82 FR 13875 - Assessment of Abnormal Radioactive Discharges in Ground Water to the Unrestricted Area at Nuclear Power Plant Sites

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 49 (March 15, 2017)

Page Range		13875-13876
FR Document		2017-05170

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.25, ``Assessment of Abnormal Radioactive Discharges in Ground Water to the Unrestricted Area at Nuclear Power Plant Sites,'' as a new guide (Revision 0). The guide describes an approach that the NRC staff considers acceptable for use in assessing abnormal discharges of radionuclides in ground water from the subsurface to the unrestricted area at commercial nuclear power plant sites.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13875-13876]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05170]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2015-0272]


Assessment of Abnormal Radioactive Discharges in Ground Water to 
the Unrestricted Area at Nuclear Power Plant Sites

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing 
Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.25, ``Assessment of Abnormal Radioactive 
Discharges in Ground Water to the Unrestricted Area at Nuclear Power 
Plant Sites,'' as a new guide (Revision 0). The guide describes an 
approach that the NRC staff considers acceptable for use in assessing 
abnormal discharges of radionuclides in ground water from the 
subsurface to the unrestricted area at commercial nuclear power plant 
sites.

DATES: Revision 0 to RG 4.25 is available on March 15, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0272 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0272. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this document.
     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 [email protected]. 
Regulatory Guide 4.25 is available in ADAMS under Accession No. 
ML16253A333.
     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.
    Regulatory guides are not copyrighted, and NRC approval is not 
required to reproduce them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Nicholson, telephone: 301-415-
2471, email: [email protected]; and Edward O'Donnell, telephone: 
301-415-3317, email: [email protected]. Both are staff members of 
the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Discussion

    The NRC is issuing a new guide in the NRC's ``Regulatory Guide'' 
series. This series was developed to describe and make available to the 
public information regarding methods that are acceptable to the NRC 
staff for implementing specific parts of the agency's regulations, 
techniques that the NRC staff uses in evaluating specific issues or 
postulated events, and data that the NRC staff needs in its review of 
applications for permits and licenses.
    Revision 0 of RG 4.25 was issued with a temporary identification of 
Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-4025. The guide is being issued to provide 
guidance to licensees on acceptable methods to determine the quantity 
of licensed material (i.e., radionuclides) in abnormal discharge into 
the unrestricted area through the ground water discharge pathway at 
commercial nuclear power plants. American National Standards Institute/
American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS)-2.17-2010 (R2016), ``Evaluation of 
Subsurface Radionuclide Transport at Commercial Nuclear Power Plants,'' 
provides such methods. The

[[Page 13876]]

ANSI/ANS standard does not specify the use of any specific ground water 
flow and transport model. It provides a graded, risk-informed approach 
for evaluating the effects of subsurface radionuclide transport. The 
ground water flow and transport model developed by licensees should be 
a site-specific model, based on the complexity of geologic and 
hydrologic conditions, the types of radioactive materials and facility 
design, the types and effectiveness of engineered and natural barriers, 
and the proximity to surface water and ground water receptors. A 
facility that has less significant radionuclide source term, minor 
subsurface contamination, simple or well-understood hydrogeology, or 
limited effects on ground water resources generally requires less 
extensive site characterization, mathematical modeling, and 
performance-confirmation measures than a facility with significant 
residual radioactivity that has the potential to exceed national 
radiation protection standards. The appendix to RG 4.25 provides a 
simple ground water flow and transport model that is acceptable for use 
with simple hydrogeologic conditions and geometry such as steady-state 
saturated flow in homogeneous porous sand layers.

II. Additional Information

    The DG-4025 was published in the Federal Register on December 11, 
2015 (80 FR 77028) for a 60-day public comment period. The public 
comment period closed on February 9, 2016. Public comments on DG-4025 
and the staff responses to the public comments are available under 
ADAMS under Accession No. ML16253A330.

III. Congressional Review Act

    This RG is a rule as defined in the Congressional Review Act (5 
U.S.C. 801-808). However, the Office of Management and Budget has not 
found it to be a major rule as defined in the Congressional Review Act.

IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    Regulatory Guide 4.25 describes a method that the staff of the NRC 
considers acceptable for assessing abnormal, inadvertent radioactive 
releases which may result in discharges of contaminated ground water 
from the subsurface to the unrestricted area at commercial nuclear 
power plant sites. Issuance of this RG does not constitute backfitting 
as defined in section 50.109 of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR) (the Backfit Rule) and is not otherwise be 
inconsistent with the issue finality provisions in 10 CFR part 52. As 
discussed in the ``Implementation'' section of this RG, the NRC has no 
current intention to impose this guide on holders of current operating 
licenses or combined licenses.
    This RG may be applied to applications for operating licenses, 
combined licenses, early site permits, and certified design rules 
docketed by the NRC as of the date of issuance of the final regulatory 
guide, as well as future applications submitted after the issuance of 
the regulatory guide. Such action would not constitute backfitting as 
defined in the Backfit Rule or be otherwise inconsistent with the 
applicable issue finality provision in 10 CFR part 52, inasmuch as such 
applicants or potential applicants are not within the scope of entities 
protected by the Backfit Rule or the relevant issue finality provisions 
in part 52.

    Dated: March 10, 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Boyce,
 Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch, Division of 
Engineering, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2017-05170 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

13876 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 15, 2017 / Notices

ANSI/ANS standard does not specify CFR part 52. As discussed in the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
the use of any specific ground water ‘‘Implementation’’ section of this RG, COMMISSION
flow and transport model. It provides a the NRC has no current intention to
graded, risk-informed approach for impose this guide on holders of current [Release No. 34–80191; File No. SR–FICC–
evaluating the effects of subsurface operating licenses or combined licenses. 2017–802]
radionuclide transport. The ground This RG may be applied to
water flow and transport model applications for operating licenses, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Fixed
developed by licensees should be a site- combined licenses, early site permits, Income Clearing Corporation; Notice of
specific model, based on the complexity and certified design rules docketed by
Filing of Advance Notice To Implement
of geologic and hydrologic conditions, the NRC as of the date of issuance of the
the Capped Contingency Liquidity
the types of radioactive materials and final regulatory guide, as well as future
Facility in the Government Securities
facility design, the types and applications submitted after the
effectiveness of engineered and natural issuance of the regulatory guide. Such Division Rulebook
barriers, and the proximity to surface action would not constitute backfitting March 9, 2017.
water and ground water receptors. A as defined in the Backfit Rule or be
facility that has less significant otherwise inconsistent with the Pursuant to Section 806(e)(1) of Title
radionuclide source term, minor applicable issue finality provision in 10 VIII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street
subsurface contamination, simple or CFR part 52, inasmuch as such Reform and Consumer Protection Act,
well-understood hydrogeology, or applicants or potential applicants are entitled the Payment, Clearing, and
limited effects on ground water not within the scope of entities Settlement Supervision Act of 2010
resources generally requires less protected by the Backfit Rule or the (‘‘Clearing Supervision Act’’) 1 and Rule
extensive site characterization, relevant issue finality provisions in part 19b–4(n)(1)(i) under the Securities
mathematical modeling, and 52. Exchange Act of 1934,2 notice is hereby
performance-confirmation measures Dated: March 10, 2017. given that on March 1, 2017, Fixed
than a facility with significant residual For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Income Clearing Corporation (‘‘FICC’’)
radioactivity that has the potential to filed with the Securities and Exchange
Thomas H. Boyce,
exceed national radiation protection Commission (‘‘Commission’’) the
Chief, Regulatory Guidance and Generic
standards. The appendix to RG 4.25 advance notice SR–FICC–2017–802
Issues Branch, Division of Engineering, Office
provides a simple ground water flow of Nuclear Regulatory Research. (‘‘Advance Notice’’) as described in
and transport model that is acceptable Items I, II and III below, which Items
[FR Doc. 2017–05170 Filed 3–14–17; 8:45 am]
for use with simple hydrogeologic have been prepared by FICC.3 The
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
conditions and geometry such as steady- Commission is publishing this notice to
state saturated flow in homogeneous solicit comments on the Advance Notice
porous sand layers.
POSTAL SERVICE from interested persons.
II. Additional Information
Temporary Emergency Committee of I. Clearing Agency’s Statement of the
The DG–4025 was published in the Terms of Substance of the Advance
Federal Register on December 11, 2015 the Board of Governors; Sunshine Act
Meeting Notice
(80 FR 77028) for a 60-day public
comment period. The public comment DATES AND TIMES: Tuesday, April 4, This Advance Notice consists of
period closed on February 9, 2016. 2017, at 9:00 a.m. amendments to FICC’s Government
Public comments on DG–4025 and the Securities Division (‘‘GSD’’) Rulebook
PLACE: Washington, DC.
staff responses to the public comments (the ‘‘GSD Rules’’) 4 in order to include
STATUS: Closed.
are available under ADAMS under a committed liquidity resource (referred
Accession No. ML16253A330. Matters To Be Considered to as the ‘‘Capped Contingency
III. Congressional Review Act Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. Liquidity Facility®’’ (‘‘CCLF’’)). This
facility would provide FICC with
This RG is a rule as defined in the 1. Strategic Issues.
Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 2. Financial Matters. additional liquid financial resources to
801–808). However, the Office of 3. Personnel Matters and meet its cash settlement obligations in
Management and Budget has not found Compensation Issues. the event of a default of the largest
it to be a major rule as defined in the 4. Executive Session—Discussion of family of affiliated Netting Members 5
Congressional Review Act. prior agenda items and Temporary (an ‘‘Affiliated Family’’) of GSD, as
Emergency Committee governance. described in greater detail below.
IV. Backfitting and Issue Finality
GENERAL COUNSEL CERTIFICATION: The
Regulatory Guide 4.25 describes a General Counsel of the United States 1 12 U.S.C. 5465(e)(1).
method that the staff of the NRC Postal Service has certified that the 2 17 CFR 240.19b–4(n)(1)(i).
considers acceptable for assessing meeting may be closed under the 3 On March 1, 2017, FICC filed this Advance

