Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM), dated March 13, 2015, submitted by Mark Edward Leyse (petitioner). The petition was docketed by the NRC on April 24, 2015, and assigned Docket No. PRM-50-111. The petitioner requested that the NRC require all holders of operating licenses for nuclear power plants to operate them with in-core temperature- monitoring devices (e.g., thermoacoustic sensors or thermocouples) located at different elevations and radial positions throughout the reactor core. The NRC is denying the petition because current regulations provide a sufficient level of safety, such that additional requirements for in-core temperature-monitoring devices as specified in the petition are not needed.

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 October 22, 2019, to November 4, 2019. The last biweekly notice was published on November 5, 2019.

On September 27, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) solicited comments on best practices for establishment and operation of local community advisory boards (CABs) associated with decommissioning activities, including lessons learned from existing boards, as required by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA). The public comment period was originally scheduled to close on November 15, 2019. The NRC has elected to reopen the public comment period to allow more time for members of the public to develop and submit their comments. Consistent with the consultation requirements in NEIMA Section 108, the NRC has hosted 11 public meetings and a public webinar to consult with host States, communities within the emergency planning zone of an applicable nuclear power reactor, and existing local CABs. The NRC is planning to host a second public webinar on November 19, 2019. In addition to these public meetings and public webinars, the NRC has developed a questionnaire to collect information regarding the areas identified in NEIMA with respect to the creation and operation of CABs from CABs in the vicinity of power reactors undergoing decommissioning, similar established stakeholder groups, or local government organizations. The results of the meetings, along with any other data received as a result of the NRC's information collection activities associated with the NEIMA Section 108, will be captured in a best practices report that will be submitted to Congress.

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) 8-8, ``Onsite (Emergency Diesel Generators) and Offsite Power Sources Completion Time Extensions.'' The NRC seeks comments on the proposed draft section revision of the BTP concerning guidance for the completion time extension requests for onsite or offsite power sources.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuing an export license (XW025), requested by Perma-Fix Northwest Richland, Inc. (PFNW). On September 27, 2019, PFNW filed an application with the NRC for a license to export radioactive waste. The request seeks NRC approval for the export of low-level radioactive waste to Italy. The NRC is providing notice of the opportunity to request a hearing on PFNW's revised application. The request seeks the NRC's approval of the application authorizing the export of radioactive waste to Italy.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted the request of Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) to withdraw its application dated August 13, 2018, as supplemented by letters dated October 10, 2018, March 25, 2019, June 7, 2019, and October 3, 2019, for proposed amendments to Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR- 53 and DPR-69 issued to Exelon for operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (Calvert Cliffs). The proposed amendment would have modified the Calvert Cliffs' licensing bases, including the affected portions of the Technical Specifications and Updated Final Safety Analysis Report to use a risk-informed approach to address issues described in NRC Generic Letter 2004-02, ``Potential Impact of Debris Blockage on Emergency Recirculation During Design Basis Accidents at Pressurized-Water Reactors.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued an order imposing a civil monetary penalty (Order) to Team Industrial Services, Inc., (licensee) on September 20, 2019. The purpose of the Order was to document the NRC's review of the licensee's response to the Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty, issued on March 8, 2019. The licensee's response did not dispute the violation but did dispute both the deliberateness associated with the violation and the significance of the violation. The licensee also requested that the NRC not impose a civil penalty. After consideration of the response, the NRC concluded that the significance determination was appropriate and that an adequate basis to mitigate the proposed civil penalty amount was not provided.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received and is considering approval of an indirect license transfer application filed by the El Paso Electric Company (EPE) on August 13, 2019. The application seeks NRC approval of the indirect transfer of possession- only non-operating interests in Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Palo Verde), Units 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and the general license for the Palo Verde Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) from EPE to IIF US Holding 2 LP. EPE currently owns a 15.8 percent tenant-in-common interest in and holds possession-only rights in the NRC licenses. The proposed indirect license transfer would result from IIF US Holding 2 LP acquiring 100 percent of the shares in EPE.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is withdrawing its June 2018 final environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) concerning the license renewal request from Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC's (WEC) Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF). Because of its withdrawal, the NRC is issuing for public comment a new draft EA and draft FONSI concerning WEC's CFFF. The draft EA, ``Environmental Assessment for the Renewal of SNM-1107, Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in Richland County, South Carolina,'' documents the NRC staff's new environmental review of the license renewal application. The NRC is announcing a public meeting and an open house. The public meeting will allow interested members of the public to submit their comments on the draft EA.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued Revision 3 to NUREG-1556, Volume 9, ``Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance About Medical Use Licenses.'' NUREG-1556 Volume 9 has been revised to include information on updated regulatory requirements, safety culture, security of radioactive materials, protection of sensitive information, and changes in regulatory policies and practices consistent with current regulations. This volume is intended for use by applicants, licensees, and the NRC staff.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is soliciting public comment on its draft interim staff guidance which is intended to facilitate the staff's understanding of the in-reactor phenomena important to safety for the chromium-coated zirconium alloy fuel cladding concepts, as well as to provide guidance for NRC staff reviewing vendor applications. Chromium-coated zirconium alloy fuel cladding concepts are being pursued by several U.S. fuel vendors as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's accident tolerant fuel program.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an imposition order (Order) to Solis Tek, Inc. (Solis Tek). After consideration of Solis Tek's request for mitigation of the Civil Penalty amount proposed in the NRC Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty (Notice) served upon Solis Tek by letter dated May 15, 2019 the NRC staff has determined that the violations occurred as previously stated in the Notice and that the $45,500 penalty proposed for the violations will be imposed. This Order is effective upon its issuance.

