Nuclear Regulatory Commission July 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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, ``Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) has issued an exemption in response to a July 23, 2018, request from Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA or the licensee) to implement Optimized ZIRLO\TM\ fuel rod cladding at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant (Watts Bar), Units 1 and 2.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reissuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1327, ``Pressurized Water Reactor Control Rod Ejection and Boiling Water Reactor Control Rod Drop Accidents.'' This DG proposes new guidance for analyzing accidents such as a control rod ejection for pressurized water reactors and a control rod drop for boiling-water reactors. It defines fuel cladding failure thresholds for ductile failure, brittle failure, and pellet-clad mechanical interaction and provides radionuclide release fractions for use in assessing radiological consequences. It also describes analytical limits and guidance for demonstrating compliance with regulations governing reactivity limits.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a November 16, 2018, request from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (the licensee or Entergy). The issuance of the exemption would permit Entergy to use funds from the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (Pilgrim) decommissioning trust fund (DTF) for spent fuel management and site restoration activities.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-8057, ``Release of Patients Administered Radioactive Material.'' This proposed guide, Revision 1, provides licensees with more detailed instructions to provide to patients before and after they have been administered radioactive material than was in Revision 0. In addition, the guide includes a new section on ``Death of a Patient Following Radiopharmaceutical or Implants Administrations,'' as well as requirements for recordkeeping. Also, Table 3, ``Dosages of Radiopharmaceuticals That Require Instructions and Records When Administered to Patients Who Are Breastfeeding an Infant or Child,'' has been revised to provide information for the recommended duration of interruption of breastfeeding to ensure that the dose to an infant or child meets the NRC's regulatory requirements.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting comments on a draft regulatory basis to support the development of a rulemaking for the disposal of certain types of greater-than-Class-C waste in a low-level radioactive waste land disposal facility. Greater- than-Class-C waste may include transuranic radionuclides (e.g., isotopes of plutonium) that contaminate nuclear fuel cycle waste. In addition, the NRC plans to hold a public meeting to promote understanding of the draft regulatory basis and to facilitate public comment.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has determined that specified inspections, tests, and analyses have been successfully completed, and that specified acceptance criteria are met for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (VEGP), Units 3 and 4.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License NPF-58 held by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC, the licensee) for the operation of Perry Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP), Unit No. 1. The proposed license amendment would revise the emergency response organization (ERO) positions identified in the emergency plan for PNPP. The NRC is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed license amendment.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting comment on a regulatory basis to support a rulemaking that would amend the NRC's regulations to develop specific physical security requirements for advanced reactors, which refers to light-water small modular reactors and non-light-water reactors. The NRC is proposing a limited-scope rulemaking that would provide a clear set of alternative, performance-based requirements and guidance for advanced reactor physical security that would reduce the need for exemptions to current physical security requirements when applicants request permits and licenses. This rulemaking would provide additional benefits for advanced reactor applicants by establishing greater regulatory stability, predictability, and clarity in the licensing process. The NRC plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the regulatory basis and facilitate public participation.

By letter dated April 11, 2019, Governor Philip Scott of the State of Vermont requested that the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) enter into an Agreement with the State of Vermont 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 Vermont would assume, regulatory authority over certain types of byproduct materials as defined in the AEA, source material, and special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass. 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 Vermont's regulatory program. Comments are requested on the proposed Agreement and its effect on public health and safety. Comments are also requested on the draft staff assessment, the adequacy of the State of Vermont's program, and the State's program staff, as discussed in this document.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a notice that was published in the Federal Register (FR) on May 15, 2019, regarding the receipt of a petition for rulemaking from Michael Taylor, dated December 3, 2018, as amended on January 24, 2019. This action is necessary to correct a Docket ID and telephone number.

On April 5, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received the Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report (PSDAR) for the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (TMI-1). The PSDAR provides an overview of Exelon Generation Company, LLC's (Exelon or the licensee) planned decommissioning activities, schedule, projected costs, and environmental impacts for TMI-1. The NRC will hold a public meeting to discuss the PSDAR's content and receive comments.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will convene a teleconference meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on July 24, 2019, to discuss the NRC's Abnormal Occurrence Criteria and the ACMUI subcommittee's report on a draft guidance document. Meeting information, including a copy of the agenda and publicly available handouts, will be available at https:// www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/acmui/meetings/2019.ht ml. The agenda and handouts may also be obtained by contacting Ms. Kellee Jamerson using the contact information below. Date and Time for Open Session: July 24, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Date and Time for Closed Session: July 24, 2019, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EST). This session will be closed to discuss information of which the premature disclosure would likely significantly frustrate implementation of a proposed agency action. Public Participation: Any member of the public who wishes to participate in the open session of the teleconference should contact Ms. Jamerson using the contact information below or may register for the GoToWebinar at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 1516330288686216460 for the July 24, 2019, meeting.

By letter dated April 11, 2019, Governor Philip Scott of the State of Vermont requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) enter into an Agreement with the State of Vermont 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 Vermont would assume, regulatory authority over certain types of byproduct materials as defined in the AEA, source material, and special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass. 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 Vermont's regulatory program. Comments are requested on the proposed Agreement and its effect on public health and safety. Comments are also requested on the draft staff assessment, the adequacy of the State of Vermont's program, and the State's program staff, as discussed in this document.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is discontinuing a rulemaking activity that would have consolidated and revised the material control and accounting requirements for special nuclear material. The purpose of this action is to inform members of the public of the discontinuation of the rulemaking activity and to provide a brief discussion of the NRC's decision. The 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) has recently submitted a proposed collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The information collection is entitled, ``Security Acknowledgment and Termination Statement.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is undertaking activities to develop a report identifying best practices for establishment and operation of local community advisory boards associated with decommissioning activities, including lessons learned from existing boards, as required by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). As part of developing the report, the NRC is hosting 11 public meetings and at least 1 webinar to consult with host States, communities within the emergency planning zone of an applicable nuclear power reactor, and existing local community advisory boards. The results of these meetings, along with any other data received as a result of the NRC's information collection activities associated with NEIMA, will be captured in a best practices report that will be submitted to Congress.

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 Forms 541 and 541A, Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest (Container and Waste Description) and Continuation Page.''

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 Forms 542 and 542A, Uniform Low-Level Radioactive Waste Manifest (Index and Regional Compact Tabulation) and Continuation Page.''

Pursuant to 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 4, 2019, to June 17, 2019. The last biweekly notice was published on June 18, 2019.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will convene an evidentiary session to receive testimony and exhibits in the uncontested proceeding regarding the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) early site permit (ESP) application. In its application, TVA proposes to use the Clinch River Nuclear (CRN) Site in Roane County, TN, as a site for two or more small modular reactors (SMRs).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft NUREG entitled, ``Methodology for Modeling Fire Growth and Suppression for Electrical Cabinet Fires in Nuclear Power Plants'' (NUREG-2230/EPRI 3002016051). This report is a joint product of the NRC and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) collaborating under a memorandum of understanding for fire research. The purpose of this report is to provide an approach that more closely models the types of fire progressions and response activities observed in operating experience. This report provides a revised set of parameters addressing both the fire growth portion and the suppression response for electrical cabinet fires.