abnormal, inadvertent radioactive Notice as a proposed rule change (SR–FICC–2017–
Government in the Sunshine Act.
002) with the Commission pursuant to Section
releases which may result in discharges CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: 19(b)(1) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1), and Rule
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2

of contaminated ground water from the Julie S. Moore, Secretary of the Board, 19b–4, 17 CFR 240.19b–4. A copy of the proposed
subsurface to the unrestricted area at U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza rule change is available at http://www.dtcc.com/
commercial nuclear power plant sites. SW., Washington, DC 20260–1000. legal/sec-rule-filings.aspx.
Issuance of this RG does not constitute Telephone: (202) 268–4800.
4 GSD Rules, available at www.dtcc.com/legal/

backfitting as defined in section 50.109 rules-and-procedures.aspx. Capitalized terms used
Julie S. Moore. herein and not otherwise defined shall have the
of title 10 of the Code of Federal meaning assigned to such terms in the GSD Rules.
Regulations (10 CFR) (the Backfit Rule) Secretary. 5 As defined in the GSD Rules, the term ‘‘Netting
and is not otherwise be inconsistent [FR Doc. 2017–05303 Filed 3–13–17; 4:15 pm] Member’’ means a Member that is a Member of the
with the issue finality provisions in 10 BILLING CODE 7710–12–P Comparison System and the Netting System. Id.

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Document Created: 2017-03-15 06:04:26
Document Modified: 2017-03-15 06:04:26

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Regulatory guide; issuance.
Dates		Revision 0 to RG 4.25 is available on March 15, 2017.
Contact		Thomas Nicholson, telephone: 301-415- 2471, email: [email protected]; and Edward O'Donnell, telephone: 301-415-3317, email: [email protected] Both are staff members of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
FR Citation		82 FR 13875