Approval of American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Code Cases, 7820-7838 [2021-00890]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules
The NRC will consider any comments
received on the regulatory basis in the
development of the proposed and final
rule and will provide responses to
comments on the regulatory basis in the
associated Federal Register notification
publishing the proposed rule for public
comment.
III. Plain Writing
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub.
L. 111–274) requires Federal agencies to
write documents in a clear, concise, and
well-organized manner. The NRC has
written this document to be consistent
with the Plain Writing Act as well as the
Presidential Memorandum, ‘‘Plain
Language in Government Writing,’’
published June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31883).
The NRC requests comment on this
document with respect to the clarity and
effectiveness of the language used.
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the
following table are available to
interested persons through one or more
of the following methods, as indicated.
ADAMS accession No./web link/
Federal Register citation
Document
Regulatory Basis for Items Containing Byproduct Material Incidental to Production, January
13, 2021.
Petition for Rulemaking Submitted by Annette User on Behalf of GE Osmonics (Consideration in the Rulemaking Process), September 14, 2012.
GE Osmonics, Inc., Polymer Track Etch Membrane 10 CFR 32.14—Manufacturer and Distribution Product Safety Information, March 20, 2012.
GE Osmonics, Inc., Environmental Report—Polymer Track Etch Membrane—10 CFR 30.15,
March 20, 2012.
NRC Consumer Product Policy Statement, January 16, 2014 ..................................................
Petition for Rulemaking Submitted by Annette User on Behalf of GE Osmonics, April 18,
2011.
SECY–87–186A, Distribution of Radioactive Gems Irradiated in Reactors to Unlicensed Persons (Follow-up to SECY–87–186), October 5, 1987.
Petition for Rulemaking Submitted by Annette User on Behalf of GE Osmonics (Receipt and
Request for Comment), June 22, 2011.
Comment (1) of Benjamin Kerensa Opposing Petition for Rulemaking (PRM–30–65) Regarding the NRC Amend Its Regulations Regarding the Commercial Distribution of Byproduct
Material, June 24, 2011.
Agreement State Program Policy Statement; Correction, October 18, 2017 ............................
Management Directive 5.3, Agreement State Participation in NRC Working Groups, June 22,
2016.
NUREG–1556, Volume 8, Revision 1, Consolidated Guidance about Materials Licenses:
Program-Specific Guidance About Exempt Distribution Licenses, June 2018.
Strategic Plan: Fiscal Years 2018–2022, NUREG–1614, Volume 7, February 2018 ...............
International Atomic Energy Agency, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, Radiation Safety for
Consumer Products, IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG–36, January 2016.
International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA Safety Standards Series, Radiation Protection
and Safety of Radiation Sources: International Basic Safety Standards—General Safety
Requirements Part 3 No. GSR Part 3, July 2014.
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The NRC may post documents related
to this rulemaking activity to the
Federal rulemaking website at https://
www.regulations.gov under Docket ID
NRC–2015–0017.
The Federal rulemaking website
allows you to receive alerts when
changes or additions occur in a docket
folder. To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the
docket folder (NRC–2015–0017); (2)
click the ‘‘Sign up for Email Alerts’’
link; and (3) enter your email address
and select how frequently you would
like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or
monthly).
Dated January 15, 2021.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John R. Tappert,
Director, Division of Rulemaking,
Environmental, and Financial Support, Office
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2021–02158 Filed 2–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
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ML20339A400.
77 FR 56793.
ML120800277.
ML120800264.
79 FR 2907.
ML120250133.
ML092400170.
76 FR 36386.
ML11178A021.
82 FR 48535.
ML18073A142.
ML18158A165.
ML18032A561.
https://www.iaea.org/publications/10716/radiationsafety-for-consumer-products.
https://www.iaea.org/publications/8930/radiationprotection-and-safety-of-radiation-sources-international-basic-safety-standards.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
10 CFR Part 50
[NRC–2017–0025]
RIN 3150–AJ94
Approval of American Society of
Mechanical Engineers’ Code Cases
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is proposing to
amend its regulations to incorporate by
reference proposed revisions of three
regulatory guides, which would approve
new, revised, and reaffirmed Code Cases
published by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers. The NRC is also
incorporating by reference one NRC
NUREG associated with a proposed
condition on one of the regulatory
guides. This proposed action would
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allow nuclear power plant licensees,
and applicants for construction permits,
operating licenses, combined licenses,
standard design certifications, standard
design approvals and manufacturing
licenses, to use the Code Cases listed in
these draft regulatory guides as
voluntary alternatives to engineering
standards for the construction, inservice
inspection, and inservice testing of
nuclear power plant components. The
NRC is requesting comments on this
proposed rule and on the draft versions
of the three regulatory guides proposed
to be incorporated by reference. The
NRC is also making available a related
draft regulatory guide that lists Code
Cases that the NRC has not approved for
use. This draft regulatory guide will not
be incorporated by reference into the
NRC’s regulations.
Submit comments on the
proposed rule, documents to be
incorporated by reference, and related
guidance by April 5, 2021. Submit
comments specific to the information
DATES:
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collections aspects of this rule by March
4, 2021. Comments received after these
dates will be considered if it is practical
to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure
consideration only of comments
received on or before these dates.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the proposed rule, documents to be
incorporated by reference, and related
guidance by any of the following
methods (unless this document
describes a different method for
submitting comments on a specific
subject):
• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for Docket ID NRC–2017–0025. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Dawn
Forder; telephone: 301–415–3407;
email: Dawn.Forder@nrc.gov. For
technical questions contact the
individuals 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
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
Bruce Lin, Office of Nuclear Regulatory
Research; telephone: 301–415–2446;
email: Bruce.Lin@nrc.gov. Both are staff
of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Summary
A. Need for the Regulatory Action
The purpose of this regulatory action
is to incorporate by reference into the
NRC’s regulations the latest revisions of
three regulatory guides (RGs) (currently
in draft form for comment). This
regulatory action is also incorporating
by reference one NRC report, NUREG–
2228, that is associated with a proposed
conditon in one of the regulatory guides.
NUREG–2228 was published for public
comment on September 13, 2018 (83 FR
46524). The three draft RGs identify
new, revised, and reaffirmed Code Cases
published by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which
the NRC has determined are acceptable
for use as voluntary alternatives to
compliance with certain provisions of
the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code (BPV Code) and the ASME Code
for Operation and Maintenance of
Nuclear Power Plants (OM Code)
currently incorporated by reference into
the NRC’s regulations.
B. Major Provisions
The three draft RGs that the NRC
proposes to incorporate by reference are
RG 1.84, ‘‘Design, Fabrication, and
Materials Code Case Acceptability,
ASME Section III,’’ Revision 39 (Draft
Regulatory Guide (DG)–1366); RG 1.147,
‘‘Inservice Inspection Code Case
Acceptability, ASME Section XI,
Division 1,’’ Revision 20 (DG–1367); and
RG 1.192, ‘‘Operation and Maintenance
[OM] Code Case Acceptability, ASME
7821
OM Code,’’ Revision 4 (DG–1368). The
NRC also proposes to incorporate by
reference NUREG–2228, ‘‘Weld Residual
Stress Finite Element Analysis
Validation: Part II—Proposed Validation
Procedure,’’ which provides the
procedure for validating the weld
residual stress analysis methodology
associated with ASME Code Case N–
847. This proposed action would allow
nuclear power plant licensees and
applicants for construction permits,
operating licenses, combined licenses,
standard design certifications, standard
design approvals, and manufacturing
licenses to use the Code Cases newly
listed in these revised RGs as voluntary
alternatives to engineering standards for
the construction, inservice inspections,
and inservice testing of nuclear power
plant components. The NRC also notes
the availability of a proposed version of
RG 1.193, ‘‘ASME Code Cases Not
Approved for Use,’’ Revision 7 (DG–
1369). This document lists Code Cases
that the NRC has not approved for
generic use and will not be incorporated
by reference into the NRC’s regulations.
The NRC prepared a draft regulatory
analysis to determine the expected
quantitative costs and benefits of this
proposed rule, as well as qualitative
factors to be considered in the NRC’s
rulemaking decision. The analysis
concluded that this proposed rule
would result in net savings to the
industry and the NRC. As shown in
Table 1, the estimated total net benefit
relative to the regulatory baseline and
the quantitative benefits outweigh the
costs by a range from approximately
$5.19 million (7-percent net present
value) to $6.20 million (3-percent net
present value).
TABLE 1—COST BENEFIT SUMMARY
Total averted costs
(costs)
Attribute
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Undiscounted
7% Net
present value
3% Net
present value
Industry Implementation ..............................................................................................................
Industry Operation .......................................................................................................................
$0
5,100,000
$0
3,790,000
$0
4,470,000
Total Industry Costs .............................................................................................................
NRC Implementation ...................................................................................................................
NRC Operation ............................................................................................................................
5,100,000
(430,000)
2,460,000
3,790,000
(420,000)
1,820,000
4,470,000
(420,000)
2,150,000
Total NRC Costs ..................................................................................................................
2,030,000
1,400,000
1,730,000
Net .................................................................................................................................
7,130,000
5,190,000
6,200,000
The regulatory analysis also
considered the following qualitative
considerations: (1) Flexibility and
decreased uncertainty for licensees
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when making modifications or
preparing to perform inservice
inspection or inservice testing; (2)
consistency with the provisions of the
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National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995, which
encourages Federal regulatory agencies
to consider adopting voluntary
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consensus standards as an alternative to
de novo agency development of
standards affecting an industry; (3)
consistency with the NRC’s policy of
evaluating the latest versions of
consensus standards in terms of their
suitability for endorsement by
regulations and regulatory guides; and
(4) consistency with the NRC’s goal to
harmonize with international standards
to improve regulatory efficiency for both
the NRC and international standards
groups.
The draft regulatory analysis
concludes that this proposed rule
should be adopted because it is justified
when integrating the cost-beneficial
quantitative results and the positive and
supporting nonquantitative
considerations in the decision. For more
information, please see the regulatory
analysis (Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System
(ADAMS) Accession No.
ML20133K152).
Table of Contents
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting
Comments
A. Obtaining Information
B. Submitting Comments
II. Background
III. Discussion
A. Code Cases Proposed To Be Approved
for Unconditional Use
B. Code Cases Proposed To Be Approved
for Use With Conditions
1. ASME BPV Code, Section III Code Cases
(DG–1366/RG 1.84)
2. ASME BPV Code, Section XI Code Cases
(DG–1367/RG 1.147)
3. OM Code Cases (DG–1368/RG 1.192)
C. ASME Code Cases Not Approved for Use
(DG–1369/RG 1.193)
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis
V. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
VI. Regulatory Analysis
VII. Backfitting and Issue Finality
VIII. Plain Writing
IX. Environmental Assessment and Proposed
Finding of No Significant Environmental
Impact
X. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
XI. Voluntary Consensus Standards
XII. Incorporation by Reference—Reasonable
Availability to Interested Parties
XIII. Availability of Documents
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I. Obtaining Information and
Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2017–
0025 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–2017–0025.
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System
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(ADAMS): You may obtain publiclyavailable documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection 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. For the
convenience of the reader, instructions
about obtaining materials referenced in
this document are provided in the
‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section.
• 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
4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
B. Submitting Comments
Please include Docket ID NRC–2017–
0025 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. Background
The ASME develops and publishes
the ASME BPV Code, which contains
requirements for the design,
construction, and inservice inspection
examination of nuclear power plant
components, and the ASME OM Code,1
which contains requirements for
inservice testing of nuclear power plant
components. In response to BPV and
OM Code user requests, the ASME
1 The editions and addenda of the ASME Code for
Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power
Plants have had different titles from 2005 to 2017,
and are referred to as the ‘‘OM Code’’ collectively
in this rule.
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develops Code Cases that provide
voluntary alternatives to BPV and OM
Code requirements under special
circumstances.
The NRC approves the ASME BPV
and OM Codes in § 50.55a, ‘‘Codes and
standards,’’ of title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (10 CFR) through
the process of incorporation by
reference. As such, each provision of the
ASME Codes incorporated by reference
into and mandated by § 50.55a
constitutes a legally-binding NRC
requirement imposed by rule. As noted
previously, the ASME Code Cases, for
the most part, represent alternative
approaches for complying with
provisions of the ASME BPV and OM
Codes. Accordingly, the NRC
periodically amends § 50.55a to
incorporate by reference the NRC’s RGs
listing approved ASME Code Cases that
may be used as voluntary alternatives to
the BPV and OM Codes.2
This proposed rule is the latest in a
series of rules that incorporate by
reference new versions of several RGs
identifying new, revised, and
reaffirmed,3 and unconditionally or
conditionally acceptable ASME Code
Cases that the NRC approves for use. In
developing these RGs, the NRC reviews
the ASME BPV and OM Code Cases,
determines the acceptability of each
Code Case, and publishes its findings in
the RGs. The RGs are revised
periodically as new Code Cases are
published by the ASME. The NRC
incorporates by reference the RGs listing
acceptable and conditionally acceptable
ASME Code Cases into § 50.55a. The
NRC published a final rule dated March
16, 2020 (85 FR 14736) that
incorporated by reference into § 50.55a
the most recent versions of the RGs,
which are: RG 1.84, ‘‘Design,
Fabrication, and Materials Code Case
Acceptability, ASME Section III,’’
Revision 38; RG 1.147, ‘‘Inservice
Inspection Code Case Acceptability,
ASME Section XI, Division 1,’’ Revision
19; and RG 1.192, ‘‘Operation and
Maintenance Code Case Acceptability,
ASME OM Code,’’ Revision 3.
2 See Federal Register final rule, ‘‘Incorporation
by Reference of ASME BPV and OM Code Cases’’
(68 FR 40469; July 8, 2003).
3 Code Cases are categorized by the ASME as one
of three types: new, revised, or reaffirmed. A new
Code Case provides for a new alternative to specific
the ASME Code provisions or addresses a new
need. The ASME defines a revised Code Case to be
a revision (modification) to an existing Code Case
to address, for example, technological
advancements in examination techniques or to
address NRC conditions imposed in one of the RGs
that have been incorporated by reference into
§ 50.55a. The ASME defines ‘‘reaffirmed’’ as an OM
Code Case that does not have any change to
technical content, but includes editorial changes.
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III. Discussion
This proposed rule would incorporate
by reference NUREG–2228 and the latest
revisions of the NRC’s RGs that list the
ASME BPV and OM Code Cases that the
NRC finds to be acceptable, or
acceptable with NRC-specified
conditions (‘‘conditionally acceptable’’).
Regulatory Guide 1.84, Revision 39
(DG–1366) would supersede the
incorporation by reference of Revision
38; RG 1.147, Revision 20 (DG–1367)
would supersede the incorporation by
reference of Revision 19; and RG 1.192,
Revision 4 (DG–1368) would supersede
the incorporation by reference of
Revision 3.
The ASME Code Cases that are the
subject of this proposed rule are the new
and revised Section III and Section XI
Code Cases as listed in Supplements 0
through 7 to the 2015 Edition of the
ASME BPV Code, Supplements 0
through 7 to the 2017 Edition of the
ASME BPV Code, Supplements 0 and 1
to the 2019 Edition of the ASME BPV
Code, and the OM Code Cases listed in
the 2020 Edition of the ASME OM Code.
The latest editions and addenda of the
ASME BPV and OM Codes that the NRC
has approved for use are referenced in
§ 50.55a. The ASME also publishes
Code Cases that provide alternatives to
existing Code requirements that the
ASME developed and approved. This
proposed rule would incorporate by
reference the most recent revisions of
RGs 1.84, 1.147, and 1.192, which allow
nuclear power plant licensees, and
applicants for combined licenses,
standard design certifications, standard
design approvals, and manufacturing
licenses under the regulations that
govern license certifications, to use the
Code Cases listed in these RGs as
suitable alternatives to the ASME BPV
and OM Codes for the construction,
inservice inspections, and inservice
testing of nuclear power plant
components. Because the NRC is
proposing to require the use of NUREG–
2228, ‘‘Weld Residual Stress Finite
Element Analysis Validation: Part II—
Proposed Validation Procedure,’’ within
a condition on Code Case N–847, the
NRC is also incorporating by reference
NUREG–2228. The ASME publishes the
OM Code Cases and lists the Code Cases
in the ASME OM Code edition. In
contrast, the ASME publishes BPV Code
Cases in a separate document and at a
different time than the ASME BPV Code
Editions. This proposed rule identifies
the Code Cases by the edition of the
ASME BPV Code or ASME OM Code
under which they were published by the
ASME.
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The following general guidance
applies to the use of the ASME Code
Cases approved in the latest versions of
the RGs that are incorporated by
reference into § 50.55a as part of this
proposed rule. Specifically, the use of
the Code Cases listed in the latest
versions of RGs 1.84, 1.147, and 1.192
are acceptable with the specified
conditions when implementing the
editions and addenda of the ASME BPV
and OM Codes incorporated by
reference in § 50.55a.
The approval of a Code Case in the
NRC’s RGs constitutes acceptance of its
technical position for applications that
are not precluded by regulatory or other
requirements or by the
recommendations in these or other RGs.
The applicant or licensee is responsible
for ensuring that use of the Code Case
does not conflict with regulatory
requirements or licensee commitments.
The Code Cases listed in the RGs are
acceptable for use within the limits
specified in the Code Cases. If the RG
states an NRC condition on the use of
a Code Case, then the NRC condition
supplements and does not supersede
any condition(s) specified in the Code
Case, unless otherwise stated in the
NRC condition.
The ASME Code Cases may be revised
for many reasons (e.g., to incorporate
operational examination and testing
experience and to update material
requirements based on research results).
On occasion, an inaccuracy in an
equation is discovered or an
examination, as practiced, is found not
to be adequate to detect a newly
discovered degradation mechanism.
Therefore, when an applicant or a
licensee initially implements a Code
Case, § 50.55a requires that the
applicant or the licensee implement the
most recent version of that Code Case,
as listed in the RGs incorporated by
reference. Code Cases superseded by
revision are no longer acceptable for
new applications unless otherwise
indicated.
Section III of the ASME BPV Code
applies to new construction (i.e., the
edition and addenda to be used in the
construction of a plant are selected
based on the date of the construction
permit and are not changed thereafter,
except voluntarily by the applicant or
the licensee). Hence, if a Section III
Code Case is implemented by an
applicant or a licensee and a later
version of the Code Case is incorporated
by reference into § 50.55a and listed in
the RG, the applicant or licensee may
use either version of the Code Case
(subject, however, to whatever change
requirements apply to its licensing basis
(e.g., § 50.59)) until the next mandatory
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7823
inservice inspection or inservice testing
update.
A licensee’s inservice inspection and
inservice testing programs must be
updated every 10 years to the latest
edition and addenda of the ASME BPV
Code, Section XI, and the OM Code,
respectively, that were incorporated by
reference into § 50.55a and in effect 18
months prior to the start of the next
inspection and testing interval.
Licensees that were using a Code Case
prior to the effective date of its revision
may continue to use the previous
version for the remainder of the 120month inservice inspection or inservice
testing interval. This relieves licensees
of the burden of having to update their
inservice inspection or inservice testing
program each time a Code Case is
revised by the ASME and approved for
use by the NRC. Code Cases apply to
specific editions and addenda, and Code
Cases may be revised if they are no
longer accurate or adequate, so licensees
choosing to continue using a Code Case
during the subsequent inservice
inspection or inservice testing interval
must implement the latest version
incorporated by reference into § 50.55a
and listed in the RGs.
The ASME may annul Code Cases that
are no longer required, are determined
to be inaccurate or inadequate, or have
been incorporated into the BPV or OM
Codes. A Code Case may be revised, for
example, to incorporate user experience.
The older or superseded version of the
Code Case cannot be applied by the
licensee or applicant for the first time.
If an applicant or a licensee applied
a Code Case before it was listed as
superseded, the applicant or the
licensee may continue to use the Code
Case until the applicant or the licensee
updates its construction Code of Record
(in the case of an applicant, updates its
application) or until the licensee’s 120month inservice inspection or inservice
testing update interval expires, after
which the continued use of the Code
Case is prohibited unless NRC
authorization is given under § 50.55a(z).
If a Code Case is incorporated by
reference into § 50.55a and later a
revised version is issued by the ASME
because experience has shown that the
design analysis, construction method,
examination method, or testing method
is inadequate, the NRC will amend
§ 50.55a and the relevant RG to remove
the approval of the superseded Code
Case. Applicants and licensees should
not begin to implement such superseded
Code Cases in advance of the
rulemaking.
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A. Code Cases Proposed To Be
Approved for Unconditional Use
The Code Cases discussed in Table I
are new, revised, or reaffirmed Code
Cases in which the NRC is not
proposing any conditions. The table
identifies the draft regulatory guide
listing the applicable Code Case that the
NRC proposes to approve for use.
TABLE I—ACCEPTABLE CODE CASES
Published with
supplement
Code Case No.
Title
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III
(addressed in DG–1366, Table 1)
N–249–17 ....................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–539–1 ......................
N–692–1 ......................
N–721–1 ......................
N–801–3 ......................
N–822–4 ......................
N–855 ..........................
N–856 ..........................
0
6
5
1
7
2
2
N–859 ..........................
5 (2015 Edition) .............
N–863–1 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–866 ..........................
N–870–1 ......................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
4 (2017 Edition) .............
N–879 ..........................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–884 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–887 ..........................
6 (with errata issued in
3/19E).
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–891 ..........................
(2017
(2015
(2017
(2017
(2015
(2015
(2015
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
Additional Materials for Subsection NF, Classes 1, 2, 3, and MC Supports Fabricated without Welding, Section III, Division 1.
UNS N08367 in Class 2 and 3 Valves, Section III, Division 1.
Use of Standard Welding Procedures, Section III, Division 1.
Alternative Rules for Linear Piping Supports, Section III, Division 1.
Rules for Repair of N-Stamped Class 1, 2, and 3 Components, Section III, Division 1.
Application of the ASME Certification Mark, Section III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 5.
SB–148 C95800 Valves for Class 3 Construction, Section III, Division 1.
SA–494 Grade CW–12MW (UNS N30002) Nickel Alloy Castings for Construction of NPS
21⁄2 and Smaller Flanged Valves for Class 3 Construction, Section III, Division 1.
Construction of ASME B16.9 Wrought Buttwelding Fittings and ASME B16.11 Forged Fittings Made From SB–366 UNS N04400 Material for Section III, Class 3 Construction,
Section III, Division 1.
Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) of Valve Seal Welds for P4 and P5A Materials, Section
III, Division 1.
Alternative Materials for Construction of Section III, Class 2 Vessels, Section III, Division 1.
Rules for the Elimination of External Surface Defects on Class 1, 2, and 3 Piping, Pumps,
or Valves After Component Stamping and Prior to Completion of the N–3 Data Report,
Section III, Division 1.
Use of Micro-Alloyed Carbon Steel Bar in Patented Mechanical Joints and Fittings, Classes
1, 2, and 3, Section III, Division 1.
Procedure to Determine Strain Rate for Use with the Environmental Fatigue Design Curve
Method and the Environmental Fatigue Correction Factor, Fen, Method as Part of an Environmental Fatigue Evaluation for Components Analyzed per the NB–3200 Rules, Section III, Division 1.
Alternatives to the Requirements of NB–4424.2(a), Figure NB–4250–2, and Figure NB–
4250–3, Section III, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements to Appendix XXVI, XXVI–2400, XXVI–4130, and XXVI–4131 for
Inspection and Repair of Indentations for Polyethylene Pipe and Piping Components,
Section III, Division 1.
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Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI
(addressed in DG–1367, Table 1)
N–561–3 ......................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–638–10 ....................
1 (2019 Edition) .............
N–653–2 ......................
2 (2015 Edition) .............
N–702–1 ......................
1 (2019 Edition) .............
N–716–2 ......................
N–768 ..........................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–786–3 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–789–3 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–809 ..........................
2 (2015 Edition) .............
N–845–1 ......................
N–848–1 ......................
N–851 ..........................
6 (2015 Edition) .............
0 (2017 Edition) .............
0 (2015 Edition) .............
N–858 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–865 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–867 ..........................
N–873 ..........................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
1 (2017 Edition) .............
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Alternative Requirements for Wall Thickness Restoration of Class 2 and High Energy Class
3 Carbon Steel Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Similar and Dissimilar Metal Welding Using Ambient Temperature Machine GTAW Temper
Bead Technique, Section XI, Division 1.
