NRC stays fat via obfuscation of ECCS.

So, I've just copied this from NRC's ADAMS. More featherbedding and obfuscation by our well-fed feds.

n a May 13, 2008, memorandum from R. W. Borchardt entitled, “Updated Schedule for Rulemaking—Emergency Core Cooling System Acceptance Criteria” (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML081260311), the staff informed the Commission of the status of the 10 CFR 50.46(b) rulemaking activities and outlined a rulemaking approach that included a decision point about the adequacy of the technical basis (WITS No. 200800238). Based on comments received from public stakeholders and internal discussions, the staff identified further research to enhance the existing technical basis. The staff outlined these additional research activities as well as a revised rulemaking plan and schedule in a December 19, 2008, memorandum entitled, “Status of Rulemaking on Emergency Core Cooling System Acceptance Criteria” (ADAMS Accession No. ML083440156 [?] ).

The technical basis supporting a revision to the 10 CFR 50.46(b) ECCS acceptance criteria is complete, and the rulemaking is progressing in accordance with the schedule outlined in the memorandum dated December 19, 2008. The staff completed the additional research activities outlined in that memorandum on schedule (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML090690711 and ML090700193). These items supplement the technical basis, which can be found in the following two documents: (1) NRC Research Information Letter 0801, “Technical Basis for Revision of Embrittlement Criteria in 10 CFR 50.46,” dated May 30, 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML081350225); and (2) M. Billone, Y. Yan, T. Burtseva, and R. Daum, “Cladding Embrittlement during Postulated Loss-of-Coolant Accidents,” NUREG/CR-6967 (ANL-07/04), July 2008 (ADAMS Accession No. ML082130389). Staff members from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and the Office of New Reactors are working with the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) to develop an acceptable regulatory framework for the comprehensive laboratory testing requirements developed by RES. Once completed, the staff will issue these testing procedures for public comment as part of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking scheduled for publication in August 2009. This memorandum satisfies the requirements of WITS No. 200800238.
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