[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47805-47807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18719]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2012-0195]


Test Documentation 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 1.170, ``Test 
Documentation for Digital Computer Software Used in Safety Systems of 
Nuclear Power Plants.'' This RG endorses the Institute of Electrical 
and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Standard 829-2008, ``IEEE Standard for 
Software and System Test Documentation'' with the clarifications and 
exceptions stated in Section C, ``Staff Regulatory Guidance'' of the 
RG. IEEE Std. 829-2008 describes methods that the NRC considers 
acceptable for use in complying with NRC regulations for developing 
test documentation and design quality in the software used in safety 
systems of 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

[[Page 47806]]

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 1.170 is available in ADAMS under 
Accession No. ML13003A216. The regulatory analysis may be found in 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML103200469.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and 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: 301-251-7495; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is issuing a revision to an existing guide 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, 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 1.170 was issued with a temporary identification 
as Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-1207 on August 22, 2012 (77 FR 50720) for 
a 60-day public comment period. The public comment period closed on 
November 23, 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 ML13003A209.
    Revision 1 of RG 1.170 endorses IEEE Std. 829-2008, ``IEEE Standard 
for Software and System Test Documentation'' with the exceptions stated 
in the Section C ``Staff Regulatory Guidance'' of the RG. IEEE Std. 
829-2008 describes methods that the NRC considers acceptable for use in 
complying with NRC regulations for developing test documentation and 
design quality in the software used in safety systems of nuclear power 
plants. In particular, the methods are consistent with the GDC in 
Appendix A to part 50 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR), ``Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization 
Facilities'' and the criteria for quality assurance programs in 
Appendix B to 10 CFR part 50 as they apply to the documentation of 
software testing activities. The criteria in Appendices A and B of 10 
CFR part 50 apply to systems and related quality assurance processes, 
and the requirements extend throughout the life cycle of the protection 
system especially when those systems include software. There are 
further requirements for software testing which can be found in the 
documentation retention and handling section of 10 CFR part 21.51, 
``Maintenance and Inspection of Records.''
    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 revised 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 
regulatory guide is part of the licensing basis for the facility. The 
NRC may apply this revised 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 CFR 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.


[[Page 47807]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas Boyce,
Chief, Regulatory Guide Development Branch, Division of Engineering, 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2013-18719 Filed 8-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P