Qualification Requirements for Full Structural Overlaid Wrought Austenitic Piping Welds,
Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Nozzle Inner Radius and Nozzle-to-Shell Welds, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Piping Classification and Examination Requirements, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Volumetric Coverage Requirements for Ultrasonic Examination of Class 1 and 2
Pressure Vessel Weld Joints Greater Than 2 in. (50 mm) in Thickness, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Sleeve Reinforcement of Class 2 and 3 Moderate Energy
Carbon Steel Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Pad Reinforcement of Class 2 and 3 Moderate Energy Carbon Steel Piping for Raw Water Service, Section XI, Division 1.
Reference Fatigue Crack Growth Rate Curves for Austenitic Stainless Steels in Pressurized Reactor Water Environments, Section XI, Division 1.
Qualification Requirements for Bolts and Studs, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Characterization Rules for Quasi-Laminar Flaws, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternate Method for Establishing the Reference Temperature for Pressure Retaining Materials, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Volumetric Coverage Requirements for Ultrasonic Examination of Class 1 Nozzle-to-Vessel Welds, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Pad Reinforcement of Class 2 and 3 Atmospheric Storage
Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
Clarification of NDE Practical Examination Requirements, Section XI, Division 1.
Examination Requirements for the Core Makeup Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
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TABLE I—ACCEPTABLE CODE CASES—Continued
Code Case No.
Published with
supplement
Title
N–874 ..........................
7 (2017 Edition) .............
N–877 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–882 ..........................
6 (2017 Edition) .............
N–885 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–892 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
Temporary Acceptance of Leakage Through Brazed Joints of Class 3 Copper, CopperNickel, and Nickel-Copper Moderate Energy Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Characterization Rules for Multiple Subsurface Radially Oriented Planar Flaws,
Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Attaching Nonstructural Electrical Connections to Class 2 and
3 Components, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Table IWB–2500–1, Examination Category B–N–1, Interior of
Reactor Vessel, Category B–N–2, Welded Core Support Structures and Interior Attachments to Reactor Vessels, Category B–N–3, Removable Core Support Structures, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirement for Form OAR–1, Owner’s Activity Report, Completion Time, Section XI, Division 1.
Operation and Maintenance Code
(addressed in DG–1368, Table 1)
OMN–13, Revision 3 ...
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–15, Revision 3 ...
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–17, Revision 1 ...
OMN–22 .......................
OMN–23 .......................
OMN–24 .......................
2020
2020
2020
2020
OMN–25 .......................
OMN–26 .......................
2020 Edition ...................
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–27 .......................
2020 Edition ...................
Edition
Edition
Edition
Edition
...................
...................
...................
...................
B. Code Cases Approved for Use With
Conditions
The NRC has determined that certain
Code Cases, as issued by the ASME, are
generally acceptable for use, but that the
alternative requirements specified in
those Code Cases must be supplemented
in order to provide an acceptable level
of quality and safety. Accordingly, the
NRC proposes to impose conditions on
the use of these Code Cases to modify,
Performance-Based Requirements for Extending Snubber Inservice Visual Examination Interval at LWR Power Plants.
Performance-Based Requirements for Extending the Snubber Operational Readiness Testing Interval at LWR Power Plants.
Alternative Requirements for Testing ASME Class 1 Pressure Relief/Safety Valves.
Smooth Running Pumps.
Alternative Requirements for Testing Pressure Isolation Valves.
Alternative Requirements for Testing ASME Class 2 and 3 Pressure Relief Valves (For Relief Valves in a Group of One).
Alternative Requirements for Testing Appendix I Pressure Relief Valves.
Alternate Risk-Informed and Margin Based Rules for Inservice Testing of Motor Operated
Valves.
Alternative Requirements for Testing Category A Valves (Non-PIV/CIV).
limit or clarify their requirements. The
conditions would specify, for each
applicable Code Case, the additional
activities that must be performed, the
limits on the activities specified in the
Code Case, and/or the supplemental
information needed to provide clarity.
These ASME Code Cases, listed in Table
II, are included in Table 2 of DG–1366
(RG 1.84), DG–1367 (RG 1.147), and
DG–1368 (RG 1.192). This section
provides the NRC’s evaluation of the
Code Cases and the reasons for the
NRC’s conditions. Notations indicate
the conditions duplicated from previous
versions of the RG.
The NRC requests public comment on
these Code Cases and the proposed
conditions. It should also be noted that
this section only addresses those Code
Cases for which the NRC proposes to
impose condition(s), which are listed in
the RG for the first time.
TABLE II—CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTABLE CODE CASES
Published with
supplement
Code Case No.
Title
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Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III
(addressed in DG–1366, Table 2)
N–71–20 ......................
6 (2015 Edition) .............
N–155–3 ......................
N–755–4 ......................
N–779 ..........................
N–852 ..........................
N–883 ..........................
5
1
9
0
5
N–886 ..........................
6 (2017 Edition) .............
(2015
(2017
(2007
(2015
(2017
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
Additional Materials for Subsection NF, Class 1, 2, 3, and MC Supports Fabricated by
Welding, Section III, Division 1.
Fiberglass Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Pipe, Section III, Division 1.
Use of Polyethylene (PE) Class 3 Plastic Pipe, Section III, Division 1.
Alternative Rules for Simplified Elastic-Plastic Analysis Class 1, Section III, Division 1.
Application of the ASME NPT Stamp, Section III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Construction of Items Prior to the Establishment of a Section III, Division 1 Owner, Section
III, Division 1.
Use of Polyethylene Pipe for Class 3, Section III, Division 1.
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI
(addressed in DG–1367, Table 2)
N–513–5 ......................
6 (2017 Edition) .............
N–516–5 ......................
6 (2015 Edition) .............
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Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in Moderate Energy Class 2 or 3
Piping and Gate Valves, Section XI, Division 1.
Underwater Welding, Section XI, Division 1.
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TABLE II—CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTABLE CODE CASES—Continued
Code Case No.
Published with
supplement
Title
N–705–1 ......................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–766–3 ......................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–831–1 ......................
7 (2017 Edition) .............
N–847 ..........................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
N–864 ..........................
N–869 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
6 (2017 Edition) .............
N–876 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–878 ..........................
N–880 ..........................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–889 ..........................
7 (2017 Edition) .............
N–890 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Degradation in Moderate Energy Class 2
or 3 Vessels and Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant Inlay and Onlay for Mitigation of PWR Full Penetration Circumferential Nickel Alloy Dissimilar Metal Welds in Class 1 Items, Section XI, Division 1.
Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu of Radiography for Welds in Ferritic or Austenitic Pipe, Section XI, Division 1.
Partial Excavation and Deposition of Weld Metal for Mitigation of Class 1 Items, Section XI,
Division 1.
Reactor Vessel Threads in Flange Examinations, Section XI, Division 1.
Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in Class 2 or 3 Piping, Section XI,
Division 1.
Austenitic Stainless Steel Cladding and Nickel Base Cladding Using Ambient Temperature
Automatic or Machine Dry Underwater Laser Beam Welding (ULBW) Temper Bead
Technique, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative to QA Program Requirements of IWA–4142, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative to Procurement Requirements of IWA–4143 for Small Nonstandard Welded Fittings, Section XI, Division 1.
Reference Stress Corrosion Crack Growth Rate Curves for Irradiated Austenitic Stainless
Steel in Light-Water Reactor Environments, Section XI, Division 1.
Materials Exempted From G–2110(b) Requirement, Section XI, Division 1.
Operation and Maintenance Code
(addressed in DG–1368, Table 2)
OMN–1, Revision 2 .....
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–3 .........................
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–4 .........................
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–9 .........................
OMN–12 .......................
2020 Edition ...................
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–18 .......................
OMN–19 .......................
OMN–20 .......................
2020 Edition ...................
2020 Edition ...................
2020 Edition ...................
1. ASME BPV Code, Section III Code
Cases (DG–1366/RG 1.84)
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Code Case N–71–20 [Supplement 6,
2015 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Additional Materials for
Subsection NF, Class 1, 2, 3, and MC
Supports Fabricated by Welding,
Section III, Division 1.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case N–71–20 are the same as the
conditions on N–71–19 that were
approved by the NRC in Revision 38 of
RG 1.84. When the ASME revised N–71,
the Code Case was not modified in a
way that would make it possible for the
NRC to remove the conditions.
Therefore, the conditions would be
retained in Revision 39 of RG 1.84.
Code Case N–155–3 [Supplement 5,
2015 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Fiberglass Reinforced
Thermosetting Resin Pipe, Section III,
Division 1.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case N–155–3 are the same as the
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Alternative Rules for Preservice and Inservice Testing of Active Electric Motor-Operated
Valve Assemblies in Light-Water Reactor Power Plants.
Requirements for Safety Significance Categorization of Components Using Risk Insights for
Inservice Testing of LWR Power Plants.
Requirements for Risk Insights for Inservice Testing of Check Valves at LWR Power
Plants.
Use of a Pump Curve for Testing.
Alternative Requirements for Inservice Testing Using Risk Insights for Pneumatically and
Hydraulically Operated Valve Assemblies in Light-Water Reactor Power Plants (OMCode 1998, Subsection ISTC).
Alternate Testing Requirements for Pumps Tested Quarterly Within ±20% of Design Flow.
Alternative Upper Limit for the Comprehensive Pump Test.
Inservice Test Frequency.
conditions on N–155–2 that were
approved by the NRC in Revision 38 of
RG 1.84. When the ASME revised N–
155–2, the Code Case was not modified
in a way that would make it possible for
the NRC to remove the conditions.
Therefore, the conditions would be
retained in Revision 39 of RG 1.84.
Code Case N–755–4 [Supplement 1,
2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Use of Polyethylene (PE) Class
3 Plastic Pipe, Section III, Division 1.
This Code Case is applicable only to
butt fusion joints and the content was
incorporated into Mandatory Appendix
XXVI in 2015 Edition of Section III of
the ASME Code. The relevant
provisions of Code Case N–755–4 are
the same as those in Mandatory
Appendix XXVI. Therefore, the NRC is
applying the same conditions to Code
Case N–755–4. The NRC has determined
that these conditions are necessary to
ensure structural integrity of the
polyethylene piping and fusion joints
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Frm 00008
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
when the polyethylene piping is used in
Class 3 safety-related applications.
Code Case N–779 [Supplement 9, 2007
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Alternative Rules for Simplified
Elastic-Plastic Analysis Class 1, Section
III, Division 1.
The NRC finds the Code Case
satisfactory and technically acceptable
for use only with code editions Summer
1979 and later. This Code Case, as
written, is not acceptable for use with
editions of Section III earlier than the
Summer 1979 edition, which included
the term Delta T1 in NB–3600 Equation
10, because the Code Case is based on
equations used in the Summer 1979
edition and later editions of the Code.
Code Case N–852 [Supplement 0, 2015
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Application of the ASME NPT
Stamp, Section III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and
5.
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The NRC approved this Code Case
with conditions in a § 50.55a
rulemaking issued in 2017 (82 FR
32934, Sept. 18, 2017), and the
supplement was not modified in a way
that would make it possible for the NRC
to remove the conditions. Therefore, the
NRC is including a condition that this
Code Case can only be used for the
service life of a component that had the
horizontally arranged NPT Code Symbol
Stamp applied during the time period
from January 1, 2005, through December
31, 2015.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Code Case N–883 [Supplement 5, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Construction of Items Prior to
the Establishment of a Section III,
Division 1 Owner, Section III, Division
1.
This Code Case allows certificate
holders to construct all items prior to
the establishment of an Owner. Code
Case N–883 was developed to address
international stakeholders and identify
the ASME as a global standard
development organization. The NRC’s
main concern is that without the
designation of an Owner, the NRC
would not be able to provide regulatory
oversight of the ASME certificate holder
manufacturing the items, which is not
consistent with appendix B to 10 CFR
part 50 and the requirements in
§ 50.55(a) for a basic component. During
discussions with the ASME staff on this
Code Case, it was determined that the
NRC would condition this Code Case
based on regulatory oversight, as would
other regulatory bodies depending on
each countries’ specific regulations.
This is evident as this Code Case
specifies that the ‘‘the items have been
constructed by [ASME] Certificate
Holders who are specifically authorized
by the Regulatory Authority having
jurisdiction over the Owner’s facility to
construct items using this Case.’’ The
proposed condition, ‘‘This Code Case
may be used for the construction of
items by a holder of a construction
permit, operating license, or combined
license under 10 CFR part 50 or part
52,’’ provides this specific regulatory
authorization thereby ensuring the
appropriate regulatory oversight.
Code Case N–886 [Supplement 6, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Use of Polyethylene Pipe for
Class 3, Section III, Division 1.
This Code Case is applicable for the
use of polyethylene pipe in Section III,
Class 3, Division 1 above ground
applications. This Code Case refers to
Mandatory Appendix XXVI of Section
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III of the ASME Code. The 2015 Edition
of Appendix XXVI contains
requirements for butt fusion joints for
buried piping. The 2017 Edition of
Appendix XXVI contains requirements
for butt fusion and electrofusion joints
for buried piping. Therefore, all the
conditions as noted in Section III of the
2015–2017 Code Edition rule related to
buried piping Mandatory Appendix
XXVI apply to this Code Case. The same
conditions as buried piping also apply
to above ground application. Two
additional conditions are needed for
above ground applications, one on fire
protection and one on carbon black
distribution to protect from windows
and delamination. A condition on fire
protection is needed because
polyethylene material is combustible
and above ground uses are more
susceptible to fire hazards. In addition,
a condition requiring homogeneous
carbon black distributiuon is needed
because experiments have shown that
inhomogeneous carbon black
distribution can lead to windows and
delamination.
2. ASME BPV Code, Section XI Code
Cases (DG–1367/RG 1.147)
Code Case N–513–5 [Supplement 6,
2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in
Moderate Energy Class 2 or 3 Piping and
Gate Valves, Section XI, Division 1.
Code Case N–513–5 contains
provisions to permit temporary
acceptance of flaws, in moderate energy
Class 2 or 3 piping, including elbows,
pipe bends, reducers, expanders, branch
tees, and gate valves without performing
a repair/replacement activity for a
limited period. The Code Case contains
provisions regarding the scope, flaw
characterization, periodic leakage
monitoring, flaw evaluation, and
augmented examinations. The NRC
finds that the provisions of N–513–5 are
acceptable except for the augmented
examination provisions in Section 5 of
the Code Case.
When a licensee applies N–513–5 to
disposition a through-wall leak or wall
thinning in a piping system, Section 5
of the Code Case requires augmented
examinations for flaws and significant
flaws. The augmented examination
requirements in N–513–5 are the same
as in Code Case, N–513–3.
In 2018, the NRC found an instance
where a licensee misinterpreted the
provisions in Section 5 of N–513–3 and
did not perform the required augmented
examinations to disposition a throughwall leak in a service water system pipe.
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7827
Other licensees have similarly
misinterpreted the augmented
examination provisions in Section 5 of
N–513–3. The NRC found that the issue
stems from the definition of the terms
‘‘flaw’’ and ‘‘significant flaw’’ in
Sections 5(b) and 5(c) of N–513–3,
respectively. The NRC, therefore,
proposes two conditions to define
‘‘flaw’’ and ‘‘significant flaw’’ as those
terms are used in Section 5 of N–513–
5. Licensees would be required to apply
these definitions to Section 5 when
using the Code Case.
The first proposed condition defines a
‘‘flaw’’ as a non-through-wall planar or
nonplanar flaw with a wall thickness
less than 87.5 percent of the nominal
wall thickness of the pipe or the design
minimum wall thickness. The NRC
notes that the pipe wall thickness at the
time of the plant construction may
deviate from the nominal pipe wall
thickness slightly as part of
manufacturing process. The generally
accepted deviation is 12.5 percent of the
nominal pipe wall thickness or the
design minimum wall thickness.
The second proposed condition
defines ‘‘significant flaw’’ as any pipe
location that does not satisfy the
provisions of Section 3 of N–513–5 or if
any detected flaw that has a depth
greater than 75 percent of the pipe wall
thickness. The NRC staff notes that the
criterion of the 75 percent wall
thickness criterion originates from the
provisions of IWC/IWD–3643 of the
ASME Code, Section XI, which
prohibits a flaw that exceeds 75 percent
of the pipe wall thickness to remain in
service. Under Section 5 of N–513–5, a
planar flaw that exceeds 75 percent of
the pipe wall thickness may remain in
service; however, the licensee must
perform an augmented examination.
Code Case N–516–5 [Supplement 6,
2015 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Underwater Welding, Section
XI, Division 1.
In the rulemaking for the 2009
Addenda through 2013 Editions of the
ASME Code (82 FR 32934, Sept. 18,
2017), the NRC-specified conditions that
should be applied to Section XI, Article
IWA–4660 when performing underwater
welding on irradiated materials. These
conditions provide guidance on what
level of neutron irradiation and/or
helium content would require review
and approval by the NRC because of the
impact of neutron fluence on
weldability. These conditions provide
separate criteria for three generic classes
of material: Ferritic material, austenitic
material other than P-No. 8 (e.g., nickelbased alloys) and austenitic P-No. 8
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules
material (e.g., stainless steel alloys).
These conditions are currently located
in § 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and (B). The
conditions located in
§ 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and (B) are
identical to the conditions that were
imposed on Code Case N–516–4 that
were approved by the NRC in Revision
19 of RG 1.147. When the ASME revised
N–516, the Code Case was not modified
in a way that would make it possible for
the NRC to remove the conditions.
Therefore, the conditions will be
retained in Revision 20 of RG 1.147 by
stating the provisions of
§ 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and (B) must be
met when applying this Code Case.
Code Case N–705–1 [Supplement 2,
2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Degradation
in Moderate Energy Class 2 or 3 Vessels
and Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
The proposed condition on Code Case
N–705–1 is identical to the condition on
N–705 that was approved by the NRC in
Revision 19 of RG 1.147. When the
ASME revised N–705, the Code Case
was not modified in a way that would
make it possible for the NRC to remove
the condition. Therefore, the condition
would be retained in Revision 20 of RG
1.147.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Code Case N–766–3 [Supplement 2,
2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant
Inlay and Onlay for Mitigation of PWR
Full Penetration Circumferential Nickel
Alloy Dissimilar Metal Welds in Class 1
Items, Section XI, Division 1.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case N–766–3 are identical to the
conditions on N–766–1 that were
approved by the NRC in Revision 19 of
RG 1.147. When the ASME revised N–
766, the Code Case was not modified in
a way that would make it possible for
the NRC to remove the conditions.
Therefore, the conditions would be
retained in Revision 20 of RG 1.147.
Code Case N–831–1 [Supplement 7,
2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu
of Radiography for Welds in Ferritic or
Austenitic Pipe, Section XI, Division 1.
The proposed condition on Code Case
N–831–1 is identical to the condition on
N–831 that was approved by the NRC in
Revision 19 of RG 1.147. When ASME
revised N–831, the Code Case was not
modified in a way that would make it
possible for the NRC to remove the
condition. Therefore, the condition
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16:27 Feb 01, 2021
Jkt 253001
would be retained in Revision 20 of RG
1.147.
Code Case N–847 [Supplement 0, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Partial Excavation and
Deposition of Weld Metal for Mitigation
of Class 1 Items, Section XI, Division 1.
ASME Code Case N–847 provides
guidelines for a repair/mitigation
process for welds. The process,
excavation and weld repair (EWR),
removes susceptible material from the
outside diameter of the pipe, and
replaces it with more resistant weld
material. This technique allows for the
potential of two mitigation methods, the
use of more crack resistant material and
the potential for compressive stresses on
the inside surface of the repaired/
mitigated weld to arrest or prevent
cracking. Finally, the excavation can be
done 360-degrees around the weld or
only for a partial arc of the weld.
The Code Case would allow for
application of this process to both BWR
and PWR designs. However, the EWR
process, as defined in this code case,
has certain challenges addressing the
cracking mechanisms in these operating
enviornments and materials. In addition
the regulatory requirements or
guidelines related to the Code Case vary
depending on the design of the reactor.
For PWR designs, the inservice
inspection rules are provided by
§ 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(F), which mandates the
implementation of a version of ASME
Code Case N–770. For BWR designs, the
inservice inspection guidelines are
provided by Generic Letter 88–01, ‘‘NRC
Position on Intergranular Stress
Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in BWR
Austenitic Stainless Steel Piping’’ or
BWRVIP–75–A, ‘‘BWR Vessel and
Internals Project Technical Basis for
Revisions to Generic Letter 88–01
Inspection Schedules.’’ Therefore, the
NRC is proposing six conditions to
ensure the inservice inspection
frequency guidelines of the code case
are inline with the previous
requirements and guidance, which are
based on the effectiveness of the overall
design of the repair/mitigation to
address the various cracking
mechanisms of these operating reactor
designs.
The first proposed condition is a
continuation of the condition of
§ 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(F)(16) which requires
that a partial arc EWR, as described in
Inspection Item O of ASME Code Case
N–770–5, cannot be used without NRC
review and approval for PWR designs.
The NRC notes that the issues addressed
in the final rule incorporating by
reference the 2015 and 2017 Editions of
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the ASME BPV Code and the 2015 and
2017 Editions of the ASME OM Code
remain applicable, and futher apply to
BWR design application of a partial arc
EWR. These concerns are for the
effectiveness of the repair through a
weld residual stress calculation and
flaw growth analysis to confirm design
of the mitigation for the required
inspection interval, non-destructive
examination uncertainty analysis of the
as-found flaw remaining in the reactor
coolant pressure boundary, and the
potential for further crack initiation or
growth. Therefore, the NRC requires,
through the first condition, that
approval of the use of this Code Case is
only for the application of the 360-degee
EWR.
The second proposed condition is
related to Figure 1A and Figure 1B of
the Code Case. The NRC has experience
with relief request submittals, where the
details associated with the configuration
of the prep area, where the defect is
being removed, have shown sharp
bottom edges and steep walls. This
geometry can result in welding issues,
which could result in unfused material,
leading to stress risers, which may
promote cracking. Therefore, the NRC
requires, through the second condition,
that the intersection points at the
interface between EWR metal and
existing base metal must be rounded to
minimize stress concentration.
The third proposed condition is
related to Section 2(d)(2) of the Code
Case which discusses the flaw
evaluations required for the design
considerations of the EWR. In recent
testing conducted for the NRC
measurable stress corrosion cracking
(SCC) growth was detected past the
interface between the SCC-susceptible
and less susceptible material. It was
demonstrated that the crack can branch
and propagate in a direction normal to
the original direction along a SCCsusceptible path. In the Alloy 52M
deposited onto Alloy 182 specimens
tested, this occurred in the diluted
region of the Alloy 52M material as well
as the weld metal. Therefore, the NRC
requires, through the third condition,
that flaw analysis include the potential
for crack growth through the dilution
zone. As NRC-approved crack growth
rates are not available for all material
types (e.g., Alloy 690 weld material), the
alternative requirements for
development of crack growth rates
should be consistent with ASME
Section XI Appendix C, ‘‘Flaw Growth
Rate Due to Stress Corrosion Cracking,’’
C–3220(a).
The fourth proposed condition is
related to Section 2 of the Code Case.
The NRC is requiring the use of
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NUREG–2228, ‘‘Weld Residual Stress
Finite Element Analysis Validation: Part
II—Proposed Validation Procedure,’’
because it provides a proven method for
validating the weld residual stress
analysis methodology. Because the NRC
requires the use of NUREG–2228 within
this condition on the requirements in
the Code Case, the NRC is incorporating
by reference NUREG–2228 into
§ 50.55a(a)(3)(iv).
The fifth condition is related to the
longer term volumetric inspection
frequencies of Table 1, including notes
(1), (3), and (4). These notes provide the
BWR design inspection frequency of
various EWR types based on Generic
Letter 88–01 (1988) as supplemented by
Generic Letter 88–01, Supplement 1
(1992), ‘‘NRC Position on Intergranular
Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in
BWR Austenitic Stainless Steel Piping’’
or BWRVIP–75–A, ‘‘BWR Vessel and
Internals Project Technical Basis for
Revisions to Generic Letter 88–01
Inspection Schedules.’’ The NRC has
concluded that the inspection
requirements for EWRs for BWRs need
to be augmented.
