Source: http://thefederalregister.com/2012/08/28/2012-21207.html
Timestamp: 2018-09-24 20:15:39
Document Index: 777552908

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 52', 'art 52', 'art 52', 'art 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', 'art 52', 'art 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', 'art 50', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', 'art 52', '§ 2', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52']

Federal Register | Requirements for Maintenance of Inspections, Tests, Analyses,
[NRC-2010-0012]
ACTION: Final rule and regulatory guide, issuance.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is amending its regulations related to verification of nuclear power plant construction activities through inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria (ITAAC) under a combined license, and issuing a revision to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.215, "Guidance for ITAAC Closure Under 10 CFR [Title 10 of theCode of Federal Regulations] Part 52." The final rule contains new provisions that apply after a licensee has completed an ITAAC and submitted an ITAAC closure notification. The new provisions require licensees to report new information materially altering the basis for determining that inspections, tests, or analyses were performed as required, or that acceptance criteria are met, and to notify the NRC of the completion of all ITAAC activities. In addition, the NRC is including editorial corrections to existing language in the NRC's regulations to make that language consistent with language in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA). Regulatory Guide 1.215 describes a method that the staff of the NRC considers acceptable for use in satisfying the requirements for documenting the completion of ITAAC.
DATES: The effective date is September 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: *Federal Rulemaking Web Site:Go tohttp://www.regulations.govand search for Docket ID NRC-2010-0012.
*NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS):You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC Library athttp://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.To begin the search, select "ADAMS Public Documents" and then select "Begin Web-based ADAMS Search." For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email topdr.resource@nrc.gov.The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. In addition, for the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided in a table in the section of this document entitled, "Availability of Documents."
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Earl R. Libby, Office of New Reactors, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-0522; email:Earl.Libby@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background II. Comments on the Proposed Rule and Regulatory Guide A. Overview of Public Comments B. Comments on the Proposed Rule C. Comments on the Draft Regulatory Guide DG-1250/RG 1.215 III. Discussion A. Licensee Programs That Maintain ITAAC Conclusions B. Additional ITAAC Notifications C. Conforming Changes to 10 CFR 2.340 IV. Section-by-Section Analysis V. Availability of Regulatory Guidance VI. Availability of Documents VII. Plain Writing VIII. Agreement State Compatibility IX. Voluntary Consensus Standards X. Environmental Impact—Categorical Exclusion XI. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement XII. Regulatory Analysis XIII. Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification XIV. Backfitting and Issue Finality XV. Congressional Review Act I. Background
The Commission first issued 10 CFR part 52, “Early Site Permits; Standard Design Certifications; and Combined Licenses for Nuclear Power Reactors” on April 18, 1989 (54 FR 15372). Section 52.99, “Inspection during construction,” was included to make it clear that the NRC's inspection carried out during construction under a combined license would be based on ITAAC proposed by the applicant, approved by the NRC staff, and incorporated in the combined license. At that time, the Commission made it clear that, although 10 CFR 52.99 envisioned a “sign-as-you-go” process in which the NRC staff would sign off on inspection units and notice of the staff's sign-off would be published in theFederal Register, the Commission itself would make no findings with respect to construction until construction was complete. (See 54 FR 15372; April 18, 1989; at 15383 (second column)).
On August 28, 2007 (72 FR 49352), the Commission revised 10 CFR part 52 to enhance the NRC's regulatory effectiveness and efficiency in implementing its licensing and approval processes. In that revision, the NRC amended 10 CFR 52.99 to require licensees to notify the NRC that the prescribed inspections, tests, or analyses in the ITAAC have been completed and that the acceptance criteria have been met. The revision also requires that these notifications contain sufficient information to demonstrate that the prescribed inspections, tests, or analyses have been performed and that the prescribed acceptance criteria have been met. The statement of considerations for the 2007 rule indicated that this requirement would ensure that combined license applicants and holders were aware that it was the licensee's burden to demonstrate compliance with the ITAAC and that the notification of ITAAC completion will contain more information than just a simple statement that the licenseebelieves the ITAAC had been completed and the acceptance criteria met.
