Accident Source Term Methodologies and Corresponding Release Fractions, 52058-52059 [2020-17645]

Download as PDF 52058 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 164 Monday, August 24, 2020 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10 CFR Part 50 [Docket No. PRM–50–122; NRC–2020–0150] Accident Source Term Methodologies and Corresponding Release Fractions Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Petition for rulemaking; notification of docketing and request for comment. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a petition for rulemaking from Brian Magnuson dated May 31, 2020, requesting that the NRC revise its regulations to codify the source term methodologies and corresponding release fractions recommended in a report issued by Sandia National Laboratories. The petition was docketed by the NRC on June 18, 2020, and has been assigned Docket No. PRM–50–122. The NRC is examining the issues raised in PRM–50–122 to determine whether they should be considered in rulemaking. The NRC is requesting public comment on this petition at this time. DATES: Submit comments by November 9, 2020. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2020–0150. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • Email comments to: Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov. If you do not receive an automatic email reply jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:10 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 confirming receipt, then contact us at 301–415–1677. • Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting comments, see ‘‘Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juan Lopez, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301–415– 2338, email: Juan.Lopez@nrc.gov, or Yanely Malave-Velez, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301–415–1519, email: Yanely.Malave-Velez@nrc.gov. Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2020– 0150 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publiclyavailable information related to this action by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2020–0150. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publiclyavailable documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ pdr.html. To begin the search, 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 (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this document. • Attention: The PDR where you may examine and order copies of public documents, is currently closed. You may submit your request to the PDR via email at PDR.Resource@nrc.gov or call 1–800–397–4209 between 8:00 a.m. and PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC–2020– 0150 in your comment submission. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at https:// www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely 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 that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS. II. The Petitioner and Petition The petition for rulemaking (PRM) was filed by Brian Magnuson. The petition requests the NRC revise its regulations in § 50.67 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ‘‘Accident source term,’’ to codify the source term methodologies and corresponding release fractions recommended in Sandia National Laboratories Report SAND2008–6601, ‘‘Analysis of Main Steam Isolation Valve Leakage in Design Basis Accidents Using MELCOR 1.8.6 and RADTRAD,’’ dated October 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083180196). The petitioner states that the revision would eliminate inconsistences obtained from the use of different source term methodologies and release fractions and would provide the requisite means to ensure compliance with the underlying regulations. The petition may be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML20170B161. III. Discussion of the Petition The petition states that much of the past and present source term methodologies, including release fractions, used by nuclear power plants to perform accident dose calculations are inaccurate and nonconservative. The E:\FR\FM\24AUP1.SGM 24AUP1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 164 / Monday, August 24, 2020 / Proposed Rules petition requests that the NRC revise § 50.67 to codify the source term methodologies and recommendations of Sandia National Laboratories report SAND2008–6601 and update and finalize related NRC guidance, Draft Regulatory Guide DG–1199 (Proposed Revision 1 of Regulatory Guide 1.183), ‘‘Alternative Radiological Source Terms for Evaluating Design Basis Accidents at Nuclear Power Reactors,’’ dated October 2009 (ADAMS Accession No. ML090960464). The petition describes the current NRC guidance as ‘‘conceptually inaccurate’’ and ‘‘nonconservative’’ for calculations of radiological release doses, quoting from Sandia Report SAND2008–6601: . . .these findings conclude that the current regulatory guidelines permitting the use of the fission product concentration in the drywell atmosphere during the first two hours prior to assumed vessel reflood is nonconservative for the purposes of evaluating the dose resulting from MSIV leakage, in addition to being conceptually inaccurate. The petition also states that, despite the NRC acknowledging the safety significance of accident source terms, the NRC has not yet approved Draft Regulatory Guide DG–1199. As a result, the petitioner believes accident doses have been undercalculated for over 25 years. The petition indicates this would account for the uncertainties that high burnup fuel pellets could be reduced to a powder form and dispersed outside of the fuel rod during clad failure accidents (with or without fuel melt), used by the Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis (RASCAL) calculation described in NUREG–1940, ‘‘RASCAL 4: Description of Models and Methods,’’ available online at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1940/. jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS IV. Conclusion The NRC determined that the petition meets the requirements for docketing a petition for rulemaking under § 2.803, ‘‘Petition for rulemaking—NRC action.’’ The NRC will examine the merits of the issues raised in PRM–50–122 and any comments received on this document to determine whether these issues should be considered in rulemaking. Dated: August 7, 2020. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2020–17645 Filed 8–21–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:10 Aug 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of the Under-Secretary for Economic Affairs 15 CFR Chapter XV [Docket No.: 200803–0204] RIN 0605–AA53 Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education and Promotion Order Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, United States Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce (Department) solicits comments on a proposed Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Order. The purpose of the proposed order is to strengthen the position of the concrete masonry products industry in the domestic marketplace; maintain, develop, and expand markets and uses of concrete masonry products in the domestic marketplace; and promote the use of concrete masonry products in construction and building. The proposed order allows a Concrete Masonry Products Board (Board) made up of industry members appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to develop and implement programs of research, education, and promotion. The funding of the Board’s activities and programs will be through assessments paid by manufacturers of concrete masonry units. The initial assessment will be $.01 per concrete masonry unit sold. The Secretary will hold a referendum among eligible manufacturers to determine whether they favor the implementation of the proposed order. The order only will go into effect if the referendum results in the affirmative vote of a majority of those voting and also a majority of the block machine cavities in operation by those voting. This proposal also announces the intent of the Department to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a new information collection request (ICR) to support implementation of the program. DATES: The Department must receive comments by October 8, 2020. ADDRESSES: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https:// www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOC2020-0002, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. The supporting economic analysis is also SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 52059 available for comment on regulations.gov. You may also submit comments via email at Checkoff@doc.gov. All submissions, including attachments and other supporting materials, will become part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. The Department reserves the right to publish relevant comments, unedited and in their entirety. Do not include personal information, such as account numbers or Social Security numbers, or names of other individuals. Do not submit confidential business information, or otherwise proprietary, sensitive or protected information. We will not post or consider comments that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other inappropriate language or like content. Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), send to the above address comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimate, ways to minimize the burden, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, or any other aspect of this collection of information. In addition, send comments concerning the information collection to OIRA_ Submission@omb.eop.gov or online at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Mr. Michael Thompson, Communications for the Commerce Checkoff Implementation Program, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, telephone: (202) 482–0671 or via electronic mail: mthompson1@doc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: I. Overview Pursuant to the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2018 (Act), 15 U.S.C. 8701 et seq., the Department is enacting a research, education, and promotion program (commonly referred to as a checkoff program) for concrete masonry products. The Act specifically authorizes the Secretary to ‘‘issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out [the Act] and the power vested in the Secretary under [the Act].’’ 15 U.S.C. 8713. The Department’s actions to bring the program to fruition will include: (1) Implementing an order that will effectuate the purpose of the Act; (2) conducting a referendum among the industry to determine whether the industry approves of being subject to the implementing order; and, upon an affirmative vote on the order; (3) issuing the order and establishing a Board that will carry out the provisions of the E:\FR\FM\24AUP1.SGM 24AUP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 164 (Monday, August 24, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52058-52059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17645]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 164 / Monday, August 24, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 52058]]



NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 50

[Docket No. PRM-50-122; NRC-2020-0150]


Accident Source Term Methodologies and Corresponding Release 
Fractions

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Petition for rulemaking; notification of docketing and request 
for comment.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a 
petition for rulemaking from Brian Magnuson dated May 31, 2020, 
requesting that the NRC revise its regulations to codify the source 
term methodologies and corresponding release fractions recommended in a 
report issued by Sandia National Laboratories. The petition was 
docketed by the NRC on June 18, 2020, and has been assigned Docket No. 
PRM-50-122. The NRC is examining the issues raised in PRM-50-122 to 
determine whether they should be considered in rulemaking. The NRC is 
requesting public comment on this petition at this time.

DATES: Submit comments by November 9, 2020. Comments received after 
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC 
is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2020-0150. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     Email comments to: [email protected]. If you do 
not receive an automatic email reply confirming receipt, then contact 
us at 301-415-1677.
     Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and 
Adjudications Staff.
    For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting 
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juan Lopez, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-2338, email: 
[email protected], or Yanely Malave-Velez, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-1519, email: [email protected]. Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2020-0150 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain 
publicly-available information related to this action by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2020-0150.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/pdr.html. To begin the search, 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 
[email protected].
     The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced 
(if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is 
mentioned in this document.
     Attention: The PDR where you may examine and order copies 
of public documents, is currently closed. You may submit your request 
to the PDR via email at [email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2020-0150 in your comment submission.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at 
https://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions 
into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely 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 that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should 
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove such information before making the comment submissions available 
to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

II. The Petitioner and Petition

    The petition for rulemaking (PRM) was filed by Brian Magnuson. The 
petition requests the NRC revise its regulations in Sec.  50.67 of 
title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Accident source 
term,'' to codify the source term methodologies and corresponding 
release fractions recommended in Sandia National Laboratories Report 
SAND2008-6601, ``Analysis of Main Steam Isolation Valve Leakage in 
Design Basis Accidents Using MELCOR 1.8.6 and RADTRAD,'' dated October 
2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML083180196). The petitioner states that the 
revision would eliminate inconsistences obtained from the use of 
different source term methodologies and release fractions and would 
provide the requisite means to ensure compliance with the underlying 
regulations. The petition may be found in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML20170B161.

III. Discussion of the Petition

    The petition states that much of the past and present source term 
methodologies, including release fractions, used by nuclear power 
plants to perform accident dose calculations are inaccurate and 
nonconservative. The

[[Page 52059]]

petition requests that the NRC revise Sec.  50.67 to codify the source 
term methodologies and recommendations of Sandia National Laboratories 
report SAND2008-6601 and update and finalize related NRC guidance, 
Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1199 (Proposed Revision 1 of Regulatory Guide 
1.183), ``Alternative Radiological Source Terms for Evaluating Design 
Basis Accidents at Nuclear Power Reactors,'' dated October 2009 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML090960464).
    The petition describes the current NRC guidance as ``conceptually 
inaccurate'' and ``nonconservative'' for calculations of radiological 
release doses, quoting from Sandia Report SAND2008-6601:

    . . .these findings conclude that the current regulatory 
guidelines permitting the use of the fission product concentration 
in the drywell atmosphere during the first two hours prior to 
assumed vessel reflood is non-conservative for the purposes of 
evaluating the dose resulting from MSIV leakage, in addition to 
being conceptually inaccurate.

    The petition also states that, despite the NRC acknowledging the 
safety significance of accident source terms, the NRC has not yet 
approved Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1199. As a result, the petitioner 
believes accident doses have been undercalculated for over 25 years. 
The petition indicates this would account for the uncertainties that 
high burnup fuel pellets could be reduced to a powder form and 
dispersed outside of the fuel rod during clad failure accidents (with 
or without fuel melt), used by the Radiological Assessment System for 
Consequence Analysis (RASCAL) calculation described in NUREG-1940, 
``RASCAL 4: Description of Models and Methods,'' available online at 
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1940/.

IV. Conclusion

    The NRC determined that the petition meets the requirements for 
docketing a petition for rulemaking under Sec.  2.803, ``Petition for 
rulemaking--NRC action.'' The NRC will examine the merits of the issues 
raised in PRM-50-122 and any comments received on this document to 
determine whether these issues should be considered in rulemaking.

    Dated: August 7, 2020.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-17645 Filed 8-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.