The first volumetric examination
following application of BWR EWR–2A,
EWR–1B, and EWR–2B welds is
performed to verify effectiveness of the
repair/mitigation before the new weld
can be placed in a longer term
volumetric inspection frequency. The
Code Case allows licensees the option of
performing this examination during the
first or second refueling outage after
installation. However, based on the
lower operating temperatures of a BWR
(approximately 546 degree F to 558
degree F), and hence the potential slow
crack growth rate of the remaining flaw
left in service, the NRC has concluded
that the examination should occur
during the second refueling outage after
the EWR application to provide
adequate time for any potential
measurable flaw growth to occur or in
the case of an EWR–2A, for crack
initiation and growth to occur.
The long term volumetric inspections
for BWRs require modification because:
(a) For EWR–1A EWRs, the augmented
inspection requirements are consistent
with the conditions of the inspection
frequencies of Code Case N–770–5.
These inspection frequency
requirements were previously
developed by the NRC based on the
capabilities of the EWR process to
address stress corrosion cracking while
providing significant credit for the use
of hydrogen water chemistry/noble
metal chemical addition controls; and
(b) for EWR–1B EWRs, due to the design
which would allow a crack to be left in
service, should not be allowed to go
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uninspected for the remainder of plant
life. Therefore, the NRC requires the
long term volumetric inspection of these
welds at each 10-year inservice
inspection interval. The NRC notes that
this condition is consistent with the
NRC condition established in § 50.55a
for Inspection Item N–1 EWRs (EWR
that meets stress criteria; however, a
crack is present).
The sixth condition is related to Table
1, Note (1), and the option to use an
unspecified alternative to determine
examination frequencies and scope
expansion criteria. Note (1) specifies the
use of NRC Generic Letter 88–01 and
includes BWRVIP–75–A as an example
of an alternative. The NRC has
concluded that NRC Generic Letter 88–
01, (1988) as supplemented by Generic
Letter 88–01, Supplement 1 (1992), or
BWRVIP–75–A, represent sufficient
requirements, subject to the fifth
condition above, to determine
examination frequencies and scope
expansion criteria. However, Note (1)
would allow the use of other, unknown
alternatives and does not provide
criteria to ensure alternatives are
adequate for this purpose. Therefore, to
ensure that licensees use an adequate
standard to determine examination
frequencies and scope expansion
criteria, the sixth condition requires that
licensees must not use an alternative
other than those specified in Note (1).
Code Case N–864 [Supplement 2, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Reactor Vessel Threads in
Flange Examinations, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N–864 proposes to
eliminate the required ASME Code,
Section XI examination for the reactor
vessel threads-in-flange for all inservice
inspection intervals. The NRC has
previously granted alternatives under
§ 50.55a(z) that eliminate the reactor
pressure vessel threads-in-flange
examinations (ASME Section XI,
Examination Category B–G–1, Item No.
B6.40) for up to two inservice
inspection intervals through the NRC’s
alternative request process. For
alternatives that requested elimination
of the examination for a second
consecutive ten-year inservice
inspection interval, the NRC has been
requesting additional information on
activities performed to ensure that the
condition of the reactor pressure vessel
threads-in-flange receives some level of
monitoring. These activities typically
have been care and maintenance of the
reactor vessel threads-in-flange (and
studs) whenever the closure head is
removed. The NRC has limited approval
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of such requests to two subsequent
inservice inspection intervals because
the NRC has determined that complete
elimination of the examinations does
not provide adequate protection against
long-term degradation of the threads-inflange. The NRC is proposing conditions
on the use of Code Case N–864 that are
consistent with the limits the NRC has
placed on similar alternatives requests.
The first proposed condition in Code
Case N–864 requires that the reactor
pressure vessel threads-in-flange
examinations (ASME Section XI,
Examination Category B–G–1, Item No.
B6.40) must be performed in at least
every third 10-year ISI interval. The first
proposed condition also limits the
application of Code Case N–864 at
facilities that have been authorized
under 10 CFR 50.55a(z) to use
alternatives that eliminate reactor
pressure vessel threads-in-flange
examinations to ensure that the required
examination is performed at least every
third 10-year inservice inspection
interval.
The second proposed condition in
Code Case N–864 ensures that sufficient
monitoring and maintenance activities
are performed when the Code Case is
applied.
Code Case N–869 [Supplement 6, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in
Class 2 or 3 Piping, Section XI, Division
1.
Code Case N–869 contains provisions
for temporary acceptance of flaws,
including through-wall flaws in Class 2
or 3 piping including elbows, pipe
bends, reducers, and branch tees, whose
maximum operating pressure is greater
than 275 psig, and does not exceed 600
psig, without performing a repair/
replacement activity. The Code Case
contains provisions regarding the scope,
flaw characterization, periodic leakage
monitoring, flaw evaluation, and
augmented examinations. The NRC
finds that the Code Case provides
reasonable assurance that structural
integrity of degraded piping will be
maintained until the next scheduled
refueling outage. However, the NRC
finds that the augmented examination
provisions in Section 5 of the Code Case
are inadequate and need additional
requirements.
When a licensee applies N–869 to
disposition a through-wall leak or wall
thinning in a piping system, Section 5
of the Code Case requires augmented
examinations for flaws and significant
flaws. The augmented examination
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requirements in N–869 are the same as
in Code Case N–513–3.
In 2018, the NRC found an instance
where a licensee misinterpreted the
provisions in Section 5 of N–513–3 and
did not perform the required augmented
examinations to disposition a throughwall leak in a service water system pipe.
Other licensees have similarly
misinterpreted the augmented
examination provisions in Section 5 of
N–513–3. The NRC found that the issue
stems from the definition of the terms
‘‘flaw’’ and ‘‘significant flaw’’ in
Sections 5(b) and 5(c) of N–513–3,
respectively. The NRC, therefore,
proposes two conditions to define
‘‘flaw’’ and ‘‘significant flaw’’ as those
terms are used in Section 5 of N–869.
Licensees would be required to apply
these definitions to Section 5 when
using the Code Case.
The first proposed condition defines a
‘‘flaw’’ as a non-through-wall planar or
nonplanar flaw with a wall thickness
less than 87.5 percent of the nominal
wall thickness of the pipe or the design
minimum wall thickness. The NRC
notes that the pipe wall thickness at the
time of the plant construction may
deviate from the nominal pipe wall
thickness slightly as part of
manufacturing process. The generally
accepted deviation is 12.5 percent of the
nominal pipe wall thickness or the
design minimum wall thickness.
The second proposed condition
defines ‘‘significant flaw’’ as any pipe
location that does not satisfy the
provisions of Section 3 of N–869 or if
any detected flaw that has a depth
greater than 75 percent of the pipe wall
thickness. The NRC staff notes that the
criterion of the 75 percent wall
thickness criterion originates from the
provisions of IWC/IWD–3643 of the
ASME Code, Section XI, which prohibit
a flaw that exceeds 75 percent of the
pipe wall thickness to remain in service.
Under Section 5 of N–869, a planar flaw
that exceeds 75 percent of the pipe wall
thickness may remain in service;
however, the licensee needs to perform
an augmented examination.
Code Case N–876 [Supplement 2, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Austenitic Stainless Steel
Cladding and Nickel Base Cladding
Using Ambient Temperature Automatic
or Machine Dry Underwater Laser Beam
Welding (ULBW) Temper Bead
Technique, Section XI, Division 1.
Some irradiated stainless steel reactor
vessel internal components are
susceptible to experiencing irradiation
assisted stress corrosion cracking. Code
Case N–876 provides guidelines for
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repair welding the irradiated stainless
steel components inside the reactor
vessel. Code Case N–876 provides an
alternative to the cladding temper bead
repair rules of Section XI, IWA–4400,
which requires preheat and postweld
heat treatment. This alternative
establishes new rules governing ambient
temperature temper bead cladding
repairs using the ULBW process.
The NRC is proposing two conditions
on this Code Case. The first proposed
condition that must be applied when
performing ULBW on irradiated
materials provides guidance on what
level of neutron irradiation and/or
helium content would require review
and approval by the NRC because of the
impact of neutron fluence on
weldability. The second proposed
condition limits the depth of the
cladding repair due to concerns with the
fracture toughness of the base metal.
The technical basis for imposing
conditions on the welding of irradiated
materials are that neutrons can generate
helium atoms within the metal lattice
through transmutation of various
isotopes of boron and/or nickel. At high
temperatures, such as occurs during
welding, these helium atoms rapidly
diffuse though the metal lattice,
coalescing and forming helium bubbles
at the grain boundaries. In sufficient
concentration, these helium bubbles can
cause grain boundary cracking that
occurs in the fusion zones and heat
affected zones during the heat-up/
cooldown cycle.
The first proposed condition applies
conditions already applicable to Code
Case N–516–5 ‘‘Underwater Welding
Section XI, Division 1,’’ that the
provisions of § 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and
(B) must be met. This regulation
provides limits on specific levels of
neutron irradiation and/or helium
content, above which welding is
prohibited without prior NRC review
and approval. The NRC is proposing to
apply the same condition to uses of
Code Case N–876.
The second proposed condition is
necessary because the Code Case does
not require impact testing of the base
metal heat affected zone (HAZ) to verify
adequate fracture toughness. The Code
Case allows the depth of the repair
cavity into the ferritic base metal to be
up to 1⁄4″. This would allow welding
directly to the base metal, thus it will
affect the fracture toughness of the base
metal in the HAZ. Therefore, the NRC
is proposing a condition restricting the
use of the Code Case to repairs where at
least 1⁄8″ of cladding remains. The basis
for the 1⁄8″ limit is that this amount of
austenitic material between the ferritic
base metal and the first weld layer has
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generally been considered to sufficiently
limit the heat input to the base metal
such that deleterious effects on the
fracture toughness will not occur;
therefore, impact testing of the base
metal is not necessary. The NRC notes
that Code Case N–803, which is
approved without conditions, allows
repair of ferritic base material using
nonferritic weld filler material based on
welding procedure qualifications
performed using tensile tests, side
bends, and impact tests, and could be
used to perform a cladding repair in
which excavation into the base metal is
required.
Code Case N–878 [Supplement 1, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Alternative to QA Program
Requirements of IWA–4142, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N–878 provides
alternatives to the quality assurance
requirements in IWA–4142 for
procurement of Class 1, 2, or 3 nonwelded fittings. This Code Case
addresses the testing and certification of
material used in the manufacture of
non-welded fittings, but does not
address how the licensee must ensure
that the procured non-welded fittings
meet the design and testing
requirements of the ASME Code,
Section III, NB/NC/ND–3671.7 for Class
1, 2, or 3 applications. Verification that
the Section III requirements for the
design and testing of these non-welded
fittings have been met prior to use is
essential in ensuring the structural
integrity of these Class 1, 2 and 3
systems is maintained. Therefore, the
NRC is proposing conditions for the
licensee to verify the design and testing
activities associated with qualification
of non-welded fittings required by
Section III, NB/NC/ND–3671.7 that are
performed by the fabricator.
Code Case N–880 [Supplement 2, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Alternative to Procurement
Requirements of IWA–4143 for Small
Nonstandard Welded Fittings, Section
XI, Division 1.
Code Case N–880 provides
alternatives to the material procurement
requirements of IWA–4142 and IWA–
4143 for small nonstandard welded
fittings. This Code Case does not
address how the licensee must ensure
the procured welded fittings meet the
design and testing requirements of the
ASME Code, Section III, NB/NC/ND–
3671.7 for Class 1, 2, or 3 applications.
Verification that the Section III
requirements for the design and testing
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of these welded fittings have been met
prior to use is essential in ensuring the
structural integrity of these Class 1, 2
and 3 systems is maintained. Therefore,
the NRC is proposing conditions
requiring the licensee to verify the
design and testing activities associated
with qualification of welded fittings
required by Section III, NB/NC/ND–
3671.7 that are performed by the
fabricator.
Code Case N–889 [Supplement 7, 2017
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Reference Stress Corrosion
Crack Growth Rate Curves for Irradiated
Austenitic Stainless Steel in Light-Water
Reactor Environments, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N–889 provides a new
crack growth rate (CGR) law for
irradiation-assisted stress corrosion
cracking. The Code Case is applicable to
wrought austenitic stainless steels and
associated weld metals, as well as cast
austenitic stainless steels. The proposed
CGR law requires the user to first
calculate irradiated yield stress from the
dose to the material. There are two yield
stress models: One for Molybdenum
bearing stainless steels and one for
stainless steels without Molybdenum.
Once irradiated yield stress has been
determined, the user calculates the CGR
as a function of applied crack driving
force and temperature.
The staff identified three concerns
with the technical basis of this Code
Case. The first concern relates to the
limited CGR data at dose levels greater
than 20 displacements per atom (dpa).
The proposed CGR law indicates that
the irradiated yield stress (and,
consequently, the CGR) increases with
fluence up to a dose of 20 dpa, at which
point the irradiated yield’s stress ceases
to increase appreciably with further
dose accumulation. While the data at
dose levels greater than 20 dpa does
show a plateau behavior in the CGR, the
staff’s analyses of that data suggests that
areas of high CGR were averaged over
the industry calculation of CGR, which
increases the uncertainty in the high
dose CGRs. Therefore, due to the limited
data and the associated high uncertainty
at high fluence, the staff’s confidence in
CGRs at dose levels greater than 20 dpa
is low.
The second concern is the effects of
uncertainty in the irradiated yield
strength value for an individual
material-heat. This topic is discussed in
Section 4.7 of the technical basis report
for Code Case N–889. The NRC also
conducted separate analyses. While the
results of the NRC’s findings are
generally consistent with the results in
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Section 4.7, the interpretation of their
significance is not consistent. For
materials with yield strengths greater
than 600 MPa (i.e., more highlyirradiated materials), the expected CGR
for a material with a yield strength in
the 95th percentile is less than two
times the CGR predicted by the Code
Case, which is not a significant
difference. However, for materials with
yield strength values less than 250 MPa
(i.e., unirradiated or minimally
irradiated materials), the expected CGR
for a material in the 95th percentile can
be more than five times greater than the
CGR predicted by the Code Case. Hence,
the NRC’s concern is that the CGRs for
individual low yield strength materials,
or materials with low fluence, could be
significantly underpredicted by the
Code Case.
The final concern is related to the
data used in the development of the
irradiated yield stress model. The
methodology for addressing cold work
in this model was developed in MRP–
135, Revision 1, while the model itself
was developed in MRP–211, Revision 0.
The database underlying the model
included hundreds of yield strength
measurements on initially annealed and
cold-worked Types 304, 316, and 347/
348 stainless steel materials. However,
most of the data were for annealed Type
304 and cold-worked Type 316 stainless
steels. Revision 1 of MRP–211 contained
additional yield strength data, including
significantly more data for cold-worked
Types 304 and 347 stainless steel. The
authors of the Code Case, as
documented in Section 4.5 of the
Additional Basis Report dated February
5, 2018, evaluated the Code Case yield
stress model with some of this
additional data and found agreement
between the model and the additional
data. However, the Code Case authors
excluded new data for cold-worked
Type 304 and 347 stainless steel
materials. Therefore, the technical basis
document for Code Case N–889 does not
directly address whether cold-worked
Type 304 and 347 (non-Molybdenum
bearing) materials are adequately
predicted by the irradiated yield
strength model in the Code Case.
Therefore, the NRC is proposing three
conditions on this Code Case.
The first proposed condition states
that this Code Case may not be applied
for neutron exposures greater than 20
dpa. This condition addresses the NRC
concern that there is sparse data with
high uncertainty beyond 20 dpa. Given
that the predicted CGR saturates at
higher fluence, this condition prevents
potential underprediction of the CGR in
this fluence regime.
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The second proposed condition states
that at dose levels below 0.75 dpa, the
user must use the higher of the Code
Case N–889 or the Section XI,
Nonmandatory Appendix C, C–8520
CGR predictions. This condition
addresses the NRC concern related to
possible underprediction of CGR in
Code Case N–889 for materials with
calculated irradiated yield strength less
than 250 MPa.
The final proposed condition states
that the irradiated yield stress model for
cold-worked Molybdenum bearing
materials must be used for cold-worked
non-Molybdenum bearing stainless
steels (including Type 204 and 247
stainless steels). This condition
addresses the NRC concern that data for
cold-worked non-Molybdenum bearing
steels were not appropriately considered
during development of Code Case N–
889. The NRC performed its own
evaluation of cold-worked Type 304 and
347 stainless steels in the MRP–211
database and found that the yield
strength was better predicted by the
Code Case’s Molybdenum bearing
model than with the Code Case’s nonMolybdenum bearing model.
Code Case N–890 [Supplement 0, 2019
Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Materials Exempted From G–
2110(b) Requirements, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N–890 provides an
alternative to Section XI, G–2110(b)
which removes the requirement of,
‘‘obtaining fracture toughness data for at
least three heats,’’ for using the static
fracture toughness curve (KIc) curve for
specific materials with a minimum
specified yield strength at room
temperature between 50 kilopound per
square inch (ksi) and 90 ksi. Code Case
N–890 would allow the toughness of
four ferritic steels (SA–508 Grade 2
Class 2, SA–508 Grade 3 Class 2, SA–
533 Type A Class 2 and SA–533 Type
B Class 2) with specified minimum
yield strength greater than 50 ksi to be
characterized by Figure G–2110–1 (i.e.,
the Section XI KIc curve).
The NRC identified one technical
concern when reviewing the technical
basis of this Code Case. The technical
basis provided appropriate data to
justify use of the KIc curve for several
materials listed in the Code Case.
However, for SA–533 Type B, Class 2
materials, the NRC observed that in the
technical basis document, there is no
fracture toughness data associated with
the weld and heat affected zone to
support exclusion of the fracture
toughness testing requirements for these
materials.
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As such, the proposed NRC condition
requires the user to comply with the
provisions of Section III, NB–2300 and
Section III, G–2110(b) to demonstrate
the applicability of the ASME KIc curve
to SA–533 Type B, Class 2 material.
These provisions require the user to
generate the necessary toughness data to
demonstrate that the ASME KIc curve is
a conservative representation of the
actual material toughness.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–9 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–9
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN–9 was reaffirmed by the ASME in
the 2020 Edition with no change to the
Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
3. ASME Operation and Maintenance
Code Cases (DG–1368/RG 1.192)
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternative Requirements for
Inservice Testing Using Risk Insights for
Pneumatically and Hydraulically
Operated Valve Assemblies in LightWater Reactor Power Plants (OM-Code
1998, Subsection ISTC).
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–12 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–12
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN–12 was reaffirmed by the ASME
in the 2020 Edition with no change to
the Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
Code Case OMN–1, Revision 2 [2020
Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternative Rules for Preservice
and Inservice Testing of Active Electric
Motor-Operated Valve Assemblies in
Light-Water Reactor Power Plants.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–1, Revision 2 [2020 Edition]
are identical to the conditions on OMN–
1, Revision 2 [2017 Edition] that were
approved by the NRC in Revision 3 of
RG 1.192. The OMN–1, Revision 2 was
reaffirmed by the ASME in the 2020
Edition with no change to the Code
Case. Therefore, the conditions would
be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
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Code Case OMN–3 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Requirements for Safety
Significance Categorization of
Components Using Risk Insights for
Inservice Testing of LWR Power Plants.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–3 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–3
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN–3 was reaffirmed by the ASME in
the 2020 Edition with no change to the
Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
Code Case OMN–4 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Requirements for Risk Insights
for Inservice Testing of Check Valves at
LWR Power Plants.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–4 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–4
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN–4 was reaffirmed by the ASME in
the 2020 Edition with no change to the
Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
Code Case OMN–9 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Use of a Pump Curve for
Testing.
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Code Case OMN–12 [2020 Edition]
Code Case OMN–18 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternate Testing Requirements
for Pumps Tested Quarterly Within
±20% of Design Flow.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–18 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–18
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN–18 was reaffirmed by the ASME
in the 2020 Edition with no change to
the Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
Code Case OMN–19 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternative Upper Limit for the
Comprehensive Pump Test.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–19 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–19
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN–19 was reaffirmed by the ASME
in the 2020 Edition with no change to
the Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
Code Case OMN–20 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Inservice Test Frequency.
The proposed conditions on Code
Case OMN–20 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN–20
[2017 Edition] that were approved by
the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
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OMN–20 was reaffirmed by the ASME
in the 2020 Edition with no change to
the Code Case. Therefore, the conditions
would be retained in Revision 4 of RG
1.192.
C. ASME Code Cases Not Approved for
Use (DG–1369/RG 1.193)
The ASME Code Cases that are
currently issued by the ASME but not
approved for generic use by the NRC are
listed in RG 1.193, ‘‘ASME Code Cases
not Approved for Use.’’ In addition to
the ASME Code Cases that the NRC has
found to be technically or
programmatically unacceptable, RG
1.193 includes Code Cases on reactor
designs for high-temperature gas-cooled
reactors and liquid metal reactors,
reactor designs not currently licensed by
the NRC, and certain requirements in
Section III, Division 2, for submerged
spent fuel waste casks, that are not
endorsed by the NRC. Regulatory Guide
1.193 complements RGs 1.84, 1.147, and
1.192. It should be noted that the NRC
is not proposing to adopt any of the
Code Cases listed in RG 1.193.
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis
The following paragraphs in § 50.55a
would be revised as follows:
Paragraph (a)(3) Introductory Text
This proposed rule would add a
reference to NUREG–2228 that is
acceptable as specified in the conditions
when implementing Code Cases listed
in certain NRC regulatory guides.
Paragraph (a)(3)(i)
This proposed rule would revise the
reference to ‘‘NRC Regulatory Guide
1.84, Revision 38,’’ by removing
‘‘Revision 38’’ and adding in its place
‘‘Revision 39’’ and change the month
and year for the document’s revision
date.
Paragraph (a)(3)(ii)
This proposed rule would revise the
reference to ‘‘NRC Regulatory Guide
1.147, Revision 19’’ by removing
‘‘Revision 19’’ and adding in its place
‘‘Revision 20’’ and change the month
and year for the document’s revision
date.
Paragraph (a)(3)(iii)
This proposed rule would revise the
reference to ‘‘NRC Regulatory Guide
1.192, Revision 3’’ by removing
‘‘Revision 3’’ and adding in its place
‘‘Revision 4’’ and change the month and
year for the document’s revision date.
Paragraph (a)(3)(iv)
This proposed rule would add new
paragraph (a)(3)(iv) to reference
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NUREG–2228, ‘‘Weld Residual Stress
Finite Element Analysis Validation: Part
II—Proposed Validation Procedure,’’
dated July 2020, which is referenced in
RG 1.147, Revision 20.
Paragraph (b)(3)(iv), Table II
This proposed rule would capitalize
the word ‘‘(Years)’’ in two of the three
column headings.
V. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), the
Commission certifies that this rule, if
adopted, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. This proposed
rule affects only the licensing and
operation of nuclear power plants. The
companies that own these plants do not
fall within the scope of the definition of
‘‘small entities’’ set forth in the
Regulatory Flexibility Act or the size
standards established by the NRC (10
CFR 2.810).
VI. Regulatory Analysis
The NRC has prepared a draft
regulatory analysis on this proposed
regulation. The analysis examines the
costs and benefits of the alternatives
considered by the NRC. The NRC
requests public comment on the draft
regulatory analysis. The regulatory
analysis is available as indicated in the
‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section of
this document. Comments on the draft
analysis may be submitted to the NRC
as indicated under the ADDRESSES
section of this document.
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VII. Backfitting and Issue Finality
The provisions in this proposed rule
would allow licensees and applicants to
voluntarily apply NRC-approved Code
Cases, sometimes with NRC-specified
conditions. The approved Code Cases
are listed in three RGs that are proposed
to be incorporated by reference into
§ 50.55a. An applicant’s or a licensee’s
voluntary application of an approved
Code Case does not constitute
backfitting, because there is no
imposition of a new requirement or new
position.
Similarly, voluntary application of an
approved Code Case by a 10 CFR part
52 applicant or licensee does not
represent NRC imposition of a
requirement or action, and therefore is
not inconsistent with any issue finality
provision in 10 CFR part 52. For these
reasons, the NRC finds that this
proposed rule does not involve any
provisions requiring the preparation of
a backfit analysis or documentation
demonstrating that one or more of the
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issue finality criteria in 10 CFR part 52
are met.
VIII. Plain Writing
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub.