Under Section 185b of the AEA and 10 CFR 52.97(b), a combined license for a nuclear power plant (a “facility”) must contain those ITAAC that are “necessary and sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that the facility has been constructed and will be operated in conformity with” the license, the AEA, and the NRC regulations. Following issuance of the combined license, Section 185b of the AEA and 10 CFR 52.99(e) require that the Commission “ensure that the prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses are performed.” Finally, before operation of the facility, Section 185b of the AEA and 10 CFR 52.103(g) require that the Commission find that the “prescribed acceptance criteriaare met” (emphasis added). This Commission finding will not occur until construction is complete, near the scheduled date for initial fuel load.
As currently required by 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1), the licensee must submit ITAAC closure notifications containing “sufficient information to demonstrate that the prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses have been performed and that the associated acceptance criteria have been met.” These notifications perform two functions. First, they alert the NRC to the licensee's completion of the ITAAC1 and ensure that the NRC has sufficient information to complete all of the activities necessary for the Commission to determine whether all of the ITAAC acceptance criteria have been or will be met (the “will be met” finding is relevant to any hearing on ITAAC under 10 CFR 52.103) before initial operation. Second, they ensure that interested persons will have access to information on both completed and uncompleted ITAAC at a level of detail sufficient to address the AEA Section 189a(1)(B) threshold for requesting a hearing on acceptance criteria. See 72 FR 49352; August 28, 2007, at 49450 (second column).
1In this discussion, the phrases “completion of ITAAC” and “ITAAC completion” mean that the licensee has determined that: (1) The prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses were performed; and (2) the prescribed acceptance criteria are met.
II. Comments on the Proposed Rule and Regulatory Guide A. Overview of Public Comments
The NRC published a proposed rule on the Requirements for Maintenance of Inspections, Tests, Analyses and Acceptance Criteria in theFederal Registeron May 13, 2011 (76 FR 27925). The period for submitting comments on the proposed ITAAC Maintenance rule closed on July 27, 2011. The associated draft regulatory guide for the proposed rule, RG 1.215 “Guidance for ITAAC Closure under 10 CFR Part 52” (DG-1250) was also published in theFederal Registeron May 13, 2011 (76 FR 27924). The period for submitting comments on the draft guidance closed on July 25, 2011.
The NEI submission contained two general comments on the proposed rule and nine specific comments on the proposed rule supplementary information. The NRC has carefully considered the public comments received during the comment period and is adopting a final rule that is substantially similar to the proposed rule with one change to § 52.99(e)(2). The NEI generally supported the approach and objective of the proposed rule and the associated regulatory guidance.
Comment:Section 52.99(e)(1) should be revised to state, “* * * the NRC staff's determination [deleted: of the successful completion of] [added: that] inspections, tests, and analyses contained in the license have been successfully completed [added: and, based solely thereon, that the prescribed acceptance criteria are met].” (Comment 1, p.1)
NRC Response:The NRC does not agree with this comment. The change that NEI proposes is not within the scope of this rulemaking, as it does not address the issues of ITAAC maintenance (including public awareness of significant changes to the bases of licensee notifications under § 52.99). In addition, NEI proposed this change as part of a set of changes in their comment submission on the 2006 proposed part 52 rule (ML011100405). In the 2007 rulemaking revising part 52, the NRC declined to make the NEI-proposed change.See72 FR 49352, 49385 (August 28, 2007). The NEI does not present any new arguments that would cause the NRC to change its 2007 position rejecting the NEI proposal. Nochanges to the final rule language were made as a result of this comment.
Comment:The NRC should clarify in the final rule the relationship between paragraphs (c) and (g) of § 52.103, to account for the possibility of interim operation. (Comment 11, p.4)
NRC Response:The NRC disagrees with the comment, because the relationship between §§ 52.103(c) and (g) is outside the scope of this rulemaking, and Section 189b(1)(B)(iii) of the AEA clearly provides the Commission with authority to allow interim operation during a pending hearing on acceptance criteria. The NRC may address the subject of interim operation at a later time. No change was made to the final rule language as a result of this comment.
The nine specific comments received on the proposed rule contained recommendations for changes to the supplementary information to correctly reflect common terminology between the rule supplementary information, the associated RG 1.215 and the industry guidance contained within Revision 4 of NEI 08-01 (ADAMS Accession No. ML102010051). These nine specific comments all addressed discussion in the statement of considerations (SOC) (theSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATIONsection of theFederal Registernotice of proposed rulemaking); therefore no changes to the final rule language were made as a result of these comments. The SOC for the final rule reflects the NRC consideration of these nine comments.
