ML20035G248

Informs That EDO Approved Proposed Rule 10CFR50 Re Monitoring Effectiveness of Maint at Nuclear Power Plants on 930315.Publication of Encl Proposed Rule Should Be Arranged to Allow 45 Days for Public Comment

ML20035G248
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/17/1993
From:	Bahadur S NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES)
To:	Lesar M NRC OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION (ADM)
Shared Package
ML20034D458	List: ML20034D457 ML20035G211 ML20035G219 ML20035G224 ML20035G228 ML20035G231 ML20035G232 ML20035G241 ML20035G248
References
FRN-58FR15303, RULE-PR-50 AE55-1-013, AE55-1-13, NUDOCS 9304270044
Download: ML20035G248 (9)

Text

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H 1993

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MEMORANDUM FOR:

Michael Lesar, Acting Chief, Rules Review & Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and i

Publications Services Office of Administration l

FROM:

Sher Bahadur, Chief, Regulation Development Branch, Division of Regulatory Applications, Office i

of Nuclear Regulatory Research i

l

SUBJECT:

IMPLEMENTATION OF EDO ACTION: PROPOSED 10 CFR PART 50, ' MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAINTENANCE AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS" t

By memorandum dated March 15, 1993, the Executive Director for Operations has r

approved the proposed rule on March 15, 1993.

l Please implement the ED0's action by arranging for publication of the enclosed i

proposed rule in the Federal Reaister allowing 45 days for public comment.

Enclosed is the approval for publication, Federal Register Notice (12 xerox copies and copy on diskette), the environmental assessment, public announcement for transmittal to OPA, and Congressional letter package for transmittal to DCA.

Sher Bahadur, Chief Regulation Development Branch Division of Regulatory Applications Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Enclosures:

1.

Approval for Publication 2.

FR Notice, 12 Copies, diskette l

3.

Environmental Assessment 4.

Public Announcement Congressional tter Package l [ lpm)

Oftc: nq.

DRA RDB:DRA M Name: :JMate RAuluck SBahaduF Date: 3 /U)/93 3 /g /93 3 /p/93 UFFICIAL RECORD COPY i

Distribution: [W2. PAT) subj-circ-chron Reading Files j

BMorris FCostanzi LRiani SBahadur RAuluck JMate 9304270044 930415 PDR PR 50 5BFR15303 PDR

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'o UNITED STATES

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MEMORANDUM FOR:

Michael Lesar, Acting Chief, Rules Review & Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services, Office of Administration FROM:

Sher Bahadur, Chief, Regulation Development Branch, Division of Regulatory Applications, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

SUBJECT:

IMPLEMENTATION OF EDO ACTION: PROPOSED 10 CFR PART 50, " MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MAINTENANCE AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS" By memorandum dated March 15, 1993, the Executive Director for Operations has approved the proposed rule on March 15, 1993.

Please implement the E00's action by arranging for publication of the enclosed proposed rule in the Federal Reoister allowing 45 days for public comment.

Enclosed is the approval for publication, Federal Register Notice (12 xerox copies and copy on diskette), the environmental assessment, public announcement for transmittal to OPA, and Congressional letter package for j

transmittal to OCA.

Sher Bahadur, Chief Regulation Development Branch Division of Regulatory Applications Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Enclosures:

1.

Approval for Publication FRNotice[n.12 Copies, diskette 2.

Environm ta1' Assessment 3.

4.

Public Announcement 5.

Congressional Letter Package

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APPROVAL FOR PUBLICATION 4

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Anoroved for Publication l

The Commission delegated to the EDO (10 CFR 1.31(a)(3)) the authority to develop and promulgate rules as defined in the APA (5 U.S.C. 551 (4)) subject to the limitation in the NRC Manual Chapter 0103, Organization and Functions, Office of the Executive Director for Operations, paragraphs 0213, 038, 039, and 0310.

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The enclosed rule, entitled " Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at l

Nuclear Power Plants", will amend Part 50 by changing the time interval for i

conducting evaluations from once every year to at least once every refueling l

cycle, but not to exceed 24 months.

The proposed rule does not constitute a significant question of policy, nor does it amend regulations contained in 10 CFR Parts 7, 8, or 9 Subpart C concerning matters of policy.

1, therefore, find that this proposed rule is within the scope of my rulemaking authority and am proceeding to issue it.

