Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate Interim Staff Guidance JLD-ISG-2013-01; Guidance for Estimating Flooding Hazards Due to Dam Failure, 48201-48203 [2013-19057]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 7, 2013 / Notices Dated: August 2, 2013. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer. Applicant Address [FR Doc. 2013–19092 Filed 8–6–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P Activity for Which Permit Is Requested NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Permit Applications Received Under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541) AGENCY: National Science Foundation. Notice of Permit Applications Received under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, Public Law 95–541. ACTION: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received. SUMMARY: Interested parties are invited to submit written data, comments, or views with respect to this permit application by September 6, 2013. This application may be inspected by interested parties at the Permit Office, address below. DATES: Comments should be addressed to Permit Office, Room 755, Division of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230. ADDRESSES: Harmful Interference/Take. This application is to allow for the unintentional and unexpected brief, minor disturbance to Antarctic birds and marine mammals at breeding, molting, and terrestrial, fast-ice, and sea-ice haulout sites at various sub-Antarctic (within geographic coverage area of the Antarctic Treaty) and Antarctic locations during observational research to document several aspects of acoustic and non-acoustic behavior and ecology. Research would be conducted using remote-controlled aerial platforms (i.e., quad-copters and hex-copters) equipped with small high-resolution cameras to document distribution, dispersion, habitat use, and abundance of seals and seabirds whenever conditions permit. These aerial sorties will be launched at least 50 to 100m from any wildlife should not be detectable visually or acoustically by wildlife during their operation. Flight altitudes would be 100 m or higher. Photographs and audio recordings also would be collected on the ground. No Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) would be entered in pursuit of this research. Research locations would be accessed from tour ships as part of their prescheduled landings and is therefore focused on visitor sites. Location Western Antarctic Peninsula region visitor sites. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dates Adrian Dahood, ACA Permit Officer, at the above address or ACApermits@nsf.gov or (703) 292–7149. Dates permit valid: October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2018. The National Science Foundation, as directed by the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95–541), as amended by the Antarctic Science, Tourism and Conservation Act of 1996, has developed regulations for the establishment of a permit system for various activities in Antarctica and designation of certain animals and certain geographic areas a requiring special protection. The regulations establish such a permit system to designate Antarctic Specially Protected Areas. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Application Details 1. Applicant: Brent Stewart. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Aug 06, 2013 Nadene G. Kennedy, Division of Polar Programs. [FR Doc. 2013–19034 Filed 8–6–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2013–0073] Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate Interim Staff Guidance JLD–ISG–2013–01; Guidance for Estimating Flooding Hazards Due to Dam Failure Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Interim staff guidance; issuance. AGENCY: Permit Application: 2014–005 Jkt 229001 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing the Final Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate Interim Staff Guidance (JLD– ISG), JLD–ISG–2013–01, ‘‘Guidance for Estimating Flooding hazards due to Dam Failure’’ (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML13151A153). This ISG provides guidance and clarification to assist nuclear power reactors applicants and licensees with the flooding hazard reassessment in response to Enclosure 2 of the NRC staff’s request for information, ‘‘Request for Information Pursuant to section 50.54(f) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Regarding Recommendations 2.1, 2.3, and 9.3 of the Near-Term Task Force Review of Insights from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Accident,’’ dated March 12, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12053A340). ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2013–0073 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 are publicly-available, using any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2013–0073. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–287–3442; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may access publiclyavailable 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 JLD–ISG–2013–01 is available under ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A153. • 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, MD 20852. • NRC’s Interim Staff Guidance Web site: Go to https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/isg/japan-lessonslearned.html and refer to JLD–ISG– 2013–01. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. G. Edward Miller, Japan LessonsLearned Project Directorate, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, SUMMARY: Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, California, 92109. Sfmt 4703 48201 E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM 07AUN1 48202 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 7, 2013 / Notices Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–2481; email: ed.miller@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Background Information The NRC staff developed JLD–ISG– 2013–01 to provide guidance and clarification to assist nuclear power reactor licensees, applicants for power reactor licenses, and holders of construction permits in active or deferred status with the evaluation of flooding hazards due to dam failure. On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of the Japanese island of Honshu. The earthquake resulted in a large tsunami, estimated to