Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of December 18, 2023, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on October 3, 2023. This direct final rule amended the TN Americas LLC, Standardized NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System for Irradiated Nuclear Fuel listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Renewed Amendment No. 18 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1004.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft Regulatory Guide (DG), DG-1415, ``Dedication of Commercial-Grade Items for Use in Nuclear Power Plants.'' This DG is the proposed Revision 1 of Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.164 of the same title. This DG describes methods that the NRC staff considers acceptable in meeting regulatory requirements for dedication of commercial-grade items and services used in nuclear power plants.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted the request of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the licensee) to withdraw its application dated February 16, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated June 20, 2022, September 8, 2022, and April 4, 2023, for proposed amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-80 and DPR-82, issued to the licensee for operation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2, located in San Luis Obispo County, California. The proposed amendments would have permitted alternative security measures for the implementation of an early warning system.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a notice that was published in the Federal Register (FR) on November 3, 2023, requesting public comment on draft Supplement 60, License Renewal, to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, regarding the renewal of Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-87 and NPF-89 for an additional 20 years of operation for Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2. This action is necessary to align with the comment period specified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specifically for the Comanche Peak License Renewal draft environmental impact statement.

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, ``Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers: Inspection and Investigations.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 5 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.189, ``Fire Protection for Nuclear Power Plants.'' It is being issued to correct typographic errors that appeared in RG 1.189, Revision 4 of the same name. In addition, Revision 5 contains edits to conform with the current template for RGs and fixes to a few reference numbering errors. The changes in Revision 5 are intended to improve clarity and do not substantially alter the staff's regulatory guidance.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) received and is considering approval of an application filed by GE- Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (GEHA) and NorthStar Vallecitos, LLC (NorthStar Vallecitos) on September 1, 2023, as supplemented by letters dated September 5, 2023, October 19, 2023, and November 1, 2023. The application seeks NRC approval of the direct transfer of NRC license numbers DPR-1, TR-1, R-33, DR-10, and SNM-960 for the Vallecitos Nuclear Center from the current holder, GEHA, to NorthStar Vallecitos. The NRC is also considering amending the licenses for administrative purposes to reflect the proposed transfer. The application contains sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and accompanying environmental assessment (EA) regarding the NRC's consideration of a license amendment request to amend a Special Nuclear Material (SNM) license, SNM-124, held by Nuclear Fuel Service, Inc. (NFS) at the NFS site located in Erwin, Tennessee. If approved, the amendment would authorize NFS to operate uranium purification and conversion services (U-Metal Project) at the NFS site, pursuant to a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Based on the EA, the NRC staff has concluded that there will be no significant impacts to environmental resources from the requested license amendment, and therefore, a FONSI is appropriate.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft Supplement 60, License Renewal, to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, regarding the renewal of Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-87 and NPF-89 for an additional 20 years of operation for Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 (CPNPP). The CPNPP facility is in Somervell County, Texas. Possible alternatives to the proposed action (license renewal) include no action and reasonable replacement power alternatives.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an order approving the application filed by STP Nuclear Operating Company, acting on behalf of Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (CEG) and NRG South Texas LP (NRG South Texas) and its parent companies, on June 12, 2023, as supplemented by letters dated August 31, 2023, and October 5, 2023. Specifically, the order approves the indirect transfer of possession-only non-operating interests in Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-76 and NPF-80 for South Texas Project (STP), Units 1 and 2, respectively, and its generally licensed independent spent fuel storage installation from NRG South Texas to CEG and the issuance of conforming amendments to the operating licenses.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced appointments to the NRC Performance Review Board (PRB) responsible for making recommendations on performance appraisal ratings and performance awards for NRC Senior Executives and Senior Level System employees and appointments to the NRC PRB Panel responsible for making recommendations to the appointing and awarding authorities for NRC PRB members.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of exemptions that would permit the licensee to reduce its emergency planning (EP) activities at the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, collectively referred to as the Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC). Specifically, Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC (HDI), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Holtec International (Holtec) is seeking exemptions on behalf of Holtec Indian Point 2, LLC (``Holtec IP2'') and Holtec Indian Point 3, LLC (``Holtec IP3''), the licensees, that would eliminate the requirements to maintain formal offsite radiological emergency plans, as well as reduce the scope of some of the onsite EP activities based on the reduced risks at IPEC, which is permanently shut down and defueled. However, requirements for an onsite radiological emergency plan and for certain onsite capabilities to communicate and coordinate with offsite response authorities would be retained. In addition, offsite EP provisions would still exist through State and local government use of a comprehensive emergency management plan process, in accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101, ``Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans.'' The NRC staff is issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed exemptions.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its spent fuel regulations by revising the Holtec International HI-STORM 100 Cask System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Renewed Amendment No. 17 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1014. Because this amendment is subsequent to the renewal of the HI-STORM 100 Cask System Certificate of Compliance No. 1014 and, therefore, subject to the Aging Management Program requirements of the renewed certificate, NRC is referring to it as ``Renewed Amendment No. 17.'' Renewed Amendment No. 17 updates the HI- STORM 100 Cask System description in the certificate of compliance to indicate that only the portions of the components that contact the pool water need to be made of stainless steel or aluminum. This amendment also includes minor editorial and formatting changes to the technical specifications that do not change the substantive technical information of the certificate of compliance.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft Regulatory Guide (DG), DG-5081, ``Preemption Authority, Enhanced Weapons Authority, and Firearms Background Checks.'' This DG-5081 is proposed Revision 1 of Regulatory Guide (RG) 5.86 of the same name. This DG provides an approach acceptable to the NRC staff for use by licensees under NRC regulations, ``Physical Protection of Plants and Materials,'' regarding stand-alone preemption authority, combined preemption authority and enhanced weapons authority, and firearms background checks.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and accompanying Environmental Assessment (EA) for the unrestricted release of the Curators of the University of Missouri South Farm site located in Columbia, Missouri. Based on the analysis in the EA, the NRC staff has concluded that there would be no significant impacts to environmental resources from the proposed unrestricted release and, therefore, a FONSI is appropriate.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft Regulatory Guide (DG), DG-5080, ``Physical Security Event Notifications, Reports, and Records.'' This DG-5080 is a limited-scope proposed Revision 3 of Regulatory Guide (RG) 5.62 of the same name. This DG provides an approach acceptable to the NRC staff for licensees to use for reporting and recording of security events and conditions adverse to security under NRC regulations, ``Physical Protection of Plants and Materials.''

