[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 246 (Thursday, December 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80473-80474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32555]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Risk-Informed Regulation Implementation Plan

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability of plan and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 1995 policy statement on 
the use of probabilistic risk assessment provided the Commission's 
expectation on the use of risk information in its regulatory 
activities. The Risk-informed Regulation Implementation Plan (RIRIP) 
provides guidance and describes the staff's plans for applying criteria 
to select regulatory requirements and practices to risk-inform, risk-
informing those requirements and practices, and developing the 
necessary data, methods, guidance, and training. The RIRIP is also 
intended to explain the agency's activities, philosophy, and approach 
to risk-informed regulatory policy to internal and external 
stakeholders. The public is invited to provide feedback on the agency's 
plans and progress toward implementing risk-informed regulatory 
initiatives.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice serves as a request for public 
comment on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Risk-Informed Regulatory 
Implementation Plan (SECY-00-0213) that is dated October 26, 2000 (web 
address: http://www.nrc.gov/RES/nrc.html). Written comments are 
requested by February 28, 2001. A workshop will be scheduled in early 
2001 to discuss comments received and to provide for the exchange of 
information will all stakeholders regarding the staff's efforts to 
risk-inform its regulatory requirements and practices. The workshop 
agenda and other details will be provided in a forthcoming Federal 
Register notice prior to the workshop Feedback is especially requested 
on the following specific questions--
    1. Does the RIRIP include information activities that should not be 
undertaken? If so, why not?
    2. Does the RIRIP omit implementation activities that should be 
undertaken? Describe such activities and why they should be undertaken.
    3. How should the NRC measure its success in implementing risk-
informed regulation?
    4. Is the pace for implementing risk-informed regulation about 
right, or is to fast or too slow?
    5. Are there concerns about the agency's ability to maintain safety 
while implementing risk-informed regulation? If so, describe the 
concerns and, if possible, their basis.
    6. How can risk-informed regulation increase public confidence?
    7. Are the screening criteria clear and sufficient? If applied 
properly, would they result in identifying those activities amenable 
for transition to risk-informed regulation?
    8. Will the implementation activities described in the RIRIP 
appropriately improve regulatory efficiency, effectiveness, and 
realism?
    9. Other than requests such as this for written comment and a 
public workshop, how can stakeholder participation in risk-informed 
regulation be enhanced?
    10. What communication activities would be desired to describe 
risk-informed regulation? What other interactions would be useful to 
provide input to, and understanding of, risk-informed regulation?

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Written comments may be sent to Thomas 
L. King, Director of the Division of Risk Analysis and Applications, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, MS: T10-E50, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, email: [email protected].


[[Page 80474]]


    Dated this 13th day of December 2000.
Thomas L. King,
Director, Division of Risk Analysis and Applications, Office of Nuclear 
Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 00-32555 Filed 12-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M