Information Notice No. 91-76: 10 CFR Parts 21 and 50.55(e) Final Rules

                                UNITED STATES
                        NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                    OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION
                          WASHINGTON, D.C.  20555 

                             November 26, 1991 


NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 91-76:  10 CFR PARTS 21 AND 50.55(e) FINAL RULES 


Addressees 

All holders of operating licenses or construction permits and vendors for 
nuclear power reactors. 

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information 
notice to inform addressees that the NRC has amended its regulations 
regarding the reporting of safety defects under Parts 21 and 50.55(e) of 
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Parts 21 and 50.55(e)), 
as published in the Federal Register (56 FR 36081) on July 31, 1991.  The 
changes became effective on October 29, 1991.  It is expected that 
recipients will review the information for applicability to their facilities 
and consider actions, as appropriate.  However, no specific action or 
written response is required.

Discussion

The 10 CFR Parts 21 and 50.55(e) final rules incorporate the Commission's 
experience with the existing regulations.  The final rules apply to the Com-
mission's licensees and to nonlicensees who construct facilities for, or 
supply basic components to facilities or activities licensed by the 
Commission.  

The major changes to the 10 CFR Parts 21 and 50.55(e) rules include the 
following: 

1.   Reduced duplication in reporting or evaluation among Parts 21, 
     50.55(e), 50.72, 50.73, and 73.71.

2.   Established uniform time limits for initial notifications and followup 
     written notifications for Parts 21 and 50.55(e).

3.   Established a time limit for transferring information from vendors to 
     purchasers or affected licensees for purposes of performing evaluations 
     of deviations and determining reportability under Part 21.

4.   Established a consistent definition of "defect" in Parts 21 and 
     50.55(e).

5.   Established consistent standards for the content of Parts 21 and 
     50.55(e) reports. 


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6.   Clarified the definition of "basic component" in Parts 21 and 50.55(e).

7.   Clarified the requirements in Parts 21 and 50.55(e) for retaining 
     records.

8.   Established time limits for evaluating potential defects and failures 
     to comply for Parts 21 and 50.55(e).

9.   Established channels of communication for the Parts 21 and 50.55(e) 
     initial verbal notifications as the NRC Operations Center and for the 
     Parts 21 and 50.55(e) followup written notifications as the Document 
     Control Desk, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 
     20555.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response.  If 
you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact 
the technical contact listed below or the appropriate Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation (NRR) project manager. 




                                   Charles E. Rossi, Director 
                                   Division of Operational Events Assessment 
                                   Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 


Technical contact:  Nancy Campbell, NRR 
                    (301) 492-0836 


Attachment:  List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices


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