80_FR_64046 80 FR 63843 - Fuel Retrievability

80 FR 63843 - Fuel Retrievability

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 203 (October 21, 2015)

Page Range63843-63845
FR Document2015-26743

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting public comment on its draft SFM-Interim Staff Guidance (ISG)--2, Revision 2, ``Fuel Retrievability.'' This revision to the guidance was developed to improve regulatory clarity due to uncertain duration of spent fuel storage in an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). The revision would provide improved guidance to the staff on the process to determine whether spent fuel storage systems are designed to allow ready retrieval of spent fuel.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 203 (Wednesday, October 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63843-63845]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26743]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2015-0241]


Fuel Retrievability

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft interim staff guidance; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting 
public comment on its draft SFM-Interim Staff Guidance (ISG)--2, 
Revision 2, ``Fuel Retrievability.'' This revision to the guidance was 
developed to improve regulatory clarity due to uncertain duration of 
spent fuel storage in an independent spent fuel storage installation 
(ISFSI). The revision would provide improved guidance to the staff on 
the process to determine whether spent fuel storage systems are 
designed to allow ready retrieval of spent fuel.

DATES: Submit comments by November 20, 2015. Comments received after 
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the 
Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received 
before this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(unless this document describes a different method for submitting 
comments on a specific subject):
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0241. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this document.
     Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, 
Mail Stop: OWFN-12-H08, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001.
    For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting 
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emma Wong, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7091, email: Emma.Wong@nrc.gov and 
Haile Lindsay, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 
301-415-0616, email: Haile.Lindsay@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0241 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain 
publicly-available information related to this action by any of the 
following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0241.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and 
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, 
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available 
in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. 
Draft ISG-2, Revision 2, is available in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML15239A695.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2015-0241 in the subject line of your 
comment submission, in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make 
your comment submission available to the public in this docket.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC posts all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as entering the comment submissions into 
ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove 
identifying or contact information.

[[Page 63844]]

    If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons 
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to 
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should 
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove such information before making the comment submissions available 
to the public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS.

II. Background

    Section 141(b)(1)(C) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 
1982, as amended, requires that each monitored retrievable storage 
(MRS) facility be designed ``to provide for the ready retrieval of such 
spent fuel and waste for further processing or disposal.'' The NRC 
codified this portion of the NWPA in its 1988 final rulemaking, 
``Licensing Requirements for the Independent Spent Fuel Storage of 
Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste'' (53 FR 31651; 
August 19, 1988). The NRC inserted, ``Storage systems must be designed 
to allow ready retrieval of spent fuel or high-level radioactive waste 
for further processing or disposal,'' in section 72.122(l) of title 10 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and added MRS facilities to 
the scope of 10 CFR part 72. This requirement currently applies to all 
ISFSI and MRS licensees.
    The NRC's current position on how a licensee may satisfy the 
requirement for ``ready retrieval'' under section 72.122(l) is 
delineated in draft ISG No. 2, Revision 1 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML100550861). In essence, draft ISG-2, Rev. 1 provides guidance to the 
NRC staff that a licensee may demonstrate ready retrieval through a 
two-part approach: 1) Ability to remove the individual spent fuel 
assemblies or canned assemblies by normal means (i.e., crane and 
grapple); and 2) ability to move a canister or cask containing spent 
fuel from the storage location.
    As the duration of spent fuel storage at an ISFSI or MRS facility 
increases, the practical impact of the application of the first part of 
ready retrieval--the ability of the fuel assembly to be removed from 
the canister or cask by normal means--has led the staff to take a 
closer look at retrievability. To ensure that the application of the 
first part of ``ready retrieval'' is met as the duration of fuel 
storage increases, periodic monitoring or inspection may be needed to 
verify the condition of the fuel and the internal components of the dry 
storage system, and could identify the need for possible remediation of 
the fuel and the internal components of the dry storage system. Because 
of the difficulties in accessing the fuel and the interior components, 
inspection, monitoring, and potential remediation may involve opening 
the confinement boundary of the system in order to verify the condition 
of the fuel and internal components. However, opening the dry storage 
system would expose workers to additional dose and, particularly for 
welded canisters, degrade or eliminate the confinement boundary.
    Consistent with the NRC's ongoing work reviewing the regulatory 
framework for spent fuel storage and transportation (see COMSECY-10-
0007, ADAMS Accession No. ML101390216), the NRC staff began exploring 
alternatives to the guidance on the application of ready retrieval. The 
staff's review has centered around whether to eliminate the first part 
of the guidance on ready retrieval--the ability to remove individual 
fuel assemblies from a canister or cask by normal means--but 
maintaining the second part--the ability of the canister or cask to be 
safely removed from the storage location. By eliminating the first part 
of the guidance, the dry cask storage system (i.e., dual-purpose cask 
or canister containing the spent fuel) would still be retrieved safely 
and be readied for transportation consistent with the law and 
regulations. This way, the spent fuel dry storage confinement continues 
to be maintained without the potential negative impacts associated with 
unnecessarily removing the individual fuel assemblies.
    In an effort to engage stakeholders in this discussion, NRC staff 
held two public meetings on July 27, 2011, and August 16, 2012, to 
obtain stakeholder feedback on these topics. Additionally, in January 
2013, the NRC issued a Federal Register notice (78 FR 3853) requesting 
public comment on several topics, including retrievability and cladding 
integrity. The NRC received comments on the Federal Register notice 
that can be found under ADAMS Accession number ML15110A370. The staff 
work in this area was deferred due to higher priority work such as 
license renewal regulatory framework and high burn up fuel related 
activities. Therefore, the NRC staff held a public meeting on July 29, 
2015, to provide an update on the staff's work on this issue. The 
meeting summary was issued on August 5, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML15216A272).
    The NRC staff has also considered how dry storage of spent nuclear 
fuel is implemented in other countries, and international guidance for 
spent fuel storage. The NRC staff has participated in several 
multilateral working groups related to extended spent fuel storage. The 
NRC staff reviewed the International Atomic Energy Agency's Specific 
Safety Guide No. SSG-15, ``Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel.'' This guide 
is consistent with the NRC's current position of retrievability and 
will remain consistent with planned changes. Additionally, the NRC 
staff is aware that the spent fuel storage systems in Germany undergo 
periodic inspections at 10-year intervals, which are focused on the 
accessible cask components and confinement boundary (seals). The aging 
management program required by 10 CFR part 72 for renewal also provides 
for periodic inspections in the United States.

