Nuclear Regulatory Commission September 2023 – 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, NRC Form 536, ``Operator Licensing Examination Data.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 1 to Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2014-06, ``Consideration of Current Operating Issues and Licensing Actions in License Renewal.'' Revision 1 to RIS 2014-06 provides information to the addressees on how the NRC considers current operating issues in the license renewal review under NRC regulations. This RIS is intended for all holders of operating licenses and combined licenses for nuclear power reactors, except those who have permanently ceased operations and have certified that fuel has been permanently removed from the reactor vessel. NRC regulations identify the technical information that must be submitted in a license renewal application to enable the NRC staff to make a determination that the license may be renewed. Pursuant to the regulations, an applicant is required to demonstrate that the effects of aging on the functionality of structures and components subject to an aging management review will be adequately managed; the consideration of recent operating experience is an important aspect of that demonstration. In addition, as required by NRC regulations, license renewal applicants need to update their applications with new information related to any current licensing basis changes during the NRC application review that could impact aging management of structures and components.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of October 17, 2023, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2023. This direct final rule amended the spent fuel storage regulations by revising the NAC Multi-Purpose Canister (NAC-MPC) System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to renew, for 40 years, the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1 through 8 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1025. The renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1 through 8 revises the certificate of compliance's conditions and technical specifications to address aging management activities related to the structures, systems, and components important to safety of the dry storage system to ensure that these will maintain their intended functions during the period of extended storage operations.

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, ``Standard Specification for the Granting of Patent Licenses.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has accepted for docketing a Limited Work Authorization (LWA) application submitted by Carbon Free Power Project, LLC (CFPP). CFPP plans to conduct certain early construction activities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) complex near Idaho Falls, Idaho for which either a construction permit or a combined license would otherwise be required.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is advertising for nominations for the position of diagnostic radiologist on the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI). Nominees should currently be practicing diagnostic radiologists.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) has received a license amendment application from Northern States Power Company (NSPM) for an amendment to Materials License No. SNM-2506 for the Prairie Island Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (PI ISFSI) located in Welch, Minnesota. The amendment request seeks to revise the technical specifications (TS) for the PI ISFSI. NSPM proposes to allow use of a Code alternative as an option to the requirements of the 2004 Edition through 2006 Addenda of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code, Section III, Division 1, Subsection NB, Paragraph NB-5130, by revising the TS to add the Code alternative to TS section 4.4, table 4.4-1, TN-40HT ASME Code Exceptions.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is soliciting public comment on Appendix B and conforming changes to other parts of its draft Regulatory Guide (DG), DG-1404, Revision 1 ``Guidance for a Technology-Inclusive Content-of-Application Methodology to Inform the Licensing Basis and Content of Applications for Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Non-Light-Water Reactors.'' On May 25, 2023, the NRC published Revision 0 to DG-1404 requesting public comment, and on June 28, 2023, the NRC extended the public comment period to August 10, 2023. Since then, and consistent with item 1 in Appendix A to DG-1404, Revision 0, the NRC completed its development of Appendix B and revised DG-1404 (i.e., Revision 1) to include this appendix and made conforming changes to other parts of the document. Appendix B provides additional guidance for the scope, level of detail, elements, and plant representation for a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) supporting a Licensing Modernization Project (LMP)-based construction permit application.

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, ``Solicitation of Non-Power Operator Licensing Examination Data.''

On July 11, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) solicited comments on three draft documents that provide revised guidance for subsequent license renewal (SLR) and the associated technical bases for the revised guidance documents. The draft regulatory guidance documents consist of draft NUREG-2191, ``Generic Aging Lessons Learned for Subsequent License Renewal Report,'' Volumes 1 and 2, Revision 1 (GALL-SLR Report); draft NUREG-2192, ``Standard Review Plan for Review of Subsequent License Renewal Applications for Nuclear Power Plants,'' Revision 1 (SRP-SLR); and draft NUREG-2221, ``Technical Bases for Changes in the Subsequent License Renewal Guidance Documents, NUREG-2191, Revision 1, and NUREG-2192, Revision 1,'' Supplement 1. The public comment period was originally scheduled to close on September 11, 2023. The NRC has decided to extend the public comment period to allow more time for members of the public to prepare and submit their 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.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) will convene an evidentiary session to receive testimony and exhibits in the uncontested proceeding regarding the application from Kairos Power LLC (Kairos) for a construction permit (CP) to construct a non- power test reactor termed Hermes in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This mandatory hearing will consider safety and environmental matters relating to the requested CP.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-43, issued to DTE Electric Company, for operation of Fermi, Unit 2 (Fermi 2). The proposed amendment requests an amendment to the Fermi 2 Technical Specifications (TS) 3.7.2, to allow for a one-time extension of the Condition A Completion Time to allow repair of Division 1 Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower A and C fan pedestals while online. The proposed amendment is being requested due to an exigent circumstance pursuant to NRC regulations.