Nuclear Regulatory Commission November 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to conduct a public meeting on January 14, 2010, in Rockville, MD, to solicit input on issues associated with blending of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW). Since the closure of the LLRW disposal facility at Barnwell, South Carolina on June 30, 2008 to out-of-compact generators, the issue of blending of LLRW has received increased attention from stakeholders, industry, and Agreement States, especially blending that results in a change in the classification of the waste, as defined by the radionuclide concentrations in 10 CFR part 61.55. Blending, as defined here, refers to mixing of LLRW of different concentrations. It does not involve mixing radioactive waste with non-radioactive waste, (i.e., dilution) and concerns only disposal in a licensed facility, not release of radioactivity to the general environment.

The NRC staff is soliciting public comment on its proposed Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) DC/COL-ISG-019 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML092360375). The

The NRC is issuing its Final Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) DC/ COL-ISG-011 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML092890623). This ISG is to clarify the NRC staff position on finalizing licensing basis information at a point during the licensing review, a so-called freeze point, and the control of licensing basis information during and following the initial review of applications for design certifications (DCs) or combined licenses (COLs). The NRC staff issues COL/DC-ISGs to facilitate timely implementation of current staff guidance and to facilitate activities associated with review of applications for DCs and COLs by the Office of New Reactors (NRO). The NRC staff intends to incorporate the final approved DC/COL-ISG-011 into the next revision of Regulatory Guide 1.206, ``Combined License Applications for Nuclear Power Plants.''

The NRC is issuing a draft policy statement that sets forth the Commission's expectation that all licensees and certificate holders \1\ establish and maintain a positive safety culture that protects public health and safety and the common defense and security when carrying out licensed activities. The Commission defines safety culture as that assembly of characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors in organizations and individuals which establishes that as an overriding priority, nuclear safety and security issues \2\ receive the attention warranted by their significance. The Commission also considers nuclear safety and security issues to be equally important in a positive safety culture. The importance of treating safety and security in an equal manner within NRC's regulatory framework is clearly evident in our mission and strategic goals. Experience has shown that certain organizational characteristics and personnel attitudes and behaviors are present in a positive safety culture. These include, but are not limited to, individuals demonstrating ownership and personal responsibility for maintaining safety and security in their day-to-day work activities; the implementation of processes for planning and controlling work activities such that safety and security are maintained; a work environment in which personnel feel free to raise safety and security concerns without fear of retaliation; prompt and thorough identification, evaluation, and resolution of nuclear safety and security issues commensurate with their significance; the availability of the resources needed to ensure that safety and security are maintained; decision-making processes that protect safety and security; clearly defined roles and responsibilities for maintaining safety and security; and the seeking out and implementation of opportunities to improve safety and security. The NRC expects its licensees and certificate holders to foster these characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors in their organizations and among individuals who are overseeing or performing regulated activities commensurate with the safety and security significance of their activities and the nature and complexity of their organization and functions.