L. 111–274) requires Federal agencies to
write documents in a clear, concise, and
well-organized manner. The NRC has
written this document to be consistent
with the Plain Writing Act as well as the
Presidential Memorandum, ‘‘Plain
Language in Government Writing,’’
published June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31883).
The NRC requests comment on this
document with respect to the clarity and
effectiveness of the language used.
IX. Environmental Assessment and
Proposed Finding of No Significant
Environmental Impact
The Commission has determined
under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the
Commission’s regulations in subpart A
of 10 CFR part 51, that this rule, if
adopted, would not be a major Federal
action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment; therefore, an
environmental impact statement is not
required.
The determination of this
environmental assessment is that there
will be no significant effect on the
quality of the human environment from
this action. Interested parties should
note, however, that comments on any
aspect of this environmental assessment
may be submitted to the NRC as
indicated under the ADDRESSES section
of this document.
As voluntary alternatives to the ASME
Code, NRC-approved Code Cases
provide an equivalent level of safety.
Therefore, the probability or
consequences of accidents is not
changed. There are also no significant,
non-radiological impacts associated
with this action because no changes
would be made affecting nonradiological plant effluents and because
no changes would be made in activities
that would adversely affect the
environment. The determination of this
environmental assessment is that there
will be no significant offsite impact to
the public from this action.
X. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
This proposed rule contains new or
amended collections of information
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This
proposed rule has been submitted to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for approval of the information
collections.
Type of submission, new or revision:
Revision.
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7833
The title of the information collection:
Domestic Licensing of Production and
Utilization Facilities: Updates to
Incorporation by Reference and
Regulatory Guides.
The form number if applicable: Not
applicable.
How often the collection is required:
On occasion.
Who will be required or asked to
report: Operating power reactor
licensees and applicants for power
reactors under construction.
An estimate of the number of annual
responses: ¥28 (reduction).
The estimated number of annual
respondents: ¥28 (reduction).
An estimate of the total number of
hours needed annually to complete the
requirement or request: ¥6,720 hours
(reduction of reporting and
recordkeeping hours).
Abstract: This proposed rule is the
latest in a series of rulemakings that
incorporate by reference the latest
versions of several RGs identifying new
and revised unconditionally or
conditionally acceptable ASME Code
Cases that are approved for use. The
incorporation by reference of these Code
Cases will reduce the number of
alternative requests submitted by
licensees under § 50.55a(z) by an
estimated 28 requests annually.
The NRC is seeking public comment
on the potential impact of the
information collections contained in
this proposed rule and on the following
issues:
1. Is the proposed information
collection necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
NRC, including whether the information
will have practical utility?
2. Is the estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection
accurate?
3. Is there a way to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected?
4. How can the burden of the
proposed information collection on
respondents be minimized, including
the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology?
A copy of the OMB clearance package
and proposed rule is available in
ADAMS under Accession No.
ML20132A240 or can obtained free of
charge by contacting the NRC’s Public
Document reference staff at 1–800–397–
4209, 301–415–4737, or by email to
pdr.resources@nrc.gov. You may obtain
information and comment submissions
related to the OMB clearance package by
searching on https://
www.regulations.gov under Docket ID
NRC–2017–0025.
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You may submit comments on any
aspect of these proposed information
collections, including suggestions for
reducing the burden and on the four
issues, by the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for Docket ID NRC–2017–0025.
• Mail comments to: FOIA, Library,
and Information Collections Branch,
Office of the Chief Information Officer,
Mail Stop: T–6 A10M, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555–0001 or to the OMB reviewer
at: OMB Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (3150–0011), Attn:
Desk Officer for the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, 725 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20503; email: oira_
submission@omb.eop.gov.
Submit comments on this collection
of information by March 4, 2021.
Comments received after this date will
be considered if it is practical to do so,
but the NRC staff is able to ensure
consideration only for comments
received on or before this date.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Public Protection Notification
The NRC may not conduct or sponsor,
and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless the
document requesting or requiring the
collection displays a currently valid
OMB control number.
XI. Voluntary Consensus Standards
The National Technology Transfer
and Advancement Act of 1995, Public
Law 104–113, requires that Federal
agencies use technical standards that are
developed or adopted by voluntary
consensus standards bodies unless
using such a standard is inconsistent
with applicable law or is otherwise
impractical. In this proposed rule, the
NRC is continuing to use the ASME BPV
and OM Code Cases, which are ASMEapproved voluntary alternatives to
compliance with various provisions of
the ASME BPV and OM Codes. The
NRC’s approval of the ASME Code
Cases is accomplished by amending the
NRC’s regulations to incorporate by
reference the latest revisions of the
following, which are the subject of this
rulemaking, into § 50.55a: RG 1.84,
Revision 39; RG 1.147, Revision 20; RG
1.192, Revision 4; and NUREG–2228.
The RGs list the ASME Code Cases that
the NRC has approved for use. The
ASME Code Cases are national
consensus standards as defined in the
National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 and OMB
Circular A–119. The ASME Code Cases
constitute voluntary consensus
standards, in which all interested
parties (including the NRC and
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licensees of nuclear power plants)
participate. The NRC invites comment
on the applicability and use of other
standards.
XII. Incorporation by Reference—
Reasonable Availability to Interested
Parties
The NRC proposes to incorporate by
reference three NRC RGs that list new
and revised the ASME Code Cases that
the NRC has approved as voluntary
alternatives to certain provisions of
NRC-required Editions and Addenda of
the ASME BPV Code and the ASME OM
Code. The draft regulatory guides, DG–
1366, DG–1367, and DG–1368, will
correspond to final RG 1.84, Revision
39; RG 1.147, Revision 20; and RG
1.192, Revision 4, respectively. The
NRC also proposes to incorporate by
reference NUREG–2228, which is
referenced in DG–1367 (RG 1.147,
Revision 20). As described in this
document, this report pertains to a
proposed condition on Code Case N–
847.
The NRC is required by law to obtain
approval for incorporation by reference
from the Office of the Federal Register
(OFR). The OFR’s requirements for
incorporation by reference are set forth
in 1 CFR part 51. On November 7, 2014,
the OFR adopted changes to its
regulations governing incorporation by
reference (79 FR 66267). The OFR
regulations require an agency to include
in a proposed rule a discussion of the
ways that the materials the agency
proposes to incorporate by reference are
reasonably available to interested
parties or how it worked to make those
materials reasonably available to
interested parties. The discussion in this
section complies with the requirement
for proposed rules as set forth in 1 CFR
51.5(a)(1).
The NRC considers ‘‘interested
parties’’ to include all potential NRC
stakeholders, not only the individuals
and entities regulated or otherwise
subject to the NRC’s regulatory
oversight. These NRC stakeholders are
not a homogenous group, so the
considerations for determining
‘‘reasonable availability’’ vary by class
of interested parties. The NRC identified
six classes of interested parties with
regard to the material to be incorporated
by reference in an NRC rule:
• Individuals and small entities
regulated or otherwise subject to the
NRC’s regulatory oversight. This class
includes applicants and potential
applicants for licenses and other NRC
regulatory approvals, and who are
subject to the material to be
incorporated by reference. In this
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context, ‘‘small entities’’ has the same
meaning as set out in 10 CFR 2.810.
• Large entities otherwise subject to
the NRC’s regulatory oversight. This
class includes applicants and potential
applicants for licenses and other NRC
regulatory approvals, and who are
subject to the material to be
incorporated by reference. In this
context, a ‘‘large entity’’ is one that does
not qualify as a ‘‘small entity’’ under 10
CFR 2.810.
• Non-governmental organizations
with institutional interests in the
matters regulated by the NRC.
• Other Federal agencies, states, local
governmental bodies (within the
meaning of 10 CFR 2.315(c)).
• Federally-recognized and Staterecognized Indian tribes.
• Members of the general public (i.e.,
individual, unaffiliated members of the
public who are not regulated or
otherwise subject to the NRC’s
regulatory oversight) who need access to
the materials that the NRC proposes to
incorporate by reference in order to
participate in the rulemaking.
The NUREG–2228 and three draft RGs
that the NRC proposes to incorporate by
reference in this proposed rule are
available without cost and can be read
online or downloaded online. The
NUREG–2228 and draft RGs can be
viewed, by appointment, at the NRC
Technical Library, which is located at
Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852;
telephone: 301–415–7000; email:
Library.Resource@nrc.gov. The final
RGs, if approved by the OFR for
incorporation by reference, will also be
available for inspection at the OFR, as
described in 10 CFR 50.55a(a).
Because access to the three draft
regulatory guides, and eventually, the
final regulatory guides, are available in
various forms at no cost, the NRC
determines that the three draft
regulatory guides, DG–1366, DG–1367,
and DG–1368, and final RG 1.84,
Revision 39; RG 1.147, Revision 20; and
RG 1.192, Revision 4, once approved by
the OFR for incorporation by reference,
are reasonably available to all interested
parties.
XIII. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the
following tables are available to
interested persons through one or more
of the following methods, as indicated.
Throughout the development of this
rule, the NRC may post documents
related to this rule, including public
comments, on the Federal rulemaking
website at: https://www.regulations.gov
under Docket ID NRC–2017–0025. The
Federal rulemaking website allows you
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to receive alerts when changes or
additions occur in a docket folder. To
subscribe: (1) Navigate to the docket
folder (NRC–2017–0025); (2) click the
‘‘Sign up for Email Alerts’’ link; and (3)
enter your email address and select how
7835
frequently you would like to receive
emails (daily, weekly, or monthly).
TABLE III—RULEMAKING RELATED DOCUMENTS
ADAMS Accession No.
or Federal Register
citation, or website
Document title
Final Rule — ‘‘Incorporation by Reference of ASME BPV and OM Code Cases,’’ July 8, 2003 ...............................
Final Rule — ‘‘Incorporation by Reference of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Codes and Code
Cases,’’ July 18, 2017.
Zorita Internals Research Project (MRP–440) Testing of Highly-Irradiated Baffle Plate Material 3002016015 Final
Report, October 2019.
ASME Code, Section III, NB–2330, ‘‘Test Requirements and Acceptance Standards,’’ July 2017 ...........................
BWRVIP–75–A, ‘‘BWR Vessel and Internals Project, Technical Basis for Revisions to Generic Letter 88–01 Inspection Schedules,’’ October 2005.
Final Rule — ‘‘Approval of American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Code Cases,’’ March 16, 2020 .................
RG 1.193, ASME Code Cases Not Approved for Use, Revision 7 (DG–1369) ..........................................................
Rulemaking—Proposed Rule—Regulatory Analysis for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code
Cases, RG 1.84, Rev 39; RG 1.147, Rev 20; RG 1.192, Rev 4; and RG 1.193, Rev 7.
GL–88–01, Supplement 1, ‘‘NRC Position on Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in BWR Austenitic
Stainless Steel Piping (Generic Letter 88–01, Supplement 1),’’ February 4, 1992.
GL–88–01, ‘‘NRC Position on IGSCC in BWR Austenitic Stainless Steel Piping (Generic Letter No. 88–01),’’ January 25, 1988.
Final Rule—‘‘Approval of American Society of Mechanical Engineers 2015–20017 Code Editions, Incorporataion
by Reference,’’ May 4, 2020.
Documents Proposed To Be
Incorporated by Reference
The NRC proposes to incorporate by
reference three NRC RGs, as set forth in
Table IV, that list new and revised
ASME Code Cases that the NRC has
approved as voluntary alternatives to
certain provisions of NRC-required
Editions and Addenda of the ASME
68 FR 40469.
82 FR 32934.
Available for purchase.
Available for purchase.
Available for purchase.
85 FR 14736.
ML20120A627.
ML20133K152.
https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/gencomm/gen-letters/1988/
gl88001s1.html.
https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/gencomm/gen-letters/1988/
gl88001.html.
85 FR 26540.
BPV Code and the ASME OM Code. The
NRC also proposes to incorporate by
reference NUREG–2228, as set forth in
Table V, that is referenced within a
condition in RG 1.147, Revision 20.
TABLE IV—DRAFT REGULATORY GUIDES PROPOSED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN 10 CFR 50.55a
ADAMS Accession No./
Federal Register citation
Document title
RG 1.84, Design, Fabrication, and Materials Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section III, Revision 39, (DG–1366)
RG 1.147, Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section XI, Division 1, Revision 20, (DG–1367)
RG 1.192, Operation and Maintenance Code Case Acceptability, ASME OM Code, Revision 4, (DG–1368) ..........
ML20120A633.
ML20120A631.
ML20120A629.
TABLE V—RELATED DOCUMENTS PROPOSED TO BE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN 10 CFR 50.55a
Document title
ADAMS Accession No.
NUREG–2228, ‘‘Weld Residual Stress Finite Element Analysis Validation: Part II—Proposed Validation Procedure,’’ July 2020.
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Code Cases for Approval in This
Proposed Rule
The ASME BPV Code Cases that the
NRC is proposing to approve as
alternatives to certain provisions of the
ASME BPV Code, as set forth in Table
VI, are being made available by the
ASME for read-only access during the
public comment period on https://
go.asme.org/NRC-ASME-CC.
The ASME OM Code Cases that the
NRC is proposing to approve as
alternatives to certain provisions of the
ASME OM Code, as set forth in Table
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VI, are being made available for readonly access during the public comment
period by the ASME on https://
go.asme.org/NRC-ASME-CC.
The ASME is making the Code Cases
listed in Table VI available for limited,
read-only access at the request of the
NRC. The NRC believes that
stakeholders need to be able to read
these Code Cases in order to provide
meaningful comment on the three RGs
(listed in Table IV) that the NRC is
proposing to incorporate by reference
into § 50.55a. It is the NRC’s position
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ML20212L592.
that the listed Code Cases, as modified
by any conditions contained in the three
RGs and thus serving as alternatives to
requirements in § 50.55a, are legallybinding regulatory requirements. An
applicant or licensee must comply with
a listed Code Case and any conditions
to be within the scope of the NRC’s
approval of the Code Case as a voluntary
alternative for use. These requirements
cannot be fully understood without
knowledge of the Code Case to which
the proposed condition applies, and to
this end, the NRC has requested that the
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ASME provide limited, read-only access
to the Code Cases in order to facilitate
meaningful public comment.
TABLE VI—ASME CODE CASES PROPOSED FOR NRC APPROVAL
Code Case No.
Supplement
Title
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III
N–71–20 ......................
6 (2015 Edition) .............
N–155–3 ......................
N–249–17 ....................
5 (2015 Edition) .............
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–539–1 ......................
N–692–1 ......................
N–721–1 ......................
N–755–4 ......................
N–779 ..........................
N–801–3 ......................
N–822–4 ......................
N–852 ..........................
N–855 ..........................
N–856 ..........................
0
6
5
1
9
1
7
0
2
2
N–859 ..........................
5 (2015 Edition) .............
N–863–1 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–866 ..........................
N–870–1 ......................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
4 (2017 Edition) .............
N–879 ..........................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–883 ..........................
5 (2017 Edition) .............
N–884 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–886 ..........................
N–887 ..........................
6 (2017 Edition) .............
6 (2017 Edition with errata dated August 30,
2019).
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–891 ..........................
(2017
(2015
(2017
(2017
(2007
(2017
(2015
(2015
(2015
(2015
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
Edition)
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
.............
Additional Materials for Subsection NF, Class 1, 2, 3, and MC Supports Fabricated by
Welding, Section III, Division 1.
Fiberglass Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Pipe, Section III, Division 1.
Additional Materials for Subsection NF, Classes 1, 2, 3, and MC Supports Fabricated without Welding Section III, Division 1.
UNS N08367 in Class 2 and 3 Valves, Section III, Division 1.
Use of Standard Welding Procedures, Section III, Division 1.
Alternative Rules for Linear Piping Supports, Section III, Division 1.
Use of Polyethylene (PE) Class 3 Plastic Pipe, Section III, Division 1.
Alternative Rules for Simplified Elastic-Plastic Analysis Class 1, Section III, Division 1.
Rules for Repair of N-Stamped Class 1, 2, and 3 Components, Section III, Division 1.
Application of the ASME Certification Mark, Section III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Application of the ASME NPT Stamp, Section III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and 5.
SB–148 C95800 Valves for Class 3 Construction, Section III, Division 1.
SA–494 Grade CW–12MW (UNS N30002) Nickel Alloy Castings for Construction of NPS
21⁄2 and Smaller Flanged Valves for Class 3 Construction, Section III, Division 1.
Construction of ASME B16.9 Wrought Buttwelding Fittings and ASME B16.11 Forged Fittings Made From SB–366 UNS N04400 Material for Section III, Class 3 Construction,
Section III, Division 1.
Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) of Valve Seal Welds for P4 and P5A Materials, Section
III, Division 1.
Alternative Materials for Construction of Section III, Class 2 Vessels, Section III, Division 1.
Rules for the Elimination of External Surface Defects on Class 1, 2, and 3 Piping, Pumps,
or Valves After Component Stamping and Prior to Completion of the N–3 Data Report,
Section III, Division 1.
Use of Micro-Alloyed Carbon Steel Bar in Patented Mechanical Joints and Fittings, Classes
1, 2, and 3, Section III, Division 1.
Construction of Items Prior to the Establishment of a Section III, Division 1 Owner, Section
III, Division 1.
Procedure to Determine Strain Rate for Use with the Environmental Fatigue Design Curve
Method and the Environmental Fatigue Correction Factor, Fen, Method as Part of an Environmental Fatigue Evaluation for Components Analyzed per the NB–3200 Rules, Section III, Division 1.
Use of Polyethylene Pipe for Class 3, Section III, Division 1.
Alternatives to the Requirements of NB–4424.2(a), Figure NB–4250–2, and Figure NB–
4250–3 Section III, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements to Appendix XXVI, XXVI–2400, XXVI–4130, and XXVI–4131 for
Inspection and Repair of Indentations for Polyethylene Pipe and Piping Components,
Section III, Division 1.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section XI
N–513–5 ......................
6 (2017 Edition) .............
N–516–5 ......................
N–561–3 ......................
6 (2015 Edition) .............
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–638–10 ....................
1 (2019 Edition) .............
N–653–2 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–702–1 ......................
1 (2019 Edition) .............
N–705–1 ......................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–716–2 ......................
N–766–3 ......................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–768 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–786–3 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
N–789–3 ......................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
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Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in Moderate Energy Class 2 or 3
Piping and Gate Valves, Section XI, Division 1.
Underwater Welding, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Wall Thickness Restoration of Class 2 and High Energy Class
3 Carbon Steel Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Similar and Dissimilar Metal Welding Using Ambient Temperature Machine GTAW Temper
Bead Technique, Section XI, Division 1.
Qualification Requirements for Full Structural Overlaid Wrought Austenitic Piping Welds,
Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Nozzle Inner Radius and Nozzle-to-Shell Welds, Section XI, Division 1.
Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Degradation in Moderate Energy Class 2
or 3 Vessels and Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Piping Classification and Examination Requirements, Section XI, Division 1.
Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant Inlay and Onlay for Mitigation of PWR Full Penetration Circumferential Nickel Alloy Dissimilar Metal Welds in Class 1 Items, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Volumetric Coverage Requirements for Ultrasonic Examination of Class 1 and 2
Pressure Vessel Weld Joints Greater Than 2 in. (50 mm) in Thickness, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Sleeve Reinforcement of Class 2 and 3 Moderate Energy
Carbon Steel Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Pad Reinforcement of Class 2 and 3 Moderate Energy Carbon Steel Piping for Raw Water Service, Section XI, Division 1.
Frm 00018
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules
7837
TABLE VI—ASME CODE CASES PROPOSED FOR NRC APPROVAL—Continued
Code Case No.
Supplement
Title
N–809 ..........................
2 (2015 Edition) .............
N–831–1 ......................
1 (2019 Edition) .............
N–845–1 ......................
N–847 ..........................
6 (2015 Edition) .............
0 (2017 Edition) .............
N–848–1 ......................
N–851 ..........................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
0 (2015 Edition) .............
N–858 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–864 ..........................
N–865 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–867 ..........................
N–869 ..........................
0 (2017 Edition) .............
6 (2017 Edition) .............
N–873 ..........................
N–874 ..........................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
7 (2017 Edition) .............
N–876 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–877 ..........................
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–878 ..........................
N–880 ..........................
1 (2017 Edition) .............
2 (2017 Edition) .............
N–882 ..........................
6 (2017 Edition) .............
N–885 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
N–889 ..........................
7 (2017 Edition) .............
N–890 ..........................
N–892 ..........................
0 (2019 Edition) .............
0 (2019 Edition) .............
Reference Fatigue Crack Growth Rate Curves for Austenitic Stainless Steels in Pressurized Reactor Water Environments, Section XI, Division 1.
Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu of Radiography for Welds in Ferritic or Austenitic Pipe, Section XI, Division 1.
Qualification Requirements for Bolts and Studs, Section XI, Division 1.
Partial Excavation and Deposition of Weld Metal for Mitigation of Class 1 Items, Section XI,
Division 1.
Alternative Characterization Rules for Quazi-Laminar Flaws, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternate Method for Establishing the Reference Temperature for Pressure Retaining Materials, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Volumetric Coverage Requirements for Ultrasonic Examination of Class 1 Nozzle-to-Vessel Welds, Section XI, Division 1.
Reactor Vessel Threads in Flange Examinations, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Pad Reinforcement of Class 2 and 3 Atmospheric Storage
Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
Clarification of NDE Practical Examination Requirements, Section XI, Division 1.
Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in Class 2 or 3 Piping, Section XI,
Division 1.
Examination Requirements for the Core Makeup Tanks, Section XI, Division 1.
Temporary Acceptance of Leakage Through Brazed Joints of Class 3 Copper, CopperNickel, and Nickel-Copper Moderate Energy Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Austenitic Stainless Steel Cladding and Nickel Base Cladding Using Ambient Temperature
Automatic or Machine Dry Underwater Laser Beam Welding (ULBW) Temper Bead
Technique, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Characterization Rules for Multiple Subsurface Radially Oriented Planar Flaws,
Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative to QA Program Requirements of IWA–4142, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative to Procurement Requirements of IWA–4143 for Small Nonstandard Welded Fittings, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Attaching Nonstructural Electrical Connections to Class 2 and
3 Components, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirements for Table IWB–2500–1, Examination Category B–N–1, Interior of
Reactor Vessel, Category B–N–2, Welded Core Support Structures and Interior Attachments to Reactor Vessels, Category B–N–3, Removable Core Support Structures Section XI, Division 1.
Reference Stress Corrosion Crack Growth Rate Curves for Irradiated Austenitic Stainless
Steel in Light-Water Reactor Environments, Section XI, Division 1.
Materials Exempted From G–2110(b) Requirement, Section XI, Division 1.
Alternative Requirement for Form OAR–1, Owner’s Activity Report, Completion Time, Section XI, Division 1.
Code Case No.
Edition 4
Title
OMN–13, Revision 3 ...
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–15, Revision 3 ...
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–17, Revision 1 ...
OMN–22 .......................
OMN–23 .......................
OMN–24 .......................
2020
2020
2020
2020
OMN–25 .......................
OMN–26 .......................
2020 Edition ...................
2020 Edition ...................
OMN–27 .......................
2020 Edition ...................
Performance-Based Requirements for Extending Snubber Inservice Visual Examination Interval at LWR Power Plants.
Performance-Based Requirements for Extending the Snubber Operational Readiness Testing Interval at LWR Power Plants.
Alternative Requirements for Testing ASME Class 1 Pressure Relief/Safety Valves.
Smooth Running Pumps.
Alternative Requirements for Testing Pressure Isolation Valves.
Alternative Requirements for Testing ASME Class 2 and 3 Pressure Relief Valves (For Relief Valves in a Group of One).
Alternative Requirements for Testing Appendix I Pressure Relief Valves.
Alternate Risk-Informed and Margin Based Rules for Inservice Testing of Motor Operated
Valves.
Alternative Requirements for Testing Category A Valves (Non-PIV/CIV).
Operation and Maintenance Code
Edition
Edition
Edition
Edition
...................
...................
...................
...................
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 50
Antitrust, Classified information,
Criminal penalties, Fire protection,
Incorporation by reference,
Intergovernmental relations, Nuclear
power plantsand reactors, Radiation
4 The column labelled ‘‘Edition’’ in this table
refers to the point in time a Code Case was issued.
