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NRC RIN: 3150-AH29 Publication ID: Spring 2009 
Title: Large Break Loss-of-Coolant Accident (LB-LOCA) Redefinition [NRC-2004-0006] 
Abstract: The proposed rule would amend the Commission's regulations to allow for a risk-informed alternative to the present loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) break size. This rulemaking would address a petition for rulemaking submitted by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) (PRM-50-75). A draft final rule was provided to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) on October 16, 2006. After reviewing the draft rule, the ACRS informed the Commission of numerous technical and policy concerns and recommended that the rule not be issued. The staff prepared a Commission paper (SECY-07-0082; May 16, 2007) to inform the Commission of the impact of the ACRS recommendations and to request guidance before proceeding with the rule. The Commission provided its guidance in a Staff Requirements Memorandum on August 10, 2007. On April 1, 2008, the staff provided an updated rule schedule to the Commission. In a meeting on August 6, 2008, selected NRC managers approved the staff's recommended resolution of the open issues related to the final rule. The staff prepared draft rule language incorporating the new positions into the rule and adding additional requirements for defense-in-depth for pipe breaks larger than the TBS. Several meetings were held to inform NRO of the planned approach. OGC reviewed the revised rule language and recommended that portions of the rule be re-noticed to provide an opportunity for public comments on some of the new rule requirements. In a meeting on October 8, 2008, NRC managers decided to repropose the entire rule. On December 18, 2008, the EDO signed a memorandum informing the Commission that the staff will re-notice the section 50.46a rule for additional public comments. The memorandum also stated that the EDO intends to publish the re-noticed rule in July 2009. The Commission will not approve the staff's schedule until after hearing public and industry views in a Commission meeting on February 4, 2009. 
Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 10 CFR 50   
Legal Authority: 42 USC 2201    42 USC 5841   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  11/07/2005  70 FR 67597   
NPRM Comment Period End  02/06/2006    
NPRM Comment Period Extended  01/25/2006  71 FR 4061   
NPRM Comment Period End  03/08/2006    
Second NPRM  07/00/2009    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Richard F. Dudley
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation,
Washington, DC 20555-0001
Phone:301 415-1116
Email: richard.dudley@nrc.gov