[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 21, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22761]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 21, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 65470]]



NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 50

RIN 3150-A101


Alternate Fracture Toughness Requirements for Protection Against 
Pressurized Thermal Shock Events; Reopening of Comment Period for 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule: Reopening of comment period for information 
collection.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reopening the 
comment period specific to the information collection aspects of a 
proposed rule published on October 3, 2007 (72 FR 56275), that would 
amend NRC's regulations to provide updated fracture toughness 
requirements for protection against pressurized thermal shock (PTS) 
events for pressurized water reactor (PWR) pressure vessels. The 
comment period for comments specific to the information collection 
aspects of the proposed rule, closed on November 2, 2007.

DATES: The comment period for comments specific to the information 
collection aspects of the proposed rule is reopened and now closes on 
December 17, 2007. Comments received after this date will be considered 
if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure 
consideration only for comments received before this date.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on any aspect of the proposed information 
collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden and on the 
issues mentioned in the October 3, 2007, rulemaking, by December 17, 
2007, to the Records and FOIA/Privacy Services Branch (T-5 F52), U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by 
Internet electronic mail to [email protected] and to the Desk 
Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOP-10202, 
(3150-0011), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Tovmassian, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001, telephone (301) 415-3092, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 3, 2007 (72 FR 56275), the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published for public comment a 
proposed rule that would amend its regulations to provide updated 
fracture toughness requirements for protection against PTS events for 
PWR pressure vessels. The proposed rule would provide new PTS 
requirements based on updated analysis methods. This action is 
desirable because the existing requirements are based on unnecessarily 
conservative probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis. This action 
would reduce regulatory burden for licensees, specifically those 
licensees that expect to exceed the existing requirements before the 
expiration of their licenses, while maintaining adequate safety. These 
new requirements would be voluntarily used by any PWR licensee as an 
alternative to complying with the existing requirements.
    The NRC received several requests from public stakeholders to 
extend the comment period for the information collection aspects of the 
proposed rule. The comment period for the information collection is 
being reopened and now closes on December 17, 2007.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of November 2007.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. E7-22761 Filed 11-20-07; 8:45 am]
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