this document, which the NRC possesses and are publically available, 
by searching on https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2012-
0152. You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0152. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-492-
3668; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov.
     Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, 
Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB), Office of Administration, 
Mail Stop: TWB-05-B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001.
     Fax comments to: RADB at 301-492-3446.
    For additional direction on accessing information and submitting 
comments, see ``Accessing Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mekonen Bayssie, Office of Nuclear 
Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001, telephone: 301-251-7489 or email: Mekonen.Bayssie@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Accessing Information and Submitting Comments

A. Accessing Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0152 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information regarding this document. You may 
access information related to this document, which the NRC possesses 
and is publicly available, by the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0152.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC 
Library at https://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 pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The draft regulatory guide 
is available electronically under ADAMS Accession Number ML11273A057. 
The regulatory analysis may be found in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML11273A060.
    Regulatory guides are not copyrighted, and NRC approval is not 
required to reproduce them.
     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-2012-0152 in the subject line of your 
comment submission, in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make 
your comment submission available to the public in this docket.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information in comment submissions that you do not want to be publicly 
disclosed. The NRC posts all comment submissions at https://www.regulations.gov as well as enters the comment submissions into 
ADAMS. The NRC does not 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 in their comment submissions 
that they do not want to be publicly disclosed. Your request should 
state that the NRC will not edit comment submissions to remove such 
information before making the comment submissions available to the 
public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS.

II. Further Information

    The NRC is issuing for public comment a draft guide in the NRC's 
``Regulatory Guide'' series. This series was developed to describe and 
make available to the public such information as 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 problems or postulated accidents, and data that the staff 
needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses.
    The draft regulatory guide, entitled, ``Design, Inspection, and 
Testing Criteria for Air Filtration and Adsorption Units of Normal 
Atmosphere Cleanup Systems in Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' is temporarily identified by its task number, DG-1280. The 
DG-1280 is proposed revision 3 of Regulatory Guide 1.140, dated June 
2001. Since the last revision of RG 1.140, The American Society of 
Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Committee on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment 
(CONAGT) has revised and expanded the scope of equipment covered by 
ASME-AG-1, ``Code on Nuclear Air and Gas Treatment,'' which the staff 
previously endorsed RG 1.140. The revision to ASME-AG-1b consolidated 
some requirements from ASME-N509, ``Nuclear Power Plant Air Cleaning 
Units and Components''; ASME-N510, ``Testing of Nuclear Air-Treatment 
Systems''; and other documents previously endorsed by the staff in RG 
1.140. In addition, CONAGT has developed and published a new standard, 
ASME N511-2007, ``Inservice Testing of Nuclear Air Treatment, Heating 
Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems.'' This new standard provides 
comprehensive test and inspection requirements and is written to 
complement the expanded ASME-AG-1b. This revision of the regulatory 
guide reflects the referenced industry standards.

III. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    Because this regulatory guide reflects current regulatory practice, 
it does not require a backfit analysis as described in 10 CFR 
50.109(c).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of June, 2012.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Boyce,
Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2012-15960 Filed 6-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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