III. Proposed Action

    By this action, the NRC is requesting public comments on draft ISG 
2, Revision 2. This ISG proposes certain revisions to NRC guidance on 
implementation of the requirements in 10 CFR part 72. The NRC staff 
will make a final determination regarding issuance of the revised ISG 
after it considers any public comments received in response to this 
request.

IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    This draft ISG, if finalized, would provide guidance to the NRC 
staff for reviewing an application for an ISFSI license with respect to 
compliance with the retrievability requirement of 10 CFR 72.122(l). 
Issuance of this draft ISG, if finalized, would not constitute 
backfitting as defined in the backfitting provisions in 10 CFR 72.62 
which are applicable to ISFSIs. Issuance of the draft ISG, if 
finalized, would also not constitute backfitting under 10 CFR 50.109, 
or otherwise be inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in 10 
CFR part 52 for generally licensed ISFSIs. The staff's position is 
based upon the following considerations.
    1. The draft ISG positions, if finalized, do not constitute 
backfitting, inasmuch as the ISG is internal guidance to the NRC staff.
    The ISG provides interim guidance to the staff on how to review an 
application for NRC regulatory approval in the form of licensing. 
Changes in internal staff guidance are not matters for which either 
ISFSI or nuclear power plant applicants or licensees are protected 
under the backfitting provisions in 10 CFR parts 50 or 72, or the issue 
finality provisions of part 52.
    2. Backfitting and issue finality do not--with limited exceptions 
not