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FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE 1

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l March 11, 1993 D

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[7590-01]

l NUCLEAR REGULATORY ComISSION 10 CFR Part 50 t

f RIN 3150 - AE55 i

Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants l

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Ae &J 9DE Federal Register / Vol 58. No. 53 / Monday March 22,1993 / %-3 Rules 15303 0

once evwy year to et least once every 1992, that Instead of annual ama= ment n fueling cycle, but not to swaad 24 requirements, the NRC should consider months.

asessaments based on a refueling cycle DATES: ne comment period expires on interval. He NUMARC Steering Group May 6,1993. Comment remived after stated that:

this date will be considered ifit is (1) SigniScantly more data would be practical to do so, but the Commission available during refueling cycles than is is able to ensure consideration only for available on an annual basis.

comments submitted and received on or (2) Key dets from some surveillance before this date.

tests can only be obtamed during acoatssts: Mail written comments to refueling outages and as not available on annu s and the Secretary U. S. Nuclear Regulatory

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t9 Commtssion. Washington. DC 20555 Attention: Docketing and Service activities that may be made after such Branch. Deliver comments to: One an evaluation would be typically White Flint North.11555 Rockville pwformed aftw a Muehng outage Pike. Rockville. Maryland, between 7:45 he NUMARC Stewbg Gmup fehw a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal added that the evaluation process is a Workdays. Copies of comments received time consuming activity and that with may be examined at the NRC Public limited data available. the annual Document Room. 2120 L Street NW.

evaluation would not provide for (Lower level). Washington. DC.

meaningful results. With only limited data, changes to maintenance programs F08t Pusmesa seposmaations costract:

willlikely not be made because there los*P J. Mete. OfBm of Nuclear would not be sufEcient information h

Regulatory Research. U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Washington, avallable for spotting trends or doing trend analysis.

DC 20555, telephone (301) 492-3795.

Second, the NRC conducted a 3,y gyOsutAMOIR regulatory review to eliminate or revise unnannamanly burdensome regulations B*ckgromed and p4W a Anal rule on A 31 On July to.1991. (se F1t 31324) the 1992 (57 FR 39353) that amen Nuclear Regulet Commisalon several regulations identifed by its published the fl rule "n=='

~ ts Committee to Review Generic for Monitoring the Effectiveness of P=M nts (OtGR). One of those Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants."

amended regulations was to CFR 50 71

($ 5045).%e final rule, which will (e)(Final Safety Analysis Report become effective July to.1996. requires Updates) where the frequency of commercial nuclear power plant liosasse reporting to the NRC wee licensees to monitor the eGectiveness of from annually to once per maintenanm acxtrities for safety.

cycle. De change wee made re significant plant equipment in order to beeAude the use of a refueh'Dg CyCie minimize the likelihood of fathnes and intervel pmvided a more mitneted NUCt. EAR psme aTORY evwrts caused by the lack of eNacti,o and cohesive update sina, a ran6erwy of ContemSSION maintenanca. Section 50.85(a)(3).

desagn changes and major modiacertens to CFR Part 50 requires nuclear power plant licensees

• • • • Performed during refueling to evaluate the overall essaiveness of outages. In addition, it had no adsores m ak AEss their maintenance activities on en impact on the public health and seesty annual basta. An industry consensus and reduced the regulatory burden on blanttoring the Enoctkonses of guidanca dem.+nt and a the limneses.

theintonence et Nucteer Power Plants guide to provide an he Commission is now pmpossag to aGescv: Nuclear Regulatory methodology for implementing the final change the requimd imquency of Commission.

rule are expected to tw published by maintenance activity evaluations hem June 30.1993.

annually to once per refueling senegn.

actiose. ' -- ' ruk-Evaluation of data collected over the Disemesies period of a refuehng cyck will prorsde summaany: ne Nuclear Regulatory Since the Maintenance Rule was a substantially better basis for "

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Commission (NRC)is pmposing to published in July 1991, two evoets have problems in degraded performene of amend its regulations for monitortng the occurred that lead the Commission to struaures, eyetems, and comm I

sffectiveness of maintenanc:e programs reconsider the annual evaluation (SSC's) and weekness in maintenmace at commercial nuclear power plants.

requirements in 5 50.s5(a)(3).

practices. Evaluations conducted as a ne current regulations require that First,in the Summer of 1991, the refueling cycle beeis would also nuclear power plant licensees evaluate Nuclear Management Raeources Council consider and int to data avellable performance and condition monitodng (NUMARC) Steering Gmup was formed only durin6 refue ~ outages with she cctivities and mamariasad goals and to develop an industry guide for data available during operations, under preventive mainamnanes adivities at implementing the Maintenance Rule.

the existing requirements this may ear least annually.De proposed While developing the guide,the ocrur depending on whether the ammeel l

emendment would change the time Steering Group suggested to the NRC in assessment coirw4d=a with the reenshag interval for conducting evaluations frorn a public meeting held on February 26.

outage. Furthermore, evaluations of dans

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15304 Federal Register / Vol. 58. No. 53 / Monday March 22. 1993 / Proposed Rul:s accumulated over the period of a quality of the maintenana evaluations.

