Interim Procedures for NRC Management of Plant-Specific Backfitting (Generic Letter No. 84-08)

                                UNITED STATES
                       NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

                               April 4, 1984 

TO ALL LICENSEES OF OPERATING REACTORS, APPLICANTS FOR OPERATING LICENSES, 
AND HOLDERS OF CONSTRUCTION PERMITS  

Gentlemen: 

SUBJECT:  INTERIM PROCEDURES FOR NRC MANAGEMENT OF PLANT-SPECIFIC 
          BACKFITTING (Generic Letter 84-08) 

This letter is to advise you that the Commission has recently approved a 
plan for management of plant-specific backfitting issues. The Commission has
directed the staff to seek public comment regarding the plan. This plan and 
the interim procedures will be published in the Federal Register. Until 
public comments are received and the plan for management of plant-specific 
backfitting issues is finalized, the staff intends to use the enclosed 
procedures as interim guidance. These enclosures are: 

1.   Draft NRC Manual Chapter-0514, NRC Program for Management of Plant-
     Specific Backfitting of Operating Reactors. 

     The manual chapter identifies the general coverage, objectives, 
     responsibilities and authorities, and. basic requirements of plant-
     specific backfitting. Subchapters 031 and 032 are particularly 
     important. 

2.   Procedure for Management of Plant-Specific Backfitting of Operating 
     Reactors Resulting from Licensing Activities. 

     This procedure was developed to fulfill the intent of Subchapter 031 of
     Chapter 0514 identified above. Backfitting issues which arise from NRR 
     will follow these interim procedures. 

3.   Procedure for Management of Plant-Specific Backfitting of Operating 
     Power Reactors Resulting from Inspection and Enforcement Activities. 

     This procedure was developed to fulfill the intent of Subchapter 032 of
     Chapter 0514 identified above. Backfitting issues which arise from IE 
     will follow these interim procedures. 

The plan for managing plant-specific backfitting for OL applicants and CP 
holders will follow the procedures for operating reactors until final 
procedures are developed. This letter is for information only and has no 
reporting requirement. 

                              Sincerely, 


                              Darrell G. Eisenhut, Director 
                              Division of Licensing 
                              Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 

Enclosures: 
As stated 
.