Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a new Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.249 (Revision 0), ``Use of ARCON Methodology for Calculation of Accident-Related Offsite Atmospheric Dispersion Factors.'' This new RG describes an approach for reactor applicants and licensees for determining atmospheric relative concentration ([chi]/Q) values in support of modeling onsite releases to offsite boundaries from a design-basis accident. Also, this RG implements the methodology in RG 1.194, ``Atmospheric Relative Concentrations for Control Room Radiological Habitability Assessments at Nuclear Power Plants,'' for offsite dose locations at boundaries.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft report on the Level 3 Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) project; specifically, ``Volume 4: Overview of Reactor, At-Power, Level 1, 2, and 3 PRAs for Internal Fires, Seismic Events, and High Winds.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received an application for the renewal of Facility Operating License No. NPF-58, which authorizes Energy Harbor Nuclear Corp. (Energy Harbor or the applicant), doing business as Energy Harbor Nuclear Generation LLC., to operate Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP), Unit 1. The renewed license would authorize the applicant to operate PNPP for an additional 20 years beyond the period specified in the current license. The current operating license for PNPP expires November 7, 2026.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to incorporate by reference the 2021 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the 2022 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants, Division 1: OM Code: Section IST, for nuclear power plants. This action is in accordance with the NRC's policy to periodically update the regulations to incorporate by reference new editions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Codes and is intended to maintain the safety of nuclear power plants and to make NRC activities more effective and efficient. This amendment also incorporates editorial changes that do not change the technical information.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to a request dated June 30, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated September 13, 2022, and January 20 and May 5, 2023, from Southern Nuclear Operating Company to allow the use of lead test assemblies (LTAs) 7ST1, 7ST2, 7ST3, and 7ST4, each with four fuel rods with a maximum nominal Uranium 235 (U-235) enrichment of up to six percent by weight for up to two cycles of operation at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 2, and to receive, inspect, and store the LTAs at Vogtle, Units 1 and 2.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this document to inform the public that, as of April 13, 2023, publicly available non-power production and utilization facilities (NPUFs) correspondence originating from the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities (DANU) will be transmitted by a digital communications platform, GovDelivery, as an electronic mail distribution system, to addressees and subscribers. This change does not affect the ability of any members of the public to obtain official agency records in the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has accepted for docketing an application for standard design approval (SDA) of the US460 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) design submitted by NuScale Power, LLC (NuScale). The NRC is requesting comment on the SDA application in accordance with NRC regulations.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the NAC Multi- Purpose Canister (NAC-MPC) System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to renew, for 40 years, the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1 through 8 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1025. The renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1 through 8 would revise the certificate of compliance's conditions and technical specifications to address aging management activities related to the structures, systems, and components important to safety of the dry storage system to ensure that these will maintain their intended functions during the period of extended storage operations.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Source Material License No. SUA-1603 to Rare Element Resources, Inc. (RER, the licensee) for its possession, and storage of source material in a pilot project for the recovery of rare earth elements (REE). The pilot project, partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is being conducted at a location in Upton, Wyoming to demonstrate the effectiveness of the licensee's proprietary process to recover rare earth element such as Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) and other rare earth oxides at high purity levels. The project is scheduled to operate for approximately one year, processing approximately 1000 tons of material. Waste generated as a result of processing will contain greater than 99 percent of the radioactive components and will be treated and solidified onsite and then shipped offsite to a licensed low level waste facility. The site will be decommissioned at the end of the pilot project.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) found pursuant to its regulations that the acceptance criteria in the combined license for Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Unit 4 are met. Because of this action, operation of the facility is allowed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the license.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a notice that was published in the Federal Register (FR) on July 25, 2023, regarding submission of the renewal of an existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This action is necessary to correct the number of anticipated responses and respondents to the information collection.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received and is considering approval of two amendment requests. The amendment requests are for Millstone Power Station, Unit 3. For each amendment request, the NRC proposes to determine that it involves no significant hazards consideration (NSHC). Because each amendment request contains sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI), an order imposes procedures to obtain access to SUNSI for contention preparation by persons who file a hearing request or petition for leave to intervene.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its spent fuel regulations by revising the NAC International, Inc. MAGNASTOR[supreg] Storage System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Amendment Nos. 11 and 12 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 0 through 9 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1031. Amendment No. 11 amends the certificate of compliance to add a new concrete cask, transfer cask, fuel baskets and revised contents. Amendment No. 11 also adds a definition for the concrete cask lid, revises the definition for the concrete cask to exclude the lid, adds a definition for the storage cask, and provides alternate fabrication criteria and techniques for the concrete cask lid. Amendment No. 12 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 0 through 9 add definitions for the storage cask and concrete cask lid, revise the definition of the concrete cask, and provide alternate fabrication criteria and techniques for the concrete cask lid to the certificate of compliance.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) invites public comment on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for an existing collection of information. The information collection is entitled, ``Licenses and Radiation Safety Requirements for Well Logging.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) invites public comment on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for an existing collection of information. The information collection is entitled, ``DOE/NRC Form 740M, Concise Note; DOE/NRC Form 741, Nuclear Material Transaction Report; DOE/NRC Form 742, Material Balance Report; and DOE/NRC Form 742C, Physical Inventory Listing.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and accompanying Environmental Assessment (EA) for an application request from Rare Element Resources, Inc. (RER) for a source materials license accompanying the construction and operation of a rare earth element (REE) separation and processing demonstration plant near Upton, Wyoming. Based on the analysis in the EA, the NRC staff has concluded that there would be no significant impacts to environmental resources from RER's proposed facility and, therefore, a FONSI is appropriate.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and accompanying environmental assessment (EA) for an exemption request from ProTechnics, a division of Core Laboratories LP (ProTechnics), byproduct material license no. 42-26928-01, for alternate abandonment of an irretrievable sealed source in a Gulf of Mexico oil and gas well. Based on the analysis in the EA, the NRC staff has concluded that there would be no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment from ProTechnics' proposed exemption request and therefore, a FONSI is appropriate.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently submitted a request for renewal of an existing collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The information collection is entitled, ``Requests to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes for Information.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) invites public comment on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for an existing collection of information. The information collection is entitled, NRC Form 241, ``Report of Proposed Activities in Non-Agreement States, Areas of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction, or Offshore Waters.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) received and is considering approval of an application filed by General Electric Company (GE), GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (GEHA), and Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC (GNF-A) (together, the Applicants) on May 30, 2023, as supplemented by letters dated June 20 and June 26, 2023. The application seeks NRC approval of the indirect transfer of Facility Operating License No. R-33 for the Nuclear Test Reactor at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC) in Sunol, California; Possession Only License No. DPR-1 for the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor at the VNC; Possession Only License No. DR-10 for the Empire State Atomic Development Associates Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor at the VNC; Possession Only License No. TR-1 for the GE Test Reactor at the VNC; Special Nuclear Material License Nos. SNM-960 and SNM-1270 for the VNC; Special Nuclear Material License No. SNM-1097 for the Wilmington Fuel Manufacturing Facility in Wilmington, North Carolina; Special Nuclear Material License No. SNM-2500 for the Morris Operation Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facility in Grundy County, Illinois, near Morris, Illinois; and Export License Nos. XR135, XSNM1662, XSNM03135, XSNM3398, XCOM1124, XSNM3785, and XSNM3066 from GE, the parent company of the license holders, GEHA and GNF-A, to a recently created wholly-owned subsidiary of GE named GE Vernova, LLC that will then be spun-off and will no longer be part of GE. The application contains sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI).