[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46596-46597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17610]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Draft Regulatory Guide; Issuance, Availability

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued for public comment a 
proposed revision of a guide in its Regulatory Guide Series. Regulatory 
Guides are developed to describe and make available to the public such 
information as methods acceptable to the NRC for implementing specific 
parts of the NRC's regulations, techniques used by the staff in 
evaluating specific problems or postulated accidents, and data needed 
by the staff in its review of applications for permits and licenses.
    The draft guide is temporarily identified by its task number, DG-
1124, which should be mentioned in all correspondence concerning this 
draft guide. Draft regulatory guide DG-1124, ``Design, Fabrication, and 
Materials Code Case Acceptability, ASME Section III,'' is proposed 
Revision 33 of Regulatory Guide 1.84. The regulation in 10 CFR 
50.55a(c), ``Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary,'' requires, in part, 
that components of the reactor coolant pressure boundary must be 
designed, fabricated, erected, and tested in accordance with the 
requirements for Class 1 components of Section III, ``Rules for 
Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components,'' of the American 
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel 
(B&PV) Code or equivalent quality standards. The ASME publishes a new 
edition of the B&PV Code, which includes Section III, every three 
years, and new addenda every year. The latest

[[Page 46597]]

editions and addenda of Section III that have been approved for use by 
the NRC are referenced in 10 CFR 50.55a(b). The ASME also publishes 
Code cases quarterly. Code cases provide alternatives developed and 
approved by ASME to existing Code requirements. This draft regulatory 
guide identifies the Code cases that have been determined by the NRC to 
be acceptable alternatives to applicable parts of Section III. Section 
III Code cases not yet endorsed by the NRC may be implemented through 
10 CFR 50.55a(a)(3), which permits the use of alternatives to the Code 
requirements referenced in 10 CFR 50.55a provided that the proposed 
alternatives result in an acceptable level of quality and safety, and 
that their use is authorized by the Director of the Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
    This is a draft guide and does not represent an official NRC staff 
position. Because Code cases approved by the NRC in a final guide may 
be used voluntarily by licensees as an alternative to compliance with 
ASME Code provisions, the final guide will be incorporated by reference 
into 10 CFR 50.55a through rulemaking.
    Comments may be accompanied by relevant information or supporting 
data. Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Rules and 
Directives Branch, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; or they may be hand-delivered to 
the Rules and Directives Branch, Office of Administration, at 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. Copies of comments received may be 
examined at the NRC's Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, MD. Comments will be most helpful if received by September 
2, 2004.
    You may also provide comments via the NRC's interactive rulemaking 
web site through the NRC home page (http: //www.nrc.gov). This site 
provides the ability to upload comments as files (any format) if your 
web browser supports that function. For information about the 
interactive rulemaking web site, contact Ms. Carol Gallagher, (301) 
415-5905; e-mail [email protected]. For technical information about Draft 
Regulatory Guide DG-1124, contact Mr. W.E. Norris at (301) 415-6796 (e-
mail [email protected]).
    Although a deadline is given for comments on these draft guides, 
comments and suggestions in connection with items for inclusion in 
guides currently being developed or improvements in all published 
guides are encouraged at any time.
    Regulatory guides are available for inspection at the NRC's Public 
Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD; the PDR's mailing 
address is USNRC PDR, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone (301) 415-
4737 or (800) 397-4209; fax (301) 415-3548; e-mail [email protected]. 
Requests for single copies of draft or final regulatory guides (which 
may be reproduced) or placement on an automatic distribution list for 
single copies of future draft guides in specific divisions should be 
made in writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001, Attention: Reproduction and Distribution Services 
Section, or by fax to (301) 415-2289; e-mail [email protected]. 
Telephone requests cannot be accommodated. Regulatory guides are not 
copyrighted, and NRC approval is not required to reproduce them. (5 
U.S.C. 552(a))

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 20th day of April, 2004.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Michael E. Mayfield,
Director, Division of Engineering Technology, Office of Nuclear 
Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 04-17610 Filed 8-2-04; 8:45 am]
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