[[Page 63845]]

applicable here--protect current or future applicants.
    Applicants and potential applicants are not, with certain 
exceptions, protected by the backfitting provisions in 10 CFR 72.62 or 
10 CFR 50.109, or any issue finality provisions under part 52. This is 
because neither the backfitting provisions nor the issue finality 
provisions under part 52--with certain exclusions discussed below--were 
intended to apply to every NRC action which substantially changes the 
expectations of current and future applicants. The exceptions to the 
general principle are applicable whenever an applicant references a 
part 52 license (e.g., an early site permit) and/or NRC regulatory 
approval (e.g., a design certification rule) with specified issue 
finality provisions. However, the matters covered in this ISG are not 
subject matters or issues for which issue finality protection is 
provided.
    3. The NRC has no intention to impose the ISG on existing ISFSI or 
nuclear power plant licenses either now or in the future (absent a 
voluntary request for change from the licensee).
    The NRC staff does not intend to impose or apply the positions 
described in the ISG to existing (already issued) licenses (e.g., ISFSI 
licenses, operating licenses and combined licenses) absent a voluntary 
request for a change from the licensee. Hence, the ISG need not be 
evaluated as if it were a backfit.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of October, 2015.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mark Lombard,
Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards.
 [FR Doc. 2015-26743 Filed 10-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P



                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 203 / Wednesday, October 21, 2015 / Notices                                           63843

                                              that relate solely to the internal                        Dated: October 14, 2015.                            Regulatory Commission, Washington,
                                              personnel rules and practices of the                    Peter Wen,                                            DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
                                              ACRS, and information the release of                    Acting Chief, Technical Support Branch,               7091, email: Emma.Wong@nrc.gov and
                                              which would constitute a clearly                        Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.             Haile Lindsay, Office of Nuclear
                                              unwarranted invasion of personal                        [FR Doc. 2015–26739 Filed 10–20–15; 8:45 am]          Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S.
                                              privacy.                                                BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
                                                                                                                                                            Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone:
                                                The agenda for the subject meeting
                                                                                                                                                            301–415–0616, email:
                                              shall be as follows:                                                                                          Haile.Lindsay@nrc.gov.
                                                                                                      NUCLEAR REGULATORY
                                              Wednesday, November 4, 2015—12:00                       COMMISSION
                                                                                                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              p.m. Until 1:00 p.m.                                    [NRC–2015–0241]
                                                                                                                                                            I. Obtaining Information and
                                                 The Subcommittee will discuss                        Fuel Retrievability                                   Submitting Comments
                                              proposed ACRS activities and related
                                                                                                      AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory                           A. Obtaining Information
                                              matters. The Subcommittee will gather
                                              information, analyze relevant issues and                Commission.                                              Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2015–
                                              facts, and formulate proposed positions                 ACTION: Draft interim staff guidance;                 0241 when contacting the NRC about
                                              and actions, as appropriate, for                        request for comment.                                  the availability of information for this
                                              deliberation by the Full Committee.                                                                           action. You may obtain publicly-
                                                                                                      SUMMARY:   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                available information related to this
                                                 Members of the public desiring to                    Commission (NRC) is requesting public                 action by any of the following methods:
                                              provide oral statements and/or written                  comment on its draft SFM-Interim Staff                   • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
                                              comments should notify the Designated                   Guidance (ISG)—2, Revision 2, ‘‘Fuel                  http://www.regulations.gov and search
                                              Federal Official (DFO), Quynh Nguyen                    Retrievability.’’ This revision to the                for Docket ID NRC–2015–0241.
                                              (Telephone 301–415–5844 or Email:                       guidance was developed to improve                        • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
                                              Quynh.Nguyen@nrc.gov) five days prior                   regulatory clarity due to uncertain                   Access and Management System
                                              to the meeting, if possible, so that                    duration of spent fuel storage in an                  (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
                                              arrangements can be made. Thirty-five                   independent spent fuel storage                        available documents online in the
                                              hard copies of each presentation or                     installation (ISFSI). The revision would              ADAMS Public Documents collection at
                                              handout should be provided to the DFO                   provide improved guidance to the staff                http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
