ML18295A570
| ML18295A570 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/27/2018 |
| From: | Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18295A568 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML18295A570 (2) | |
Text
Transformative Change to 10 CFR 50.54(q) 1 (q) Emergency plans.
(1) Definitions for the purpose of this section:
(i) Change means an action that results in modification or addition to, or removal from, the licensee's emergency plan. All such changes are subject to the provisions of this section except where the applicable regulations establish specific criteria for accomplishing a particular change.
(ii) Emergency plan means the document(s), prepared and maintained by the licensee, that identify and describe the licensee's methods for maintaining emergency preparedness and responding to emergencies. An emergency plan includes the plan as originally approved by the NRC and all subsequent changes made by the licensee with, and without, prior NRC review and approval under paragraph (q) of this section.
{Removed unneeded definitions based on proposed changes below.}
(2) A holder of a license under this part, or a combined license under part 52 of this chapter after the Commission makes the finding under § 52.103(g) of this chapter, shall follow and maintain the effectiveness of its emergency plan that meets the requirements in appendix E to this part and, for nuclear power reactor licensees, the planning standards of § 50.47(b).
{Editorial change.}
(3) The licensee may make changes to its emergency plan only if the licensee performs and retains an analysis demonstrating that the plan, as changed, continues to meet the requirements in appendix E to this part and, for nuclear power reactor licensees, the planning standards of § 50.47(b).
{Removed reduction in effectiveness aspect. Licensee is responsible for maintaining compliance with planning standards and emergency plan requirements, and owns and manages the margin above compliance. If the licensee wanted to make a change that resulted in a non-compliance with § 50.47(b) or Appendix E, then they would enter the exemption process described in § 50.12, Specific exemptions.}
{Removed unneeded paragraph based on proposed change above to #3; LARs for emergency plan changes would not be required under this proposal. The change here does not affect the requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix E, sections IV.B.2 (EAL scheme changes) and IV.E.8.b (locating an EOF > 25 miles from the site).}
(4) The licensee shall submit, as specified in § 50.4, a report of each change made after February 21, 2012, including a summary of its analysis, within 30 days after the change is put in effect, and shall retain the emergency plan and each change as a record until the Commission terminates the license.
Transformative Change to 10 CFR 50.54(q) 2
{Changed record retention requirements to life of plant reflecting removal of reduction in effectiveness; all changes would be made without prior NRC approval and paperwork should be retained for subsequent inspections.}
(5) Changes to the emergency plan shall be regarded as accepted by the NRC upon receipt of a letter to this effect from the appropriate reviewing office or, absent receipt of a letter to the contrary, 180 days after submittal to the NRC, whichever occurs first.
{Proposing a new plan change approval process modeled on 10 CFR 50.54(a)(4)(iv); this approach would maintain staff oversight of emergency plan changes while also increasing the efficiency of the change process for both licensees and the NRC.}
(i) The NRC will determine the acceptability of emergency plan changes using guidance issued or endorsed by the NRC, and alternatives or exceptions approved by an NRC safety evaluation, provided that the bases of the NRC approval are applicable to the licensee's facility and emergency plan.
{Proposed text provides a regulatory hook that the staff will base their reviews on NUREG-0654 and related standards documents; this ensures that licensees understand what the change acceptability criteria will be. Also included alternatives and exemptions change basis modeled on 10 CFR 50.54(a)(3)(ii).}