Under the proposed rule, the refu21ing cycle, as opposed to the For these tsasons. the Commission finds frequency of periodic assessments shorter annual period required by the that the proposed amendment will not would change from annually to at least rule, will provide a more meaningful result in any significant increase in once per refueling cycle but not to basis for the recognition and either the probability of occurmnce of exceed 24 months. Since most refueling interpretation of trends.De an accident or the consequeous of an outages normally occur in the 15-to 18-J 9

Commission understands that a normal accident and therefore concludes that month range, the time between periodic k

frequency of refueling outage ranges there will bepo significant effect on the assessments assuming a 16-month j

from 15 to la months: bowever, the environment as a result of the proposed everage would be increased by about 33 t

conditions may vary fmm plant to plant. amendment.

percent. Therefore, the licensee staff I

In order to ensure that an indefinite The environmental assessment is hours to acx:omplish a periodic penod of time does not ocrur between as allable for inspection at the NRC anaessment under the proposed rule maintenana evaluations, the Public Document Room. 2120 L 5: net would be reduced from approximately I

Commission is proposing the NW. (lower level). Washington, DC 460 staff hours to about 310 staff bours Single copies of the environmental per plant. His would save the licensee l

establishment of an upperlimit of 24 assessment are available from Joseph J.

approximately 150 staff hours per plant.

I evaluations. His would address those Mate. Office of Nuclear Regulatory here are no additional changes in costs l

l months between the maintenance licensees that have extended their Research U.S. Nuclear Regulatory to be incurmd by the NRC no 4

refueling cycle beyond 24 months for Commission. Wathington, DC 20555 foregoing constitutes the regulatory eny reason including numerous short telephone: (301) 492-3795, analysis for this proposed rule.

outrges or extended thutdown periods.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement Regulatory Flexibility CertiScation Although the Commission believes that Ws proposed rule amends the In accordance with the Regulatory it is generally the case that maintenance information collection requirements that Flexibility Act of 1980. (5 U.S.C evaluations will be more effective if are subjea to the Paperwork Reduction 605(b)), the Nuclear Regulatory conducted in conjunction with refueling Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C 3501 et seq.).

Commission certinea that. if outages. licensees would still have the W: rule has been submitted to the promulgated, this rule will not have a option of conducting them mor, Office of Management and Budget for significant economic impact on a frequently.

review and approval of the paperwork substantial number of small entitias.

In light of the above discussion, the This proposed rule affects only the g

uirements.

NRC is proposing to change the use the rule will relax existing operation of nuclear power plants. ne g

requirement for evaluation of the overall recordkeeping requirements, the publ,c companies that own these plants do not effectiveness of maintenance activities burden for this collection of information fall within the scope of the definition of to be performed once per refueling cycle is expected to be reduced by 150 hours0.00174 days <br />0.0417 hours <br />2.480159e-4 weeks <br />5.7075e-5 months <br /> "small entities" as set forth in the provided the interval between evaluations does not exceed 24 months. Per licensee. This reduction includes Regulatory Flexibihty Act or the Small the time required for reviewing Business Size Standards set out in the Finding of No SigniScant instructions, searching existing data regulations issued by the Small Environmental 1mpact sources, gathering and maintaining the Business Administration at 13 UR part The Commission has determined that, data needed and completing and 121.

under the National Environmental reviewing the collection of information.

l Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Send comments regarding the estimated Backfit Analysis l

Commission's regulations in subpan A burden reduction or any other asped of The NRC has determined that the l

of 10 CFR part 51, that this rule. if this collection of information, including backfit rule 10 CFR 50.109, does not l

adopted, would not be a major Federal suggestions for reducing this burden, to apply to this proposed rule and.

action that sigm5cantly affects the the Information and Records therefore,that a backfit analysis is not quality of the human environment and Management Branch (MNBB-7714),

required. N proposed amendment to i

l therefore an environmentalimpact U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the interval for evaluating the statement is not required.

Washington, DC. 20555: and to the Desk effectiveness of maintenance ecstymes a

'S The proposed amendment does not Of5cer. Office ofInformation and by licensees is considered a retaxauan require any change to nuclear power Regulatory Affairs.NEOB-3019.(3150- from the existing requirement and does c

l plant design or require any 0011). Office of Management and not involve any provisions whwh wodi modi 5 cations to a pisnt. Nor does th*

Budget. Washington. DC. 20503.