                                              thirty minutes before the meeting. In                   on the process to determine whether                   adams.html. To begin the search, select
                                              addition, one electronic copy of each                   spent fuel storage systems are designed               ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
                                              presentation should be emailed to the                   to allow ready retrieval of spent fuel.               select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
                                              DFO one day before the meeting. If an                   DATES: Submit comments by November                    Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
                                              electronic copy cannot be provided                      20, 2015. Comments received after this                please contact the NRC’s Public
                                              within this timeframe, presenters                       date will be considered if it is practical            Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
                                              should provide the DFO with a CD                        to do so, but the Commission is able to               1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
                                              containing each presentation at least                   ensure consideration only for comments                email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
                                              thirty minutes before the meeting.                      received before this date.                            ADAMS accession number for each
                                              Electronic recordings will be permitted                 ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                    document referenced (if it is available in
                                              only during those portions of the                       by any of the following methods (unless               ADAMS) is provided the first time that
                                              meeting that are open to the public.                    this document describes a different                   a document is referenced. Draft ISG–2,
                                              Detailed procedures for the conduct of                  method for submitting comments on a                   Revision 2, is available in ADAMS
                                              and participation in ACRS meetings                      specific subject):                                    under Accession No. ML15239A695.
                                              were published in the Federal Register                    • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to                   • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                              on October 1, 2014 (79 FR 59307).                       http://www.regulations.gov and search                 purchase copies of public documents at
                                                                                                      for Docket ID NRC–2015–0241. Address                  the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
                                                 Information regarding changes to the                 questions about NRC dockets to Carol                  White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                              agenda, whether the meeting has been                    Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;                   Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
                                              canceled or rescheduled, and the time                   email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
                                              allotted to present oral statements can                 technical questions, contact the                      B. Submitting Comments
                                              be obtained by contacting the identified                individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER                   Please include Docket ID NRC–2015–
                                              DFO. Moreover, in view of the                           INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                   0241 in the subject line of your
                                              possibility that the schedule for ACRS                  document.                                             comment submission, in order to ensure
                                              meetings may be adjusted by the                           • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,                   that the NRC is able to make your
                                              Chairman as necessary to facilitate the                 Office of Administration, Mail Stop:                  comment submission available to the
                                              conduct of the meeting, persons                         OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear                             public in this docket.
                                              planning to attend should check with                    Regulatory Commission, Washington,                      The NRC cautions you not to include
                                              the DFO if such rescheduling would                      DC 20555–0001.                                        identifying or contact information that
                                              result in a major inconvenience.                          For additional direction on obtaining               you do not want to be publicly
                                                                                                      information and submitting comments,                  disclosed in your comment submission.
                                                 If attending this meeting, please enter              see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
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                                              through the One White Flint North                                                                             The NRC posts all comment
                                                                                                      Submitting Comments’’ in the                          submissions at http://
                                              building, 11555 Rockville Pike,                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of                  www.regulations.gov as well as entering
                                              Rockville, MD. After registering with                   this document.                                        the comment submissions into ADAMS.
                                              security, please contact Mr. Theron                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      The NRC does not routinely edit
                                              Brown (240–888–9835) to be escorted to                  Emma Wong, Office of Nuclear Material                 comment submissions to remove
                                              the meeting room.                                       Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear                   identifying or contact information.


