ML20150E745
| ML20150E745 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/07/1988 |
| From: | Beckjord E NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES) |
| To: | Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20150E547 | List: |
| References | |
| FRN-52FR24015, RULE-PR-50 AC29-2-04, AC29-2-4, NUDOCS 8807150277 | |
| Download: ML20150E745 (2) | |
Text
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[f jo UNITED STATES 4
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5
rj WASHINGTON, D. r 20555
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APR 7 Jggg MEMORANDUM FOR:
Victor Stello, Jr.
Executive Director for Operations FROM:
Eric S. Beckjord, Director Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
SUBJECT:
AMENDMENT TO 10 CFR $ 50.55a - CODES AND STANDARDS Enclosed for your signature is a Federal Register Notice of a final rule to amend 6 50.55a of 10 CFR Part 50 which incorporates by reference national codes.
and standards for the design, fabrication, construction, testing and inspection of reactor components and systems.
It has been a continuing policy of the Comission to update this section of the regulations to keep the references current.
The preamble to the August 24, 1972, final rule amending 9 50.55a (37 FR 17021) states:
"As new or amended editions of applicable codes, code cases, or addenda are issued, the Comission will review them and amend the provisions of 6 50.55a... as appropriate."
This section of the regulations incorporates by reference Division 1 rules of Section III, "Rules for the Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components,"
of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code) and Division 1 rules of Section XI, "Rules for Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components" of the ASME Code. ASME precedures provide that editions of the ASME Code be revised every three years and that addenda to the editions be issued on an annual basis.
Prior to 1986, addenda were issued on a semiannual basis. The present reference endorses the 1983 Edition and addenda through the Sumer 1984 Addenda for Section III, Division 1, and the 1983 Edition and, 3ubject to certain limitations and modifications, addenda through the Summer 1983 Addenda for Section XI, Division 1.
This amendment incorporates by reference the Winter 1984 Addenda, Sumer 1985 Addenda, Winter 1985 Addenda, and 1986 Edition of Section III, Division 1, and the Winter 1983 Addenda, Sumer 1984 Addenda, Winter 1984 Addenda, Sumer 1985 Addenda Winter 1985 Addenda, and 1986 Edition of Section XI, Division 1, of the ASME Code.
These addenda and edition have been reviewed by the staff and, with one exception, found to be acceptable. The exception relates to the acceptance criteria for flawed austenitic piping. A limitation is placed on the use of the acceptance criteria for flawed austenitic piping that are con-tained in the Winter 1983 Addenda and Winter 1984 Addenda to Section XI, Divi-sion 1.
The limitation requires that, for certain types of welds, the acceptance criteria be used as improved by the Winter 1985 Addenda.
In addi-tion, this final rule recognizes the impro ements made in the Winter 1983 Addenda to Section XI regarding the examination of pressure retaining welds in ASME Code Class 2 piping by limiting the need to implement the existing 71 277 880708 '
50 52FR24015 PDR
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modification pertaining to Class 2 piping examinations to ASME Code editions and addenda up to the 1983 Edition with addenda up through the Sumer 1983 Addenda.
1 An announcement of the proposed amendment was published in the Federal Register j
on June 26, 1987.
Interested persons were invited to submit written comments for consideration in connection with the proposed amendment and the draft regulatory analysis by August 25, 1987.
Comments were received from three individuals. Two of the individuals supported the proposed rule and provided suggestions for clarifying the proposed' amendment. Most suggestions were incorporated into the final rule. The third individual had a general concern j
with NRC's policy of endorsing national standards and preferred that NRC develop its own requirements. The response to each of the comenter's concerns is
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provided in the Supplementary Information portion of the final rule. With regard to the last comenter's concern, it was explained that NRC's implementa-tion of the ASME Code is consistent with OMB Circular No. A-119 (Revised),
which provides policy and administrative guidance to federal agencies regarding i
participation in the development and use of voluntary standards.
The enclosed notice of rulemaking will be transmitted to the Office of the Federal Register following your approval. The rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
A note regarding issuance of the final rule will be included in the next Weekly Information Report to the Commissiv7.. The Subconmittee on Energy and the Environment of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, the Subcomittee j
on Energy Conservation and Power of the House Comittee on Energy and Comerce, and the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will be informed of this action. No public announcement will be issued.
Coordination:
The Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Analysis and Evaluation
'of Operational Data, Special Projects, Administration and Resources Management, and Go"ernmental and Public Affairs concur in this amendment to 10 CFR @ 50.55a.
The Office of the General Counsel has no legal objection to the final rule.
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f Eric S. Beckjord, Dbector Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Enclosure:
1.
Federal Register Notice 2.
Regulatory Analysis 3.
Draft Transmittal Letter to Congressional Comittees 4.
Weekly Information Report I