Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is discontinuing a rulemaking activity that would have amended the NRC's regulations to add a new part to the existing regulatory framework specific to nuclear spent fuel reprocessing facilities. The purpose of this action is to inform members of the public that this rulemaking activity is being discontinued and to provide a brief discussion of the NRC's decision. This rulemaking activity will no longer be reported in the NRC's portion of the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (the Unified Agenda).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an application for the subsequent license renewal of Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55, which authorize Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy or the applicant) to operate Oconee Nuclear Station (ONS), Units 1, 2, and 3. The renewed licenses would authorize the applicant to operate ONS for an additional 20 years beyond the period specified in each of the current renewed licenses. The current renewed operating licenses for ONS expire as follows: Unit 1 on February 6, 2033, Unit 2 on October 6, 2033, and Unit 3 on July 19, 2034.

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, ``General Domestic Licenses for Byproduct Material.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its small business size standards, which are used to qualify an NRC licensee as a ``small entity'' under the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA). The purpose of these size standards is for reducing annual NRC license fees for small entities. These standards do not apply to NRC contracting for goods and services. The NRC is proposing to increase the upper and lower tiers for its receipts-based small entity size standards for small businesses and small not-for- profit organizations. This change will allow NRC standards to remain consistent with the inflation adjustments made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for nonmanufacturing concerns. In addition, in accordance with the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 (Runway Act), the NRC is proposing to change the calculation of annual average receipts for the receipts-based NRC size standard for small businesses that provide a service or small businesses not engaged in manufacturing from a 3-year averaging period to a 5-year averaging period. The public is invited to submit comments on this proposed rule.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a new Regulatory Guide (RG) 3.76 (Revision 0), ``Implementation of Aging Management Requirements for Spent Fuel Storage Renewals.'' This new guidance describes an approach that is acceptable to the staff of the NRC to meet the regulatory requirements for spent fuel storage renewals. It addresses requirements for the renewal of specific licenses for independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSIs) and certificates of compliance (CoCs) for spent fuel storage cask designs pursuant to NRC requirements.

On June 24, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) noticed receipt of, and solicited public comments on, the post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating, Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3 (Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC)), submitted by Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC (HDI). The PSDAR, which includes the site-specific decommissioning cost estimate (DCE), provides an overview of HDI's planned activities, schedule, projected costs, and environmental impacts for the decommissioning of the IPEC. The NRC will hold a public meeting to discuss the PSDAR and DCE and to receive comments.

