NRC Abandons Unclear Guide on Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics
Published Date: 6/5/2026
Notice
Summary
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is stopping work on a draft guide about using probabilistic fracture mechanics in nuclear applications because it wasn’t clear enough. This affects companies submitting safety info to the NRC, who will need to wait for better guidance before using this method. The change takes effect immediately on June 5, 2026, with no new costs announced.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
PFM Draft Guide Discontinued; Use Delayed
If you or your company submit safety information to the NRC, the draft guide DG-1422 on using probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) will not be issued and is discontinued effective June 5, 2026. That means you must wait for clearer NRC guidance before relying on PFM as a technical basis in regulatory applications; the notice references Docket ID NRC-2024-0036 and states no new costs were announced.
Public Can Submit Suggestions for Guides Anytime
A member of the public may submit suggestions to the NRC at any time for improving existing Regulatory Guides or for developing new ones via the NRC website (https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/contactus.html). The NRC says suggestions will be considered in future updates and may inform any later guidance development.
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