have exceeded 14 meters (45 feet) in height, that inundated the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant site. The earthquake and tsunami produced widespread devastation across northeastern Japan and significantly affected the infrastructure and industry in the northeastern coastal areas of Japan. When the earthquake occurred, Fukushima Dai-ichi Units 1, 2, and 3 were in operation and Units 4, 5, and 6 were shut down for routine refueling and maintenance activities. The Unit 4 reactor fuel was offloaded to the Unit 4 spent fuel pool. Following the earthquake, the three operating units automatically shut down and offsite power was lost to the entire facility. The emergency diesel generators (EDG) started at all six units providing alternating current (ac) electrical power to critical systems at each unit. The facility response to the earthquake appears to have been normal. Approximately 40 minutes following the earthquake and shutdown of the operating units, however, the first large tsunami wave inundated the site, followed by additional waves. The tsunami caused extensive damage to site facilities and resulted in a complete loss of all ac electrical power at Units 1 through 5, a condition known as station blackout. In addition, all direct current electrical power was lost early in the event on Units 1 and 2, and after some period of time at the other units. Unit 6 retained the function of one air-cooled EDG. Despite their actions, the operators lost the ability to cool the fuel in the Unit 1 reactor after several hours, in the Unit 2 reactor after about 70 hours, and in the Unit 3 reactor after about 36 hours, resulting in damage to the nuclear fuel shortly after the loss of cooling capabilities. Following the events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the NRC established a senior-level agency task force referred to as the Near- VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Aug 06, 2013 Jkt 229001 Term Task Force (NTTF). The NTTF was tasked with conducting a systematic and methodical review of the NRC’s regulations and processes, and determining if the agency should make additional improvements to these programs in light of the events at Fukushima Dai-ichi. As a result of this review, the NTTF developed a comprehensive set of recommendations, documented in SECY–11–0093, ‘‘NearTerm Report and Recommendations for Agency Actions Following the Events in Japan,’’ dated July 12, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11186A950). These recommendations were enhanced by the NRC staff following interactions with stakeholders. Documentation of the staff’s efforts is contained in SECY–11– 0124, ‘‘Recommended Actions to be Taken Without Delay from the NearTerm Task Force Report,’’ dated September 9, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11245A158), and SECY–11– 0137, ‘‘Prioritization of Recommended Actions to be Taken in Response to Fukushima Lessons Learned,’’ dated October 3, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11272A111). As directed by the Commission’s staff requirements memorandum (SRM) for SECY–11–0093, dated August 19, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML112310021), the NRC staff reviewed the NTTF recommendations within the context of the NRC’s existing regulatory framework and considered the various regulatory vehicles available to the NRC to implement the recommendations. SECY–11–0124 and SECY–11–0137 established the staff’s prioritization of the recommendations based upon the potential for each recommendation to enhance safety. As part of the SRM for SECY–11– 0124, dated October 18, 2011, the Commission approved the staff’s proposed actions, including the development of three information requests under 10 CFR 50.54(f). The information collected would be used to support the NRC staff’s evaluation of whether further regulatory action was needed in the areas of seismic and flooding design and emergency preparedness. In addition to Commission direction, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law 112–074, was signed into law on December 23, 2011. Section 402 of the law directs the NRC to require licensees to reevaluate their design basis for external hazards. In response to the aforementioned Commission and Congressional direction, the NRC issued a request for information to all power reactor licensees and holders of construction permits under 10 CFR part 50 on March PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12, 2012. The letter dated March 12, 2012, includes a request that licensees reevaluate flooding hazards at nuclear power plant sites using updated flooding hazard information and present-day regulatory guidance and methodologies. The letter also requests the comparison of the reevaluated hazard to the current design basis at the site for each potential flood mechanism. If the reevaluated flood hazard at a site is not bounded by the current design basis, licensees are requested to perform an integrated assessment. The integrated assessment will evaluate the total plant response to the flood hazard, considering multiple and diverse capabilities such as physical barriers, temporary protective measures, and operational procedures. The NRC staff will review the licensees’ responses to this request for information and determine whether regulatory actions are necessary to provide additional protection against flooding. Numerous public meetings were held to receive stakeholder input on the proposed guidance prior to its issuance formally for public comment. On April 25, 2013 (78 FR 24439), the NRC requested public comments on draft JLD–ISG–2013–01. In public meetings on May 2, 2013, and May 22, 2013, the NRC staff interacted extensively with external stakeholders to discuss, understand, and resolve public comments. Modifications were made to the text of the ISG in response to the public comments and the outcomes of the public meetings. Full detail of the comments, staff responses, and the staff’s bases for changes to the ISG are contained in ‘‘NRC Response to Public Comments’’ to JLD–ISG–2013–01, which can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A161. Backfitting and Issue Finality This ISG 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, ‘‘Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.’’ This ISG provides guidance on an acceptable method for implementing the March 12, 2012, request for information. Neither the information request nor the ISG require the modification or addition to systems, structures, or components, or design of a facility. Applicants and licensees may voluntarily use the guidance in JLD–ISG–2013–01 to comply with the request for information. The information received by this request may, at a later date, be used in the basis for imposing a backfit. E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM 07AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 7, 2013 / Notices The appropriate backfit review process would be followed at that time. Congressional Review Act This interim staff guidance is a rule as designated in the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801–808). OMB has found that this is not a major rule in accordance with the Congressional Review Act. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of July 2013. For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission. David L. Skeen, Director, Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2013–19057 Filed 8–6–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [DOCKET NO. 50–133; NRC–2013–0130] Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Humboldt Bay Power Plant, Unit 3, Notice of Public Meeting on the License Termination Plan Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Application for license amendment; public meeting. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is providing notice that the NRC staff will conduct a meeting to discuss and accept public comments on the Humboldt Bay Power Plant (HBPP), Unit 3 License Termination Plan (LTP) on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. in the Great Room at the Warfinger Building, Eureka Public Marina, #1 Marina Way, Eureka, California. The HBPP is located about four miles southwest of the city of Eureka, Humboldt County, California and consists of 143 acres of land. Unit 3, which is the NRC licensed reactor, is currently being decommissioned with the spent fuel now stored in the onsite Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation. Unit 3 decommissioning commenced in May 2009. Following the start of a new power generation facility in 2010, the licensee commenced with the permanent shutdown of the fossil Units 1 and 2. Units 1 and 2 are being decommissioned in conjunction with Unit 3 decommissioning. In accordance with the NRC regulations at § 50.82(a)(9) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), all power reactor licensees must submit an application for termination of their license. The application for termination of license must be mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Aug 06, 2013 Jkt 229001 accompanied or preceded by an LTP to be submitted for NRC approval. Pacific Gas and Electric submitted the proposed LTP for HBPP with a license amendment application dated May 3, 2013. The LTP would be approved by license amendment if found acceptable by the NRC staff. The amendment would be subject to such conditions and limitations as the NRC staff deems appropriate and necessary. In accordance with 10 CFR 20.1405 and 10 CFR 50.82(a)(9)(iii), the NRC is providing notice to individuals in the vicinity of the site that the NRC: (1) Is in receipt of the HBPP LTP; (2) will hold a public meeting: and (3) will accept comments from affected parties. The HBPP LTP is available for public viewing at the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) or electronically through the NRC Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at accession numbers ML131300009 and ML131300160. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the PDR, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library component on the NRC Web site, https://www.nrc.gov. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1–800– 397–4209, or 301–415–4737, or by email at pdr@nrc.gov. Any meeting updates or changes will be made available on the NRC’s Public Meeting Schedule Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/public-involve/publicmeetings/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments or questions regarding the HBPP LTP or the public meeting may be addressed to Mr. John B. Hickman, Mail Stop T–8–F5, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001, telephone 301–415– 3017 or via email John.Hickman@nrc.gov. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of July 2013. PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 48203 For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Bruce Watson, Branch Chief, Reactor Decommissioning Branch, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs. [FR Doc. 2013–19054 Filed 8–6–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Sunshine Federal Register Notice AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETINGS: Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC–2013– 0001]. DATES: Week of August 5, 2013. PLACE: Commissioners’ Conference Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. STATUS: Public and Closed. Week of August 5, 2013 Monday, August 5, 2013 1:00 p.m. Affirmation Session (Public Meeting) (Tentative). Proposed Commission Order in Response to Decision by D.C. Circuit in Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corp. v. NRC (Tentative). * * * * * *The schedule for Commission meetings is subject to change on short notice. To verify the status of meetings, call (recording)—301–415–1292. Contact person for more information: Rochelle Bavol, 301–415–1651. * * * * * Additional Information By a vote of 5–0 on August 2, 2013, the Commission determined pursuant to U.S.C. 552b(e) and § 9.107(a) of the Commission’s rules that the above referenced Affirmation Session be held with less than one week notice to the public. The meeting is scheduled on August 5, 2013. * * * * * The NRC Commission Meeting Schedule can be found on the Internet at: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/ public-meetings/schedule.html. * * * * * The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these public meetings, or need this meeting notice or the transcript or other information from the public meetings in another format (e.g. braille, large print), please notify E:\FR\FM\07AUN1.SGM 07AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48201-48203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19057]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2013-0073]


Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate Interim Staff Guidance 
JLD-ISG-2013-01; Guidance for Estimating Flooding Hazards Due to Dam 
Failure

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Interim staff guidance; issuance.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing the 
Final Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate Interim Staff Guidance 
(JLD-ISG), JLD-ISG-2013-01, ``Guidance for Estimating Flooding hazards 
due to Dam Failure'' (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS) Accession No. ML13151A153). This ISG provides guidance and 
clarification to assist nuclear power reactors applicants and licensees 
with the flooding hazard reassessment in response to Enclosure 2 of the 
NRC staff's request for information, ``Request for Information Pursuant 
to section 50.54(f) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 
CFR), Regarding Recommendations 2.1, 2.3, and 9.3 of the Near-Term Task 
Force Review of Insights from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Accident,'' dated 
March 12, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12053A340).

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2013-0073 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 are publicly-available, using any of the following 
methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2013-0073. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3442; 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 JLD-ISG-2013-01 is 
available under ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A153.
     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, MD 20852.
     NRC's Interim Staff Guidance Web site: Go to https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/isg/japan-lessons-learned.html 
and refer to JLD-ISG-2013-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. G. Edward Miller, Japan Lessons-
Learned Project Directorate, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission,

[[Page 48202]]

Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2481; email: 
ed.miller@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    The NRC staff developed JLD-ISG-2013-01 to provide guidance and 
clarification to assist nuclear power reactor licensees, applicants for 
power reactor licenses, and holders of construction permits in active 
or deferred status with the evaluation of flooding hazards due to dam 
failure.
    On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast 
of the Japanese island of Honshu. The earthquake resulted in a large 
tsunami, estimated to have exceeded 14 meters (45 feet) in height, that 
inundated the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant site. The 
earthquake and tsunami produced widespread devastation across 
northeastern Japan and significantly affected the infrastructure and 
industry in the northeastern coastal areas of Japan. When the 
earthquake occurred, Fukushima Dai-ichi Units 1, 2, and 3 were in 
operation and Units 4, 5, and 6 were shut down for routine refueling 
and maintenance activities. The Unit 4 reactor fuel was offloaded to 
the Unit 4 spent fuel pool. Following the earthquake, the three 
operating units automatically shut down and offsite power was lost to 
the entire facility. The emergency diesel generators (EDG) started at 
all six units providing alternating current (ac) electrical power to 
critical systems at each unit. The facility response to the earthquake 
appears to have been normal. Approximately 40 minutes following the 
earthquake and shutdown of the operating units, however, the first 
large tsunami wave inundated the site, followed by additional waves. 
The tsunami caused extensive damage to site facilities and resulted in 
a complete loss of all ac electrical power at Units 1 through 5, a 
condition known as station blackout. In addition, all direct current 
electrical power was lost early in the event on Units 1 and 2, and 
after some period of time at the other units. Unit 6 retained the 
function of one air-cooled EDG. Despite their actions, the operators 
lost the ability to cool the fuel in the Unit 1 reactor after several 
hours, in the Unit 2 reactor after about 70 hours, and in the Unit 3 
reactor after about 36 hours, resulting in damage to the nuclear fuel 
shortly after the loss of cooling capabilities.
    Following the events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, 
the NRC established a senior-level agency task force referred to as the 
Near-Term Task Force (NTTF). The NTTF was tasked with conducting a 
systematic and methodical review of the NRC's regulations and 
processes, and determining if the agency should make additional 
improvements to these programs in light of the events at Fukushima Dai-
ichi. As a result of this review, the NTTF developed a comprehensive 
set of recommendations, documented in SECY-11-0093, ``Near-Term Report 
and Recommendations for Agency Actions Following the Events in Japan,'' 
dated July 12, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11186A950). These 