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                                              63844                     Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 203 / Wednesday, October 21, 2015 / Notices

                                                If you are requesting or aggregating                  need for possible remediation of the fuel             international guidance for spent fuel
                                              comments from other persons for                         and the internal components of the dry                storage. The NRC staff has participated
                                              submission to the NRC, then you should                  storage system. Because of the                        in several multilateral working groups
                                              inform those persons not to include                     difficulties in accessing the fuel and the            related to extended spent fuel storage.
                                              identifying or contact information that                 interior components, inspection,                      The NRC staff reviewed the
                                              they do not want to be publicly                         monitoring, and potential remediation                 International Atomic Energy Agency’s
                                              disclosed in their comment submission.                  may involve opening the confinement                   Specific Safety Guide No. SSG–15,
                                              Your request should state that the NRC                  boundary of the system in order to                    ‘‘Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel.’’ This
                                              does not routinely edit comment                         verify the condition of the fuel and                  guide is consistent with the NRC’s
                                              submissions to remove such information                  internal components. However, opening                 current position of retrievability and
                                              before making the comment                               the dry storage system would expose                   will remain consistent with planned
                                              submissions available to the public or                  workers to additional dose and,                       changes. Additionally, the NRC staff is
                                              entering the comment submissions into                   particularly for welded canisters,                    aware that the spent fuel storage
                                              ADAMS.                                                  degrade or eliminate the confinement                  systems in Germany undergo periodic
                                                                                                      boundary.                                             inspections at 10-year intervals, which
                                              II. Background                                             Consistent with the NRC’s ongoing                  are focused on the accessible cask
                                                 Section 141(b)(1)(C) of the Nuclear                  work reviewing the regulatory                         components and confinement boundary
                                              Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982, as                     framework for spent fuel storage and                  (seals). The aging management program
                                              amended, requires that each monitored                   transportation (see COMSECY–10–0007,                  required by 10 CFR part 72 for renewal
                                              retrievable storage (MRS) facility be                   ADAMS Accession No. ML101390216),                     also provides for periodic inspections in
                                              designed ‘‘to provide for the ready                     the NRC staff began exploring                         the United States.
                                              retrieval of such spent fuel and waste                  alternatives to the guidance on the
                                              for further processing or disposal.’’ The               application of ready retrieval. The staff’s           III. Proposed Action
                                              NRC codified this portion of the NWPA                   review has centered around whether to                    By this action, the NRC is requesting
                                              in its 1988 final rulemaking, ‘‘Licensing               eliminate the first part of the guidance              public comments on draft ISG 2,
                                              Requirements for the Independent Spent                  on ready retrieval—the ability to remove              Revision 2. This ISG proposes certain
                                              Fuel Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel and                  individual fuel assemblies from a                     revisions to NRC guidance on
                                              High-Level Radioactive Waste’’ (53 FR                   canister or cask by normal means—but                  implementation of the requirements in
                                              31651; August 19, 1988). The NRC                        maintaining the second part—the ability               10 CFR part 72. The NRC staff will make
                                              inserted, ‘‘Storage systems must be                     of the canister or cask to be safely                  a final determination regarding issuance
                                              designed to allow ready retrieval of                    removed from the storage location. By                 of the revised ISG after it considers any
                                              spent fuel or high-level radioactive                    eliminating the first part of the                     public comments received in response
                                              waste for further processing or                         guidance, the dry cask storage system                 to this request.
                                              disposal,’’ in section 72.122(l) of title 10            (i.e., dual-purpose cask or canister
                                              of the Code of Federal Regulations (10                  containing the spent fuel) would still be             IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality
                                              CFR) and added MRS facilities to the                    retrieved safely and be readied for                      This draft ISG, if finalized, would