For example, an entry associated with the 2017
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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
is proposing to adopt the following
amendments to 10 CFR part 50:
Edition means the Code Case was issued at the
same time as the 2017 Edition of the Code.
■
PO 00000
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PART 50—DOMESTIC LICENSING OF
PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION
FACILITIES
1. The authority citation for part 50
continues to read as follows:
E:\FR\FM\02FEP1.SGM
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7838
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 20 / Tuesday, February 2, 2021 / Proposed Rules
Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954,
secs. 11, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 108, 122,
147, 149, 161, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186,
187, 189, 223, 234 (42 U.S.C. 2014, 2131,
2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2138, 2152, 2167,
2169, 2201, 2231, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2235,
2236, 2237, 2239, 2273, 2282); Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202,
206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851);
Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, sec. 306
(42 U.S.C. 10226); National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332); 44 U.S.C.
3504 note; Sec. 109, Pub. L. 96–295, 94 Stat.
783.
2. In § 50.55a:
a. Revise paragraph (a)(3) introductory
text;
■ b. In paragraph (a)(3)(i), remove the
phrase ‘‘Revision 38’’ and add in its
place the phrase ‘‘Revision 39’’ and
remove the phrase ‘‘October 2019’’ and
add in its place the phrase ‘‘MONTH/
YEAR’’;
■ c. In paragraph (a)(3)(ii), remove the
phrase ‘‘Revision 19’’ and add in its
place the phrase ‘‘Revision 20’’ and
remove the phrase ‘‘October 2019’’ and
add in its place the phrase ‘‘MONTH/
YEAR’’;
■ d. In paragraph (a)(3)(iii), remove the
phrase ‘‘Revision 3’’ and add in its place
the phrase ‘‘Revision 4’’ and remove the
phrase ‘‘October 2019’’ and add in its
place the phrase ‘‘MONTH/YEAR’’;
■ e. Add paragraph (a)(3)(iv); and
■ f. In paragraph (b)(3)(iv), Table II,
remove the word ‘‘(years)’’ in the second
and third column headings and add in
their places the word ‘‘(Years)’’.
The revision and addition read as
follows:
■
■
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
§ 50.55a
Codes and standards.
(a) * * *
(3) U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) Public Document
Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland 20852; telephone: 1–800–
397–4209; email: pdr.resource@nrc.gov;
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doccollections/reg-guides/. The use of Code
Cases listed in the NRC regulatory
guides in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through
(iii) of this section is acceptable with the
specified conditions in those guides
when implementing the editions and
addenda of the ASME BPV Code and
ASME OM Code incorporated by
reference in paragraph (a)(1) of this
section. The NRC report in paragraph
(a)(3)(iv) of this section is acceptable as
specified in the conditions when
implementing Code Cases listed in the
NRC regulatory guides in paragraphs
(a)(3)(i) through (iii).
*
*
*
*
*
(iv) NUREG–2228. NUREG–2228,
‘‘Weld Residual Stress Finite Element
Analysis Validation: Part II—Proposed
Validation Procedure,’’ dated July 2020,
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16:27 Feb 01, 2021
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which is referenced in RG 1.147,
Revision 20.
*
*
*
*
*
Dated December 23, 2020.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ho K. Nieh,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2021–00890 Filed 2–1–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
23 CFR Parts 470, 635, and 655
[FHWA Docket No. FHWA–2020–0001]
RIN 2125–AF85
National Standards for Traffic Control
Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices for Streets and
Highways; Revision
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of
comment period.
AGENCY:
FHWA is extending the
comment period for a notice of
proposed amendments (NPA) and
request for comments, which was
published on December 14, 2020 in the
Federal Register. The original comment
period is set to close on March 15, 2021.
The extension is based on concern
expressed by a number of stakeholders
that, as a result of the scope and
complexity of the NPA, the March 15,
2021, closing date does not provide
sufficient time to review and provide
comprehensive comments. The FHWA
recognizes that others interested in
commenting may have similar concerns
and agrees that the comment period
should be extended. Therefore, the
closing date for comments is changed to
May 14, 2021, which will provide
stakeholders and others interested in
commenting additional time to discuss,
evaluate, and submit responses to the
docket.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before May 14, 2021. Late-filed
comments will be considered to the
extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: To ensure that you do not
duplicate your docket submissions,
please submit them by only one of the
following means:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and follow
the online instructions for submitting
comments.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
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• Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590–0001;
• Hand Delivery: West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. 5
p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is (202) 366–9329;
• Instructions: You must include the
agency name and docket number or the
Regulatory Identification Number (RIN)
for the rulemaking at the beginning of
your comments. All comments received
will be posted without change to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Kevin Sylvester, Office of
Transportation Operations, (202) 366–
2161, Kevin.Sylvester@dot.gov, or Mr.
William Winne, Office of the Chief
Counsel, (202) 366–1397,
William.Winne@dot.gov, Federal
Highway Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
This document and all comments
received may be viewed online through
the Federal eRulemaking portal at
https://www.regulations.gov. The website
is available 24 hours each day, 365 days
each year. An electronic copy of this
document may also be downloaded by
accessing the Office of the Federal
Register’s home page at: https://
www.federalregister.gov.
Background
The Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices for Streets and
Highways (MUTCD) is incorporated in
FHWA regulations and recognized as
the national standard for traffic control
devices used on all public roads. On
December 14, 2020, at 85 FR 80898,
FHWA published in the Federal
Register an NPA proposing to revise
standards, guidance, options, and
supporting information relating to the
traffic control devices in all parts of the
MUTCD. The original comment period
for the NPA closes on March 15, 2021.
Stakeholders have expressed concern
that this closing date does not provide
sufficient time to review and provide
comprehensive comments on the
proposal. The FHWA recognizes that
others interested in commenting may
have similar concerns and agrees that
the comment period should be extended
by 60 days for these organizations and
others to submit comprehensive
E:\FR\FM\02FEP1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 2, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7820-7838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00890]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR Part 50
[NRC-2017-0025]
RIN 3150-AJ94
Approval of American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Code Cases
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to
amend its regulations to incorporate by reference proposed revisions of
three regulatory guides, which would approve new, revised, and
reaffirmed Code Cases published by the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers. The NRC is also incorporating by reference one NRC NUREG
associated with a proposed condition on one of the regulatory guides.
This proposed action would allow nuclear power plant licensees, and
applicants for construction permits, operating licenses, combined
licenses, standard design certifications, standard design approvals and
manufacturing licenses, to use the Code Cases listed in these draft
regulatory guides as voluntary alternatives to engineering standards
for the construction, inservice inspection, and inservice testing of
nuclear power plant components. The NRC is requesting comments on this
proposed rule and on the draft versions of the three regulatory guides
proposed to be incorporated by reference. The NRC is also making
available a related draft regulatory guide that lists Code Cases that
the NRC has not approved for use. This draft regulatory guide will not
be incorporated by reference into the NRC's regulations.
DATES: Submit comments on the proposed rule, documents to be
incorporated by reference, and related guidance by April 5, 2021.
Submit comments specific to the information
[[Page 7821]]
collections aspects of this rule by March 4, 2021. Comments received
after these dates will be considered if it is practical to do so, but
the NRC is able to ensure consideration only of comments received on or
before these dates.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, documents to
be incorporated by reference, and related guidance by any of the
following methods (unless this document describes a different method
for submitting comments on a specific subject):
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0025. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Dawn Forder; telephone: 301-415-3407;
email: [email protected]. For technical questions contact the
individuals 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 Bruce Lin, Office of Nuclear Regulatory
Research; telephone: 301-415-2446; email: [email protected]. Both are
staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Executive Summary
A. Need for the Regulatory Action
The purpose of this regulatory action is to incorporate by
reference into the NRC's regulations the latest revisions of three
regulatory guides (RGs) (currently in draft form for comment). This
regulatory action is also incorporating by reference one NRC report,
NUREG-2228, that is associated with a proposed conditon in one of the
regulatory guides. NUREG-2228 was published for public comment on
September 13, 2018 (83 FR 46524). The three draft RGs identify new,
revised, and reaffirmed Code Cases published by the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (ASME), which the NRC has determined are
acceptable for use as voluntary alternatives to compliance with certain
provisions of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV Code) and
the ASME Code for Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants (OM
Code) currently incorporated by reference into the NRC's regulations.
B. Major Provisions
The three draft RGs that the NRC proposes to incorporate by
reference are RG 1.84, ``Design, Fabrication, and Materials Code Case
Acceptability, ASME Section III,'' Revision 39 (Draft Regulatory Guide
(DG)-1366); RG 1.147, ``Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability,
ASME Section XI, Division 1,'' Revision 20 (DG-1367); and RG 1.192,
``Operation and Maintenance [OM] Code Case Acceptability, ASME OM
Code,'' Revision 4 (DG-1368). The NRC also proposes to incorporate by
reference NUREG-2228, ``Weld Residual Stress Finite Element Analysis
Validation: Part II--Proposed Validation Procedure,'' which provides
the procedure for validating the weld residual stress analysis
methodology associated with ASME Code Case N-847. This proposed action
would allow nuclear power plant licensees and applicants for
construction permits, operating licenses, combined licenses, standard
design certifications, standard design approvals, and manufacturing
licenses to use the Code Cases newly listed in these revised RGs as
voluntary alternatives to engineering standards for the construction,
inservice inspections, and inservice testing of nuclear power plant
components. The NRC also notes the availability of a proposed version
of RG 1.193, ``ASME Code Cases Not Approved for Use,'' Revision 7 (DG-
1369). This document lists Code Cases that the NRC has not approved for
generic use and will not be incorporated by reference into the NRC's
regulations.
The NRC prepared a draft regulatory analysis to determine the
expected quantitative costs and benefits of this proposed rule, as well
as qualitative factors to be considered in the NRC's rulemaking
decision. The analysis concluded that this proposed rule would result
in net savings to the industry and the NRC. As shown in Table 1, the
estimated total net benefit relative to the regulatory baseline and the
quantitative benefits outweigh the costs by a range from approximately
$5.19 million (7-percent net present value) to $6.20 million (3-percent
net present value).
Table 1--Cost Benefit Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total averted costs (costs)
-----------------------------------------------
Attribute 7% Net present 3% Net present
Undiscounted value value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Industry Implementation......................................... $0 $0 $0
Industry Operation.............................................. 5,100,000 3,790,000 4,470,000
-----------------------------------------------
Total Industry Costs........................................ 5,100,000 3,790,000 4,470,000
NRC Implementation.............................................. (430,000) (420,000) (420,000)
NRC Operation................................................... 2,460,000 1,820,000 2,150,000
-----------------------------------------------
Total NRC Costs............................................. 2,030,000 1,400,000 1,730,000
-----------------------------------------------
Net..................................................... 7,130,000 5,190,000 6,200,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The regulatory analysis also considered the following qualitative
considerations: (1) Flexibility and decreased uncertainty for licensees
when making modifications or preparing to perform inservice inspection
or inservice testing; (2) consistency with the provisions of the
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, which
encourages Federal regulatory agencies to consider adopting voluntary
[[Page 7822]]
consensus standards as an alternative to de novo agency development of
standards affecting an industry; (3) consistency with the NRC's policy
of evaluating the latest versions of consensus standards in terms of
their suitability for endorsement by regulations and regulatory guides;
and (4) consistency with the NRC's goal to harmonize with international
standards to improve regulatory efficiency for both the NRC and
international standards groups.
The draft regulatory analysis concludes that this proposed rule
should be adopted because it is justified when integrating the cost-
beneficial quantitative results and the positive and supporting
nonquantitative considerations in the decision. For more information,
please see the regulatory analysis (Agencywide Documents Access and
Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20133K152).
Table of Contents
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
B. Submitting Comments
II. Background
III. Discussion
A. Code Cases Proposed To Be Approved for Unconditional Use
B. Code Cases Proposed To Be Approved for Use With Conditions
1. ASME BPV Code, Section III Code Cases (DG-1366/RG 1.84)
2. ASME BPV Code, Section XI Code Cases (DG-1367/RG 1.147)
3. OM Code Cases (DG-1368/RG 1.192)
C. ASME Code Cases Not Approved for Use (DG-1369/RG 1.193)
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis
V. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
VI. Regulatory Analysis
VII. Backfitting and Issue Finality
VIII. Plain Writing
IX. Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No Significant
Environmental Impact
X. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
XI. Voluntary Consensus Standards
XII. Incorporation by Reference--Reasonable Availability to
Interested Parties
XIII. Availability of Documents
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2017-0025 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-2017-0025.
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/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 [email protected]. For
the convenience of the reader, instructions about obtaining materials
referenced in this document are provided in the ``Availability of
Documents'' section.
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-2017-0025 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. Background
The ASME develops and publishes the ASME BPV Code, which contains
requirements for the design, construction, and inservice inspection
examination of nuclear power plant components, and the ASME OM Code,\1\
which contains requirements for inservice testing of nuclear power
plant components. In response to BPV and OM Code user requests, the
ASME develops Code Cases that provide voluntary alternatives to BPV and
OM Code requirements under special circumstances.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The editions and addenda of the ASME Code for Operation and
Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants have had different titles from
2005 to 2017, and are referred to as the ``OM Code'' collectively in
this rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NRC approves the ASME BPV and OM Codes in Sec. 50.55a, ``Codes
and standards,'' of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10
CFR) through the process of incorporation by reference. As such, each
provision of the ASME Codes incorporated by reference into and mandated
by Sec. 50.55a constitutes a legally-binding NRC requirement imposed
by rule. As noted previously, the ASME Code Cases, for the most part,
represent alternative approaches for complying with provisions of the
ASME BPV and OM Codes. Accordingly, the NRC periodically amends Sec.
50.55a to incorporate by reference the NRC's RGs listing approved ASME
Code Cases that may be used as voluntary alternatives to the BPV and OM
Codes.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See Federal Register final rule, ``Incorporation by
Reference of ASME BPV and OM Code Cases'' (68 FR 40469; July 8,
2003).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This proposed rule is the latest in a series of rules that
incorporate by reference new versions of several RGs identifying new,
revised, and reaffirmed,\3\ and unconditionally or conditionally
acceptable ASME Code Cases that the NRC approves for use. In developing
these RGs, the NRC reviews the ASME BPV and OM Code Cases, determines
the acceptability of each Code Case, and publishes its findings in the
RGs. The RGs are revised periodically as new Code Cases are published
by the ASME. The NRC incorporates by reference the RGs listing
acceptable and conditionally acceptable ASME Code Cases into Sec.
50.55a. The NRC published a final rule dated March 16, 2020 (85 FR
14736) that incorporated by reference into Sec. 50.55a the most recent
versions of the RGs, which are: RG 1.84, ``Design, Fabrication, and
Materials Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section III,'' Revision 38; RG
1.147, ``Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section XI,
Division 1,'' Revision 19; and RG 1.192, ``Operation and Maintenance
Code Case Acceptability, ASME OM Code,'' Revision 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Code Cases are categorized by the ASME as one of three
types: new, revised, or reaffirmed. A new Code Case provides for a
new alternative to specific the ASME Code provisions or addresses a
new need. The ASME defines a revised Code Case to be a revision
(modification) to an existing Code Case to address, for example,
technological advancements in examination techniques or to address
NRC conditions imposed in one of the RGs that have been incorporated
by reference into Sec. 50.55a. The ASME defines ``reaffirmed'' as
an OM Code Case that does not have any change to technical content,
but includes editorial changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 7823]]
III. Discussion
This proposed rule would incorporate by reference NUREG-2228 and
the latest revisions of the NRC's RGs that list the ASME BPV and OM
Code Cases that the NRC finds to be acceptable, or acceptable with NRC-
specified conditions (``conditionally acceptable''). Regulatory Guide
1.84, Revision 39 (DG-1366) would supersede the incorporation by
reference of Revision 38; RG 1.147, Revision 20 (DG-1367) would
supersede the incorporation by reference of Revision 19; and RG 1.192,
Revision 4 (DG-1368) would supersede the incorporation by reference of
Revision 3.
The ASME Code Cases that are the subject of this proposed rule are
the new and revised Section III and Section XI Code Cases as listed in
Supplements 0 through 7 to the 2015 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,
Supplements 0 through 7 to the 2017 Edition of the ASME BPV Code,
Supplements 0 and 1 to the 2019 Edition of the ASME BPV Code, and the
OM Code Cases listed in the 2020 Edition of the ASME OM Code.
The latest editions and addenda of the ASME BPV and OM Codes that
the NRC has approved for use are referenced in Sec. 50.55a. The ASME
also publishes Code Cases that provide alternatives to existing Code
requirements that the ASME developed and approved. This proposed rule
would incorporate by reference the most recent revisions of RGs 1.84,
1.147, and 1.192, which allow nuclear power plant licensees, and
applicants for combined licenses, standard design certifications,
standard design approvals, and manufacturing licenses under the
regulations that govern license certifications, to use the Code Cases
listed in these RGs as suitable alternatives to the ASME BPV and OM
Codes for the construction, inservice inspections, and inservice
testing of nuclear power plant components. Because the NRC is proposing
to require the use of NUREG-2228, ``Weld Residual Stress Finite Element
Analysis Validation: Part II--Proposed Validation Procedure,'' within a
condition on Code Case N-847, the NRC is also incorporating by
reference NUREG-2228. The ASME publishes the OM Code Cases and lists
the Code Cases in the ASME OM Code edition. In contrast, the ASME
publishes BPV Code Cases in a separate document and at a different time
than the ASME BPV Code Editions. This proposed rule identifies the Code
Cases by the edition of the ASME BPV Code or ASME OM Code under which
they were published by the ASME.
The following general guidance applies to the use of the ASME Code
Cases approved in the latest versions of the RGs that are incorporated
by reference into Sec. 50.55a as part of this proposed rule.
Specifically, the use of the Code Cases listed in the latest versions
of RGs 1.84, 1.147, and 1.192 are acceptable with the specified
conditions when implementing the editions and addenda of the ASME BPV
and OM Codes incorporated by reference in Sec. 50.55a.
The approval of a Code Case in the NRC's RGs constitutes acceptance
of its technical position for applications that are not precluded by
regulatory or other requirements or by the recommendations in these or
other RGs. The applicant or licensee is responsible for ensuring that
use of the Code Case does not conflict with regulatory requirements or
licensee commitments. The Code Cases listed in the RGs are acceptable
for use within the limits specified in the Code Cases. If the RG states
an NRC condition on the use of a Code Case, then the NRC condition
supplements and does not supersede any condition(s) specified in the
Code Case, unless otherwise stated in the NRC condition.
The ASME Code Cases may be revised for many reasons (e.g., to
incorporate operational examination and testing experience and to
update material requirements based on research results). On occasion,
an inaccuracy in an equation is discovered or an examination, as
practiced, is found not to be adequate to detect a newly discovered
degradation mechanism.
Therefore, when an applicant or a licensee initially implements a
Code Case, Sec. 50.55a requires that the applicant or the licensee
implement the most recent version of that Code Case, as listed in the
RGs incorporated by reference. Code Cases superseded by revision are no
longer acceptable for new applications unless otherwise indicated.
Section III of the ASME BPV Code applies to new construction (i.e.,
the edition and addenda to be used in the construction of a plant are
selected based on the date of the construction permit and are not
changed thereafter, except voluntarily by the applicant or the
licensee). Hence, if a Section III Code Case is implemented by an
applicant or a licensee and a later version of the Code Case is
incorporated by reference into Sec. 50.55a and listed in the RG, the
applicant or licensee may use either version of the Code Case (subject,
however, to whatever change requirements apply to its licensing basis
(e.g., Sec. 50.59)) until the next mandatory inservice inspection or
inservice testing update.
A licensee's inservice inspection and inservice testing programs
must be updated every 10 years to the latest edition and addenda of the
ASME BPV Code, Section XI, and the OM Code, respectively, that were
incorporated by reference into Sec. 50.55a and in effect 18 months
prior to the start of the next inspection and testing interval.
Licensees that were using a Code Case prior to the effective date of
its revision may continue to use the previous version for the remainder
of the 120-month inservice inspection or inservice testing interval.
This relieves licensees of the burden of having to update their
inservice inspection or inservice testing program each time a Code Case
is revised by the ASME and approved for use by the NRC. Code Cases
apply to specific editions and addenda, and Code Cases may be revised
if they are no longer accurate or adequate, so licensees choosing to
continue using a Code Case during the subsequent inservice inspection
or inservice testing interval must implement the latest version
incorporated by reference into Sec. 50.55a and listed in the RGs.
The ASME may annul Code Cases that are no longer required, are
determined to be inaccurate or inadequate, or have been incorporated
into the BPV or OM Codes. A Code Case may be revised, for example, to
incorporate user experience. The older or superseded version of the
Code Case cannot be applied by the licensee or applicant for the first
time.
If an applicant or a licensee applied a Code Case before it was
listed as superseded, the applicant or the licensee may continue to use
the Code Case until the applicant or the licensee updates its
construction Code of Record (in the case of an applicant, updates its
application) or until the licensee's 120-month inservice inspection or
inservice testing update interval expires, after which the continued
use of the Code Case is prohibited unless NRC authorization is given
under Sec. 50.55a(z). If a Code Case is incorporated by reference into
Sec. 50.55a and later a revised version is issued by the ASME because
experience has shown that the design analysis, construction method,
examination method, or testing method is inadequate, the NRC will amend
Sec. 50.55a and the relevant RG to remove the approval of the
superseded Code Case. Applicants and licensees should not begin to
implement such superseded Code Cases in advance of the rulemaking.
[[Page 7824]]
A. Code Cases Proposed To Be Approved for Unconditional Use
The Code Cases discussed in Table I are new, revised, or reaffirmed
Code Cases in which the NRC is not proposing any conditions. The table
identifies the draft regulatory guide listing the applicable Code Case
that the NRC proposes to approve for use.
Table I--Acceptable Code Cases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code Case No. Published with supplement Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III
(addressed in DG-1366, Table 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N-249-17.............................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Additional Materials for
Subsection NF, Classes 1, 2,
3, and MC Supports Fabricated
without Welding, Section III,
Division 1.
N-539-1............................... 0 (2017 Edition)........................ UNS N08367 in Class 2 and 3
Valves, Section III, Division
1.
N-692-1............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Use of Standard Welding
Procedures, Section III,
Division 1.
N-721-1............................... 5 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Rules for Linear
Piping Supports, Section III,
Division 1.
N-801-3............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Rules for Repair of N-Stamped
Class 1, 2, and 3 Components,
Section III, Division 1.
N-822-4............................... 7 (2015 Edition)........................ Application of the ASME
Certification Mark, Section
III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and
5.
N-855................................. 2 (2015 Edition)........................ SB-148 C95800 Valves for Class
3 Construction, Section III,
Division 1.
N-856................................. 2 (2015 Edition)........................ SA-494 Grade CW-12MW (UNS
N30002) Nickel Alloy Castings
for Construction of NPS 2\1/
2\ and Smaller Flanged Valves
for Class 3 Construction,
Section III, Division 1.
N-859................................. 5 (2015 Edition)........................ Construction of ASME B16.9
Wrought Buttwelding Fittings
and ASME B16.11 Forged
Fittings Made From SB-366 UNS
N04400 Material for Section
III, Class 3 Construction,
Section III, Division 1.
N-863-1............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Post Weld Heat Treatment
(PWHT) of Valve Seal Welds
for P4 and P5A Materials,
Section III, Division 1.
N-866................................. 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Materials for
Construction of Section III,
Class 2 Vessels, Section III,
Division 1.
N-870-1............................... 4 (2017 Edition)........................ Rules for the Elimination of
External Surface Defects on
Class 1, 2, and 3 Piping,
Pumps, or Valves After
Component Stamping and Prior
to Completion of the N-3 Data
Report, Section III, Division
1.
N-879................................. 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Use of Micro-Alloyed Carbon
Steel Bar in Patented
Mechanical Joints and
Fittings, Classes 1, 2, and
3, Section III, Division 1.
N-884................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Procedure to Determine Strain
Rate for Use with the
Environmental Fatigue Design
Curve Method and the
Environmental Fatigue
Correction Factor, Fen,
Method as Part of an
Environmental Fatigue
Evaluation for Components
Analyzed per the NB-3200
Rules, Section III, Division
1.
N-887................................. 6 (with errata issued in 3/19E)......... Alternatives to the
Requirements of NB-4424.2(a),
Figure NB-4250-2, and Figure
NB-4250-3, Section III,
Division 1.