Comment:The phrase “ITAAC closure package” should be replaced with the phrase “ITAAC completion package” in Section III. A, 3d bullet (76 FR 27927) so that the SOC uses terminology which is consistent with that in the associated draft regulatory guide and industry guidance. (Comment 2, p.2)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with the comment. The SOC for the final rule uses the phrase, “ITAAC completion package.”
Comment:Delete the second sentence in Section III.B paragraph beginning “When making * * *” to maintain a consistent description of the content of 52.99(c)(1) notifications in the associated draft regulatory guide and industry guidance. (Comment 3, p.2)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with the comment. The SOC for the final rule deleted the sentence “The licensee's summary statement of the basis for resolving the issue which is the subject of the notification, a discussion of any action taken, and a list of the key licensee documents supporting the resolution and its implementation, would assist the NRC in making its independent evaluation of the issue” to agree with the RG 1.215 and the industry guidance contained within Revision 4 of NEI 08-01.
Comment:Add the term “maintenance” to the list of permissible activities that may be in progress at the time of the 10 CFR 52.103(g) finding. (Comment 4, p.2)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with the comment, because it reflects the intent of the rule and the guidance. The SOC for the final rule added the term “maintenance” to the activities that are allowable during the time of the Commission's 10 CFR 52.103(g) finding if the programs credited with maintaining the validity of completed ITAAC guide those activities and the activities are not so significant as to exceed a threshold for reporting.
Comment:Delete “The NRC understands that the nuclear power industry believes * * *” in Section III.B First paragraph under heading “ITAAC Closure Documentation” because the language is unnecessary. (Comment 5, p.2)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with the comment, because the language is unnecessary. The SOC for the final rule deleted the phrase “The NRC understands that the nuclear power industry believes * * *” from the sentence.
Comment:Revise Section III.C for clarity by replacing the text that reads “In both cases, if the presiding officer's decision resolves the contention favorably * * *” with “In both cases, if the presiding officer finds that the contested acceptance criteria have been met * * *” (Comment 6, p.3)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees that the sentence should be revised for clarity, but the SOC will use the phrase “have been or will be met” to reflect both types of possible presiding officer findings. The SOC for the final rule was changed to “In both cases, if the presiding officer finds that the contested acceptance criteria have been or will be met, this does not obviate the need for the Commission to make the required finding under Section 185b of the AEA and 10 CFR 52.103(g) that the acceptance criteria are met.” This change is consistent with similar language in Section IV of the supplementary information section.
Comment:Add the phrase “* * * on contested acceptance criteria.” to clarify what decision by the presiding officer the paragraph is referencing. (Comment 7, p.3)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with the comment. The final rule SOC now reads as follows: “The phrase `otherwise able to make' conveys the NRC's determination that the Commission's process for supporting a Commission finding on uncontested acceptance criteria is unrelated to and unaffected by the timing of the presiding officer's initial decision on contested acceptance criteria.”
Comment:Replace the term “must” with the term “should” to reflect that ITAAC Maintenance documentation and recordkeeping is an expectation and not a requirement. (Comment 8, p.3)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with the comment. The final rule SOC uses the term “should” to reflect expectations regarding documentation and recordkeeping in support of ITAAC post-closure notifications. However, as explained below, regulatory provisions such as 10 CFR part 50, “Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities,” Appendix B, “Quality Assurance Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants and Fuel Reprocessing Plants,” require the preparation and retention of records supporting the vast majority of ITAAC processes, including the activities supporting the notifications that are required by this final rule.
Comment:The comment requested the addition of a sentence stating the NRC proposed no changes to Section IV, Subsection on § 52.99(d). (Comment 9, p.3)
NRC Response:The NRC does not agree with this comment. The first sentence of § 52.99(d)(1) contains the following change. “In the event that an activity is subject to an ITAAC derived from a referenced standard design certification and the licensee has not demonstrated that the prescribed acceptance criteria [deleted: has been] [added: are] met, the licensee may take corrective actions to successfully complete that ITAAC or request an exemption from the standard design certification ITAAC, as applicable.” In addition, 52.99(d)(2) was also changed as follows: “In the event that an activity is subject to an ITAAC not derived from a referenced standard design certification and the licensee has not demonstrated that the prescribed acceptance criteria [deleted: has been] [added: are] met, the licensee may take corrective actions to successfully complete that ITAAC or request a license amendment under 10 CFR 52.98(f).”
