Industry Codes and Standards; Amended Requirements; Confirmation of Effective Date

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of October 19, 2009, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2009. This direct final rule amended the NRC's regulations on governing vessel head inspection requirements. This amendment revised the upper range of the percentage of axial flaws permitted in a specimen set used for the qualification of nondestructive examination systems (procedures, personnel and equipment), which are used in the performance of inservice inspection (ISI) of pressurized water reactor (PWR) upper vessel head penetrations. This amendment was made as a result of the withdrawal of a stakeholder's recommendation necessitated by a typographical error in the original recommendation with respect to the maximum percentage of flaws that should be oriented axially.