N-891................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements to
Appendix XXVI, XXVI-2400,
XXVI-4130, and XXVI-4131 for
Inspection and Repair of
Indentations for Polyethylene
Pipe and Piping Components,
Section III, Division 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI
(addressed in DG-1367, Table 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N-561-3............................... 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Wall Thickness Restoration of
Class 2 and High Energy Class
3 Carbon Steel Piping,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-638-10.............................. 1 (2019 Edition)........................ Similar and Dissimilar Metal
Welding Using Ambient
Temperature Machine GTAW
Temper Bead Technique,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-653-2............................... 2 (2015 Edition)........................ Qualification Requirements for
Full Structural Overlaid
Wrought Austenitic Piping
Welds, Section XI, Division
1.
N-702-1............................... 1 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
Nozzle Inner Radius and
Nozzle-to-Shell Welds,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-716-2............................... 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Piping
Classification and
Examination Requirements,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-768................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Volumetric
Coverage Requirements for
Ultrasonic Examination of
Class 1 and 2 Pressure Vessel
Weld Joints Greater Than 2
in. (50 mm) in Thickness,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-786-3............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Sleeve Reinforcement of Class
2 and 3 Moderate Energy
Carbon Steel Piping, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-789-3............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Pad Reinforcement of Class 2
and 3 Moderate Energy Carbon
Steel Piping for Raw Water
Service, Section XI, Division
1.
N-809................................. 2 (2015 Edition)........................ Reference Fatigue Crack Growth
Rate Curves for Austenitic
Stainless Steels in
Pressurized Reactor Water
Environments, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-845-1............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Qualification Requirements for
Bolts and Studs, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-848-1............................... 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Characterization
Rules for Quasi-Laminar
Flaws, Section XI, Division
1.
N-851................................. 0 (2015 Edition)........................ Alternate Method for
Establishing the Reference
Temperature for Pressure
Retaining Materials, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-858................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Volumetric
Coverage Requirements for
Ultrasonic Examination of
Class 1 Nozzle-to-Vessel
Welds, Section XI, Division
1.
N-865................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Pad Reinforcement of Class 2
and 3 Atmospheric Storage
Tanks, Section XI, Division
1.
N-867................................. 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Clarification of NDE Practical
Examination Requirements,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-873................................. 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Examination Requirements for
the Core Makeup Tanks,
Section XI, Division 1.
[[Page 7825]]
N-874................................. 7 (2017 Edition)........................ Temporary Acceptance of
Leakage Through Brazed Joints
of Class 3 Copper, Copper-
Nickel, and Nickel-Copper
Moderate Energy Piping,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-877................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Characterization
Rules for Multiple Subsurface
Radially Oriented Planar
Flaws, Section XI, Division
1.
N-882................................. 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Attaching Nonstructural
Electrical Connections to
Class 2 and 3 Components,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-885................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Table IWB-2500-1, Examination
Category B-N-1, Interior of
Reactor Vessel, Category B-N-
2, Welded Core Support
Structures and Interior
Attachments to Reactor
Vessels, Category B-N-3,
Removable Core Support
Structures, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-892................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirement for
Form OAR-1, Owner's Activity
Report, Completion Time,
Section XI, Division 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation and Maintenance Code
(addressed in DG-1368, Table 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMN-13, Revision 3.................... 2020 Edition............................ Performance-Based Requirements
for Extending Snubber
Inservice Visual Examination
Interval at LWR Power Plants.
OMN-15, Revision 3.................... 2020 Edition............................ Performance-Based Requirements
for Extending the Snubber
Operational Readiness Testing
Interval at LWR Power Plants.
OMN-17, Revision 1.................... 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing ASME Class 1 Pressure
Relief/Safety Valves.
OMN-22................................ 2020 Edition............................ Smooth Running Pumps.
OMN-23................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing Pressure Isolation
Valves.
OMN-24................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing ASME Class 2 and 3
Pressure Relief Valves (For
Relief Valves in a Group of
One).
OMN-25................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing Appendix I Pressure
Relief Valves.
OMN-26................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternate Risk-Informed and
Margin Based Rules for
Inservice Testing of Motor
Operated Valves.
OMN-27................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing Category A Valves
(Non-PIV/CIV).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. Code Cases Approved for Use With Conditions
The NRC has determined that certain Code Cases, as issued by the
ASME, are generally acceptable for use, but that the alternative
requirements specified in those Code Cases must be supplemented in
order to provide an acceptable level of quality and safety.
Accordingly, the NRC proposes to impose conditions on the use of these
Code Cases to modify, limit or clarify their requirements. The
conditions would specify, for each applicable Code Case, the additional
activities that must be performed, the limits on the activities
specified in the Code Case, and/or the supplemental information needed
to provide clarity. These ASME Code Cases, listed in Table II, are
included in Table 2 of DG-1366 (RG 1.84), DG-1367 (RG 1.147), and DG-
1368 (RG 1.192). This section provides the NRC's evaluation of the Code
Cases and the reasons for the NRC's conditions. Notations indicate the
conditions duplicated from previous versions of the RG.
The NRC requests public comment on these Code Cases and the
proposed conditions. It should also be noted that this section only
addresses those Code Cases for which the NRC proposes to impose
condition(s), which are listed in the RG for the first time.
Table II--Conditionally Acceptable Code Cases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code Case No. Published with supplement Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III
(addressed in DG-1366, Table 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N-71-20............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Additional Materials for
Subsection NF, Class 1, 2, 3,
and MC Supports Fabricated by
Welding, Section III,
Division 1.
N-155-3............................... 5 (2015 Edition)........................ Fiberglass Reinforced
Thermosetting Resin Pipe,
Section III, Division 1.
N-755-4............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Use of Polyethylene (PE) Class
3 Plastic Pipe, Section III,
Division 1.
N-779................................. 9 (2007 Edition)........................ Alternative Rules for
Simplified Elastic-Plastic
Analysis Class 1, Section
III, Division 1.
N-852................................. 0 (2015 Edition)........................ Application of the ASME NPT
Stamp, Section III, Divisions
1, 2, 3, and 5.
N-883................................. 5 (2017 Edition)........................ Construction of Items Prior to
the Establishment of a
Section III, Division 1
Owner, Section III, Division
1.
N-886................................. 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Use of Polyethylene Pipe for
Class 3, Section III,
Division 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI
(addressed in DG-1367, Table 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N-513-5............................... 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Flaws
in Moderate Energy Class 2 or
3 Piping and Gate Valves,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-516-5............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Underwater Welding, Section
XI, Division 1.
[[Page 7826]]
N-705-1............................... 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of
Degradation in Moderate
Energy Class 2 or 3 Vessels
and Tanks, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-766-3............................... 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant
Inlay and Onlay for
Mitigation of PWR Full
Penetration Circumferential
Nickel Alloy Dissimilar Metal
Welds in Class 1 Items,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-831-1............................... 7 (2017 Edition)........................ Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu
of Radiography for Welds in
Ferritic or Austenitic Pipe,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-847................................. 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Partial Excavation and
Deposition of Weld Metal for
Mitigation of Class 1 Items,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-864................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Reactor Vessel Threads in
Flange Examinations, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-869................................. 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Flaws
in Class 2 or 3 Piping,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-876................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Austenitic Stainless Steel
Cladding and Nickel Base
Cladding Using Ambient
Temperature Automatic or
Machine Dry Underwater Laser
Beam Welding (ULBW) Temper
Bead Technique, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-878................................. 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative to QA Program
Requirements of IWA-4142,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-880................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative to Procurement
Requirements of IWA-4143 for
Small Nonstandard Welded
Fittings, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-889................................. 7 (2017 Edition)........................ Reference Stress Corrosion
Crack Growth Rate Curves for
Irradiated Austenitic
Stainless Steel in Light-
Water Reactor Environments,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-890................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Materials Exempted From G-
2110(b) Requirement, Section
XI, Division 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation and Maintenance Code
(addressed in DG-1368, Table 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMN-1, Revision 2..................... 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Rules for
Preservice and Inservice
Testing of Active Electric
Motor-Operated Valve
Assemblies in Light-Water
Reactor Power Plants.
OMN-3................................. 2020 Edition............................ Requirements for Safety
Significance Categorization
of Components Using Risk
Insights for Inservice
Testing of LWR Power Plants.
OMN-4................................. 2020 Edition............................ Requirements for Risk Insights
for Inservice Testing of
Check Valves at LWR Power
Plants.
OMN-9................................. 2020 Edition............................ Use of a Pump Curve for
Testing.
OMN-12................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Inservice Testing Using Risk
Insights for Pneumatically
and Hydraulically Operated
Valve Assemblies in Light-
Water Reactor Power Plants
(OM-Code 1998, Subsection
ISTC).
OMN-18................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternate Testing Requirements
for Pumps Tested Quarterly
Within 20% of
Design Flow.
OMN-19................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Upper Limit for
the Comprehensive Pump Test.
OMN-20................................ 2020 Edition............................ Inservice Test Frequency.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. ASME BPV Code, Section III Code Cases (DG-1366/RG 1.84)
Code Case N-71-20 [Supplement 6, 2015 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Additional Materials for Subsection NF, Class 1, 2, 3, and
MC Supports Fabricated by Welding, Section III, Division 1.
The proposed conditions on Code Case N-71-20 are the same as the
conditions on N-71-19 that were approved by the NRC in Revision 38 of
RG 1.84. When the ASME revised N-71, the Code Case was not modified in
a way that would make it possible for the NRC to remove the conditions.
Therefore, the conditions would be retained in Revision 39 of RG 1.84.
Code Case N-155-3 [Supplement 5, 2015 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Fiberglass Reinforced Thermosetting Resin Pipe, Section III,
Division 1.
The proposed conditions on Code Case N-155-3 are the same as the
conditions on N-155-2 that were approved by the NRC in Revision 38 of
RG 1.84. When the ASME revised N-155-2, the Code Case was not modified
in a way that would make it possible for the NRC to remove the
conditions. Therefore, the conditions would be retained in Revision 39
of RG 1.84.
Code Case N-755-4 [Supplement 1, 2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Use of Polyethylene (PE) Class 3 Plastic Pipe, Section III,
Division 1.
This Code Case is applicable only to butt fusion joints and the
content was incorporated into Mandatory Appendix XXVI in 2015 Edition
of Section III of the ASME Code. The relevant provisions of Code Case
N-755-4 are the same as those in Mandatory Appendix XXVI. Therefore,
the NRC is applying the same conditions to Code Case N-755-4. The NRC
has determined that these conditions are necessary to ensure structural
integrity of the polyethylene piping and fusion joints when the
polyethylene piping is used in Class 3 safety-related applications.
Code Case N-779 [Supplement 9, 2007 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Alternative Rules for Simplified Elastic-Plastic Analysis
Class 1, Section III, Division 1.
The NRC finds the Code Case satisfactory and technically acceptable
for use only with code editions Summer 1979 and later. This Code Case,
as written, is not acceptable for use with editions of Section III
earlier than the Summer 1979 edition, which included the term Delta T1
in NB-3600 Equation 10, because the Code Case is based on equations
used in the Summer 1979 edition and later editions of the Code.
Code Case N-852 [Supplement 0, 2015 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Application of the ASME NPT Stamp, Section III, Divisions 1,
2, 3, and 5.
[[Page 7827]]
The NRC approved this Code Case with conditions in a Sec. 50.55a
rulemaking issued in 2017 (82 FR 32934, Sept. 18, 2017), and the
supplement was not modified in a way that would make it possible for
the NRC to remove the conditions. Therefore, the NRC is including a
condition that this Code Case can only be used for the service life of
a component that had the horizontally arranged NPT Code Symbol Stamp
applied during the time period from January 1, 2005, through December
31, 2015.
Code Case N-883 [Supplement 5, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Construction of Items Prior to the Establishment of a
Section III, Division 1 Owner, Section III, Division 1.
This Code Case allows certificate holders to construct all items
prior to the establishment of an Owner. Code Case N-883 was developed
to address international stakeholders and identify the ASME as a global
standard development organization. The NRC's main concern is that
without the designation of an Owner, the NRC would not be able to
provide regulatory oversight of the ASME certificate holder
manufacturing the items, which is not consistent with appendix B to 10
CFR part 50 and the requirements in Sec. 50.55(a) for a basic
component. During discussions with the ASME staff on this Code Case, it
was determined that the NRC would condition this Code Case based on
regulatory oversight, as would other regulatory bodies depending on
each countries' specific regulations. This is evident as this Code Case
specifies that the ``the items have been constructed by [ASME]
Certificate Holders who are specifically authorized by the Regulatory
Authority having jurisdiction over the Owner's facility to construct
items using this Case.'' The proposed condition, ``This Code Case may
be used for the construction of items by a holder of a construction
permit, operating license, or combined license under 10 CFR part 50 or
part 52,'' provides this specific regulatory authorization thereby
ensuring the appropriate regulatory oversight.
Code Case N-886 [Supplement 6, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Use of Polyethylene Pipe for Class 3, Section III, Division
1.
This Code Case is applicable for the use of polyethylene pipe in
Section III, Class 3, Division 1 above ground applications. This Code
Case refers to Mandatory Appendix XXVI of Section III of the ASME Code.
The 2015 Edition of Appendix XXVI contains requirements for butt fusion
joints for buried piping. The 2017 Edition of Appendix XXVI contains
requirements for butt fusion and electrofusion joints for buried
piping. Therefore, all the conditions as noted in Section III of the
2015-2017 Code Edition rule related to buried piping Mandatory Appendix
XXVI apply to this Code Case. The same conditions as buried piping also
apply to above ground application. Two additional conditions are needed
for above ground applications, one on fire protection and one on carbon
black distribution to protect from windows and delamination. A
condition on fire protection is needed because polyethylene material is
combustible and above ground uses are more susceptible to fire hazards.
In addition, a condition requiring homogeneous carbon black
distributiuon is needed because experiments have shown that
inhomogeneous carbon black distribution can lead to windows and
delamination.
2. ASME BPV Code, Section XI Code Cases (DG-1367/RG 1.147)
Code Case N-513-5 [Supplement 6, 2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in
Moderate Energy Class 2 or 3 Piping and Gate Valves, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N-513-5 contains provisions to permit temporary
acceptance of flaws, in moderate energy Class 2 or 3 piping, including
elbows, pipe bends, reducers, expanders, branch tees, and gate valves
without performing a repair/replacement activity for a limited period.
The Code Case contains provisions regarding the scope, flaw
characterization, periodic leakage monitoring, flaw evaluation, and
augmented examinations. The NRC finds that the provisions of N-513-5
are acceptable except for the augmented examination provisions in
Section 5 of the Code Case.
When a licensee applies N-513-5 to disposition a through-wall leak
or wall thinning in a piping system, Section 5 of the Code Case
requires augmented examinations for flaws and significant flaws. The
augmented examination requirements in N-513-5 are the same as in Code
Case, N-513-3.
In 2018, the NRC found an instance where a licensee misinterpreted
the provisions in Section 5 of N-513-3 and did not perform the required
augmented examinations to disposition a through-wall leak in a service
water system pipe. Other licensees have similarly misinterpreted the
augmented examination provisions in Section 5 of N-513-3. The NRC found
that the issue stems from the definition of the terms ``flaw'' and
``significant flaw'' in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) of N-513-3,
respectively. The NRC, therefore, proposes two conditions to define
``flaw'' and ``significant flaw'' as those terms are used in Section 5
of N-513-5. Licensees would be required to apply these definitions to
Section 5 when using the Code Case.
The first proposed condition defines a ``flaw'' as a non-through-
wall planar or nonplanar flaw with a wall thickness less than 87.5
percent of the nominal wall thickness of the pipe or the design minimum
wall thickness. The NRC notes that the pipe wall thickness at the time
of the plant construction may deviate from the nominal pipe wall
thickness slightly as part of manufacturing process. The generally
accepted deviation is 12.5 percent of the nominal pipe wall thickness
or the design minimum wall thickness.
The second proposed condition defines ``significant flaw'' as any
pipe location that does not satisfy the provisions of Section 3 of N-
513-5 or if any detected flaw that has a depth greater than 75 percent
of the pipe wall thickness. The NRC staff notes that the criterion of
the 75 percent wall thickness criterion originates from the provisions
of IWC/IWD-3643 of the ASME Code, Section XI, which prohibits a flaw
that exceeds 75 percent of the pipe wall thickness to remain in
service. Under Section 5 of N-513-5, a planar flaw that exceeds 75
percent of the pipe wall thickness may remain in service; however, the
licensee must perform an augmented examination.
Code Case N-516-5 [Supplement 6, 2015 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Underwater Welding, Section XI, Division 1.
In the rulemaking for the 2009 Addenda through 2013 Editions of the
ASME Code (82 FR 32934, Sept. 18, 2017), the NRC-specified conditions
that should be applied to Section XI, Article IWA-4660 when performing
underwater welding on irradiated materials. These conditions provide
guidance on what level of neutron irradiation and/or helium content
would require review and approval by the NRC because of the impact of
neutron fluence on weldability. These conditions provide separate
criteria for three generic classes of material: Ferritic material,
austenitic material other than P-No. 8 (e.g., nickel-based alloys) and
austenitic P-No. 8
[[Page 7828]]
material (e.g., stainless steel alloys). These conditions are currently
located in Sec. 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and (B). The conditions located
in Sec. 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and (B) are identical to the conditions
that were imposed on Code Case N-516-4 that were approved by the NRC in
Revision 19 of RG 1.147. When the ASME revised N-516, the Code Case was
not modified in a way that would make it possible for the NRC to remove
the conditions. Therefore, the conditions will be retained in Revision
20 of RG 1.147 by stating the provisions of Sec. 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A)
and (B) must be met when applying this Code Case.
Code Case N-705-1 [Supplement 2, 2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Degradation
in Moderate Energy Class 2 or 3 Vessels and Tanks, Section XI, Division
1.
The proposed condition on Code Case N-705-1 is identical to the
condition on N-705 that was approved by the NRC in Revision 19 of RG
1.147. When the ASME revised N-705, the Code Case was not modified in a
way that would make it possible for the NRC to remove the condition.
Therefore, the condition would be retained in Revision 20 of RG 1.147.
Code Case N-766-3 [Supplement 2, 2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant Inlay and Onlay for Mitigation
of PWR Full Penetration Circumferential Nickel Alloy Dissimilar Metal
Welds in Class 1 Items, Section XI, Division 1.
The proposed conditions on Code Case N-766-3 are identical to the
conditions on N-766-1 that were approved by the NRC in Revision 19 of
RG 1.147. When the ASME revised N-766, the Code Case was not modified
in a way that would make it possible for the NRC to remove the
conditions. Therefore, the conditions would be retained in Revision 20
of RG 1.147.
Code Case N-831-1 [Supplement 7, 2017 Edition]
Type: Revised.
Title: Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu of Radiography for Welds in
Ferritic or Austenitic Pipe, Section XI, Division 1.
The proposed condition on Code Case N-831-1 is identical to the
condition on N-831 that was approved by the NRC in Revision 19 of RG
1.147. When ASME revised N-831, the Code Case was not modified in a way
that would make it possible for the NRC to remove the condition.
Therefore, the condition would be retained in Revision 20 of RG 1.147.
Code Case N-847 [Supplement 0, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Partial Excavation and Deposition of Weld Metal for
Mitigation of Class 1 Items, Section XI, Division 1.
ASME Code Case N-847 provides guidelines for a repair/mitigation
process for welds. The process, excavation and weld repair (EWR),
removes susceptible material from the outside diameter of the pipe, and
replaces it with more resistant weld material. This technique allows
for the potential of two mitigation methods, the use of more crack
resistant material and the potential for compressive stresses on the
inside surface of the repaired/mitigated weld to arrest or prevent
cracking. Finally, the excavation can be done 360-degrees around the
weld or only for a partial arc of the weld.
The Code Case would allow for application of this process to both
BWR and PWR designs. However, the EWR process, as defined in this code
case, has certain challenges addressing the cracking mechanisms in
these operating enviornments and materials. In addition the regulatory
requirements or guidelines related to the Code Case vary depending on
the design of the reactor. For PWR designs, the inservice inspection
rules are provided by Sec. 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(F), which mandates the
implementation of a version of ASME Code Case N-770. For BWR designs,
the inservice inspection guidelines are provided by Generic Letter 88-
01, ``NRC Position on Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC)
in BWR Austenitic Stainless Steel Piping'' or BWRVIP-75-A, ``BWR Vessel
and Internals Project Technical Basis for Revisions to Generic Letter
88-01 Inspection Schedules.'' Therefore, the NRC is proposing six
conditions to ensure the inservice inspection frequency guidelines of
the code case are inline with the previous requirements and guidance,
which are based on the effectiveness of the overall design of the
repair/mitigation to address the various cracking mechanisms of these
operating reactor designs.
The first proposed condition is a continuation of the condition of
Sec. 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(F)(16) which requires that a partial arc EWR, as
described in Inspection Item O of ASME Code Case N-770-5, cannot be
used without NRC review and approval for PWR designs. The NRC notes
that the issues addressed in the final rule incorporating by reference
the 2015 and 2017 Editions of the ASME BPV Code and the 2015 and 2017
Editions of the ASME OM Code remain applicable, and futher apply to BWR
design application of a partial arc EWR. These concerns are for the
effectiveness of the repair through a weld residual stress calculation
and flaw growth analysis to confirm design of the mitigation for the
required inspection interval, non-destructive examination uncertainty
analysis of the as-found flaw remaining in the reactor coolant pressure
boundary, and the potential for further crack initiation or growth.
Therefore, the NRC requires, through the first condition, that approval
of the use of this Code Case is only for the application of the 360-
degee EWR.
The second proposed condition is related to Figure 1A and Figure 1B
of the Code Case. The NRC has experience with relief request
submittals, where the details associated with the configuration of the
prep area, where the defect is being removed, have shown sharp bottom
edges and steep walls. This geometry can result in welding issues,
which could result in unfused material, leading to stress risers, which
may promote cracking. Therefore, the NRC requires, through the second
condition, that the intersection points at the interface between EWR
metal and existing base metal must be rounded to minimize stress
concentration.
The third proposed condition is related to Section 2(d)(2) of the
Code Case which discusses the flaw evaluations required for the design
considerations of the EWR. In recent testing conducted for the NRC
measurable stress corrosion cracking (SCC) growth was detected past the
interface between the SCC-susceptible and less susceptible material. It
was demonstrated that the crack can branch and propagate in a direction
normal to the original direction along a SCC-susceptible path. In the
Alloy 52M deposited onto Alloy 182 specimens tested, this occurred in
the diluted region of the Alloy 52M material as well as the weld metal.
Therefore, the NRC requires, through the third condition, that flaw
analysis include the potential for crack growth through the dilution
zone. As NRC-approved crack growth rates are not available for all
material types (e.g., Alloy 690 weld material), the alternative
requirements for development of crack growth rates should be consistent
with ASME Section XI Appendix C, ``Flaw Growth Rate Due to Stress
Corrosion Cracking,'' C-3220(a).
The fourth proposed condition is related to Section 2 of the Code
Case. The NRC is requiring the use of
[[Page 7829]]
NUREG-2228, ``Weld Residual Stress Finite Element Analysis Validation:
Part II--Proposed Validation Procedure,'' because it provides a proven
method for validating the weld residual stress analysis methodology.
Because the NRC requires the use of NUREG-2228 within this condition on
the requirements in the Code Case, the NRC is incorporating by
reference NUREG-2228 into Sec. 50.55a(a)(3)(iv).
The fifth condition is related to the longer term volumetric
inspection frequencies of Table 1, including notes (1), (3), and (4).
These notes provide the BWR design inspection frequency of various EWR
types based on Generic Letter 88-01 (1988) as supplemented by Generic
Letter 88-01, Supplement 1 (1992), ``NRC Position on Intergranular
Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in BWR Austenitic Stainless Steel
Piping'' or BWRVIP-75-A, ``BWR Vessel and Internals Project Technical
Basis for Revisions to Generic Letter 88-01 Inspection Schedules.'' The
NRC has concluded that the inspection requirements for EWRs for BWRs
need to be augmented.
