Configuration Management Plans for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants, 47014-47015 [2013-18684]

Agencies

• NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47014-47015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18684]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2012-0195]


Configuration Management Plans for Digital Computer Software Used 
in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Revision to Regulatory Guide; Issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a 
revised regulatory guide (RG), revision 1 of RG 1.169, ``Configuration 
Management Plans for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems 
of Nuclear Power Plants.'' This RG endorses, with clarifications and 
exceptions as stated in Section C, ``Staff Regulatory Guidance'' of the 
RG, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 
Standard 828-2005, ``IEEE Standard for Software Configuration 
Management Plans,'' issued in 2005. This IEEE standard describes 
methods acceptable to the NRC staff for demonstrating compliance with 
NRC regulations for configuration management and control of software 
used in the safety systems of a nuclear power plant.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0195 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, using the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0195. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov.
     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 ADAMS accession number 
for each document referenced in this notice (if that document is 
available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is 
referenced. Revision 1 of RG 1.169 is available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML12355A642. The regulatory analysis may be found in 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML103200047.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine for free or 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: Mark Orr, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone: 301-251-7495; email: 
Mark.Orr@NRC.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC is issuing a revision to an existing RG in the NRC's 
``Regulatory Guide'' series. This series was developed to describe and 
make available to the public information such as methods that are 
acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing specific parts of NRC 
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.

II. Further Information

    Revision 1 of RG 1.169 was issued with a temporary identification 
as Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1206 on August 22, 2012 (77 FR 50727) for 
a 60-day public comment period. The public comment period closed on 
November 22, 2012. Multiple public comments were received and addressed 
by the NRC staff. These comments and the NRC staff responses are 
available in ADAMS under Accession number ML12355A529.
    Revision 1 of RG 1.169 endorses IEEE Std. 828-2005, ``IEEE Standard 
for Software Configuration Management Plans,'' issued in 2005 with the 
exceptions and clarifications stated in Section C, ``Staff Regulatory 
Guidance of the RG.'' IEEE Std. 828-2005 describes methods acceptable 
to the NRC staff for use in complying with NRC regulations for quality 
standards that promote high functional reliability and design quality 
in software used in safety systems. In particular, the methods are 
consistent with GDC 1 in Appendix A to part 50 of Title 10 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and the criteria for quality assurance 
programs in Appendix B to 10 CFR part 50 as they apply to the 
maintenance and control of appropriate records of software development 
activities. The criteria of Appendices A and B of 10 CFR part 50 apply 
to systems and related quality assurance processes, and the 
requirements also extend to software elements if those systems include 
software.
    This RG is one of six RG revisions addressing computer software 
development and use in safety related systems of nuclear power plants. 
These RGs were developed by the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 
Division of Engineering (RES/DE) with the assistance of multiple 
individuals in the Office of New Reactors, Division of Engineering 
(NRO/DE); Office Nuclear

[[Page 47015]]

Reactor Regulation, Division of Engineering (NRR/DE); and the Office of 
Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Division of Security Policy 
(NSIR/DSP). The six interrelated RGs are:
    1. Revision 2 of RG 1.168, ``Verification, Validation, Reviews, and 
Audits for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear 
Power Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1267. The package for 
Rev. 2 of RG 1.168 is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12236A132.
    2. Revision 1 of RG 1.169, ``Configuration Management Plans for 
Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1206. The package for Rev. 1 
of RG 1.169 is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A524.
    3. Revision 1 of RG 1.170, ``Test Documentation for Digital 
Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants,'' 
issued for public comment as DG1207. The package for Rev. 1 of RG 1.170 
is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A531.
    4. Revision 1 of RG 1.171, ``Software Unit Testing for Digital 
Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants,'' 
issued for public comment as DG1208. The package for Rev. 1 of RG 1.171 
is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A534.
    5. Revision 1 of RG 1.172, ``Software Requirements Specifications 
for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1209. The package for Rev. 1 
of RG 1.172 is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A538.
    6. Revision 1 of RG 1.173, ``Developing Software Life Cycle 
Processes for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of 
Nuclear Power Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1210. The 
package for Rev. 1 of RG 1.173 is in ADAMS at Accession No. 
ML13008A338.

III. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    Issuance of this revised RG does not constitute backfitting as 
defined in 10 CFR 50.109 (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 RG on holders of current operating 
licenses, early site permits or combined licenses, unless this final 
regulatory guide is part of the licensing basis for the facility.
    The NRC may apply this revised RG to applications for operating 
licenses, early site permits and combined licenses docketed by the NRC 
as of the date of issuance of the final RG, as well as to future 
applications for operating licenses, early site permits and combined 
licenses submitted after the issuance of the RG. Such action does not 
constitute backfitting as defined in 10 CFR 50.109(a)(1) and is not 
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.

IV. Congressional Review Act

    This RG is a rule as designated in the Congressional Review Act (5 
U.S.C. 801-808). However, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
not found it to be a major rule as designated in the Congressional 
Review Act.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of July, 2013.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Boyce,
Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2013-18684 Filed 8-1-13; 8:45 am]
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