Impose backfits as determined in to rate change the scope of the CFR 50.109. Further, the option of maintenance rule or affect the nature of Regulatory Analysis conducting an annual review as

,f the activities to be performed, e g.,

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission provided by the current rule would be

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monitoring, corrective action, and has considered the costs and beneSts of retained. Because there are no new assessments of compliance.The the proposed rule. With respect to requirements or procedures imposed as proposed rule change would only benefits.the proposed amendment licansees by this proposed rule a does extend the time penod for performing would allow those licensees who choon not impose a backfit.

i evaluations of the effectiveness of to axercise the option to perform g

licensees maintenance program from at evaluations of their maintenance least once a year to at least once every program in conjunction with refueling to CFR Part 50-Antitrust. r% Sed refueling cycle, not to exceed 24 outages but no less frequently than information. Criminal penalty. Fire J!

months. The proposed extension should every 24 months. The Commission protection. Incorporation by r,6erence.

g not result in any significant or believes that this additional flexibility Intergovernmental relations, Nudeer discernible reduction in the will not result in any increase in risk to power plants and reactors. Radisoas effectiveness of a licensee's the public health and safety, and may protection. Reactor siting cnterm.

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maintenanca program: rather the change result in a more effective maintenance Reporting and recordkeeping l

would increase the meaningfulness and and improved plant safety.

requirements.

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's Federal Register / Vgl. 58. No. 53 / Monday, March 22, 1993 / Proposed Rules 15305 i

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For reasons set out in the preamble an assessment of the total plant

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and under the authority of the Atomic equipment that is out of service should o

l Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the be taken into account to determins the i

j Energy Reorganization Act of1974, as overall effect on performance of safety emended, and 5 U.S.C. 553. the NRC is functions.

1l proposing to adopt the following

, i cmendment to 10 CFR Part 50.

Deted at Rockville. Maryland, this 15th day of March 1993.

PART 50--DOMESTIC UCENSING OF For the Nuclear Ragulatory (hmmission.

1 PRODUCTION AND UT1UZATION lamies M.Tey%

Esecutive Duectorfor Opemtions.

1.The authority citation for part 50 IFR Doc. 93-4577 Filed 3-19-43: 8:45 aml contiIues to feed as follows:

l susescaos w 182.183.186.189. 68 Stat. 936. 937,938.

Ml Autberity:Seca.102,103.104.105.161.

948. 953. 954. 955,956, as amended. sec. 234. 83 Stat.1244. as amended 142 U.S.C 2132.2133.2134.2135.2201.2232.2233.

2236. 2239,2282): seca. 201 as amended.

202. 206. 88 Stat.1242. as amended.1244.

1246. (42 U.S.C 5441. 5642. 5446).

Section 50.7 also issued under Pub. L 95-I 601. sec.10. 92 Stat. 2951 (42 U.S.C 5851).

5xtion Sa to also locued under escz.101, i

!Es. 64 Stat. 955, os===ad=1 (42 U.S.C' 2131. 2235): seca.102. Pub. L 91-190. 83 l

Stat. 853142 U.S.C 4332). Sections 50.13.

50 54(ddl. and 50103 also issued under sec. 108.68 Stat. 939. as amended. (42 U.S.C 2138). Sections 50.23. 50.35. 50.55, and 50.56 clso issued under sec.185. 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S C 22351. Sections 50.33a. 50.55a and Append s Q also issued under sec.102. Pub.

L 91-190. 83 Stat. 853 (42 U.S C 4332)

I Sections 50.34 and 50.54 also issued under sec. 204. 88 Stat.1245 (42 U.S.C 5544).

Setions 50.58,50.91, and 50.92 also issued under Pub. L 97 415. 96 Stat. 2G73 (42 U.S.C 22391. Sect on 50.78 also issued under sec.122. 68 Stat. 939 (42 U.S.C 21521.

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Sections 50.80-50.81 also issued under sec. 164. 68 Stat. 954, as amended. (42 U.S.C 2234l. Appendix F also issued under sec. 187. 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S.C 2237).

2. In $ 50.65, paragraph (a)(3)is rvvised to read as follows:

5 50.65 Requiremones for moonitoring sto eMectiveness et mairitenance et riucteor Po**r Planta.

(al * * *

(3) Performance and condition monitoring activities and associated l

goals end preventive maintenance actisities shall be evaluated at least every refueling cycle provided the intery;l between evaluations does not exceed 24 months. The evaluations shall be conducted taking into account, where practical. industry-wide operating stperience. Adjustments shall be made wh;re necessary to ensure that the*

I objective of preventative failures of structures, systems, and components through maintenance is appropriately balanced against the objective of minimizing unavailability of structures.

syst:ms, and components due to monitoring or preventative maintenance. In performing monitoring and preventative maintenance activities, w