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, ``Notices of Enforcement Discretion (NOEDs) for Operating Power Reactors and Gaseous Diffusion Plants (NRC Enforcement Policy).''

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 241, ``Report of Proposed Activities in Non-Agreement States, Areas of Exclusive Federal Jurisdiction, or Offshore Waters.''

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,'' Branch Technical Position (BTP) 7-19, Revision 9, ``Guidance for Evaluation of Defense In Depth and Diversity To Address Common- Cause Failure Due to Latent Design Defects in Digital Safety Systems.'' The NRC seeks comments on the proposed draft BTP 7-19 revision of the Standard Review Plan (SRP) that provides the NRC staff with guidance for evaluating an applicant's assessment of the adequacy of defense in depth and diversity (D3) for a proposed digital instrumentation and control (DI&C) system.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to increase the required amount of primary nuclear liability insurance from $450 million to $500 million for each nuclear reactor that is licensed to operate, is designed for the production of electrical energy, and has a rated capacity of 100,000 electrical kilowatts or more. This change complies with the provision in the Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988 that states the amount of primary financial protection required of licensees by the NRC shall be the maximum amount available at reasonable cost and on reasonable terms from private sources.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-4034, ``General Site Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations.'' This DG is a proposed Revision 4 for Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.7 of the same name which describes the major site characteristics related to public health and safety and environmental issues that the NRC staff considers in determining the suitability of sites for commercial nuclear power stations.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 1 to Regulatory Guide (RG), 1.183, ``Alternative Radiological Source Terms for Evaluating Design Basis Accidents at Nuclear Power Reactors.'' This RG describes a method that the NRC staff considers acceptable in complying with regulations for design basis accident dose consequence analysis using an alternative source term. This guidance for light-water reactor (LWR) designs includes the scope, nature, and documentation of associated analyses and evaluations; consideration of impacts on analyzed risk; and content of submittals.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to an exemption request from Union Electric Company doing business as Ameren Missouri (the licensee) submitted by letter dated October 12, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated December 1, 2022, May 9, 2023, June 21, 2023, and August 3, 2023.