[Federal Register: June 1, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 106)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 34913]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn00-1]

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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

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[[Page 34913]]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 50

RIN 3150-AF95


Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power
Plants; Confirmation of Effective Date and Availability of Guidance

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Final rule: Confirmation of effective date and availability of
guidance.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission amended its regulation
concerning requirements for monitoring the effectiveness of maintenance
at nuclear power plants on July 19, 1999 (64 FR 38551). The effective
date of this amendment was deferred until guidance on assessing and
managing increases in risk associated with maintenance activities was
issued to nuclear power plant licensees. This document announces the
availability of that guidance (Regulatory Guide 1.182, ``Assessing and
Managing Risk Before Maintenance Activities at Nuclear Power Plants'')
and specifies the effective date for the July 19, 1999, amendment to
the maintenance rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Regulations, certain regulatory guides, and certain endorsed
NUMARC documents are available for inspection or downloading at the
NRC's web site, WWW.NRC.GOV>. Single copies of regulatory guides may be
obtained free of charge by writing the Reproduction and Distribution
Services Section, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, or by fax to (301) 415-2289, or by email to
DISTRIBUTION@NRC.GOV>. Issued guides may also be purchased from the
National Technical Information Service on a standing order basis.
Details on this service may be obtained by writing NTIS, 5285 Port
Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. Copies of regulations, regulatory
guides, and endorsed NUMARC documents are available for inspection or
copying for a fee from the NRC Public Document Room at 2120 L Street
NW., Washington, DC; the PDR's mailing address is Mail Stop LL-6,
Washington, DC 20555; telephone (202) 634-3273 or (800) 397-4209; fax
(202) 634-3343; email PDR@NRC.GOV>.
    Comments and suggestions in connection with items for inclusion in
regulations and regulatory guides are encouraged at any time. Written
comments may be submitted to the Rules and Directives Branch, Office of
Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: W.E. Scott, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555;
telephone (301) 415-1020; email WES@NRC.GOV>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission amended its maintenance rule, 10
CFR 50.65, ``Requirements for monitoring the effectiveness of
maintenance at nuclear power plants,'' on July 19, 1999 (64 FR 38551).
This amendment requires nuclear power plant licensees to assess and
manage the increase in risk that may result from proposed maintenance
activities. The implementation date of this amendment was made
dependent upon guidance being issued to nuclear power plant licensees
on assessing and managing increases in risk associated with maintenance
activities.
    Rather than issue Revision 3 to Regulatory Guide 1.160,
``Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power
Plants,'' the NRC staff decided to issue Regulatory Guide 1.182,
``Assessing and Managing Risk Before Maintenance Activities at Nuclear
Power Plants,'' as guidance to nuclear power plant licensees on
assessing and managing risk before maintenance activities are conducted
at the nuclear power plant. Regulatory Guide 1.182 is being issued as a
companion guide to Regulatory Guide 1.160, which provides guidance on
the structure of the licensees' maintenance effectiveness monitoring
programs.
    Regulatory Guide 1.160 endorses a document prepared by the Nuclear
Energy Institute (formerly NUMARC), NUMARC 93-01, ``Industry Guideline
for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power
Plants.'' Regulatory Guide 1.182 endorses a revised Section 11,
``Assessment of Risk Resulting from Performance of Maintenance
Activities,'' of NUMARC 93-01. Regulatory Guide 1.182 was published for
public comment (64 FR 70098, December 15, 1999) as DG-1082, ``Assessing
and Managing Risk Before Maintenance Activities at Nuclear Power
Plants.'' There were no public comments on the draft guide, and NEI
addressed the comments on Section 11 of NUMARC 93-01 with minor
revisions, and the NRC staff concurs in these revisions.
    Therefore, the effective date of the July 19, 1999, amendment to 10
CFR 50.65 is November 28, 2000.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of May, 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
J. Samuel Walker,
Acting Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 00-13746 Filed 5-31-00; 8:45 am]
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