NRC Regulations in 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(D)

By Federal Register Notices 73 FR 52730 dated September 10, 2008, NRC issued final rule adding paragraph (g)(6)(ii)(D) to Section 50.55a of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) to require licensees to comply with the reactor vessel head inspection requirements of ASME Code Case N–729–1, "Alternative Examination Requirements for PWR Reactor Vessel Upper Heads With Nozzles Having Pressure-Retaining Partial-Penetration Welds Section XI, Division 1," subject to conditions specified in paragraphs (g)(6)(ii)(D)(2) through (6) of Section 50.55a, by December 31, 2008. Compliance to Code Case N–729–1; with conditions regarding inspection frequency, examination coverage, qualification of ultrasonic examination, and reinspection intervals; would be equivalent to complying with NRC Order EA–03–009, dated February 11, 2003, and First Revised Order EA–03– 009, dated February 20, 2004. Thus, once a licensee implements Code Case N–729–1, with conditions, the First Revised NRC Order EA–03–009 no longer applies to that licensee and is deemed to be withdrawn. This allows licensees to transfer from the Order requirements to the requirements of 10 CFR 50.55a(g)(6)(ii)(D).

By Federal Register Notice 82 FR 32934 dated July 18, 2017, NRC issued final rule and amended the regulations to require implementation of ASME Code Case N-729-4 "Alternative Examination Requirements for PWR Reactor Vessel Upper Heads with Nozzles Having Pressure-Retaining Partial-Penetration Welds Section XI, Division 1," instead of ASME Code Case N-729-1, subject to conditions specified in paragraphs (g)(6)(ii)(D)(2) through (4) of Section 50.55a, Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, by the first refueling outage starting after August 17, 2017.