Reports and guidance documents; availability, etc.: Maintenance rule baseline inspections; lessons learned,

[Federal Register: November 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 223)]

[Notices]

[Page 63348]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19no99-104]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Lessons Learned From Maintenance Rule Baseline Inspections

Availability of NUREG-1648

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Availability. SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announces the completion and availability of NUREG-1648, ``Lessons Learned From Maintenance Rule Baseline Inspections,'' dated October, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of NUREG-1648 may be obtained from the Reproduction and Distribution Services Section, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001. Copies are also available electronically. See ``Electronic Access.'' which follows. A copy of the document is also available for inspection and/or copying for a fee in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Correia, Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone: 301-415-1009.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 1, 1999, the NRC announced the availability of NUREG-1648, ``Lessons Learned From Maintenance Rule Baseline Inspections,'' dated October 1999. This NUREG report provides details concerning lessons learned from implementing the NRC's first risk-informed performance-based regulation, the maintenance rule, 10 CFR 50.65. Licensees can use the lessons learned information in this document to enhance and improve their maintenance rule programs.

NUREG-1648 is now available for use by licensees and other NRC staff. It supplements the lessons learned information previously found in NUREG-1526, ``Lessons Learned From Early Implementation of the Maintenance Rule at Nine Nuclear Power Plants,'' dated June, 1995.

The risk-informed, performance-based approach of implementing 10 CFR 50.65 and the guidance documents that implement this approach, NUMARC 93-01, ``Industry Guideline for Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants,'' as endorsed by Regulatory Guide 1.160, ``Monitoring the Effectiveness of Maintenance at Nuclear Power Plants,'' gives licensees flexibility in monitoring the effectiveness of maintenance at nuclear power plants. During the NRC maintenance rule baseline inspections, the inspection teams also found that many licensees used unique and diverse methods to implement the maintenance rule that went beyond the guidance contained in the documents noted above. Licensees can use these lessons learned methods to enhance and improve their existing maintenance rule programs.

Electronic Access

NUREG-1648 is also available electronically by visiting NRC's Public Web Site at (http://www.nrc.gov), choose the ``Nuclear Reactors'' page of the site and then choose the ``Maintenance Rule.'' The Maintenance Rule Home Page may also be accessed directly by using the uniform resource locator (URL) at (http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/mrule/ mrhome.htm). The user must ensure that the URL is typed exactly as shown because the Web server file name convention is case sensitive.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

In accordance with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act of 1996, the NRC has determined that this action is not a major rule and has verified this determination with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of November, 1999.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Bruce A. Boger, Director, Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 99-30227Filed11-18-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P