Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to make miscellaneous corrections. These changes include updating organizational information, revising an address, and correcting reference, spelling, and grammatical errors. The amendments also make updates to replace gendered terms with inclusive, gender- neutral language. This document is necessary to inform the public of these non-substantive amendments to the NRC's regulations.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), NUREG-2263, ``Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction Permit for the Kairos Hermes Test Reactor: Final Report.'' The NRC staff is issuing a final EIS as part of the review of the application submitted by Kairos Power, LLC (Kairos) for a construction permit (CP). The Hermes test reactor is proposed to be built in the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting the preamble of a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2023, to amend its regulations to incorporate by reference the 2021 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the 2022 Edition of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants, Division 1: OM Code: Section IST, for nuclear power plants. This action is necessary to correct an editorial error to include reference to missing standards.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 1 to Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.26 ``Volcanic Hazards Assessment for Proposed Nuclear Power Reactor Sites,'' to restore text and a Section heading inadvertently omitted from Section C, ``Staff Regulatory Guidance,'' of Revision 0. The restored text appeared in the draft guide released for public comment. In addition, there is a minor update of the Paperwork Reduction Act text in the RG. The changes do not represent substantive changes in the NRC staff's regulatory positions.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) has received a limited work authorization (LWA) application from Carbon Free Power Project, (CFPP) LLC to conduct certain early construction activities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for which either a construction permit or a combined license would otherwise be required.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an Order suspending the general license authority under NRC regulations to export special nuclear material, source material, and deuterium for nuclear end use to the People's Republic of China. Exporters are no longer authorized to use the general license to export special nuclear material, source material, or deuterium for nuclear end use to the People's Republic of China and now must apply for a specific license in accordance with NRC regulations.

Notice is hereby given that effective August 9, 2023, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has assumed regulatory authority to evaluate and approve sealed source and device (SS&D) applications in the State of New York and approved the Governor of the State of New York's request to relinquish this authority.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a notice that was published in the Federal Register (FR) on July 11, 2023, requesting public comment on three draft NUREGs that provide revised guidance for subsequent license renewal and the associated technical bases for the revised guidance documents. This action is necessary to correct tables within the Draft NUREG-2192, ``Standard Review Plan for Review of Subsequent License Renewal Applications for Nuclear Power Plants, Draft Report for Comment,'' Revision 1.

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) has issued an exemption in response to a request dated June 30, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated September 13, 2022, and January 20, and May 5, 2023, from Southern Nuclear Operating Company to allow the use of AXIOM fuel rod cladding material in lead test assemblies 7ST1, 7ST2, 7ST3, and 7ST4, for up to two cycles of operation at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 2.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to a request dated June 30, 2022, as supplemented by letters dated September 13, 2022, and January 20, and May 5, 2023, from Southern Nuclear Operating Company to allow the use of AXIOM fuel rod cladding material in lead test assemblies 7ST1, 7ST2, 7ST3, and 7ST4, for up to two cycles of operation at Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Unit 2.

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, ``IAEA Design Information Questionnaire Forms.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is providing public notice of receipt and availability of an application for construction permits for a two-unit reactor facility from Kairos Power, LLC. The application for the construction permits was received on July 14, 2023.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its 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) is soliciting public comment on draft NUREG-0800, ``Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: LWR Edition,'' Section 15.0, Revision 4, ``IntroductionTransient and Accident Analyses.'' The NRC seeks comments on the proposed draft section revision of the Standard Review Plan (SRP), concerning the evaluation of the safety of a nuclear power plant that requires analyses of the plant's responses to postulated equipment failures or malfunctions. Such analyses help to determine the limiting conditions for operation, limiting safety system settings, and design specifications for components and systems to protect public health and safety.

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, ``Medical Use of Byproduct Material.''

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) License No. SNM-2017, to Sensor Concepts & Applications, Inc. (SCA, the licensee) located in Glen Arm, Maryland. The renewed license authorizes SCA to continue to possess and use SNM for a period of 10 years and will expire on July 26, 2033.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the NAC International, Inc. MAGNASTOR[supreg] Storage System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Amendment Nos. 11 and 12 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 0 through 9 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1031. Amendment No. 11 amends the certificate of compliance to add a new concrete cask, transfer cask, fuel baskets and revised contents. Amendment No. 11 also adds a definition for the concrete cask lid, revises the definition for the concrete cask to exclude the lid, adds a definition for the storage cask, and provides alternate fabrication criteria and techniques for the concrete cask lid. Amendment No. 12 and revisions to Amendment Nos. 0 through 9 add definitions for the storage cask and concrete cask lid, revise the definition of the concrete cask, and provide alternate fabrication criteria and techniques for the concrete cask lid to the certificate of compliance.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a decommissioning plan from Aerotest Operations, Inc. for the Aerotest Radiography and Research Reactor, located in Contra Costa County, California. The license authorizes the possession only of the reactor and fuel, but not use or operation of the permanently shutdown facility. Aerotest Operations, Inc. is requesting NRC review and approval of a proposed decommissioning plan. If approved, the NRC would amend the Aerotest Radiography and Research Reactor license to reference the NRC approved decommissioning plan. Additionally, the NRC would add a license condition requiring the licensee to submit more detailed information on remaining dismantlement and remediation activities, as well as the final status survey plan, for NRC review and approval prior to conducting final status surveys for license termination.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Revision 1 to Regulatory Guide (RG), 5.83, ``Cybersecurity Event Notifications.'' This revision describes methods that the staff of the NRC considers acceptable for licensees to meet requirements in NRC regulations to report and record cybersecurity events.

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 749, ``Manual License Verification Report''/License Verification System.

We are publishing our semiannual regulatory agenda (the Agenda) in accordance with Public Law 96-354, ``The Regulatory Flexibility Act,'' and Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review.'' The NRC's Agenda is a compilation of all rulemaking activities on which we have recently completed action or have proposed or are considering action. We have completed 5 rulemaking activities since our complete Agenda was issued online at the Office of Management and Budget's website at https://www.reginfo.gov on January 4, 2023. This issuance of our Agenda contains 32 active and 21 long-term rulemaking activities: 3 are Economically Significant; 17 represent Other Significant agency priorities; 35 are Substantive, Nonsignificant rulemaking activities; and 3 are Administrative rulemaking activities. In addition, 7 rulemaking activities impact small entities. We are requesting comment on the rulemaking activities as identified in this Agenda. The NRC's last Agenda was issued for public comment on February 22, 2023.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing this notice regarding the issuance of a final environmental assessment (EA) and a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for its review and approval of the updated decommissioning funding plans (DFPs) submitted by independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) licensees for the ISFSIs listed in the ``Discussion'' section of this document.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a new Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.27, ``Use of Plant Parameter Envelope in Early Site Permit Applications for Nuclear Power Plants.'' This RG provides guidance for nuclear power plant applicants that elect to use the plant parameter envelope concept to assume certain design parameters for an early site permit application when a specific reactor technology has not been selected for a proposed site.