recommendations were enhanced by the NRC staff following interactions 
with stakeholders. Documentation of the staff's efforts is contained in 
SECY-11-0124, ``Recommended Actions to be Taken Without Delay from the 
Near-Term Task Force Report,'' dated September 9, 2011 (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML11245A158), and SECY-11-0137, ``Prioritization of Recommended 
Actions to be Taken in Response to Fukushima Lessons Learned,'' dated 
October 3, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11272A111).
    As directed by the Commission's staff requirements memorandum (SRM) 
for SECY-11-0093, dated August 19, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML112310021), the NRC staff reviewed the NTTF recommendations within 
the context of the NRC's existing regulatory framework and considered 
the various regulatory vehicles available to the NRC to implement the 
recommendations. SECY-11-0124 and SECY-11-0137 established the staff's 
prioritization of the recommendations based upon the potential for each 
recommendation to enhance safety.
    As part of the SRM for SECY-11-0124, dated October 18, 2011, the 
Commission approved the staff's proposed actions, including the 
development of three information requests under 10 CFR 50.54(f). The 
information collected would be used to support the NRC staff's 
evaluation of whether further regulatory action was needed in the areas 
of seismic and flooding design and emergency preparedness.
    In addition to Commission direction, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, Public Law 112-074, was signed into law on December 
23, 2011. Section 402 of the law directs the NRC to require licensees 
to reevaluate their design basis for external hazards.
    In response to the aforementioned Commission and Congressional 
direction, the NRC issued a request for information to all power 
reactor licensees and holders of construction permits under 10 CFR part 
50 on March 12, 2012. The letter dated March 12, 2012, includes a 
request that licensees reevaluate flooding hazards at nuclear power 
plant sites using updated flooding hazard information and present-day 
regulatory guidance and methodologies. The letter also requests the 
comparison of the reevaluated hazard to the current design basis at the 
site for each potential flood mechanism. If the reevaluated flood 
hazard at a site is not bounded by the current design basis, licensees 
are requested to perform an integrated assessment. The integrated 
assessment will evaluate the total plant response to the flood hazard, 
considering multiple and diverse capabilities such as physical 
barriers, temporary protective measures, and operational procedures. 
The NRC staff will review the licensees' responses to this request for 
information and determine whether regulatory actions are necessary to 
provide additional protection against flooding.
    Numerous public meetings were held to receive stakeholder input on 
the proposed guidance prior to its issuance formally for public 
comment. On April 25, 2013 (78 FR 24439), the NRC requested public 
comments on draft JLD-ISG-2013-01. In public meetings on May 2, 2013, 
and May 22, 2013, the NRC staff interacted extensively with external 
stakeholders to discuss, understand, and resolve public comments. 
Modifications were made to the text of the ISG in response to the 
public comments and the outcomes of the public meetings. Full detail of 
the comments, staff responses, and the staff's bases for changes to the 
ISG are contained in ``NRC Response to Public Comments'' to JLD-ISG-
2013-01, which can be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML13151A161.

Backfitting and Issue Finality

    This ISG 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, ``Licenses, 
Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants.'' This ISG 
provides guidance on an acceptable method for implementing the March 
12, 2012, request for information. Neither the information request nor 
the ISG require the modification or addition to systems, structures, or 
components, or design of a facility. Applicants and licensees may 
voluntarily use the guidance in JLD-ISG-2013-01 to comply with the 
request for information. The information received by this request may, 
at a later date, be used in the basis for imposing a backfit.

[[Page 48203]]

The appropriate backfit review process would be followed at that time.

Congressional Review Act

    This interim staff guidance is a rule as designated in the 
Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801-808). OMB has found that this is 
not a major rule in accordance with the Congressional Review Act.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of July 2013.
    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
David L. Skeen,
Director, Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2013-19057 Filed 8-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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