[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47015-47016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18678]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2012-0195]


Software Requirement Specifications for Digital Computer Software 
Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Revision to regulatory guide; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a 
revised regulatory guide (RG), revision 1 of RG 1.172, ``Software 
Requirement Specifications for Digital Computer Software used in Safety 
Systems of Nuclear Power Plants.'' This RG endorses the Institute of 
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Standard (Std.) 830-1998, 
``IEEE Recommended Practice for Software Requirements Specifications,'' 
issued in 1998 and reaffirmed in 2009 with the exceptions and 
clarifications stated in Section C, ``Staff Regulatory Guidance'' of RG 
1.172. IEEE Std. 830-1998 describes methods that the NRC staff 
considers acceptable to demonstrate compliance with NRC regulations for 
achieving high functional reliability and design quality in software 
used in safety systems in nuclear power plants.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0195 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may access information related to this document, which the NRC 
possesses and is publicly available, using the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0195. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3422; email: [email protected].
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC 
Library at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the 
search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then select ``Begin Web-
based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's 
Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-
4737, or by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number 
for each document referenced in this notice (if that document is 
available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is 
referenced. Revision 1 of RG 1.172 is available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML13007A173. The regulatory analysis may be found in 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML13075A007.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine for free or purchase copies of 
public documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Regulatory guides are not copyrighted, and NRC approval is not 
required to reproduce them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Orr, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone: 301-251-74955; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is issuing a revision to an existing RG in the NRC'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 
NRC's regulations,

[[Page 47016]]

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.

II. Further Information

    Revision 1 of RG 1.172 was issued with a temporary identification 
as Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1209 on August 22, 2012 (77 FR 50726) for 
a 60-day public comment period. The public comment period closed on 
November 22, 2012. Multiple public comments were received and addressed 
by the NRC staff. These comments and the NRC staff responses are 
available in ADAMS under Accession number ML13007A160.
    Revision 1 of RG 1.172 endorses IEEE Std. 830-1998, ``IEEE 
Recommended Practice for Software Requirements Specifications,'' issued 
in 1998 and reaffirmed in 2009 with the clarifications and exceptions 
as stated in Section C, ``Staff Regulatory Position'' of the RG. IEEE 
Std. 830-1998 describes methods that the NRC staff considers acceptable 
for use in complying with the NRC regulations for achieving high 
functional reliability and design quality in software used in safety 
systems. In particular, the methods are consistent with the previously 
cited GDC and the criteria for quality assurance programs in Appendix B 
to Title 10, of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50, ``Domestic 
Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities'' (10 CFR Part 50) 
as they apply to the development of software requirement 
specifications. The criteria of Appendix A and Appendix B to 10 CFR 
part 50 applies to systems and related quality standards and quality 
assurance processes as well as the software elements of those systems.
    This RG is one of six RG revisions addressing computer software 
development and use in safety related systems of nuclear power plants. 
These RGs were developed by the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 
Division of Engineering (RES/DE) with the assistance of multiple 
individuals in the Office of New Reactors, Division of Engineering 
(NRO/DE); Office Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Engineering 
(NRR/DE); and the Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, 
Division of Security Policy (NSIR/DSP). The six interrelated RGs are:
    1. Revision 2 of RG 1.168, ``Verification, Validation, Reviews, and 
Audits for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear 
Power Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1267. The package for 
Rev. 2 of RG 1.168 is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12236A132.
    2. Revision 1 of RG 1.169, ``Configuration Management Plans for 
Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1206. The package for Rev. 1 
of RG 1.169 is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A524.
    3. Revision 1 of RG 1.170, ``Test Documentation for Digital 
Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants,'' 
issued for public comment as DG1207. The package for Rev. 1 of RG 1.170 
is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A531.
    4. Revision 1 of RG 1.171, ``Software Unit Testing for Digital 
Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power Plants,'' 
issued for public comment as DG1208. The package for Rev. 1 of RG 1.171 
is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A534.
    5. Revision 1 of RG 1.172, ``Software Requirements Specifications 
for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of Nuclear Power 
Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1209. The package for Rev. 1 
of RG 1.172 is in ADAMS at Accession No. ML12354A538.
    6. Revision 1 of RG 1.173, ``Developing Software Life Cycle 
Processes for Digital Computer Software used in Safety Systems of 
Nuclear Power Plants,'' issued for public comment as DG-1210. The 
package for Rev. 1 of RG 1.173 is in ADAMS at Accession No. 
ML13008A338.

III. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    Issuance of this final RG does not constitute backfitting as 
defined in 10 CFR 50.109 (the Backfit Rule) and is not otherwise 
inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in 10 CFR Part 52. As 
discussed in the ``Implementation'' section of this RG, the NRC has no 
current intention to impose this RG on holders of current operating 
licenses, early site permits or combined licenses, unless this final RG 
is part of the licensing basis for the facility. The NRC may apply this 
RG to applications for operating licenses, early site permits and 
combined licenses docketed by the NRC as of the date of issuance of the 
final RG, as well as to future applications for operating licenses, 
early site permits and combined licenses submitted after the issuance 
of the RG. Such action does not constitute backfitting as defined in 10 
CRF 50.109(a)(1) and is not otherwise inconsistent with the applicable 
issue finality provision in 10 CFR Part 52, inasmuch as such applicants 
or potential applicants are not within the scope of entities protected 
by the Backfit Rule or the relevant issue finality provisions in Part 
52.

Congressional Review Act

    This RG is a rule as designated in the Congressional Review Act (5 
U.S.C. 801-808). However, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
not found it to be a major rule as designated in the Congressional 
Review Act.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of July, 2013.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Boyce,
Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2013-18678 Filed 8-1-13; 8:45 am]
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