Nuclear Regulatory Commission May 17, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is proposing to amend its regulations by adding additional requirements for source material licensees who possess significant quantities of uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The proposed amendments would require such licensees to conduct integrated safety analyses (ISAs) similar to the ISAs performed by 10 CFR part 70 licensees; set possession limits for UF6 for determining licensing authority (NRC or Agreement States); add defined terms; add an additional evaluation criterion for applicants who submit an evaluation in lieu of an emergency plan; require the NRC to perform a backfit analysis under specified circumstances; and make administrative changes to the structure of the regulations. The proposed ISA requirements would not apply to facilities that are currently undergoing decommissioning under the current regulations. This rulemaking pertains to 10 CFR part 40 licensees and applicants who possess, or plan to possess, significant quantities of UF6. The current regulations do not contain ISA requirements for evaluating the consequences of facility accidents. The proposed amendment would require applicants and licensees who possess or plan to possess significant amounts of UF6 to conduct an ISA and submit an ISA summary to the NRC. The ISA, which evaluates and categorizes the consequences of accidents at NRC licensed facilities, would address both the radiological and chemical hazards from licensed material and hazardous chemicals produced in the processing of licensed material. Similar hazards that exist at other fuel cycle facilities are addressed by ISA requirements elsewhere in the regulations. The NRC is also proposing new guidance on the implementation of the additional regulatory requirements for licensees that would be authorized under this rulemaking.