Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: b4874b3a-bbf8-4eb6-8b86-db32ecf45ac6
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Guidance for Implementation of 10 CFR 50.59, Changes, Tests, and Experiments (Rev. 2)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1904/ML19045A435.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.187
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
7, “Guidelines for 10 CFR 50.59 Evaluations,” Appendix D, Revision 0, “Supplemental Guidance for Application of 10 CFR 50.59 to Digital Modifications,” was submitted to the NRC on November 30, 2018. The NEI letter, “Request for NRC Endorsement of NEI 96-07, Appendix D, Rev. 0,” dated January 8, 2019 (Ref. 12) was received on January 8, 2019 requesting NRC staff endorsement. As discussed in Section C of this RG, the NRC staff concludes that Appendix D provides an acceptable approach for the application of 10 CFR 50.59 guidance when conducting digital instrumentation and control modifications, with certain exceptions and clarifications. Background Under 10 CFR 50.59, licensees are allowed to make changes in the facility and procedures as described in the FSAR (as updated), and conduct tests or experiments not described in the FSAR (as updated), without obtaining a license amendment pursuant to § 50.90 provided specific criteria are met. Following the NRC issuance of a 1999 revised rule for 10 CFR 50.59 in Volume 64 of the Federal Register (64 FR 53582; October 4, 1999) (Ref. 13), NEI submitted a guidance document to the NRC for review for the implementation of 10 CFR 50.59. In November 2000, the NRC issued RG 1.187 (Revision 0), “Guidance for Implementation of 10 CFR 50.59, ‘Changes, Tests, and Experiments’” (Ref. 14), to endorse NEI 96-07, Revision 1, “Guidelines for 10 CFR 50.59 Implementation,” Washington, DC, November 2000. Following issuance of RG 1.187, Revision 0, the NRC promulgated two rules that affected 10 CFR 50.59, which were published in Volume 66 of the Federal Register (66 FR 64737; December 14, 2001) (Ref. 15), and Volume 72 of the Federal Register (72 FR 49352, August 28, 2007) (Ref. 16). The 2001 rulemaking revised Section 50.59(b) to correct minor errors in the regulatory text. The 2007 rulemaking amended 10 CFR Part 52 and made associated conforming changes to 10 CFR 50.59(b), 50.59(d)(2) and (3). The rulemakings caused