                                              scope of 10 CFR part 72. This                           transportation consistent with the law                provide guidance to the NRC staff for
                                              requirement currently applies to all                    and regulations. This way, the spent                  reviewing an application for an ISFSI
                                              ISFSI and MRS licensees.                                fuel dry storage confinement continues
                                                 The NRC’s current position on how a                                                                        license with respect to compliance with
                                                                                                      to be maintained without the potential                the retrievability requirement of 10 CFR
                                              licensee may satisfy the requirement for                negative impacts associated with
                                              ‘‘ready retrieval’’ under section 72.122(l)                                                                   72.122(l). Issuance of this draft ISG, if
                                                                                                      unnecessarily removing the individual                 finalized, would not constitute
                                              is delineated in draft ISG No. 2,                       fuel assemblies.
                                              Revision 1 (ADAMS Accession No.                                                                               backfitting as defined in the backfitting
                                                                                                         In an effort to engage stakeholders in
                                              ML100550861). In essence, draft ISG–2,                                                                        provisions in 10 CFR 72.62 which are
                                                                                                      this discussion, NRC staff held two
                                              Rev. 1 provides guidance to the NRC                                                                           applicable to ISFSIs. Issuance of the
                                                                                                      public meetings on July 27, 2011, and
                                              staff that a licensee may demonstrate                   August 16, 2012, to obtain stakeholder                draft ISG, if finalized, would also not
                                              ready retrieval through a two-part                      feedback on these topics. Additionally,               constitute backfitting under 10 CFR
                                              approach: 1) Ability to remove the                      in January 2013, the NRC issued a                     50.109, or otherwise be inconsistent
                                              individual spent fuel assemblies or                     Federal Register notice (78 FR 3853)                  with the issue finality provisions in 10
                                              canned assemblies by normal means                       requesting public comment on several                  CFR part 52 for generally licensed
                                              (i.e., crane and grapple); and 2) ability               topics, including retrievability and                  ISFSIs. The staff’s position is based
                                              to move a canister or cask containing                   cladding integrity. The NRC received                  upon the following considerations.
                                              spent fuel from the storage location.                   comments on the Federal Register                         1. The draft ISG positions, if finalized,
                                                 As the duration of spent fuel storage                notice that can be found under ADAMS                  do not constitute backfitting, inasmuch
                                              at an ISFSI or MRS facility increases,                  Accession number ML15110A370. The                     as the ISG is internal guidance to the
                                              the practical impact of the application                 staff work in this area was deferred due              NRC staff.
                                              of the first part of ready retrieval—the                to higher priority work such as license                  The ISG provides interim guidance to
                                              ability of the fuel assembly to be                      renewal regulatory framework and high                 the staff on how to review an
                                              removed from the canister or cask by                    burn up fuel related activities.                      application for NRC regulatory approval
                                              normal means—has led the staff to take                  Therefore, the NRC staff held a public                in the form of licensing. Changes in
                                              a closer look at retrievability. To ensure              meeting on July 29, 2015, to provide an               internal staff guidance are not matters
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                                              that the application of the first part of               update on the staff’s work on this issue.             for which either ISFSI or nuclear power
                                              ‘‘ready retrieval’’ is met as the duration              The meeting summary was issued on                     plant applicants or licensees are
                                              of fuel storage increases, periodic                     August 5, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No.                   protected under the backfitting
                                              monitoring or inspection may be needed                  ML15216A272).                                         provisions in 10 CFR parts 50 or 72, or
                                              to verify the condition of the fuel and                    The NRC staff has also considered                  the issue finality provisions of part 52.
                                              the internal components of the dry                      how dry storage of spent nuclear fuel is                 2. Backfitting and issue finality do
                                              storage system, and could identify the                  implemented in other countries, and                   not—with limited exceptions not


