[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 53 (Friday, March 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 11979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6105]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2008-0539]


Final Regulatory Guide: Issuance, Availability

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Issuance and Availability of Regulatory Guide, RG 
5.73.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Boggi, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone: (301) 415-5309 or e-
mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is 
issuing a new guide in the agency's ``Regulatory Guide'' series. This 
series was developed to describe and make available to the public 
information such as methods that are acceptable to the NRC staff for 
implementing specific parts of the agency's regulations, techniques 
that the staff uses in evaluating specific problems or postulated 
accidents, and data that the staff needs in its review of applications 
for permits and licenses
    RG 5.73, ``Fatigue Management for Nuclear Power Plant Personnel,'' 
was issued with a temporary identification as Draft Regulatory Guide, 
DG-5026. This guide describes a method that the staff of the NRC 
considers acceptable for complying with the Commission's regulations 
for managing personnel fatigue at nuclear power plants. The regulations 
established by the NRC in Title 10, part 26, ``Fitness for Duty 
Programs,'' of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR part 26) 
establish requirements for ensuring that personnel are fit to safely 
and competently perform their duties. Subpart I, ``Managing Fatigue,'' 
of 10 CFR part 26 establishes requirements for managing personnel 
fatigue at nuclear power plants. The regulations in subpart I provide a 
comprehensive and integrated approach to fatigue management, taking 
into account the multiple causes and effects of worker fatigue. The 
Commission recognizes that the potential for excessive fatigue is not 
solely based on extensive work hours but can result from other factors, 
such as stressful working conditions, sleep disorders, accumulation of 
sleep debt, and the disruptions of circadian rhythms associated with 
shift work. The requirements of the rule reflect these considerations 
to ensure that licensees effectively manage worker fatigue and provide 
reasonable assurance that workers are able to safely and competently 
perform their duties.

II. Further Information

    In September 2008, DG-5026 was published with a public comment 
period of 45 days from the issuance of the guide. The public comment 
period closed on October 31, 2008. The staff's responses to the public 
comments received are included with the guide as Appendix B, ``Response 
to Public Comments.'' They are also located in the NRC's Agencywide 
Documents Access and Management System under Accession Number 
ML083540269. Electronic copies of RG 5.73 are available through the 
NRC's public Web site under ``Regulatory Guides'' at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/.
    In addition, regulatory guides are available for inspection at the 
NRC's Public Document Room (PDR), which is located at 11555 Rockville 
Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The PDR's mailing address is USNRC PDR, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001. The PDR can also be reached by telephone at 
(301) 415-4737 or (800) 397-4205, by fax at (301) 415-3548, and by e-
mail to [email protected].
    Regulatory guides are not copyrighted, and Commission approval is 
not required to reproduce them.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of March, 2009.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Andrea D. Valentin,
Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
 [FR Doc. E9-6105 Filed 3-19-09; 8:45 am]
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