Change request for 10 CFR 50.55a, ASME code

10 CFR Part 50

Incorporation by Reference of Edition and Addenda to ASME Codes and New and Revised ASME Code Cases into 10 CFR 50.55a, Final Rule

3150-0011

NONSUBSTANTIVE CHANGE REQUEST

Summary

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) develops and publishes the ASME B&PV Code, which contains requirements for the design, construction, and inservice inspection (ISI) of nuclear power plant components; and the ASME OM Code, which contains requirements for inservice testing (IST) of nuclear power plant components. The ASME issues new editions of the ASME B&PV Code every 3 years, and issues addenda to the editions yearly except in years when a new edition is issued. It has been the NRC’s practice to review new editions and addenda of the ASME B&PV and OM Codes and periodically update 10 CFR 50.55a to incorporate newer editions and addenda by reference. The NRC approves and/or mandates the use of editions and addenda of the Codes in 10 CFR 50.55a through the rulemaking process of “incorporation by reference.”

Recordkeeping

There is an increase for code case N-770-1: The conditions of this code case require 69 Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) to revise procedures and programs on a one-time basis within the next three years, estimated at 40 hours per response.  The burden is therefore .33 responses per respondent x 69 respondents, for 23 annual responses.  23 responses x 40 hours = 920 annual burden hours (recordkeeping).

Reporting

There is a reduction in relief requests: The NRC estimates that the adoption of the Code Addenda included in this rule will reduce the number of relief requests per facility by 5 over a 10 year period (or .5 fewer requests per year). Relief requests are estimated to take 20 hours. The adoption of the addenda will result in a reduction of 1,040 hours (reduction of 0.5 requests per plant annually x 104 plants x 20 hours). There is a decrease of 52 reporting responses (0.5 fewer requests per plant annually x 104 plants = -52 responses.)

The rule includes a provision for licensees to report about new flaws or growth of existing flaws in mitigated welds, should they be found. NRC does not expect these indications to be identified. If they are identified it means the licensees mitigation technique was not effective. We have no reason to believe the mitigation techniques being used will not be effective. This provision is a “just in case provision”, and we anticipate 0 hours of actual burden. Should a report be required, we anticipate that it would require 20 hours per response.

Total change in burden

+ 920 hours recordkeeping

-1,040 hours reporting

-120 hours

Respondents

The licensees affected by this final rule are already accounted for under Part 50, there is no increase in the number of respondents.

Total change in responses

The licensees affected by the recordkeeping requirement are already recordkeepers under Part 50, there is no increase in recordkeeping responses. There is a decrease of 52 reporting responses due to fewer submissions of relief requests (0.5 fewer requests per plant annually x 104 plants = -52 responses.)

Insignificant burden change

This final rule increases the total annual burden per respondent minimally as compared to the current requirement (the Part 50 clearance 3150-0011 currently has 4,482,612 burden hours, and including 275,026 hours for section 50.55a alone) and does not expand the universe of respondents.

The burden change associated with the incorporation by reference received approval as an insignificant burden determination by OMB desk officer Christine Kymn on March 22, 2011. At the time of the approval, the NRC agreed to adjust the Part 50 burden totals via a nonsubstantive change request. The final rule published on June 21, 2011 (76 FR 36232).

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