Comment:Delete the phrase “and detailed” when referring to licensee notifications required by § 52.99(c) for consistency with Section IV.B (Comment 10, p.4)
NRC Response:The NRC agrees with this comment. In the final rule SOC the phrase “and detailed” was deleted. The sentence now reads, “In general, the NRC expects to make the paragraph (c) notifications available shortly after the NRC has received the notifications and concluded that they are complete.” The accompanying detail necessary for the ITAAC notifications under paragraph (c) is developed in regulatory guidance, RG 1.215. This change is consistent with the last paragraph in Section III.B of theSUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The NRC published the draft regulatory guide for the proposed rule, RG 1.215, “Guidance for ITAAC Closure Under 10 CFR Part 52” (DG-1250) in theFederal Registeron May 13, 2011 (76 FR 27924). The period for submitting comments on the draft guidance closed on July 25, 2011.
• ITAAC post-closure notification, and
• All ITAAC complete notification.
• Licensee screening of activities and events for impact on ITAAC;
• Licensee determination of whether supplemental ITAAC notification is required; and
• Licensee supplementation of the ITAAC completion package, as appropriate, to demonstrate that the acceptance criteria continue to be met.
B. Additional ITAAC Notifications ITAAC Post-Closure Notification
The first new notification is contained in 10 CFR 52.99(c)(2), “ITAAC post-closure notifications,” and would be required following the licensee's ITAAC closure notifications under 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) until the Commission makes the finding under 10 CFR 52.103(g). This provision in 10 CFR 52.99(c)(2) would require the licensee to provide the NRC with timely notification of new information materially altering the basis for determining that either inspections, tests, or analyses were performed as required, or that acceptance criteria are met (referred to as theITAAC determination basis).
Section 52.6, “Completeness and accuracy of information,” paragraph (a), requires that information provided to the Commission by a licensee be complete and accurate in all material respects. However, it might be the case that the original closure notification was complete and accurate when sent, but subsequent events materially alter the ITAAC determination basis. Also, amaterial error or omission might not be discovered until after the ITAAC closure notification is sent. It is possible that new information materially altering the ITAAC determination basis would not rise to the reporting threshold under 10 CFR 52.6(b). As required by 10 CFR 52.6(b), licensees must notify the Commission of information identified by the licensee as having, for the regulated activity, a significant implication for public health and safety or the common defense and security. Given the primary purpose of ITAAC—to verify that the plant has been constructed and will be operated in compliance with the approved design—the NRC believes that it cannot rely on the provisions in 10 CFR 52.6 for licensee reporting of new information materially altering the ITAAC determination basis. The reasons for this conclusion are as follows:
• All ITAAC were verified to be met at one time; and
• The licensee provides confidence, in part through the notifications in 10 CFR 52.99(c), that the ITAAC determination bases have been maintained and the ITAAC acceptance criteria continue to be met; and the NRC has no reasonable information to the contrary.
Section 52.99(e)(1) requires that the NRC publish in theFederal Registerthe NRC staff's determination of the successful completion of inspections, tests, and analyses, at appropriate intervals until the last date for submission of requests for hearing under 10 CFR 52.103(a). Section 52.99(e)(2) currently provides that the NRC shall make publicly available the licensee notifications under current paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2). The NRC has revised paragraph (e)(2) to cover all notifications under 10 CFR 52.99(c). In general, the NRC expects to make the paragraph (c) notifications available shortly after the NRC has received the notifications and concluded that they are complete. Furthermore, by the date of theFederal Registernotice of intended operation and opportunity to request a hearing on whether acceptance criteria are met (under 10 CFR 52.103(a)), the NRC will make available the licensee notifications under paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) that it has received to date.
