Clarification on Endorsement of Nuclear Energy Institute Guidance in Designing Digital Upgrades in Instrumentation and Control Systems

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) entitled, RIS 2002-22, Supplement 1, "Clarification on Endorsement of Nuclear Energy Institute Guidance in Designing Digital Upgrades in Instrumentation and Control Systems." This RIS supplement clarifies RIS 2002-22, which remains in effect. The NRC continues to endorse Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)-01-01, as stated in RIS 2002-22 and clarified RIS 2002-22, Supplement 1. This RIS supplement clarifies the guidance in RIS 2002-22 for preparing and documenting qualitative assessments that licensees can use to develop written evaluations to address the criteria in NRC's regulations for digital instrumentation and control (I&C) modifications. This clarification is intended to reduce regulatory uncertainty for licensees applying the process set in the NRC's regulations and making digital I&C modifications without prior NRC approval.