[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41103-41104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20040]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Updated Standard Review Plan Chapter 7: Issuance, Availability

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared an update to 
Chapter 7, Instrumentation and Controls, of NUREG-0800, ``Standard 
Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' (SRP). The updated SRP Chapter 7, Revision 4, 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 system retrofits at operating nuclear 
power plants as documented in relevant safety evaluation reports; NRC 
staff endorsement of 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. The revised text for the SRP Chapter 7 update includes the 
resolution of public comments received in response to the draft version 
issued on December 6, 1996.
    The updated SRP Chapter 7 is a ``rule'' for the purposes of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C., Chapter 
8). The staff believes that SRP Chapter 7, Revision 4 is a non-major 
rule and is in the process of confirming this with the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).
    The updated SRP Chapter 7, Revision 4 does not, by itself, 
establish any new or revised requirements. It incorporates previously 
established NRC staff positions, and 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 future submittals in connection with applications for 
construction permits, standard design certifications and design 
approvals, combined operating licenses, and operating plant license 
amendments.
    The updated SRP Chapter 7, Revision 4, is being 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. SRP 
Chapter 7 will be revised periodically, as appropriate, to accommodate 
future new technologies, information, and experience. The NRC 
encourages comments from interested parties. Comments and suggestions 
will

[[Page 41104]]

be considered in future revisions to the document. Written comments may 
be submitted to Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch, Division of 
Freedom of Information and Publication Services, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
    The SRP Chapter 7, Revision 4 will be accessible indefinitely from 
the NRC Homepage on the World Wide Web--URL: http://www.nrc.gov under 
the ``Nuclear Reactors'' menu options by selecting ``Standard Review 
Plan Chapter 7, Instrumentation and Controls,'' beginning September 
1997. 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 for inspection and copying at the 
NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street NW (Lower Level), Washington, 
DC 20555.
    A limited number of copies of 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 20555-0001, or by fax at (301) 
415-2260.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of July, 1997.

    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. 97-20040 Filed 7-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P