In addition, 10 CFR 2.340(j), as currently written, does not distinguish among the various circumstances in a contested proceeding where a presiding officer's decision (that acceptance criteria have been met, or will be met) is followed by the overall finding under 10 CFR 52.103(g) that acceptance criteria are met (as required by Section 185b of the AEA). It is not clear from the current language of § 2.340(j) that the presiding officer's initial decision on a contention that acceptance criteria have been met or will be met, does not obviate the need for the Commission (or the appropriate Director) to make the required finding (under Section 185b of the AEA and 10 CFR 52.103(g)) that the acceptance criteria are met. To illustrate this point by counter example, the presiding officer could make, in the initial decision, a “predictive finding” that acceptance criteria “will be met.” Thereafter, the combined license holder would complete the prescribed inspection, test and/or analysis and inform the NRC under § 52.99 that the acceptance criteria have been met. Nonetheless, the Commission (or the appropriate Director) may determine—based on,inter alia,information submitted to the NRC under 10 CFR 52.99 after the hearing record had closed and the presiding officer's initial decision on the contention is made—that the presiding officer's “predictive finding” was not borne out by events and that the acceptance criteria are not met. To clarify some of the possible paths that the Commission (or appropriate Director) could follow (after the presiding officer's initial decision) in making a finding that acceptance criteria are met, the NRC is revising the language of paragraph (j), thereby making clear that the presiding officer's decision on a contested matter is separate from the overall Commission finding under Section 185b and 10 CFR 52.103(g) that acceptance criteria are met.
Section 2.340Initial Decision in Certain Contested Proceedings; Immediate Effectiveness of Initial Decisions; Issuance of Authorizations, Permits and Licenses Section 2.340(j) Issuance of Finding on Acceptance Criteria Under 10 CFR 52.103
Paragraph (j) was amended to allow the Commission (or the appropriate NRC Office Director) in a contested proceeding to make the finding under 10 CFR 52.103(g) that the acceptance criteria in a combined license are met, under certain circumstances that are delineated in greater detail in paragraphs (j)(1) through (4). This compares with the current rule, whichcontains only two paragraphs, (j)(1) and (2). The matters covered by paragraph (j)(1) of the current rule are described with greater clarity in paragraphs (j)(1) through (3).
Section 52.99Inspection During Construction; ITAAC Schedules and Notifications; NRC Notices
The purpose of this section is to present the requirements to support the NRC's inspections during construction, including requirements for ITAAC schedules and notifications and for NRC notices of ITAAC closure. The title of this section was changed fromInspection during constructiontoInspections during construction; ITAAC schedules and notifications; NRC Noticesto reflect the contents of this section.
The NRC is not making any changes to § 52.99(a). Paragraph (a) requires that the licensee submit to the NRC, no later than 1 year after issuance of the combined license or at the start of construction as defined at 10 CFR 50.10, whichever is later, its schedule for completing the inspections, tests, or analyses in the ITAAC. This provision also requires the licensee to submit updates to the ITAAC schedule every 6 months thereafter and, within 1 year of its scheduled date for initial loading of fuel, licensees must submit updates to the ITAAC schedule every 30 days until the final notification is provided to the NRC under § 52.99(c)(1). The information provided by the licensee will be used by the NRC in developing the NRC's inspection activities and activities necessary to support the Commission's finding whether all of the ITAAC are met prior to the licensee's scheduled date for fuel load. Even in the case where there were no changes to a licensee's ITAAC schedule during an update cycle, the NRC expects the licensee to notify the NRC that there have been no changes to the schedule.
The NRC is making an editorial change to the last sentence of § 52.99(b) to replace the words “have been met” with “are met” for consistency with the requirements of Section 185b of the AEA, as implemented in 10 CFR 52.103(g). The purpose of the requirement in 10 CFR 52.99(b) is to clarify that an applicant may proceed at its own risk with design and procurement activities subject to ITAAC, and that a licensee may proceed at its own risk with design, procurement, construction, and preoperational testing activities subject to an ITAAC, even though the NRC may not have found that any particular ITAAC are met.
Section 52.99(c) Licensee Notifications Section 52.99(c)(1) ITAAC Closure Notification and § 52.99(c)(3) Uncompleted ITAAC Notification
The NRC has made editorial changes in § 52.99(c)(1) to replace the words “have been met” with “are met.” Section 52.99(c)(1) requires the licensee to notify the NRC that the prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses have been performed and that the prescribed acceptance criteria are met. Section 52.99(c)(1) further requires that the notification contain sufficient information to demonstrate that the prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses have been performed and that the prescribed acceptance criteria are met.
