Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 Form 531, "Request for Taxpayer Identification Number."

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to an April 17, 2024, letter from Framatome Inc. (Framatome), which requested an extension to the exemption from regulatory requirements regarding the annual reports required by regulations (hereafter "required report") for the U.S. EPR standard design certification application for the years 2024-2028. The regulation for which exemption is sought covers emergency core cooling systems (ECCS) for light-water nuclear power reactors. Staff review of the U.S. EPR standard design certification application was suspended in April 2015 at the request of the applicant. Framatome committed to submit the required report before any request to reactivate the U.S. EPR review. Framatome further committed to providing an update to the required report, or taking other appropriate action, as necessary, no later than December 31, 2028. The NRC staff reviewed this request and determined that it is appropriate to grant the exemption in accordance with the regulations as the request does not present an undue risk to public health or safety and is consistent with the common defense and security; furthermore, special circumstances exist.

The Licensing Support System Advisory Review Panel was established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as a Federal Advisory Committee in 1989. Its purpose was to provide advice on the fundamental issues of design and development of an electronic information management system to be used to store and retrieve documents relating to the licensing of a geologic repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste, and on the operation and maintenance of the system. This electronic information management system was known as the Licensing Support System.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a request dated March 7, 2024, as supplemented by letters dated June 11, October 4, and November 20, 2024, from Kansas State University (KSU). The exemption temporarily exempts three licensed senior reactor operators at KSU from the NRC's requirements regarding completing the facility's requalification program and actively performing the functions of a senior operator in order to allow them to resume maintenance activities involving fuel movement, fuel cleaning, and fuel inspection and to return the facility to normal operations.

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, "Facility Security Clearance and Safeguarding of National Security Information and Restricted Data."

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an amendment of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) License No. SNM-2010, issued to Louisiana Energy Services, LLC, dba Urenco USA (UUSA) for the operation of the Urenco USA uranium enrichment facility in Eunice, New Mexico. The amended license would increase the allowed enrichment of uranium-235 (U-235) from the current limit of 5.5 weight percent U-235 (referred to as low-enriched uranium or LEU) to less than 10 weight percent U-235 (referred to as LEU+). For this proposed action, the NRC staff is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI).

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, "Physical Protection of Plants and Materials."

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 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) received and is considering issuing an export license (XR169/02), requested by Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (WEC) by application dated June 11, 2015. The application seeks the NRC's approval to: export nuclear equipment and components to China, covered under NRC regulations; expand the description of the nuclear equipment and components; add two additional units at both the Sanmen and Haiyang sites for a total of four units at each site; change the name of one of the "Suppliers and/ or Other Parties to the Export"; update the licensee's address; change the licensee point of contact; and extend the license date of expiration from July 23, 2015, to July 23, 2035. The NRC is providing notice of the opportunity to comment, request a hearing, and petition to intervene on WEC's application.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a petition for rulemaking (PRM) from Brian D. Mann on behalf of the Technical Specifications Task Force, the Pressurized Water Reactor Owners Group, and the Boiling Water Reactor Owners' Group, dated September 13, 2024, requesting that the NRC revise its regulations to apply risk insights to the selection of technical specifications Limiting Conditions for Operation and to update the regulation to be consistent with the guidance in the NRC's Standard Technical Specifications. The petition was docketed by the NRC on October 1, 2024, and has been assigned Docket No. PRM-50-126. The NRC is examining the issues raised in PRM-50-126 to determine whether they should be considered in rulemaking. The NRC is requesting public comment on this petition at this time.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published a final Site-Specific Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), issued as NUREG-1437, Supplement 26, Second Renewal, "Site-Specific Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Regarding Subsequent License Renewal for Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 1, Final Report." This EIS evaluates, on a site-specific basis, the environmental impacts of subsequent license renewal (SLR) of Facility Operating License No. DPR-22 for an additional 20 years of operation for Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (Monticello), Unit 1. Monticello is located approximately 35 miles NW of Minneapolis, MN. Alternatives to the proposed action of subsequent license renewal for Monticello include the no- action alternative and reasonable replacement power alternatives.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to a December 7, 2023, request from Constellation Energy Generation, LLC (Constellation), regarding the submittal of a subsequent license renewal application for James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. Pursuant to this exemption, if the licensee submits a subsequent license renewal application at least 3 years prior to the expiration of the existing operating license, and if the NRC staff finds it acceptable for docketing, the existing operating license will be in timely renewal under NRC regulations until the NRC has made a final determination on whether to approve the subsequent license renewal application.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) exemption request for the Clinch River Nuclear (CRN) Site. Specifically, TVA is requesting an exemption, pursuant to NRC regulations, to allow the conduct of certain excavation support activities at the CRN Site prior to the issuance of a construction permit, which are otherwise not permitted by NRC regulations.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to letter dated February 17, 2023, as supplemented by letters dated July 21, 2023, July 31, 2023, August 16, 2023, and May 28, 2024. Constellation Energy Generation LLC (Constellation, the licensee) has requested exemption from specific requirements for reduction of risk from anticipated transients without scram (ATWS) events for light-water-cooled nuclear power plants. Constellation is the holder of the Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-39 and NPF-85, which authorize the operation of Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 (Limerick).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the renewal of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) License No. SNM-2511 for the Diablo Canyon (DC) Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) located in San Luis Obispo County, California. If approved, under the renewed license SNM-2511, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will be able to continue to operate the DC ISFSI for an additional 40 years. The NRC staff has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for this proposed license renewal in accordance with its regulations. Based on the EA, the NRC has concluded that a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) is appropriate. Therefore, in accordance with NRC regulations, preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not warranted for the proposed action. The NRC staff also is conducting a safety evaluation of the proposed license renewal.

By letter dated November 2, 2023, American Centrifuge Operating, LLC (ACO), a subsidiary of Centrus Energy Corp. (Centrus), requested the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) terminate its Special Nuclear Material (SNM) License No. SNM-7003 for the American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility (LCF), located on a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reservation in Piketon, Ohio. ACO no longer needs to maintain its license SNM-7003. On January 5, 2024, the NRC accepted the license termination application for detailed technical review. The license termination would not change ACO's license SNM-2011 for the American Centrifuge Plant under which ACO is conducting the high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) program at the Piketon facility.

On October 1, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 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. This notice provides an update to the list of PRB member appointees.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft Supplement 62 to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG-1437, regarding the proposed renewal of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR- 80 and DPR-82 for an additional 20 years for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Diablo Canyon). Diablo Canyon is located in San Luis Obispo County, California, approximately 12 miles west- southwest of San Luis Obispo. Possible alternatives to the proposed action of license renewal for Diablo Canyon include the no-action alternative and replacement power alternatives.

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 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.