ML21237A294

Response to ASME Letter on Section III Endorsement

ML21237A294
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/23/2021
From:	Louise Lund NRC/RES/DE
To:	Hyam K American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
R. Roche-Rivera
Shared Package
ML20198M558	List: ML21237A294
References
Download: ML21237A294 (3)

Text

September 23, 2021 Kathryn Hyam, Director Nuclear Codes and Standards American Society of Mechanical Engineers Two Park Avenue New York, NY 10016-5990

SUBJECT:

ENDORSEMENT OF THE ASME CODE SECTION III, EDITIONS AND CODE CASES

REFERENCE:

ASME letter dated July 9, 2020, Endorsement of the ASME Code Section III, Editions and Code Cases (ML20198M559)

Dear Ms. Hyam:

The purpose of this letter is to respond to the referenced American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) letter regarding endorsement of the ASME Code Section III, Editions and Code Cases. In the referenced letter, ASME Section III emphasized that the NRC representatives at the Standards Committee continue the practice of seeking all necessary NRC internal reviews during the development and balloting process because a clear approval or negative vote (as opposed to abstentions) will greatly assist the Committee in its work and provide greater clarity as to whether a Code Case will be considered noncontroversial.

The NRC will continue to adopt this approach for our representation at the Standards Committee.

The letter also expressed strong preference that the Code endorsement should be no later than the publication of the next Edition, which is the two-year cycle that is consistent with our current endorsement process. Also, the letter did not indicate preference of the endorsement vehicle that best achieves the objective of timely endorsement. We appreciate this input and, at this time, are not making any changes to the periodicity or vehicle of endorsement of ASME Section III, Code Editions and Code Cases. However, the process for both code edition and code case endorsement is still under evaluation to consider future enhancements to the endorsement process or to eliminate unnecessary burden. We recognize the interest in this topic and any potential changes to the process will be communicated with the interested stakeholders with an opportunity for public comment.

Thank you for your input and perspective. The NRC appreciates the open dialogue and welcomes future correspondence as the NRC continues to support the development, revision, and use of ASME Codes and Standards and its incorporation by reference in 10 CFR 50.55a.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me at Louise.Lund@nrc.gov or 301-415-0377, or Kamal Manoly at Kamal.Manoly@nrc.gov or 301-415-2765.

K. Hyam Sincerely,

/RA/

Louise Lund, NRC Standards Executive Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research cc:

EXTERNAL DISTRIBUTION:

Thomas Vogan, Chair ASME Board on Nuclear Codes and Standards tomvogan45@gmail.com Robert Keating, Chair ASME Section III rkeating@mpr.com Kimberly Verderber, Staff Secretary ASME Section III verderberk@asme.org

K. Hyam

SUBJECT:

ENDORSEMENT OF THE ASME CODE SECTION III, EDITIONS AND CODE CASES DATED: SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION:

Jane Marshall, NRR Robert Caldwell, NRR Jeremy Bowen, RES David Rudland, NRR Carol Nove, RES ADAMS Package Accession No.: ML20198M558 OFFICE RES/DE/RGPMB RES/DE/RGPMB NRR/DEX NRR/DRO/IQVB RES/DE/RGPMB NAME B. Curran R. Roche-Rivera K. Manoly K. Kavanagh M. Rahimi DATE 08/25/2021 08/25/2021 08/27/2021 08/30/2021 08/30/2021 OFFICE NRR/DEX NRR/DRO NRR/DNRL RES/DE NAME E. Benner C. Miller A. Bradford L. Lund (J. Nakoski for) (R. Caldwell for) (w/comments)

DATE 09/03/2021 09/10/2021 09/03/2021 09/23/2021