Pursuant to section 189.a.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing this regular monthly notice. The Act requires the Commission to publish notice of any amendments issued, or proposed to be issued, and grants the Commission the authority to issue and make immediately effective any amendment to an operating license or combined license, as applicable, upon a determination by the Commission that such amendment involves no significant hazards consideration (NSHC), notwithstanding the pendency before the Commission of a request for a hearing from any person. This monthly notice includes all amendments issued, or proposed to be issued, from May 27, 2021, to June 24, 2021. The last monthly notice was published on June 15, 2021.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has rescheduled the public teleconference meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) previously scheduled for July 15, 2021. The meeting notice, published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2021 (86 FR 32285), is being reissued to inform public stakeholders that the ACMUI meeting will now be held on September 2, 2021. The meeting agenda and any updates are available at https://www.nrc.gov/ reading-rm/doc-collections/acmui/meetings/2021.html or by emailing Ms. Kellee Jamerson at the contact information below. The agenda is subject to change.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF- 72 and NPF-77, that were issued to Exelon Generation Company, LLC, (licensee) for operation of the Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2. The proposed amendments are contained in the licensee's letter dated May 27, 2021, and would change technical specifications (TSs) surveillance requirement (SR) 3.7.9.2 to allow an ultimate heat sink (UHS) temperature of less than or equal to 102.8 degrees Fahrenheit ([deg]F) until September 30, 2021.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an Order approving the application dated November 19, 2020, as supplemented by letter dated April 13, 2021, filed by NorthStar Nuclear Decommissioning Company, LLC (NNDC) and ADP CR3, LLC (ADP CR3), on behalf of themselves, NorthStar Vermont Yankee, LLC (NVY), and their corporate parents related to NorthStar Group Services, Inc (NorthStar). The application sought NRC consent to the indirect transfer of (1) NNDC's licensed authority under, and NVY's licensed ownership of, Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-28 for the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Vermont Yankee) and the general license for the Vermont Yankee independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI); and (2) ADP CR3's licensed authority under Facility Operating License No. DPR-72 for the Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant (CR3) and the general license for the CR3 ISFSI. Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF) will remain the licensed owner of CR3, and the application does not involve any direct or indirect transfer of DEF's license or responsibilities. No physical changes to the Vermont Yankee or CR3 facilities or operational changes were proposed in the application. The application requested NRC consent to these indirect transfers in order to complete an internal reorganization with new intermediary holding companies that would acquire control of NorthStar.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to certify the NuScale standard design for a small modular reactor. Applicants or licensees intending to construct and operate a NuScale standard design may do so by referencing this design certification rule. The applicant for certification of the NuScale standard design is NuScale Power, LLC. The public is invited to submit comments on this proposed rule.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to renew the U.S. Advanced Boiling Water Reactor standard design certification. Applicants or licensees intending to construct and operate a U.S. Advanced Boiling Water Reactor standard design may do so by referencing this design certification rule. The applicant for the renewal of the U.S. Advanced Boiling Water Reactor standard design certification is General Electric-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR- 75, issued to PSEG Nuclear, LLC, for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 2. The proposed amendments would revise Technical Specification (TS) actions for rod position indicators. This is a one-time change during the current operating cycle to support maintenance on the transformer supplying power to all of the Unit No. 2 rod position indicators.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued two exemptions in response to requests from one licensee. The exemptions afford the licensee temporary relief from certain requirements under NRC regulations. The exemptions are in response to the licensee's requests for relief due to the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE). The NRC is issuing a single notice to announce the issuance of the exemptions.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) received and is considering approval of a license transfer application filed by Arizona Public Service Company (APS), on behalf of the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP) and Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) on May 19, 2021. The application seeks NRC approval of the transfer of Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-41 and NPF-51 for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Palo Verde), Units 1 and 2, respectively, and the general license for the Palo Verde Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) as a result of SRP acquiring PNM's 7.9333330 percent share of the undivided interests in Palo Verde, Unit 1, and 0.7933333 percent share of the undivided interests in Palo Verde, Unit 2, whereby SRP would own a total of 25.423333 percent of the shares in Unit 1, and 18.2833333 percent of the shares in Unit 2, and PNM would own a total of 2.266667 percent of the shares in Unit 1, and 9.4066667 percent of the shares in Unit 2.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a new Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.26, ``Volcanic Hazards Assessment for Proposed Nuclear Power Reactor Sites.'' This RG provides guidance for facilitating the NRC staff's review of volcanic hazards assessments performed by applicants to support the siting of new nuclear power reactors. The RG also provides applicants with the methods and approaches the NRC staff considers acceptable for the assessment of volcanic hazards in license applications for sites with Quaternary volcanoes within the site region or with Quaternary volcanic deposits within the site vicinity.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received an application for the subsequent renewal of Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55, which authorize Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy or the applicant) to operate Oconee Nuclear Station (ONS), Units 1, 2, and 3. The subsequent renewed licenses would authorize the applicant to operate ONS for an additional 20 years beyond the period specified in each of the current renewed licenses. The current renewed operating licenses for ONS expire as follows: Unit 1 on February 6, 2033, Unit 2 on October 6, 2033, and Unit 3 on July 19, 2034.

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, ``Physical Protection of Plants and Materials.''

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, ``Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), on February 4, 2020, requested input from its licensees and members of the public on any administrative requirements that may be modified or eliminated without an adverse effect on public health or safety, common defense and security, protection of the environment, or regulatory efficiency and effectiveness. The public comment period ended on May 6, 2020, and the NRC evaluated the comments. This document announces the availability of the comment evaluation summary and provides the status of the NRC's Retrospective Review of Administrative Requirements initiative. The NRC plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the comment evaluation process and answer stakeholder questions.

On November 13, 2020, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued for public comment a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for United Nuclear Corporation's (UNC) license amendment request. The public comment period closed on May 27, 2021. The NRC has decided to re-open the public comment period to allow more time for members of the public to develop and submit their comments. UNC is requesting authorization to amend its license (SUA-1475) to excavate approximately 1 million cubic yards (CY) of mine waste from the Northeast Church Rock Mine Site and dispose of it at the existing mill site in McKinley County, New Mexico. The NRC plans to hold a public meeting in the future to promote full understanding of the contemplated action and facilitate public comment.

The Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are announcing for public comment the availability of a draft revision document, entitled the ``Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual'' (MARSSIM). MARSSIM provides information on planning, conducting, evaluating, and documenting environmental radiological surveys of surface soil and building surfaces for demonstrating compliance with regulations. MARSSIM, when finalized as Revision 2, will be a multi-agency consensus document. The agencies are seeking public comment in order to receive feedback from the widest range of interested parties and to ensure that all information relevant to developing the document is received. The agencies will review public comments received on the draft MARSSIM Revision 2 as well as comments from a concurrent, independent, scientific peer review. The Agencies will review comments received during the public comment period and make revisions to the document as appropriate.