Nuclear Regulatory Commission September 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing final revisions to the following sections of NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR Edition'': Section 12.1, ``Assuring that Occupational Radiation Exposures Are As Low As Is Reasonably Achievable,'' Section 12.2, ``Radiation Sources,'' Section 12.3 -12.4, ``Radiation Protection Design Features,'' and Section 12.5, ``Operational Radiation Protection Program.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) invites public comment about our intention to request the OMB's approval for a new information collection that is summarized below. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Information pertaining to the requirement to be submitted: 1. The title of the information collection: Voluntary Reporting of Planned Licensing Request Submittals. 2. Current OMB approval number: 3150-XXXX. 3. How often the collection is required: Annually. 4. Who is required or asked to report: All operating power reactors whose licensing actions are handled by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing. 5. The number of annual respondents: 62. 6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 310. 7. Abstract: The NRC is seeking information on the licensing actions that licensees plan to submit over the next three years. The information would be used by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation to better plan its resource utilization. Specifically, the office would use the information to (1) inform its budget development, (2) identify potential impacts from multiple actions utilizing the same resources, (3) develop solutions, if possible, to resource conflicts, and (4) communicate scheduling impacts to stakeholders. Submit, by November 29, 2013, comments that address the following questions: 1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC to properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical utility? 2. Is the burden estimate accurate? 3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected? 4. How can the burden of the information collection be minimized, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology? The public may examine and have copied for a fee publicly available documents, including the draft supporting statement, at the NRC's Public Document Room, Room O-1F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC's Web site: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc- comment/omb/. The document will be available on the NRC's home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments submitted in writing or in electronic form will be made available for public inspection. Because your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information, the NRC cautions you against including any information in your submission that you do not want to be publicly disclosed. Comments submitted should reference Docket No. NRC-2013-0213. You may submit your comments by any of the following methods. Electronic comments go to: https:// www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. NRC-2013-0213. Mail comments to NRC Clearance Officer, Tremaine Donnell (T-5 F53), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the NRC Clearance Officer, Tremaine Donnell (T-5 F53), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at 301-415-6258, or by email to INFOCOLLECTS.Resource@NRC.GOV.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing the Final Comparative Environmental Evaluation of Alternatives for Handling Low-Level Radioactive Waste Spent Ion Exchange Resins from Commercial Nuclear Power Reactors (Final Report).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issuance of a license amendment to Source Materials License SUA-526 issued to Honeywell International, Inc. (Honeywell) for its Metropolis Works Facility (MWF) in Metropolis, Illinois. The license amendment would approve Honeywell's proposed Decommissioning Plan for Surface Impoundments B, C, D, and E at the MWF. The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for this proposed action in accordance with its regulations. Based on the EA, the NRC has concluded that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate with respect to the proposed action. The amendment will be issued following the publication of this document.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a May 16, 2011, request from Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (Maine Yankee), Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (Connecticut Yankee), and the Yankee Atomic Electric Company (Yankee Atomic) (together, ``licensees'' or ``the Yankee Companies'') from the foreign ownership, control, or domination (FOCD) requirements.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to hold public meetings to receive public comments on its forthcoming proposed amendments to the NRC's regulations pertaining to the environmental impacts of the continued storage of spent nuclear fuel beyond a reactor's licensed life for operation and prior to ultimate disposal (proposed Waste Confidence rule). In addition, the NRC will receive public comment on its forthcoming draft generic environmental impact statement (DGEIS), NUREG-2157, ``Waste Confidence Generic Environmental Impact Statement,'' that forms the regulatory basis for the proposed amendments. The meetings are open to the public, and anyone may attend. The NRC is issuing this notice in advance of the release of the proposed Waste Confidence rule and DGEIS in order to maximize public participation at these meetings and ensure that as many parties as possible are able to attend.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for an amendment request submitted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), on September 8, 2010, as supplemented, for the Humboldt Bay Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM), dated May 7, 2012, submitted by Mr. Sean Chapel (the petitioner) on behalf of the Association of Device Distributors and Manufacturers (ADDM). The petition was docketed by the NRC on May 24, 2012, and was assigned Docket No. PRM-32-7. The petitioner requested that the NRC create a new regulation for exempt devices similar to the NRC's regulations for generally licensed devices. The petitioner also requested that the NRC change the Agreement State compatibility designation of the regulations applicable to generally licensed devices that are specified in Sec. 31.6 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) from ``C'' to ``B''. The NRC is denying the petition because the petitioner failed to present any significant new information or arguments that would support the requested changes, nor has he demonstrated a need for a new provision for exempt devices.

