Nuclear Regulatory Commission July 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Section 189a.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing this regular biweekly 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, notwithstanding the pendency before the Commission of a request for a hearing from any person. This biweekly notice includes all notices of amendments issued, or proposed to be issued, from June 30, 2018 to July 16, 2018. The last biweekly notice was published on July 17, 2018.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Revision 1 to NUREG-1556, Volume 5, ``Consolidated Guidance about Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Self-Shielded Irradiator Licenses,'' and Volume 8, ``Consolidated Guidance about Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Exempt Distribution Licenses.'' NUREG-1556, Volumes 5 and 8 have been revised to include information on updated regulatory requirements, safety culture, security of radioactive materials, protection of sensitive information, and changes in regulatory policies and practices. These volumes are intended for use by applicants, licensees, and the NRC staff.

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, ``10 CFR Part 95, Facility Security Clearance and Safeguarding of National Security Information and Restricted Data.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and is issuing License Amendment Nos. 128 and 127 to Combined License (COL) Nos. NPF- 91 and NPF-92, respectively. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., and Georgia Power Company, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC, MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power SPVP, LLC, and the City of Dalton, Georgia (the licensee); for construction and operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke County, Georgia. The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information asked for in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is terminating the South Texas Project (STP) Units 3 and 4 Combined Licenses (COLs) designated as NPF-97 and NPF-98, and their included licenses to manufacture, produce, transfer, receive, acquire, own, possess, or use byproduct material. By letter dated June 22, 2018, Nuclear Innovation North America, LLC (NINA) requested that the NRC terminate the STP Units 3 and 4 COLs. Construction was not initiated for STP Units 3 and 4, and nuclear materials were never procured or possessed under these licenses. Consequently, the STP Units 3 and 4 site is approved for unrestricted use.

By letter dated November 14, 2017, Governor Matthew H. Mead of the State of Wyoming requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) enter into an Agreement with the State of Wyoming as authorized by Section 274b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA). Under the proposed Agreement, the Commission would discontinue, and the State of Wyoming would assume, regulatory authority over the management and disposal of byproduct materials as defined in Section 11e.(2) of the AEA and a subcategory of source material associated with uranium or thorium milling within the State. Pursuit to Commission direction, the proposed Agreement would state that the NRC will retain regulatory authority over the American Nuclear Corporation (ANC) license. As required by Section 274e. of the AEA, the NRC is publishing the proposed Agreement for public comment. The NRC is also publishing the summary of a draft assessment by the NRC staff of the State of Wyoming's regulatory program. Comments are requested on the proposed Agreement, especially its effect on public health and safety. Comments are also requested on the draft staff assessment, the adequacy of the State of Wyoming's program, and the State's program staff, as discussed in this notice. The proposed Agreement would exempt persons who possess or use byproduct materials as defined in Section 11e.(2) of the AEA and a subcategory of source material involved in the extraction or concentration of uranium or thorium in source material or ores at uranium or thorium milling facilities in the State of Wyoming from portions of the Commission's regulatory authority. Radioactive materials not covered by the proposed Agreement will continue to be subject to the Commission's regulatory authority. Section 274e. of the AEA requires that the NRC publish these exemptions. Notice is hereby given that the pertinent exemptions have been previously published in the Federal Register and are codified in the NRC's regulations. The NRC is giving notice once each week for four consecutive weeks of the proposed Agreement. This is the second notice that has been published.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF- 21, issued on May 22, 2012, and held by Energy Northwest (the licensee) for the operation of Columbia Generating Station (Columbia), located in Benton County, Washington. The proposed amendment would revise the Environmental Protection Plan (Non-Radiological) (EPP), contained in Appendix B to the Columbia renewed facility operating license. The NRC is issuing a final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed license amendment.

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, ``10 CFR part 140, Financial Protection Requirements and Indemnity Agreements.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a final guidance document entitled, ``Final Guidance for the Rule `Medical Use of Byproduct MaterialMedical Events Definitions, Training and Experience, and Clarifying Amendments.' '' This guidance document addresses implementation of the NRC's final rule amending its medical use of byproduct material regulations which is being published concurrently in Separate Part IV of this issue of the Federal Register.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is soliciting public comment on draft NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR Edition,'' Section BTP 5-3, ``Fracture Toughness Requirements.'' The NRC seeks comments on the proposed draft section revision of the Standard Review Plan (SRP) concerning guidance for the review of early site permits, combined construction and operating license and operating license applications and amendments for fracture toughness requirements.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is granting an exemption to allow a departure from the certification information of Tier 1 of the generic design control document (DCD) and is issuing License Amendment Nos. 127 and 126 to Combined License (COL) Nos. NPF- 91 and NPF-92, respectively. The COLs were issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., and Georgia Power Company, Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG Power SPVM, LLC, MEAG Power SPVJ, LLC, MEAG Power SPVP, LLC, and the City of Dalton, Georgia (the licensee); for construction and operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units 3 and 4, located in Burke County, Georgia. The granting of the exemption allows the changes to Tier 1 information asked for in the amendment. Because the acceptability of the exemption was determined in part by the acceptability of the amendment, the exemption and amendment are being issued concurrently.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Revision 1 to NUREG-1556, Volume 12, ``Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program Specific Guidance About Possession Licenses for Manufacturing and Distribution;'' NUREG-1556, Volume 14, ``Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Well Logging, Tracer, and Field Flood Study Licenses;'' and NUREG-1556, Volume 21, ``Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Possession Licenses for Production of Radioactive material Using an Accelerator.'' NUREG-1556, Volumes 12, 14, and 21 have been revised to include information on updated regulatory requirements, safety culture, security of radioactive materials, protection of sensitive information, and changes in regulatory policies and practices. These volumes are intended for use by applicants, licensees, and the NRC staff.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a partial exemption in response to an April 12, 2018, request from Exelon Generation Company, LLC (the licensee or Exelon). The issuance of the exemption grants Exelon a partial exemption from regulations that require the retention of records for certain systems, structures, and components associated with the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (Oyster Creek) until the termination of the Oyster Creek operating license.

Pursuant to Section 189a.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing this regular biweekly 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, notwithstanding the pendency before the Commission of a request for a hearing from any person. This biweekly notice includes all notices of amendments issued, or proposed to be issued, from June 5, 2018, to June 18, 2018. The last biweekly notice was published on June 19, 2018.

On June 7, 2018, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) solicited comments on a draft letter to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) clarifying the regulatory paths for the use of lead test assemblies (LTAs). The public comment period closed on June 27, 2018. The NRC has decided to reopen the public comment period to allow more time for members of the public to develop and submit their comments.