[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64176-64177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30713]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Updated Standard Review Plan Chapter 7: Availability

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared an update 
to Chapter 7 of NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of 
Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants,'' (SRP) for review 
and comments. The updated SRP Chapter 7 incorporates changes in the NRC 
review criteria in the area of instrumentation and control (I&C) 
systems, particularly digital computer-based I&C systems of nuclear 
power plants that have occurred since the last major revision of the 
SRP in 1981.
    The revisions were derived from the following programmatic areas: 
NRC regulatory documents issued after the 1981 SRP revision; NRC staff 
positions related to digital I&C retrofits at operating nuclear power 
plants as documented in relevant safety evaluation reports; industry 
consensus standards applicable to I&C systems; NRC staff positions 
related to evolutionary and advanced light water reactor design reviews 
as presented in SECY-91-292, ``Digital Computer Systems for Advanced 
Light Water Reactors,'' and the Staff Requirements Memorandum on SECY-
93-087, ``Policy, Technical, and Licensing Issues Pertaining to 
Evolutionary and Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) Designs;'' NRC 
design certification safety evaluation reports for the General Electric 
Advanced Boiling Water Reactor Design and the ABB-CE System 80+ Design; 
and nuclear power plant operating experience.

DATES: The comment period expires January 31, 1997. Comments received 
after this date will be considered if practical to do so, but the 
Commission is able to assure consideration only of comments received on 
or before this date.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch, 
Division of Freedom of Information and Publication Services, Mail Stop 
T-6D59, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. 
Comments may be hand delivered to 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 
between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal work-days. Comments may be 
submitted electronically as specified in the supplementary information 
section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Chiramal, Instrumentation and 
Controls Branch, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Mail Stop O-8H3, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, 
Telephone No. (301) 415-2845.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed revised text to Chapter 7 of 
NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis 
Reports for Nuclear Power Plants--LWR Edition,'' (SRP), is being 
published as a draft report for comments. Further NRC staff review and 
evaluation, including resolution of public comments, will be needed 
before a final revision of Chapter 7 of the SRP can be published.
    The draft Chapter 7 of the SRP that is available for public review 
consists of revised SRP sections and appendices with side-bars that 
show the major technical changes resulting from the updating of the 
existing SRP Chapter 7 sections and new sections, appendices and branch 
technical positions. Three new sections are added: Section 7.0, 
Introduction, Section 7.8, Diverse Instrumentation and Control Systems, 
and Section 7.9, Data Communication Systems. Section 7.1 which contains 
the general I&C system requirements and guidance has been revised to 
incorporate (1) references to new regulatory guides (RGs) and branch 
technical positions (BTPs) on digital computer-based I&C system issues, 
(2) review areas, acceptance criteria, and review process for digital 
computer-based I&C systems, and (3) discussion of standard plant 
reviews. Sections 7.2 through 7.9 that focus on specific nuclear power 
plant I&C systems have been revised to add reference to the digital I&C 
system guidance contained in the revised Section 7.1. Two new 
appendices have been added and three have been revised. Appendix 7.0-A 
is a new appendix that describes the overall NRC review process for 
digital computer-based I&C systems and new Appendix 7.1-C provides 
guidance with

[[Page 64177]]

respect to the NRC review according to IEEE Standard 603. Revised 
Appendix 7.1-A addresses rule changes (10 CFR Part 52 and revisions to 
10 CFR Part 50) and identifies new regulatory guides on the digital 
system design process. Revised Appendix 7.1-B incorporates digital I&C 
system topics into the review for compliance with the requirements of 
IEEE Standard 279 as stated in 10 CFR 50.55a(h). Revised Appendix 7-A 
includes the new BTPs.
    The updated SRP Chapter 7 does not, by itself, establish any new or 
revised requirements. It incorporates lessons learned from the 
completed reviews of I&C systems in the advanced light water reactors 
and digital I&C system retrofits of operating reactors. The review 
guidance described in the updated SRP Chapter 7 will be used by the NRC 
staff in the evaluation of submittals in connection with applications 
for construction permits, standard design certifications and design 
approvals, combined operating licenses, and operating plant license 
amendments.
    Work related to updating SRP Chapter 7 was performed in accordance 
with the guidance in NUREG-1447, ``Standard Review Plan Update and 
Development Program--Implementing Procedures Document,'' dated May 
1992.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on whether 
the revised text accurately and fully reflects established NRC staff 
review criteria, positions and existing regulations. The updated draft 
SRP Chapter 7 and the supporting referenced documents provide 
traceability back to the changes made to the SRP Chapter 7 currently in 
effect. The draft SRP Chapter 7 is made available to the public as part 
of the NRC's policy to inform the nuclear industry and the general 
public of regulatory procedures and policies. Comments will be 
considered and revisions made to the draft SRP Chapter 7 as appropriate 
based on the comments received. The final SRP Chapter 7 update will be 
issued in approximately mid-1997. SRP Chapter 7 will be revised 
periodically, as appropriate, to accommodate future new technologies, 
information, and experience. The NRC encourages comment from interested 
parties; however, public review is not intended to reopen a dialogue on 
the merits of the requirements themselves, but should be focused on the 
purpose stated above. The NRC also requests specific comments on 
whether an appropriate level of detailed guidance has been provided for 
the NRC staff reviewers in the proposed Chapter 7 update particularly 
with regard to digital I&C review criteria.

Electronic Submission of Comments

    The draft SRP Chapter 7 can be accessed from the NRC Homepage on 
the World Wide Web--URL: http://www.nrc.gov under the ``News and 
Information'' or the ``Nuclear Reactors'' menu options by selecting 
``Standard Review Plan Chapter 7, Instrumentation and Controls--Draft 
report for comments.'' Specific guidance is provided on-line to guide 
the user on the various options available for reading, commenting on, 
and downloading the document.
    Chapter 7 of the SRP is available in printed form on paper for 
inspection and copying for a fee at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 
L Street NW (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555.
    A limited number of copies of the draft SRP Chapter 7 in the 
printed form on paper are available free, to the extent of supply, upon 
written request to the Office of Administration, Distribution Section, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of November, 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jared Wermiel,
Chief, Instrumentation and Controls Branch, Division of Reactor 
Controls and Human Factors, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-30713 Filed 12-2-96; 8:45 am]
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