Information Notice No. 86-36: Change in NRC Practice Regarding Issuance of Confirming Letters to Principal Contractors
SSINS No: 6835
IN 86-36
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20555
May 16, 1986
Information Notice No. NO 86-36: CHANGE IN NRC PRACTICE REGARDING ISSUANCE
OF CONFIRMING LETTERS TO PRINCIPAL
CONTRACTORS
Addressees:
All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or a
construction permit (CP)
Purpose:
This notice is to inform recipients of a change in the NRC practice of
issuing confirming letters to principal contractors regarding the continuing
adequacy of their QA programs This change, which is discussed in the
Preface of the Licensee Contractor and Vendor Inspection Status Report,
October 1985-December 1985, NUREG-0040, Vol 9, No 4 (White Book), affects
licensee implementation of their QA programs in accordance with the
requirements of Appendix B to 10 CFR 50 Criterion VII It is expected that
the recipients will review the information for applicability to their
facilities and consider appropriate actions However, the information
contained in this notice does not constitute new NRC requirements;
therefore, no specific action or written response is required
Description of Circumstances:
When design and construction activities for new nuclear power plants were
numerous, firms designing nuclear steam supply systems, architect
engineering firms designing nuclear power plants, and certain major
equipment vendors were inspected on a regular basis by the NRC The purpose
of these inspections was to ascertain through direct observation of QA
activities whether these design firms and vendors were satisfactorily
implementing their QA programs in accordance with topical reports previously
reviewed and accepted by the NRC When the NRC inspections had determined
that the QA programs were being satisfactorily implemented, the NRC issued
confirming letters to the principal contractors Those letters were issued
every three years, provided that the QA programs continued to be
satisfactorily implemented The confirming letters could be used by
licensees and applicants, at their option, to fulfill their obligation under
10 CFR 50, Appendix B, Criterion VII, that requires them to perform initial
source evaluation audits and subsequent periodic audits to verify QA program
implementation
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IN 86-36
May 16, 1986
Page 2 of 2
However, with the substantial decline in new plant design activities, the
NRC inspection of QA program implementation by principal contractors has
been deemphasized As discussed in the Preface of the "White Book," future
NRC inspections will focus on selected areas instead of addressing the broad
implementation of the QA programs Therefore, the NRC will no longer issue
confirming letters to principal contractors, and those letters that have
already exceeded their 3-year period of effectivity will not be renewed
Confirming letters issued less than 3-years ago will remain in effect until
the stated period expires
With the expiration of confirming letters, licensees and applicants will no
longer have the option to take credit for the NRC acceptance of the
implementation of a principal contractor's QA program In accordance with
commitments to meet the provisions of Appendix B to 10 CFR 50, licensees and
applicants will be responsible for the conduct of initial source evaluation
audits and subsequent periodic audits to verify QA program implementation
The NRC will continue to review revisions to the QA programs of principal
contractors as described in topical reports when submitted and, when
approved, will issue approval letters The latest approved topical report
revision number and date of the approval letter will be published quarterly
in the "White Book"
Since compliance with Criterion VII of Appendix B to 10 CFR 50 is already
required, no new specific action or written response is required by this
information notice If you have any questions regarding this matter, please
contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate regional office or
this office
Edward L Jordan, Director
Division of Emergency Preparedness
and Engineering Response
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Technical Contact: W P Haass, IE
(301) 492-9041
Attachment: List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices
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