The first volumetric examination following application of BWR EWR-
2A, EWR-1B, and EWR-2B welds is performed to verify effectiveness of
the repair/mitigation before the new weld can be placed in a longer
term volumetric inspection frequency. The Code Case allows licensees
the option of performing this examination during the first or second
refueling outage after installation. However, based on the lower
operating temperatures of a BWR (approximately 546 degree F to 558
degree F), and hence the potential slow crack growth rate of the
remaining flaw left in service, the NRC has concluded that the
examination should occur during the second refueling outage after the
EWR application to provide adequate time for any potential measurable
flaw growth to occur or in the case of an EWR-2A, for crack initiation
and growth to occur.
The long term volumetric inspections for BWRs require modification
because: (a) For EWR-1A EWRs, the augmented inspection requirements are
consistent with the conditions of the inspection frequencies of Code
Case N-770-5. These inspection frequency requirements were previously
developed by the NRC based on the capabilities of the EWR process to
address stress corrosion cracking while providing significant credit
for the use of hydrogen water chemistry/noble metal chemical addition
controls; and (b) for EWR-1B EWRs, due to the design which would allow
a crack to be left in service, should not be allowed to go uninspected
for the remainder of plant life. Therefore, the NRC requires the long
term volumetric inspection of these welds at each 10-year inservice
inspection interval. The NRC notes that this condition is consistent
with the NRC condition established in Sec. 50.55a for Inspection Item
N-1 EWRs (EWR that meets stress criteria; however, a crack is present).
The sixth condition is related to Table 1, Note (1), and the option
to use an unspecified alternative to determine examination frequencies
and scope expansion criteria. Note (1) specifies the use of NRC Generic
Letter 88-01 and includes BWRVIP-75-A as an example of an alternative.
The NRC has concluded that NRC Generic Letter 88-01, (1988) as
supplemented by Generic Letter 88-01, Supplement 1 (1992), or BWRVIP-
75-A, represent sufficient requirements, subject to the fifth condition
above, to determine examination frequencies and scope expansion
criteria. However, Note (1) would allow the use of other, unknown
alternatives and does not provide criteria to ensure alternatives are
adequate for this purpose. Therefore, to ensure that licensees use an
adequate standard to determine examination frequencies and scope
expansion criteria, the sixth condition requires that licensees must
not use an alternative other than those specified in Note (1).
Code Case N-864 [Supplement 2, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Reactor Vessel Threads in Flange Examinations, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N-864 proposes to eliminate the required ASME Code,
Section XI examination for the reactor vessel threads-in-flange for all
inservice inspection intervals. The NRC has previously granted
alternatives under Sec. 50.55a(z) that eliminate the reactor pressure
vessel threads-in-flange examinations (ASME Section XI, Examination
Category B-G-1, Item No. B6.40) for up to two inservice inspection
intervals through the NRC's alternative request process. For
alternatives that requested elimination of the examination for a second
consecutive ten-year inservice inspection interval, the NRC has been
requesting additional information on activities performed to ensure
that the condition of the reactor pressure vessel threads-in-flange
receives some level of monitoring. These activities typically have been
care and maintenance of the reactor vessel threads-in-flange (and
studs) whenever the closure head is removed. The NRC has limited
approval of such requests to two subsequent inservice inspection
intervals because the NRC has determined that complete elimination of
the examinations does not provide adequate protection against long-term
degradation of the threads-in-flange. The NRC is proposing conditions
on the use of Code Case N-864 that are consistent with the limits the
NRC has placed on similar alternatives requests.
The first proposed condition in Code Case N-864 requires that the
reactor pressure vessel threads-in-flange examinations (ASME Section
XI, Examination Category B-G-1, Item No. B6.40) must be performed in at
least every third 10-year ISI interval. The first proposed condition
also limits the application of Code Case N-864 at facilities that have
been authorized under 10 CFR 50.55a(z) to use alternatives that
eliminate reactor pressure vessel threads-in-flange examinations to
ensure that the required examination is performed at least every third
10-year inservice inspection interval.
The second proposed condition in Code Case N-864 ensures that
sufficient monitoring and maintenance activities are performed when the
Code Case is applied.
Code Case N-869 [Supplement 6, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Evaluation Criteria for Temporary Acceptance of Flaws in
Class 2 or 3 Piping, Section XI, Division 1.
Code Case N-869 contains provisions for temporary acceptance of
flaws, including through-wall flaws in Class 2 or 3 piping including
elbows, pipe bends, reducers, and branch tees, whose maximum operating
pressure is greater than 275 psig, and does not exceed 600 psig,
without performing a repair/replacement activity. The Code Case
contains provisions regarding the scope, flaw characterization,
periodic leakage monitoring, flaw evaluation, and augmented
examinations. The NRC finds that the Code Case provides reasonable
assurance that structural integrity of degraded piping will be
maintained until the next scheduled refueling outage. However, the NRC
finds that the augmented examination provisions in Section 5 of the
Code Case are inadequate and need additional requirements.
When a licensee applies N-869 to disposition a through-wall leak or
wall thinning in a piping system, Section 5 of the Code Case requires
augmented examinations for flaws and significant flaws. The augmented
examination
[[Page 7830]]
requirements in N-869 are the same as in Code Case N-513-3.
In 2018, the NRC found an instance where a licensee misinterpreted
the provisions in Section 5 of N-513-3 and did not perform the required
augmented examinations to disposition a through-wall leak in a service
water system pipe. Other licensees have similarly misinterpreted the
augmented examination provisions in Section 5 of N-513-3. The NRC found
that the issue stems from the definition of the terms ``flaw'' and
``significant flaw'' in Sections 5(b) and 5(c) of N-513-3,
respectively. The NRC, therefore, proposes two conditions to define
``flaw'' and ``significant flaw'' as those terms are used in Section 5
of N-869. Licensees would be required to apply these definitions to
Section 5 when using the Code Case.
The first proposed condition defines a ``flaw'' as a non-through-
wall planar or nonplanar flaw with a wall thickness less than 87.5
percent of the nominal wall thickness of the pipe or the design minimum
wall thickness. The NRC notes that the pipe wall thickness at the time
of the plant construction may deviate from the nominal pipe wall
thickness slightly as part of manufacturing process. The generally
accepted deviation is 12.5 percent of the nominal pipe wall thickness
or the design minimum wall thickness.
The second proposed condition defines ``significant flaw'' as any
pipe location that does not satisfy the provisions of Section 3 of N-
869 or if any detected flaw that has a depth greater than 75 percent of
the pipe wall thickness. The NRC staff notes that the criterion of the
75 percent wall thickness criterion originates from the provisions of
IWC/IWD-3643 of the ASME Code, Section XI, which prohibit a flaw that
exceeds 75 percent of the pipe wall thickness to remain in service.
Under Section 5 of N-869, a planar flaw that exceeds 75 percent of the
pipe wall thickness may remain in service; however, the licensee needs
to perform an augmented examination.
Code Case N-876 [Supplement 2, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Austenitic Stainless Steel Cladding and Nickel Base Cladding
Using Ambient Temperature Automatic or Machine Dry Underwater Laser
Beam Welding (ULBW) Temper Bead Technique, Section XI, Division 1.
Some irradiated stainless steel reactor vessel internal components
are susceptible to experiencing irradiation assisted stress corrosion
cracking. Code Case N-876 provides guidelines for repair welding the
irradiated stainless steel components inside the reactor vessel. Code
Case N-876 provides an alternative to the cladding temper bead repair
rules of Section XI, IWA-4400, which requires preheat and postweld heat
treatment. This alternative establishes new rules governing ambient
temperature temper bead cladding repairs using the ULBW process.
The NRC is proposing two conditions on this Code Case. The first
proposed condition that must be applied when performing ULBW on
irradiated materials provides guidance on what level of neutron
irradiation and/or helium content would require review and approval by
the NRC because of the impact of neutron fluence on weldability. The
second proposed condition limits the depth of the cladding repair due
to concerns with the fracture toughness of the base metal.
The technical basis for imposing conditions on the welding of
irradiated materials are that neutrons can generate helium atoms within
the metal lattice through transmutation of various isotopes of boron
and/or nickel. At high temperatures, such as occurs during welding,
these helium atoms rapidly diffuse though the metal lattice, coalescing
and forming helium bubbles at the grain boundaries. In sufficient
concentration, these helium bubbles can cause grain boundary cracking
that occurs in the fusion zones and heat affected zones during the
heat-up/cooldown cycle.
The first proposed condition applies conditions already applicable
to Code Case N-516-5 ``Underwater Welding Section XI, Division 1,''
that the provisions of Sec. 50.55a(b)(2)(xii)(A) and (B) must be met.
This regulation provides limits on specific levels of neutron
irradiation and/or helium content, above which welding is prohibited
without prior NRC review and approval. The NRC is proposing to apply
the same condition to uses of Code Case N-876.
The second proposed condition is necessary because the Code Case
does not require impact testing of the base metal heat affected zone
(HAZ) to verify adequate fracture toughness. The Code Case allows the
depth of the repair cavity into the ferritic base metal to be up to \1/
4\''. This would allow welding directly to the base metal, thus it will
affect the fracture toughness of the base metal in the HAZ. Therefore,
the NRC is proposing a condition restricting the use of the Code Case
to repairs where at least \1/8\'' of cladding remains. The basis for
the \1/8\'' limit is that this amount of austenitic material between
the ferritic base metal and the first weld layer has generally been
considered to sufficiently limit the heat input to the base metal such
that deleterious effects on the fracture toughness will not occur;
therefore, impact testing of the base metal is not necessary. The NRC
notes that Code Case N-803, which is approved without conditions,
allows repair of ferritic base material using nonferritic weld filler
material based on welding procedure qualifications performed using
tensile tests, side bends, and impact tests, and could be used to
perform a cladding repair in which excavation into the base metal is
required.
Code Case N-878 [Supplement 1, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Alternative to QA Program Requirements of IWA-4142, Section
XI, Division 1.
Code Case N-878 provides alternatives to the quality assurance
requirements in IWA-4142 for procurement of Class 1, 2, or 3 non-welded
fittings. This Code Case addresses the testing and certification of
material used in the manufacture of non-welded fittings, but does not
address how the licensee must ensure that the procured non-welded
fittings meet the design and testing requirements of the ASME Code,
Section III, NB/NC/ND-3671.7 for Class 1, 2, or 3 applications.
Verification that the Section III requirements for the design and
testing of these non-welded fittings have been met prior to use is
essential in ensuring the structural integrity of these Class 1, 2 and
3 systems is maintained. Therefore, the NRC is proposing conditions for
the licensee to verify the design and testing activities associated
with qualification of non-welded fittings required by Section III, NB/
NC/ND-3671.7 that are performed by the fabricator.
Code Case N-880 [Supplement 2, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Alternative to Procurement Requirements of IWA-4143 for
Small Nonstandard Welded Fittings, Section XI, Division 1.
Code Case N-880 provides alternatives to the material procurement
requirements of IWA-4142 and IWA-4143 for small nonstandard welded
fittings. This Code Case does not address how the licensee must ensure
the procured welded fittings meet the design and testing requirements
of the ASME Code, Section III, NB/NC/ND-3671.7 for Class 1, 2, or 3
applications. Verification that the Section III requirements for the
design and testing
[[Page 7831]]
of these welded fittings have been met prior to use is essential in
ensuring the structural integrity of these Class 1, 2 and 3 systems is
maintained. Therefore, the NRC is proposing conditions requiring the
licensee to verify the design and testing activities associated with
qualification of welded fittings required by Section III, NB/NC/ND-
3671.7 that are performed by the fabricator.
Code Case N-889 [Supplement 7, 2017 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Reference Stress Corrosion Crack Growth Rate Curves for
Irradiated Austenitic Stainless Steel in Light-Water Reactor
Environments, Section XI, Division 1.
Code Case N-889 provides a new crack growth rate (CGR) law for
irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking. The Code Case is
applicable to wrought austenitic stainless steels and associated weld
metals, as well as cast austenitic stainless steels. The proposed CGR
law requires the user to first calculate irradiated yield stress from
the dose to the material. There are two yield stress models: One for
Molybdenum bearing stainless steels and one for stainless steels
without Molybdenum. Once irradiated yield stress has been determined,
the user calculates the CGR as a function of applied crack driving
force and temperature.
The staff identified three concerns with the technical basis of
this Code Case. The first concern relates to the limited CGR data at
dose levels greater than 20 displacements per atom (dpa). The proposed
CGR law indicates that the irradiated yield stress (and, consequently,
the CGR) increases with fluence up to a dose of 20 dpa, at which point
the irradiated yield's stress ceases to increase appreciably with
further dose accumulation. While the data at dose levels greater than
20 dpa does show a plateau behavior in the CGR, the staff's analyses of
that data suggests that areas of high CGR were averaged over the
industry calculation of CGR, which increases the uncertainty in the
high dose CGRs. Therefore, due to the limited data and the associated
high uncertainty at high fluence, the staff's confidence in CGRs at
dose levels greater than 20 dpa is low.
The second concern is the effects of uncertainty in the irradiated
yield strength value for an individual material-heat. This topic is
discussed in Section 4.7 of the technical basis report for Code Case N-
889. The NRC also conducted separate analyses. While the results of the
NRC's findings are generally consistent with the results in Section
4.7, the interpretation of their significance is not consistent. For
materials with yield strengths greater than 600 MPa (i.e., more highly-
irradiated materials), the expected CGR for a material with a yield
strength in the 95th percentile is less than two times the CGR
predicted by the Code Case, which is not a significant difference.
However, for materials with yield strength values less than 250 MPa
(i.e., unirradiated or minimally irradiated materials), the expected
CGR for a material in the 95th percentile can be more than five times
greater than the CGR predicted by the Code Case. Hence, the NRC's
concern is that the CGRs for individual low yield strength materials,
or materials with low fluence, could be significantly underpredicted by
the Code Case.
The final concern is related to the data used in the development of
the irradiated yield stress model. The methodology for addressing cold
work in this model was developed in MRP-135, Revision 1, while the
model itself was developed in MRP-211, Revision 0. The database
underlying the model included hundreds of yield strength measurements
on initially annealed and cold-worked Types 304, 316, and 347/348
stainless steel materials. However, most of the data were for annealed
Type 304 and cold-worked Type 316 stainless steels. Revision 1 of MRP-
211 contained additional yield strength data, including significantly
more data for cold-worked Types 304 and 347 stainless steel. The
authors of the Code Case, as documented in Section 4.5 of the
Additional Basis Report dated February 5, 2018, evaluated the Code Case
yield stress model with some of this additional data and found
agreement between the model and the additional data. However, the Code
Case authors excluded new data for cold-worked Type 304 and 347
stainless steel materials. Therefore, the technical basis document for
Code Case N-889 does not directly address whether cold-worked Type 304
and 347 (non-Molybdenum bearing) materials are adequately predicted by
the irradiated yield strength model in the Code Case. Therefore, the
NRC is proposing three conditions on this Code Case.
The first proposed condition states that this Code Case may not be
applied for neutron exposures greater than 20 dpa. This condition
addresses the NRC concern that there is sparse data with high
uncertainty beyond 20 dpa. Given that the predicted CGR saturates at
higher fluence, this condition prevents potential underprediction of
the CGR in this fluence regime.
The second proposed condition states that at dose levels below 0.75
dpa, the user must use the higher of the Code Case N-889 or the Section
XI, Nonmandatory Appendix C, C-8520 CGR predictions. This condition
addresses the NRC concern related to possible underprediction of CGR in
Code Case N-889 for materials with calculated irradiated yield strength
less than 250 MPa.
The final proposed condition states that the irradiated yield
stress model for cold-worked Molybdenum bearing materials must be used
for cold-worked non-Molybdenum bearing stainless steels (including Type
204 and 247 stainless steels). This condition addresses the NRC concern
that data for cold-worked non-Molybdenum bearing steels were not
appropriately considered during development of Code Case N-889. The NRC
performed its own evaluation of cold-worked Type 304 and 347 stainless
steels in the MRP-211 database and found that the yield strength was
better predicted by the Code Case's Molybdenum bearing model than with
the Code Case's non-Molybdenum bearing model.
Code Case N-890 [Supplement 0, 2019 Edition]
Type: New.
Title: Materials Exempted From G-2110(b) Requirements, Section XI,
Division 1.
Code Case N-890 provides an alternative to Section XI, G-2110(b)
which removes the requirement of, ``obtaining fracture toughness data
for at least three heats,'' for using the static fracture toughness
curve (KIc) curve for specific materials with a minimum
specified yield strength at room temperature between 50 kilopound per
square inch (ksi) and 90 ksi. Code Case N-890 would allow the toughness
of four ferritic steels (SA-508 Grade 2 Class 2, SA-508 Grade 3 Class
2, SA-533 Type A Class 2 and SA-533 Type B Class 2) with specified
minimum yield strength greater than 50 ksi to be characterized by
Figure G-2110-1 (i.e., the Section XI KIc curve).
The NRC identified one technical concern when reviewing the
technical basis of this Code Case. The technical basis provided
appropriate data to justify use of the KIc curve for several
materials listed in the Code Case. However, for SA-533 Type B, Class 2
materials, the NRC observed that in the technical basis document, there
is no fracture toughness data associated with the weld and heat
affected zone to support exclusion of the fracture toughness testing
requirements for these materials.
[[Page 7832]]
As such, the proposed NRC condition requires the user to comply
with the provisions of Section III, NB-2300 and Section III, G-2110(b)
to demonstrate the applicability of the ASME KIc curve to
SA-533 Type B, Class 2 material. These provisions require the user to
generate the necessary toughness data to demonstrate that the ASME
KIc curve is a conservative representation of the actual
material toughness.
3. ASME Operation and Maintenance Code Cases (DG-1368/RG 1.192)
Code Case OMN-1, Revision 2 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternative Rules for Preservice and Inservice Testing of
Active Electric Motor-Operated Valve Assemblies in Light-Water Reactor
Power Plants.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-1, Revision 2 [2020
Edition] are identical to the conditions on OMN-1, Revision 2 [2017
Edition] that were approved by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The
OMN-1, Revision 2 was reaffirmed by the ASME in the 2020 Edition with
no change to the Code Case. Therefore, the conditions would be retained
in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-3 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Requirements for Safety Significance Categorization of
Components Using Risk Insights for Inservice Testing of LWR Power
Plants.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-3 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-3 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-3 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-4 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Requirements for Risk Insights for Inservice Testing of
Check Valves at LWR Power Plants.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-4 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-4 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-4 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-9 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Use of a Pump Curve for Testing.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-9 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-9 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-9 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-12 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternative Requirements for Inservice Testing Using Risk
Insights for Pneumatically and Hydraulically Operated Valve Assemblies
in Light-Water Reactor Power Plants (OM-Code 1998, Subsection ISTC).
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-12 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-12 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-12 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-18 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternate Testing Requirements for Pumps Tested Quarterly
Within 20% of Design Flow.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-18 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-18 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-18 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-19 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Alternative Upper Limit for the Comprehensive Pump Test.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-19 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-19 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-19 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
Code Case OMN-20 [2020 Edition]
Type: Reaffirmed.
Title: Inservice Test Frequency.
The proposed conditions on Code Case OMN-20 [2020 Edition] are
identical to the conditions on OMN-20 [2017 Edition] that were approved
by the NRC in Revision 3 of RG 1.192. The OMN-20 was reaffirmed by the
ASME in the 2020 Edition with no change to the Code Case. Therefore,
the conditions would be retained in Revision 4 of RG 1.192.
C. ASME Code Cases Not Approved for Use (DG-1369/RG 1.193)
The ASME Code Cases that are currently issued by the ASME but not
approved for generic use by the NRC are listed in RG 1.193, ``ASME Code
Cases not Approved for Use.'' In addition to the ASME Code Cases that
the NRC has found to be technically or programmatically unacceptable,
RG 1.193 includes Code Cases on reactor designs for high-temperature
gas-cooled reactors and liquid metal reactors, reactor designs not
currently licensed by the NRC, and certain requirements in Section III,
Division 2, for submerged spent fuel waste casks, that are not endorsed
by the NRC. Regulatory Guide 1.193 complements RGs 1.84, 1.147, and
1.192. It should be noted that the NRC is not proposing to adopt any of
the Code Cases listed in RG 1.193.
IV. Section-by-Section Analysis
The following paragraphs in Sec. 50.55a would be revised as
follows:
Paragraph (a)(3) Introductory Text
This proposed rule would add a reference to NUREG-2228 that is
acceptable as specified in the conditions when implementing Code Cases
listed in certain NRC regulatory guides.
Paragraph (a)(3)(i)
This proposed rule would revise the reference to ``NRC Regulatory
Guide 1.84, Revision 38,'' by removing ``Revision 38'' and adding in
its place ``Revision 39'' and change the month and year for the
document's revision date.
Paragraph (a)(3)(ii)
This proposed rule would revise the reference to ``NRC Regulatory
Guide 1.147, Revision 19'' by removing ``Revision 19'' and adding in
its place ``Revision 20'' and change the month and year for the
document's revision date.
Paragraph (a)(3)(iii)
This proposed rule would revise the reference to ``NRC Regulatory
Guide 1.192, Revision 3'' by removing ``Revision 3'' and adding in its
place ``Revision 4'' and change the month and year for the document's
revision date.
Paragraph (a)(3)(iv)
This proposed rule would add new paragraph (a)(3)(iv) to reference
[[Page 7833]]
NUREG-2228, ``Weld Residual Stress Finite Element Analysis Validation:
Part II--Proposed Validation Procedure,'' dated July 2020, which is
referenced in RG 1.147, Revision 20.
Paragraph (b)(3)(iv), Table II
This proposed rule would capitalize the word ``(Years)'' in two of
the three column headings.
V. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)),
the Commission certifies that this rule, if adopted, will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This proposed rule affects only the licensing and operation of nuclear
power plants. The companies that own these plants do not fall within
the scope of the definition of ``small entities'' set forth in the
Regulatory Flexibility Act or the size standards established by the NRC
(10 CFR 2.810).
VI. Regulatory Analysis
The NRC has prepared a draft regulatory analysis on this proposed
regulation. The analysis examines the costs and benefits of the
alternatives considered by the NRC. The NRC requests public comment on
the draft regulatory analysis. The regulatory analysis is available as
indicated in the ``Availability of Documents'' section of this
document. Comments on the draft analysis may be submitted to the NRC as
indicated under the ADDRESSES section of this document.
VII. Backfitting and Issue Finality
The provisions in this proposed rule would allow licensees and
applicants to voluntarily apply NRC-approved Code Cases, sometimes with
NRC-specified conditions. The approved Code Cases are listed in three
RGs that are proposed to be incorporated by reference into Sec.
50.55a. An applicant's or a licensee's voluntary application of an
approved Code Case does not constitute backfitting, because there is no
imposition of a new requirement or new position.
Similarly, voluntary application of an approved Code Case by a 10
CFR part 52 applicant or licensee does not represent NRC imposition of
a requirement or action, and therefore is not inconsistent with any
issue finality provision in 10 CFR part 52. For these reasons, the NRC
finds that this proposed rule does not involve any provisions requiring
the preparation of a backfit analysis or documentation demonstrating
that one or more of the issue finality criteria in 10 CFR part 52 are
met.
VIII. Plain Writing
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274) requires Federal
agencies to write documents in a clear, concise, and well-organized
manner. The NRC has written this document to be consistent with the
Plain Writing Act as well as the Presidential Memorandum, ``Plain
Language in Government Writing,'' published June 10, 1998 (63 FR
31883). The NRC requests comment on this document with respect to the
clarity and effectiveness of the language used.
IX. Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No Significant
Environmental Impact
The Commission has determined under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in
subpart A of 10 CFR part 51, that this rule, if adopted, would not be a
major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human
environment; therefore, an environmental impact statement is not
required.
The determination of this environmental assessment is that there
will be no significant effect on the quality of the human environment
from this action. Interested parties should note, however, that
comments on any aspect of this environmental assessment may be
submitted to the NRC as indicated under the ADDRESSES section of this
document.
As voluntary alternatives to the ASME Code, NRC-approved Code Cases
provide an equivalent level of safety. Therefore, the probability or
consequences of accidents is not changed. There are also no
significant, non-radiological impacts associated with this action
because no changes would be made affecting non-radiological plant
effluents and because no changes would be made in activities that would
adversely affect the environment. The determination of this
environmental assessment is that there will be no significant offsite
impact to the public from this action.
X. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
This proposed rule contains new or amended collections of
information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.). This proposed rule has been submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of the information
collections.