The NRC has renumbered current § 52.99(c)(2) as paragraph (c)(3). In addition, the NRC has made an editorial change to the last sentence in final § 52.99(c)(3) (former 10 CFR 52.99(c)(2))to replace the words “have been met” with “are met.” Section 52.99(c)(3) requires that, if the licensee has not provided, by the date 225 days before the scheduled date for initial loading of fuel, the notification required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section for all ITAAC, then the licensee shall notify the NRC that the prescribed inspections, tests, or analyses for all uncompleted ITAAC will be performed and that the prescribed acceptance criteria will be met prior to operation (consistent with the AEA Section 185b requirement that the Commission, “prior to operation,” find that the acceptance criteria in the combined license are met). The notification must be provided no later than the date 225 days before the scheduled date for initial loading of fuel, and must provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the prescribed inspections, tests, or analyses will be performed and the prescribed acceptance criteria for the uncompleted ITAAC will be met.
• The information presented or referenced in the original 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification is insufficient, either because it omits material information, or because the information is materially erroneous or incorrect, and the licensee discovers or determines there is a material omission or error after filing the original 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification.
• The information presented or referenced in the original 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification was complete (i.e., not omitting material information) and accurate (i.e., not materially erroneous), but there is new material information with respect to the subject of the original 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification.
• The licensee to assert that the prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses have been performed and the acceptance criteria are met;
• The NRC staff to determine if (and provide a recommendation to the Commission as to whether) the prescribed inspections, tests, and analyses were performed and the acceptance criteria are met; or
• The Commission to find that the acceptance criteria are met, as required by Section 185b of the AEA and 10 CFR 52.103(g).
• New information (i.e., a “discovery” or new determination identified after the 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification) about the accuracy of material information provided in, referenced by, or necessary to support representations made in that notification.
• New information (i.e., a “discovery” or new determination identified after the 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification) that previously existing information should have been, but was not provided, in the notification or referenced in the supporting documentation (i.e., an omission of material information).
• Information on a “new” event or circumstance (i.e., an event or circumstance occurring after the 10 CFR 52.99(c)(1) notification) that materially affects the accuracy or completeness of the basis—as reported or relied upon inthe § 52.99(c)(1) notification—for the licensee's representation that the acceptance criteria are met.
•Material Error or Omission—Is there a material error or omission in the original ITAAC closure notification?
•Post Work Verification (PWV)—Will the PWV use a significantly different approach than the original performance of the inspection, test, or analysis as described in the original ITAAC notification?
•Engineering Changes—Will an engineering change be made that materially alters the determination that the acceptance criteria are met?
•Additional Items To Be Verified—Will there be additional items that need to be verified through the ITAAC?
•Complete and Valid ITAAC Representation—Will any other licensee activities materially alter the ITAAC determination basis?
The NRC has made editorial changes in § 52.99(d)(1) to replace the words “have been met” with, “are met” and in § 52.99(d)(2) to replace the phrase “ITAAC has been met” with the phrase “prescribed acceptance criteria are met.” Paragraph (d) states the options that a licensee will have in the event that it is determined that any of the acceptance criteria in the ITAAC are not met. If an activity is subject to an ITAAC derived from a referenced standard design certification and the licensee has not demonstrated that the ITAAC are met, then the licensee may take corrective actions to successfully complete that ITAAC or request an exemption from the standard design certification ITAAC, as applicable. A request for an exemption must also be accompanied by an application for a license amendment under 10 CFR 52.98(f). The NRC will consider and take action on the request for exemption and the license amendment application together as an integrated NRC action.
The final rule is substantially the same as the proposed rule with one change to § 52.99(e)(2) to clarify NRC notices to the public. The one language change made to the section, “NRC inspection, publication of notices, and availability of licensee notifications,” is to replace the language “The NRC shall make publicly available the licensee notifications under paragraphs (c)(1) through (4) of this section no later than the date of publication of the notice of intended operations required by 10 CFR 52.103(a)” with:
“The NRC shall, no later than the date of publication of the notice of intended operation required by 10 CFR 52.103(a), make publicly available those licensee notifications under paragraph (c) of this section that have been submitted to the NRC at least seven (7) days before that notice.” The NRC will make public all paragraph (c) ITAAC notifications that were submitted to the NRC at least seven days before the date of publication of