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 September 24, 2019 to October 8, 2019. The last biweekly notice was published on October 8, 2019.

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 212, ``Qualifications Investigation, Professional, Technical and Administrative Positions.''

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

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the proposed renewal of NRC source materials license SUB- 526 for Honeywell, International, Inc.'s Metropolis Works uranium conversion facility. The final EA, ``Final Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Renewal of Source Materials License SUB-526, Metropolis Works Uranium Conversion Facility (Massac County, Illinois),'' documents the NRC staff's environmental review of the license renewal application.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of exemptions in response to an April 12, 2019, request from Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon or the licensee), for Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (TMI-1), located in Londonderry Township of Dauphin County, PA. One exemption would permit the licensee to use funds from the TMI-1 decommissioning trust fund (DTF or the Trust) for spent fuel management activities. Another exemption would allow the licensee to use withdrawals from the Trust for these activities without prior NRC notification. The NRC staff is issuing a final environmental assessment (EA) and final finding of no significant (FONSI) impact associated with the proposed exemptions.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption, in response to an April 24, 2019 request from Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO or licensee), from NRC's requirement to comply with the terms, conditions, and specifications in Amendment No. 8 of the NAC International, Inc. (NAC)Multi-Purpose Canister (MPC) System Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1025, Appendix A ``Technical Specifications for NAC-MPC System,'' Technical Specifications (TS) A.5.1 ``Training Program'' at the Haddam Neck Plant (HNP) independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). Specifically, the exemption would relieve the licensee from the requirement to develop training modules under its Systems Approach to Training (SAT) that includes comprehensive instructions for the operation and maintenance of the ISFSI, except for the NAC-MPC System.

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) received and is considering approval of an application filed by the Duke Energy Florida, LLC (DEF), on behalf of itself and ADP [Accelerated Decommissioning Partners] CR3, LLC (ADP CR3) (together the Applicants), on June 14, 2019. The application seeks NRC approval of the direct transfer of Facility Operating License No. DPR-72 for Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant (CR-3) and the general license for the CR-3 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), from the current holder, DEF, to ADP CR3 which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ADP, LLC. The NRC is also considering amending the facility operating 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 confirming the effective date of November 5, 2019, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on August 22, 2019. This direct final rule amended the NRC's spent fuel storage regulations by revising the Holtec International Storage, Transport and Repository (HI-STAR) 100 Storage System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Amendment No. 3 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1008.