Type of submission, new or revision: Revision.
The title of the information collection: Domestic Licensing of
Production and Utilization Facilities: Updates to Incorporation by
Reference and Regulatory Guides.
The form number if applicable: Not applicable.
How often the collection is required: On occasion.
Who will be required or asked to report: Operating power reactor
licensees and applicants for power reactors under construction.
An estimate of the number of annual responses: -28 (reduction).
The estimated number of annual respondents: -28 (reduction).
An estimate of the total number of hours needed annually to
complete the requirement or request: -6,720 hours (reduction of
reporting and recordkeeping hours).
Abstract: This proposed rule is the latest in a series of
rulemakings that incorporate by reference the latest versions of
several RGs identifying new and revised unconditionally or
conditionally acceptable ASME Code Cases that are approved for use. The
incorporation by reference of these Code Cases will reduce the number
of alternative requests submitted by licensees under Sec. 50.55a(z) by
an estimated 28 requests annually.
The NRC is seeking public comment on the potential impact of the
information collections contained in this proposed rule and on the
following issues:
1. Is the proposed information collection necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the NRC, including whether the
information will have practical utility?
2. Is the estimate of the burden of the proposed information
collection accurate?
3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected?
4. How can the burden of the proposed information collection on
respondents be minimized, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology?
A copy of the OMB clearance package and proposed rule is available
in ADAMS under Accession No. ML20132A240 or can obtained free of charge
by contacting the NRC's Public Document reference staff at 1-800-397-
4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. You may
obtain information and comment submissions related to the OMB clearance
package by searching on https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID
NRC-2017-0025.
[[Page 7834]]
You may submit comments on any aspect of these proposed information
collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden and on the
four issues, by the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0025.
Mail comments to: FOIA, Library, and Information
Collections Branch, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Mail Stop:
T-6 A10M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001
or to the OMB reviewer at: OMB Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs (3150-0011), Attn: Desk Officer for the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503; email:
[email protected].
Submit comments on this collection of information by March 4, 2021.
Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical
to do so, but the NRC staff is able to ensure consideration only for
comments received on or before this date.
Public Protection Notification
The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information unless the document requesting
or requiring the collection displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
XI. Voluntary Consensus Standards
The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995,
Public Law 104-113, requires that Federal agencies use technical
standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies unless using such a standard is inconsistent with
applicable law or is otherwise impractical. In this proposed rule, the
NRC is continuing to use the ASME BPV and OM Code Cases, which are
ASME-approved voluntary alternatives to compliance with various
provisions of the ASME BPV and OM Codes. The NRC's approval of the ASME
Code Cases is accomplished by amending the NRC's regulations to
incorporate by reference the latest revisions of the following, which
are the subject of this rulemaking, into Sec. 50.55a: RG 1.84,
Revision 39; RG 1.147, Revision 20; RG 1.192, Revision 4; and NUREG-
2228. The RGs list the ASME Code Cases that the NRC has approved for
use. The ASME Code Cases are national consensus standards as defined in
the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 and OMB
Circular A-119. The ASME Code Cases constitute voluntary consensus
standards, in which all interested parties (including the NRC and
licensees of nuclear power plants) participate. The NRC invites comment
on the applicability and use of other standards.
XII. Incorporation by Reference--Reasonable Availability to Interested
Parties
The NRC proposes to incorporate by reference three NRC RGs that
list new and revised the ASME Code Cases that the NRC has approved as
voluntary alternatives to certain provisions of NRC-required Editions
and Addenda of the ASME BPV Code and the ASME OM Code. The draft
regulatory guides, DG-1366, DG-1367, and DG-1368, will correspond to
final RG 1.84, Revision 39; RG 1.147, Revision 20; and RG 1.192,
Revision 4, respectively. The NRC also proposes to incorporate by
reference NUREG-2228, which is referenced in DG-1367 (RG 1.147,
Revision 20). As described in this document, this report pertains to a
proposed condition on Code Case N-847.
The NRC is required by law to obtain approval for incorporation by
reference from the Office of the Federal Register (OFR). The OFR's
requirements for incorporation by reference are set forth in 1 CFR part
51. On November 7, 2014, the OFR adopted changes to its regulations
governing incorporation by reference (79 FR 66267). The OFR regulations
require an agency to include in a proposed rule a discussion of the
ways that the materials the agency proposes to incorporate by reference
are reasonably available to interested parties or how it worked to make
those materials reasonably available to interested parties. The
discussion in this section complies with the requirement for proposed
rules as set forth in 1 CFR 51.5(a)(1).
The NRC considers ``interested parties'' to include all potential
NRC stakeholders, not only the individuals and entities regulated or
otherwise subject to the NRC's regulatory oversight. These NRC
stakeholders are not a homogenous group, so the considerations for
determining ``reasonable availability'' vary by class of interested
parties. The NRC identified six classes of interested parties with
regard to the material to be incorporated by reference in an NRC rule:
Individuals and small entities regulated or otherwise
subject to the NRC's regulatory oversight. This class includes
applicants and potential applicants for licenses and other NRC
regulatory approvals, and who are subject to the material to be
incorporated by reference. In this context, ``small entities'' has the
same meaning as set out in 10 CFR 2.810.
Large entities otherwise subject to the NRC's regulatory
oversight. This class includes applicants and potential applicants for
licenses and other NRC regulatory approvals, and who are subject to the
material to be incorporated by reference. In this context, a ``large
entity'' is one that does not qualify as a ``small entity'' under 10
CFR 2.810.
Non-governmental organizations with institutional
interests in the matters regulated by the NRC.
Other Federal agencies, states, local governmental bodies
(within the meaning of 10 CFR 2.315(c)).
Federally-recognized and State-recognized Indian tribes.
Members of the general public (i.e., individual,
unaffiliated members of the public who are not regulated or otherwise
subject to the NRC's regulatory oversight) who need access to the
materials that the NRC proposes to incorporate by reference in order to
participate in the rulemaking.
The NUREG-2228 and three draft RGs that the NRC proposes to
incorporate by reference in this proposed rule are available without
cost and can be read online or downloaded online. The NUREG-2228 and
draft RGs can be viewed, by appointment, at the NRC Technical Library,
which is located at Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland 20852; telephone: 301-415-7000; email:
[email protected]. The final RGs, if approved by the OFR for
incorporation by reference, will also be available for inspection at
the OFR, as described in 10 CFR 50.55a(a).
Because access to the three draft regulatory guides, and
eventually, the final regulatory guides, are available in various forms
at no cost, the NRC determines that the three draft regulatory guides,
DG-1366, DG-1367, and DG-1368, and final RG 1.84, Revision 39; RG
1.147, Revision 20; and RG 1.192, Revision 4, once approved by the OFR
for incorporation by reference, are reasonably available to all
interested parties.
XIII. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the following tables are available to
interested persons through one or more of the following methods, as
indicated. Throughout the development of this rule, the NRC may post
documents related to this rule, including public comments, on the
Federal rulemaking website at: https://www.regulations.gov under Docket
ID NRC-2017-0025. The Federal rulemaking website allows you
[[Page 7835]]
to receive alerts when changes or additions occur in a docket folder.
To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the docket folder (NRC-2017-0025); (2)
click the ``Sign up for Email Alerts'' link; and (3) enter your email
address and select how frequently you would like to receive emails
(daily, weekly, or monthly).
Table III--Rulemaking Related Documents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADAMS Accession No. or Federal Register citation,
Document title or website
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Rule -- ``Incorporation by Reference of ASME BPV and 68 FR 40469.
OM Code Cases,'' July 8, 2003.
Final Rule -- ``Incorporation by Reference of American 82 FR 32934.
Society of Mechanical Engineers Codes and Code Cases,''
July 18, 2017.
Zorita Internals Research Project (MRP-440) Testing of Available for purchase.
Highly-Irradiated Baffle Plate Material 3002016015 Final
Report, October 2019.
ASME Code, Section III, NB-2330, ``Test Requirements and Available for purchase.
Acceptance Standards,'' July 2017.
BWRVIP-75-A, ``BWR Vessel and Internals Project, Technical Available for purchase.
Basis for Revisions to Generic Letter 88-01 Inspection
Schedules,'' October 2005.
Final Rule -- ``Approval of American Society of Mechanical 85 FR 14736.
Engineers' Code Cases,'' March 16, 2020.
RG 1.193, ASME Code Cases Not Approved for Use, Revision 7 ML20120A627.
(DG-1369).
Rulemaking--Proposed Rule--Regulatory Analysis for the ML20133K152.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers Code Cases, RG
1.84, Rev 39; RG 1.147, Rev 20; RG 1.192, Rev 4; and RG
1.193, Rev 7.
GL-88-01, Supplement 1, ``NRC Position on Intergranular https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-
Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) in BWR Austenitic comm/gen-letters/1988/gl88001s1.html.
Stainless Steel Piping (Generic Letter 88-01, Supplement
1),'' February 4, 1992.
GL-88-01, ``NRC Position on IGSCC in BWR Austenitic https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/gen-
Stainless Steel Piping (Generic Letter No. 88-01),'' comm/gen-letters/1988/gl88001.html.
January 25, 1988.
Final Rule--``Approval of American Society of Mechanical 85 FR 26540.
Engineers 2015-20017 Code Editions, Incorporataion by
Reference,'' May 4, 2020.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Documents Proposed To Be Incorporated by Reference
The NRC proposes to incorporate by reference three NRC RGs, as set
forth in Table IV, that list new and revised ASME Code Cases that the
NRC has approved as voluntary alternatives to certain provisions of
NRC-required Editions and Addenda of the ASME BPV Code and the ASME OM
Code. The NRC also proposes to incorporate by reference NUREG-2228, as
set forth in Table V, that is referenced within a condition in RG
1.147, Revision 20.
Table IV--Draft Regulatory Guides Proposed To Be Incorporated by Reference in 10 CFR 50.55a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document title ADAMS Accession No./ Federal Register citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RG 1.84, Design, Fabrication, and Materials Code Case ML20120A633.
Acceptability, ASME Section III, Revision 39, (DG-1366).
RG 1.147, Inservice Inspection Code Case Acceptability, ML20120A631.
ASME Section XI, Division 1, Revision 20, (DG-1367).
RG 1.192, Operation and Maintenance Code Case ML20120A629.
Acceptability, ASME OM Code, Revision 4, (DG-1368).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table V--Related Documents Proposed To Be Incorporated by Reference in 10 CFR 50.55a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document title ADAMS Accession No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUREG-2228, ``Weld Residual Stress Finite Element Analysis ML20212L592.
Validation: Part II--Proposed Validation Procedure,''
July 2020.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code Cases for Approval in This Proposed Rule
The ASME BPV Code Cases that the NRC is proposing to approve as
alternatives to certain provisions of the ASME BPV Code, as set forth
in Table VI, are being made available by the ASME for read-only access
during the public comment period on https://go.asme.org/NRC-ASME-CC.
The ASME OM Code Cases that the NRC is proposing to approve as
alternatives to certain provisions of the ASME OM Code, as set forth in
Table VI, are being made available for read-only access during the
public comment period by the ASME on https://go.asme.org/NRC-ASME-CC.
The ASME is making the Code Cases listed in Table VI available for
limited, read-only access at the request of the NRC. The NRC believes
that stakeholders need to be able to read these Code Cases in order to
provide meaningful comment on the three RGs (listed in Table IV) that
the NRC is proposing to incorporate by reference into Sec. 50.55a. It
is the NRC's position that the listed Code Cases, as modified by any
conditions contained in the three RGs and thus serving as alternatives
to requirements in Sec. 50.55a, are legally-binding regulatory
requirements. An applicant or licensee must comply with a listed Code
Case and any conditions to be within the scope of the NRC's approval of
the Code Case as a voluntary alternative for use. These requirements
cannot be fully understood without knowledge of the Code Case to which
the proposed condition applies, and to this end, the NRC has requested
that the
[[Page 7836]]
ASME provide limited, read-only access to the Code Cases in order to
facilitate meaningful public comment.
Table VI--ASME Code Cases Proposed for NRC Approval
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code Case No. Supplement Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N-71-20............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Additional Materials for
Subsection NF, Class 1, 2, 3,
and MC Supports Fabricated by
Welding, Section III,
Division 1.
N-155-3............................... 5 (2015 Edition)........................ Fiberglass Reinforced
Thermosetting Resin Pipe,
Section III, Division 1.
N-249-17.............................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Additional Materials for
Subsection NF, Classes 1, 2,
3, and MC Supports Fabricated
without Welding Section III,
Division 1.
N-539-1............................... 0 (2017 Edition)........................ UNS N08367 in Class 2 and 3
Valves, Section III, Division
1.
N-692-1............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Use of Standard Welding
Procedures, Section III,
Division 1.
N-721-1............................... 5 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Rules for Linear
Piping Supports, Section III,
Division 1.
N-755-4............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Use of Polyethylene (PE) Class
3 Plastic Pipe, Section III,
Division 1.
N-779................................. 9 (2007 Edition)........................ Alternative Rules for
Simplified Elastic-Plastic
Analysis Class 1, Section
III, Division 1.
N-801-3............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Rules for Repair of N-Stamped
Class 1, 2, and 3 Components,
Section III, Division 1.
N-822-4............................... 7 (2015 Edition)........................ Application of the ASME
Certification Mark, Section
III, Divisions 1, 2, 3, and
5.
N-852................................. 0 (2015 Edition)........................ Application of the ASME NPT
Stamp, Section III, Divisions
1, 2, 3, and 5.
N-855................................. 2 (2015 Edition)........................ SB-148 C95800 Valves for Class
3 Construction, Section III,
Division 1.
N-856................................. 2 (2015 Edition)........................ SA-494 Grade CW-12MW (UNS
N30002) Nickel Alloy Castings
for Construction of NPS 2\1/
2\ and Smaller Flanged Valves
for Class 3 Construction,
Section III, Division 1.
N-859................................. 5 (2015 Edition)........................ Construction of ASME B16.9
Wrought Buttwelding Fittings
and ASME B16.11 Forged
Fittings Made From SB-366 UNS
N04400 Material for Section
III, Class 3 Construction,
Section III, Division 1.
N-863-1............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Post Weld Heat Treatment
(PWHT) of Valve Seal Welds
for P4 and P5A Materials,
Section III, Division 1.
N-866................................. 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Materials for
Construction of Section III,
Class 2 Vessels, Section III,
Division 1.
N-870-1............................... 4 (2017 Edition)........................ Rules for the Elimination of
External Surface Defects on
Class 1, 2, and 3 Piping,
Pumps, or Valves After
Component Stamping and Prior
to Completion of the N-3 Data
Report, Section III, Division
1.
N-879................................. 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Use of Micro-Alloyed Carbon
Steel Bar in Patented
Mechanical Joints and
Fittings, Classes 1, 2, and
3, Section III, Division 1.
N-883................................. 5 (2017 Edition)........................ Construction of Items Prior to
the Establishment of a
Section III, Division 1
Owner, Section III, Division
1.
N-884................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Procedure to Determine Strain
Rate for Use with the
Environmental Fatigue Design
Curve Method and the
Environmental Fatigue
Correction Factor, Fen,
Method as Part of an
Environmental Fatigue
Evaluation for Components
Analyzed per the NB-3200
Rules, Section III, Division
1.
N-886................................. 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Use of Polyethylene Pipe for
Class 3, Section III,
Division 1.
N-887................................. 6 (2017 Edition with errata dated August Alternatives to the
30, 2019). Requirements of NB-4424.2(a),
Figure NB-4250-2, and Figure
NB-4250-3 Section III,
Division 1.
N-891................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements to
Appendix XXVI, XXVI-2400,
XXVI-4130, and XXVI-4131 for
Inspection and Repair of
Indentations for Polyethylene
Pipe and Piping Components,
Section III, Division 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section XI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N-513-5............................... 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Flaws
in Moderate Energy Class 2 or
3 Piping and Gate Valves,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-516-5............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Underwater Welding, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-561-3............................... 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Wall Thickness Restoration of
Class 2 and High Energy Class
3 Carbon Steel Piping,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-638-10.............................. 1 (2019 Edition)........................ Similar and Dissimilar Metal
Welding Using Ambient
Temperature Machine GTAW
Temper Bead Technique,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-653-2............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Qualification Requirements for
Full Structural Overlaid
Wrought Austenitic Piping
Welds, Section XI, Division
1.
N-702-1............................... 1 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)
Nozzle Inner Radius and
Nozzle-to-Shell Welds,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-705-1............................... 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of
Degradation in Moderate
Energy Class 2 or 3 Vessels
and Tanks, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-716-2............................... 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Piping
Classification and
Examination Requirements,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-766-3............................... 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant
Inlay and Onlay for
Mitigation of PWR Full
Penetration Circumferential
Nickel Alloy Dissimilar Metal
Welds in Class 1 Items,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-768................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Volumetric
Coverage Requirements for
Ultrasonic Examination of
Class 1 and 2 Pressure Vessel
Weld Joints Greater Than 2
in. (50 mm) in Thickness,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-786-3............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Sleeve Reinforcement of Class
2 and 3 Moderate Energy
Carbon Steel Piping, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-789-3............................... 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Pad Reinforcement of Class 2
and 3 Moderate Energy Carbon
Steel Piping for Raw Water
Service, Section XI, Division
1.
[[Page 7837]]
N-809................................. 2 (2015 Edition)........................ Reference Fatigue Crack Growth
Rate Curves for Austenitic
Stainless Steels in
Pressurized Reactor Water
Environments, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-831-1............................... 1 (2019 Edition)........................ Ultrasonic Examination in Lieu
of Radiography for Welds in
Ferritic or Austenitic Pipe,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-845-1............................... 6 (2015 Edition)........................ Qualification Requirements for
Bolts and Studs, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-847................................. 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Partial Excavation and
Deposition of Weld Metal for
Mitigation of Class 1 Items,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-848-1............................... 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Characterization
Rules for Quazi-Laminar
Flaws, Section XI, Division
1.
N-851................................. 0 (2015 Edition)........................ Alternate Method for
Establishing the Reference
Temperature for Pressure
Retaining Materials, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-858................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Volumetric
Coverage Requirements for
Ultrasonic Examination of
Class 1 Nozzle-to-Vessel
Welds, Section XI, Division
1.
N-864................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Reactor Vessel Threads in
Flange Examinations, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-865................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Pad Reinforcement of Class 2
and 3 Atmospheric Storage
Tanks, Section XI, Division
1.
N-867................................. 0 (2017 Edition)........................ Clarification of NDE Practical
Examination Requirements,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-869................................. 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Evaluation Criteria for
Temporary Acceptance of Flaws
in Class 2 or 3 Piping,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-873................................. 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Examination Requirements for
the Core Makeup Tanks,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-874................................. 7 (2017 Edition)........................ Temporary Acceptance of
Leakage Through Brazed Joints
of Class 3 Copper, Copper-
Nickel, and Nickel-Copper
Moderate Energy Piping,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-876................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Austenitic Stainless Steel
Cladding and Nickel Base
Cladding Using Ambient
Temperature Automatic or
Machine Dry Underwater Laser
Beam Welding (ULBW) Temper
Bead Technique, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-877................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Characterization
Rules for Multiple Subsurface
Radially Oriented Planar
Flaws, Section XI, Division
1.
N-878................................. 1 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative to QA Program
Requirements of IWA-4142,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-880................................. 2 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative to Procurement
Requirements of IWA-4143 for
Small Nonstandard Welded
Fittings, Section XI,
Division 1.
N-882................................. 6 (2017 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Attaching Nonstructural
Electrical Connections to
Class 2 and 3 Components,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-885................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirements for
Table IWB-2500-1, Examination
Category B-N-1, Interior of
Reactor Vessel, Category B-N-
2, Welded Core Support
Structures and Interior
Attachments to Reactor
Vessels, Category B-N-3,
Removable Core Support
Structures Section XI,
Division 1.
N-889................................. 7 (2017 Edition)........................ Reference Stress Corrosion
Crack Growth Rate Curves for
Irradiated Austenitic
Stainless Steel in Light-
Water Reactor Environments,
Section XI, Division 1.
N-890................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Materials Exempted From G-
2110(b) Requirement, Section
XI, Division 1.
N-892................................. 0 (2019 Edition)........................ Alternative Requirement for
Form OAR-1, Owner's Activity
Report, Completion Time,
Section XI, Division 1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation and Maintenance Code
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code Case No. Edition \4\ Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMN-13, Revision 3.................... 2020 Edition............................ Performance-Based Requirements
for Extending Snubber
Inservice Visual Examination
Interval at LWR Power Plants.
OMN-15, Revision 3.................... 2020 Edition............................ Performance-Based Requirements
for Extending the Snubber
Operational Readiness Testing
Interval at LWR Power Plants.
OMN-17, Revision 1.................... 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing ASME Class 1 Pressure
Relief/Safety Valves.
OMN-22................................ 2020 Edition............................ Smooth Running Pumps.
OMN-23................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing Pressure Isolation
Valves.
OMN-24................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing ASME Class 2 and 3
Pressure Relief Valves (For
Relief Valves in a Group of
One).
OMN-25................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing Appendix I Pressure
Relief Valves.
OMN-26................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternate Risk-Informed and
Margin Based Rules for
Inservice Testing of Motor
Operated Valves.
OMN-27................................ 2020 Edition............................ Alternative Requirements for
Testing Category A Valves
(Non-PIV/CIV).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 50
Antitrust, Classified information, Criminal penalties, Fire
protection, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nuclear power plants and reactors, Radiation protection, Reactor siting
criteria, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The column labelled ``Edition'' in this table refers to the
point in time a Code Case was issued. For example, an entry
associated with the 2017 Edition means the Code Case was issued at
the same time as the 2017 Edition of the Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 is proposing to
adopt the following amendments to 10 CFR part 50:
PART 50--DOMESTIC LICENSING OF PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION
FACILITIES
0
1. The authority citation for part 50 continues to read as follows:
[[Page 7838]]
Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 11, 101, 102, 103,
104, 105, 108, 122, 147, 149, 161, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186,
187, 189, 223, 234 (42 U.S.C. 2014, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135,
2138, 2152, 2167, 2169, 2201, 2231, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2235, 2236,
2237, 2239, 2273, 2282); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs.
201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); Nuclear Waste
Policy Act of 1982, sec. 306 (42 U.S.C. 10226); National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332); 44 U.S.C. 3504
note; Sec. 109, Pub. L. 96-295, 94 Stat. 783.
0
2. In Sec. 50.55a:
0
a. Revise paragraph (a)(3) introductory text;
0
b. In paragraph (a)(3)(i), remove the phrase ``Revision 38'' and add in
its place the phrase ``Revision 39'' and remove the phrase ``October
2019'' and add in its place the phrase ``MONTH/YEAR'';
0
c. In paragraph (a)(3)(ii), remove the phrase ``Revision 19'' and add
in its place the phrase ``Revision 20'' and remove the phrase ``October
2019'' and add in its place the phrase ``MONTH/YEAR'';
0
d. In paragraph (a)(3)(iii), remove the phrase ``Revision 3'' and add
in its place the phrase ``Revision 4'' and remove the phrase ``October
2019'' and add in its place the phrase ``MONTH/YEAR'';
0
e. Add paragraph (a)(3)(iv); and
0
f. In paragraph (b)(3)(iv), Table II, remove the word ``(years)'' in
the second and third column headings and add in their places the word
``(Years)''.
The revision and addition read as follows:
Sec. 50.55a Codes and standards.
(a) * * *
(3) U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Public Document Room,
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852; telephone: 1-800-397-
4209; email: [email protected]; https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/. The use of Code Cases listed in the NRC
regulatory guides in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iii) of this section
is acceptable with the specified conditions in those guides when
implementing the editions and addenda of the ASME BPV Code and ASME OM
Code incorporated by reference in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. The
NRC report in paragraph (a)(3)(iv) of this section is acceptable as
specified in the conditions when implementing Code Cases listed in the
NRC regulatory guides in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iii).
* * * * *
(iv) NUREG-2228. NUREG-2228, ``Weld Residual Stress Finite Element
Analysis Validation: Part II--Proposed Validation Procedure,'' dated
July 2020, which is referenced in RG 1.147, Revision 20.
* * * * *
Dated December 23, 2020.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ho K. Nieh,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2021-00890 Filed 2-1-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P