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 203 / Wednesday, October 21, 2015 / Notices                                           63845

                                              applicable here—protect current or                      features for a paleoliquefaction research             features are geologic features such as
                                              future applicants.                                      project at two sites located in                       sand blows and sand dikes formed
                                                 Applicants and potential applicants                  northeastern Arkansas. The NRC has                    during earthquakes as a result of ground
                                              are not, with certain exceptions,                       concluded that a Finding of No                        shaking and water pressure developed
                                              protected by the backfitting provisions                 Significant Impact (FONSI) is                         in the ground during shaking. The
                                              in 10 CFR 72.62 or 10 CFR 50.109, or                    appropriate.                                          results from this research will be used
                                              any issue finality provisions under part                DATES: October 21, 2015.                              to update models implemented in
                                              52. This is because neither the                                                                               probabilistic seismic hazard analyses to
                                                                                                      ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
                                              backfitting provisions nor the issue                                                                          characterize ground motion at new
                                                                                                      NRC–2012–0271 when contacting the
                                              finality provisions under part 52—with                                                                        nuclear power plant sites in accordance
                                                                                                      NRC about the availability of
                                              certain exclusions discussed below—                                                                           with the NRC’s regulation in section
                                                                                                      information regarding this document.
                                              were intended to apply to every NRC                                                                           100.23(d)(1) of title 10 of the Code of
                                                                                                      You may obtain publicly-available
                                              action which substantially changes the                                                                        Federal Regulations (10 CFR). The
                                                                                                      information related to this document
                                              expectations of current and future                                                                            results of this research may also
                                                                                                      using any of the following methods:
                                              applicants. The exceptions to the                                                                             implemented to re-evaluate seismic
                                                                                                         • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
                                              general principle are applicable                                                                              hazards at existing nuclear power plant
                                                                                                      http://www.regulations.gov and search
                                              whenever an applicant references a part                                                                       sites.
                                                                                                      for Docket ID NRC–2012–0271. Address                     The NRC has prepared an EA to
                                              52 license (e.g., an early site permit)                 questions about NRC dockets to Carol
                                              and/or NRC regulatory approval (e.g., a                                                                       evaluate the potential environmental
                                                                                                      Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;                   impacts that may arise as a result of this
                                              design certification rule) with specified               email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
                                              issue finality provisions. However, the                                                                       research project in accordance with the
                                                                                                      technical questions, contact the                      requirements of 10 CFR part 51, the
                                              matters covered in this ISG are not                     individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
                                              subject matters or issues for which issue                                                                     NRC’s regulations that implement
                                                                                                      INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
                                              finality protection is provided.                                                                              Section 102(2) of the National
                                                                                                      document.                                             Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
                                                 3. The NRC has no intention to                          • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
                                              impose the ISG on existing ISFSI or                                                                           amended. Based on the EA, and in
                                                                                                      Access and Management System                          accordance with 10 CFR 51.31(a), the
                                              nuclear power plant licenses either now                 (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
                                              or in the future (absent a voluntary                                                                          NRC has concluded that a FONSI is
                                                                                                      available documents online in the                     appropriate. The excavation of the
                                              request for change from the licensee).                  ADAMS Public Documents collection at
                                                 The NRC staff does not intend to                                                                           trenches at the two sites in northeastern
                                                                                                      http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                        Arkansas will commence following
                                              impose or apply the positions described                 adams.html. To begin the search, select
                                              in the ISG to existing (already issued)                                                                       publication of this Notice.
                                                                                                      ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
                                              licenses (e.g., ISFSI licenses, operating               select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                        II. EA Summary
                                              licenses and combined licenses) absent                  Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,                       The NRC has prepared the EA to
                                              a voluntary request for a change from                   please contact the NRC’s Public                       evaluate the potential environmental
                                              the licensee. Hence, the ISG need not be                Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                impacts of the excavation of the
                                              evaluated as if it were a backfit.                      1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by                   trenches at two sites in northeastern
                                                Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day           email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The                    Arkansas, described in the EA as the
                                              of October, 2015.                                       ADAMS accession number for each                       Garner and Stiles sites. In accordance
                                                For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                document referenced (if it available in               with Section 7 of the Endangered
                                              Mark Lombard,                                           ADAMS) is provided the first time that                Species Act of 1973, as amended (16
                                              Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management,            a document is referenced. The EA and                  U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the NRC staff
                                              Office of Nuclear Material Safety and                   the associated FONSI are publicly                     requested informal consultation with
                                              Safeguards.                                             available in ADAMS under Accession                    the United States Fish and Wildlife
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–26743 Filed 10–20–15; 8:45 am]            No. ML15287A224.                                      Service. No concerns were identified for
                                              BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                                                                                         • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and                   Federally-listed species or designated
                                                                                                      purchase copies of public documents at                critical habitat. This project is
                                                                                                      the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One                       temporary, minimally invasive, and will
                                              NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                      White Flint North, 11555 Rockville                    occur outside the critical nesting times
                                              COMMISSION                                              Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.                      for migratory birds.
                                                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         The NRC determined that the
                                              [NRC–2012–0271]                                                                                               proposed excavation of the trenches will
                                                                                                      Thomas Weaver, Office of Nuclear
                                                                                                      Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear                     result in no adverse effects to any
                                              Geologic Trench Excavation for
                                                                                                      Regulatory Commission, Washington,                    historic or cultural resources that may
                                              Paleoliquefaction Study at Garner and
                                                                                                      DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–                    be located at the Garner or Stiles sites.
                                              Stiles Sites
                                                                                                      2383; email: Thomas.Weaver@nrc.gov.                   The NRC’s evaluation of archeologic
                                              AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            artifacts discovered at the Garner site
                                              Commission.                                                                                                   concludes that the site is ineligible for
                                                                                                      I. Introduction                                       the National Register of Historic Places
                                              ACTION: Environmental assessment and
                                              finding of no significant impact;                          The NRC is performing a                            (NHRP). The Arkansas State Historic
                                              issuance.                                               paleoliquefaction research project to                 Preservation Officer stated in a
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                      characterize past earthquakes in the                  September 3, 2014, letter to the NRC
                                              SUMMARY:  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                   Central and Eastern United States.                    that NHRP eligibility for the Garner site
                                              Commission (NRC) has prepared an                        Geologic observations of                              is undetermined and noted that the
                                              Environmental Assessment (EA) to                        paleoliquefaction, defined as historic or             proposed excavation of the trenches is
                                              evaluate the potential environmental                    pre-historic liquefaction, in excavated               similar to NRHP significance testing. If
                                              impacts that may arise as a result of                   trenches are planned at two sites in                  significant archeological material data is
                                              excavating trenches to observe geologic                 northeastern Arkansas. Liquefaction                   uncovered at the Garner site, the NRC


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Document Created: 2018-02-27 08:54:04
Document Modified: 2018-02-27 08:54:04
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionDraft interim staff guidance; request for comment.
DatesSubmit comments by November 20, 2015. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received before this date.
ContactEmma Wong, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7091, email: [email protected] and Haile Lindsay, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-0616, email: [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 63843 

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