[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26294-26295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11130]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2009-0487]


Notice of Availability of the Models for Plant-Specific Adoption 
of Technical Specifications Task Force Traveler TSTF-493, Revision 4, 
``Clarify Application of Setpoint Methodology for LSSS Functions''

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The NRC is announcing the availability of model applications 
(with model no significant hazards consideration determinations) and 
model safety evaluations (SEs) of the options for plant-specific 
adoption of Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF) Traveler TSTF-
493, Revision 4, ``Clarify Application of Setpoint Methodology for LSSS 
Functions.'' TSTF-493, Revision 4, and an errata sheet are available in 
the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under 
Accession Numbers ML100060064 and ML101160026, respectively. The 
proposed changes revise Standard Technical Specifications (TSs) with 
respect to limiting safety system settings (LSSSs) assessed during 
periodic testing and calibration of instrumentation that may have an 
adverse effect on equipment operability. This model SEs will facilitate 
expedited approval of plant-specific adoption of TSTF-493, Revision 4.
    Documents: You can access publicly available documents related to 
this notice using the following methods:
    NRC's Public Document Room (PDR): The public may examine and have 
copied for a fee publicly available documents at the NRC's PDR, Public 
File Area O1 F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland.
    NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): 
Publicly available documents created or received at the NRC are 
available electronically at the NRC's Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this page, the public can gain 
entry into ADAMS, which provides text and image files of NRC's public 
documents. If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems 
in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC's PDR 
reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to 
[email protected].
    The model applications (with model no significant hazards 
consideration determinations) and model SEs of the options for plant-
specific adoption of TSTF-493, Revision 4, are available electronically 
under ADAMS Accession Numbers: ML100710442 and ML100710443. The NRC 
staff disposition of comments received to the Notice of Opportunity for 
Comment announced in the Federal Register on November 10, 2009 (74 FR 
58065-58067), is available electronically under ADAMS Accession Number 
ML100780154.
    Federal Rulemaking Website: Public comments received and supporting 
materials related to this notice can be found at http://www.regulations.gov by searching on Docket ID: NRC-2009-0487.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl S. Schulten, Senior Reactor 
Systems Engineer, Technical Specifications Branch, Mail Stop: O-7 C2A, 
Division of Inspection and Regional Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, 20555-
0001; telephone 301-415-1192 or e-mail at [email protected] or Ms. 
Michelle C. Honcharik, Senior Project Manager, Licensing Processes 
Branch, Mail Stop: O-12 D1, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office 
of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone 301-415-1774 or e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    TSTF-493, Revision 4, is applicable to all nuclear power reactors. 
Licensees opting to apply for this TS change are responsible for 
reviewing the NRC staff's model SE, referencing the applicable 
technical justifications, and providing any necessary plant-specific 
information. The NRC will process each amendment application responding 
to this notice of availability according to applicable NRC rules and 
procedures.
    The models do not prevent licensees from requesting an alternate 
approach or proposing changes other than those proposed in TSTF-493, 
Revision 4. However, significant deviations from the approach 
recommended in this notice or the inclusion of additional changes to 
the license require additional NRC staff review. This may increase the 
time and resources needed for the review or result in NRC staff 
rejection of the license amendment request (LAR). Licensees desiring 
significant deviations or additional changes should instead submit an 
LAR that does not claim to adopt TSTF-493, Revision 4.
    The NRC staff requests that each licensee applying for the changes 
proposed in TSTF-493, Revision 4, include documentation regarding the 
following in their LAR:

Adoption of TSTF-493, Option A With Changes to Setpoint Values

     The licensee must propose to add footnotes to the 
applicable functions identified in TSTF-493, Revision 4, Appendix A.
     The licensee must provide summary calculations for the 
revised setpoints as documentation of the plant-specific instrument 
setpoint methodology for Option A. This includes the calculation basis 
for the Limiting Trip Setpoint (LTSP), Nominal Trip Setpoint (NTSP), 
Allowable Value (AV), As-Found Tolerance band, and As-Left Tolerance 
band, for each change to an automatic protection instrumentation 
function setpoint value. If multiple similar setpoints are proposed to 
be revised, a summary calculation for each type of setpoint being 
changed may be submitted instead of calculations for individual 
Functions, provided the LAR contains a reasoned quantitative or 
qualitative analysis, as appropriate, of how the summary calculation(s) 
represent the type of setpoint values proposed to be changed.

Adoption of TSTF-493, Option A Without Changes to Setpoint Values

     The licensee must add footnotes to all the functions 
identified in TSTF-493, Revision 4, Appendix A. No changes to any 
setpoint values are proposed. Since no setpoint changes are being 
proposed, there is no need to provide the setpoint methodology for 
review or to provide any full or summary calculations.

Adoption of TSTF-493 With Option B--the Setpoint Control Program Option

     The licensee must provide the plant-specific evaluation 
for the list of instrument Functions that are described in Setpoint 
Control Program (SCP) TS 5.5.[18] Paragraph a.
     The licensee must provide the content and application of 
the plant-specific setpoint methodology required by the SCP TS 5.5.[18] 
Paragraph b. This includes the calculation basis for the LTSP, NTSP, 
AV, As-Found Tolerance band, and As-Left Tolerance band for each 
automatic protection instrumentation function. The licensee must also 
describe the program methods

[[Page 26295]]

for ensuring the requirements in Paragraph d will function as required 
by verifying the As-Left and As-Found settings are consistent with 
those established by the setpoint methodology. Discussion should 
include how the plant licensing basis meets the guidance provided in 
Regulatory Information Summary 2006-17, ``NRC Staff Position on the 
Requirements of 10 CFR 50.36, `Technical Specifications,' Regarding 
Limiting Safety System Settings During Periodic Testing and Calibration 
of Instrument Channels,'' and Regulatory Guide 1.105, Revision 3, 
``Setpoints for Safety-Related Instrumentation.'' Describe the measures 
to be taken to ensure that the associated instrument channel is capable 
of performing its safety function(s) in accordance with applicable 
design requirements and associated analyses. Include information on the 
controls employed to ensure that the As-Left trip setting after 
completion of periodic surveillance is consistent with the setpoint 
methodology. Also, discuss the plant corrective action processes 
(including plant procedures) for restoring channels to operable status. 
If the controls are located in a document other than the TS (e.g., 
plant test procedure), describe how it is ensured that the controls 
will be implemented.
     The licensee must provide the plant-specific evaluation 
identifying the Functions required by SCP TS 5.5.[18] Paragraph d. In 
accordance with Paragraph d, Functions described in SCP TS 5.5.[18] 
Paragraph a are evaluated to identify Functions that are automatic 
protective devices related to variables having significant safety 
functions as delineated by 10 CFR 50.36(c)(1)(ii)(A). Identify any 
deviation from TSTF-493, Revision 4, and explain the basis for each 
deviation. Paragraph d contains three exclusion criteria to be applied 
during the evaluation. Paragraph d also requires specifying TS 
Surveillance Requirements which are applicable to the performance 
testing criteria of Paragraph d. This requirement of Paragraph d should 
also be included. For Functions which are not under the scope of SCP 
Paragraph d, but are included in SCP Paragraph a, explain how the 
requirements of Paragraph c will be met.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of April 2010.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Eric E. Bowman,
Acting Chief, Licensing Processes Branch, Division of Policy and 
Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2010-11130 Filed 5-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P