The U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is issuing for use of, and to solicit public comment on, draft Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) ESP/COL-ISG-027, ``Interim Staff Guidance Specific Environmental Guidance for iPWR Reviews.'' The purpose of this ISG is to clarify the NRC guidance and application of NUREG-1555, ``Environmental Standard Review Plan: ``Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants,'' to environmental reviews for applications for licenses to construct and operate integral pressurized water reactors (iPWR). This guidance applies to environmental reviews associated with iPWR applications for limited work authorizations, construction permits, operating licenses, early site permits (ESPs), and combined licenses (COLs).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issuance of a license amendment to amend NRC Byproduct Materials License No. 24-15595-01 issued to Aptuit, LLC (the licensee).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment the draft generic environmental impact statement (DGEIS), NUREG-2157, ``Waste Confidence Generic Environmental Impact Statement,'' that forms the regulatory basis for the proposed amendments to the NRC's regulations pertaining to the environmental impacts of the continued storage of spent nuclear fuel beyond a reactor's licensed life for operation and prior to ultimate disposal (proposed Waste Confidence rule). The NRC staff plans to hold 12 public meetings during the public comment period to present an overview of the DGEIS and proposed Waste Confidence rule and to accept public comments on the documents.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM), PRM-50-105, submitted by Mark Leyse (the petitioner) on February 28, 2012. The petitioner requested that the NRC require all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power plants (NPPs) to operate NPPs with in-core thermocouples at different elevations and radial positions throughout the reactor core to enable the operators to accurately measure a large range of in-core temperatures in NPP steady-state and transient conditions. The NRC is denying the PRM because: there are no protection or plant control functions that utilize inputs from core exit thermocouples (CETs); there is no operational necessity for more accurate measurement of temperatures throughout the core; the petition provided inadequate justification of why precise knowledge of core temperature at various elevations and radial positions would enhance safety or change operator action; and the NRC believes that, despite the known limitations of CETs, CETs are sufficient to allow NPP operators to take timely and effective action in the event of an accident.

On July 29, 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published in the Federal Register (78 FR 45573) a request for public comment on NUREG/CR-7135, ``Compensatory and Alternative Regulatory Measures for Nuclear Power Plant Fire Protection (CARMEN-FIRE).'' In response to comments from members of the public, the NRC is reopening the public comment period until September 25, 2013.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently submitted to OMB for review the following proposal for the collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). The NRC hereby informs potential respondents that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and that a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The NRC published a Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period on this information collection on June 6, 2013 (78 FR 34134). 1. Type of submission, new, revision, or extension: Extension. 2. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 95 Facility Security Clearance and Safeguarding of National Security Information and Restricted Data. 3. Current OMB approval number: 3150-0047. 4. The form number if applicable: Not applicable. 5. How often the collection is required: On occasion. 6. Who will be required or asked to report: NRC-regulated facilities and their contractors who require access to and possession of NRC classified information. 7. An estimate of the number of annual responses: 223. 8. The estimated number of annual respondents: 10. 9. An estimate of the total number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 968. 10. Abstract: NRC-regulated facilities and their contractors who are authorized to possess classified matter are required to provide information and maintain records to ensure that an adequate level of protection is provided to NRC classified information and material. The public may examine and have copied for fee publicly available documents, including the final supporting statement, at the NRC's Public Document Room, Room O-1F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC's Web site: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/ doc-comment/omb/. The document will be available on the NRC's home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments and questions should be directed to the OMB reviewer listed below by October 10, 2013. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be given to comments received after this date. Chad Whiteman, Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (3150-0047), NEOB-10202, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be emailed to Chad_S_Whiteman@omb.eop.gov or submitted by telephone at 202-395-4718. The NRC Clearance Officer is Tremaine Donnell, telephone: 301-415- 6258.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently submitted to OMB for review the following proposal for the collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). The NRC hereby informs potential respondents that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and that a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The NRC published a Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period on this information collection on May 7, 2013 (78 FR 26661). 1. Type of submission, new, revision, or extension: Extension. 2. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 25, ``Access Authorization.'' 3. Current OMB approval number: 3150-0046. 4. The form number if applicable: N/A. 5. How often the collection is required: On occasion. 6. Who will be required or asked to report: NRC-regulated facilities and other organizations requiring access to NRC-classified information. 7. An estimate of the number of annual responses: 918. 8. The estimated number of annual respondents: 78. 9. An estimate of the total number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 365. 10. Abstract: NRC-regulated facilities and other organizations are required to provide information and maintain records to ensure that an adequate level of protection is provided to NRC-classified information and material. The public may examine and have copied for a fee publicly available documents, including the final supporting statement, at the NRC's Public Document Room, Room O-1F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC's Web site: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/ doc-comment/omb/. The document will be available on the NRC's home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments and questions should be directed to the OMB reviewer listed below by October 10, 2013. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be given to comments received after this date. Chad Whiteman, Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (3150-0046), NEOB-10202, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be emailed to Chad_S_Whiteman@omb.eop.gov or submitted by telephone at 202-395-4718. The NRC Clearance Officer is Tremaine Donnell, telephone: 301-415- 6258.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1275, ``Ultimate Heat Sink for Nuclear Power Plants.'' This regulatory guide (RG) describes methods and procedures acceptable to the NRC staff that nuclear power plant facility licensees and applicants may use to implement general design criteria (GDC) that are applicable to the ultimate heat sink (UHS) features of plant systems.