83 FR 39475 - Dry Storage and Transportation of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 154 (August 9, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 154 (August 9, 2018)
| Page Range | 39475-39476 | |
| FR Document | 2018-16994 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 39475-39476] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-16994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC-2018-0066] Dry Storage and Transportation of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft NUREG; request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft NUREG, NUREG-2224, ``Dry Storage and Transportation of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel.'' The draft NUREG provides technical background information applicable to high burnup spent nuclear fuel (HBU SNF), provides an engineering assessment of recent NRC-sponsored mechanical testing of HBU SNF, and proposes example approaches for licensing and certification of HBU SNF in transportation and dry storage. DATES: Submit comments on the draft NUREG-2224 by September 24, 2018. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0066. Address questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287- 9127; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. Mail comments to: May Ma, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, 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: Wendy Reed, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-7213; email: [email protected]; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0066 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 Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0066. 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 ``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- [[Page 39476]] 415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. Draft NUREG-2224, ``Dry Storage and Transportation of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel,'' is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML18214A132 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-2018-0066 in your comment submission. 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 will post all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information. 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 into ADAMS. II. Discussion Historically, the potential for changes in the cladding performance of HBU SNF to compromise the analyzed fuel configuration in transportation packages and dry storage systems has been addressed through safety review guidance (Interim Staff Guidance (ISG)--11, Revision 3, ``Cladding Considerations for the Transportation and Storage of Spent Fuel'' (ADAMS Accession No. ML033230335); NUREG-1536, Revision 1, ``Standard Review Plan for Spent Fuel Dry Storage Systems at a General License Facility'' (ADAMS Accession No. ML101040620)). Time-dependent changes on the cladding performance of HBU SNF are primarily driven by the fuel's temperature, rod internal pressure (and corresponding pressure-induced cladding hoop stresses), and the environment during dry storage or transport operations. ISG-11, Revision 3 and NUREG-1536, Revision 1 defines adequate fuel conditions, including peak cladding temperatures during short-term loading operations to prevent and mitigate degradation of the cladding. Draft NUREG-2224, ``Dry Storage and Transportation of High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel,'' (ADAMS Accession No. ML18214A132) is a technical basis document which expands on the aspects of ISG-11, Rev. 3 and NUREG-1536, Rev. 1 that pertain to hydride reorientation in HBU SNF cladding. Hydride reorientation is a process in which the orientation of hydrides precipitated in HBU SNF cladding during reactor operation changes from the circumferential-axial to the radial-axial direction. Draft NUREG-2224 provides an engineering assessment of the results of NRC-sponsored research (NUREG/CR-7198, Rev. 1, ``Mechanical Fatigue Testing of High-Burnup Fuel for Transportation Application,'' ADAMS Accession No. ML17292B057) on the mechanical performance of HBU SNF following hydride reorientation; and per the conclusions of that assessment, presents example approaches for licensing and certification of HBU SNF for transportation (under part 71of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material'') and dry storage (under 10 CFR part 72, ``Licensing Requirements for the Independent Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste, and Reactor-Related Greater Than Class C Waste''). The staff will review and consider public comments received on draft NUREG-2224 as it finalizes the guidance. The NRC is particularly seeking public comment on the following: 1. Are NRC's assumptions regarding the performance of other cladding alloys based on data obtained from HBU SNF with Zircaloy-4 cladding for evaluating design basis drop accidents reasonable? If not, please explain why not. 2. Are the described licensing and certification approaches easy to follow and practical? If not, please explain why not. 3. Is the proposed approach for evaluation of vibration normally incident to transport clear? If not, please explain why not. 4. Are the discussions on consequence analyses due to hypothetical fuel reconfiguration clear and meaningful? If not, please explain why not. 5. Are there any potential conflicts between NUREG-2215, Standard Review Plan for Spent Fuel Dry Storage Systems and Facilities, Draft for Comment (ADAMS Accession No. ML17310A693) and this document? If so, please describe any conflicts. 6. Is the NRC's reassessment of the ductility transition temperature as measured by ring compression testing of defueled HBU SNF specimens reasonable? If not, please explain why not. In answering the questions, please fully explain your answers. In addition, comments are invited on any areas of the draft report. III. Public Meeting The NRC will conduct a public meeting for the purpose of describing the draft NUREG and answering questions from the public. The NRC will publish a notice of the location, time, and agenda of the meeting on the NRC's public meeting website at least 10 calendar days before the meeting. Stakeholders should monitor the NRC's public meeting website for information about the public meeting at: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of August 2018. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Michael C. Layton, Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2018-16994 Filed 8-8-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices 39475
dated March 16, 2018, the Southern complies with the standards and an engineering assessment of recent
Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) requirements of the Atomic Energy Act NRC-sponsored mechanical testing of
requested from the Commission an of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the HBU SNF, and proposes example
exemption to allow departures from Tier Commission’s rules and regulations. approaches for licensing and
1 information in the certified DCD The Commission has made appropriate certification of HBU SNF in
incorporated by reference in 10 CFR findings as required by the Act and the transportation and dry storage.
part 52, appendix D, as part of license Commission’s rules and regulations in DATES: Submit comments on the draft
amendment request 17–042, ‘‘Tier 1 and 10 CFR chapter I, which are set forth in NUREG–2224 by September 24, 2018.
Tier 2* Editorial and Consistency the license amendment. Comments received after this date will
Changes.’’ A notice of consideration of issuance be considered if it is practical to do so,
For the reasons set forth in Section 3.2 of amendment to facility operating but the NRC is able to ensure
of the NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation that license or COL, as applicable, proposed consideration only for comments
which can be found in ADAMS under no significant hazards consideration received on or before this date.
Accession No. ML18106A638), the determination, and opportunity for a
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
Commission finds that: hearing in connection with these
by any of the following methods:
A. The exemption is authorized by actions, was published in the Federal
• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
law; Register on March 30, 2018 (83 FR
B. the exemption presents no undue http://www.regulations.gov and search
13796). No comments were received
risk to public health and safety; for Docket ID NRC–2018–0066. Address
during the 30-day comment period.
C. the exemption is consistent with The Commission has determined that questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer
the common defense and security; these amendments satisfy the criteria for Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127;
D. special circumstances are present categorical exclusion in accordance email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For
in that the application of the rule in this with 10 CFR 51.22. Therefore, pursuant technical questions, contact the
circumstance is not necessary to serve to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
the underlying purpose of the rule; INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
impact statement or environmental
E. the special circumstances outweigh assessment need be prepared for these document.
any decrease in safety that may result amendments. • Mail comments to: May Ma, Office
from the reduction in standardization of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN–7–
caused by the exemption; and IV. Conclusion A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
F. the exemption will not result in a Using the reasons set forth in the Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
significant decrease in the level of safety combined safety evaluation, the staff 0001.
otherwise provided by the design. granted the exemption and issued the For additional direction on obtaining
2. Accordingly, the licensee is granted amendment that the licensee requested information and submitting comments,
an exemption from the certified DCD on November 30, 2017. see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
Tier 1 information, with corresponding The exemption and amendment were Submitting Comments’’ in the
changes to appendix C of the Facility issued on May 31, 2018, as part of a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
Combined License, as described in the combined package to the licensee this document.
licensee’s request dated November 30, (ADAMS Accession No. ML18106A626). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
2017, as supplemented by the letter Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day Wendy Reed, Office of Nuclear Material
dated March 16, 2018. This exemption of August 2018. Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301–
is related to, and necessary for, the For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 415–7213; email: Wendy.Reed@nrc.gov;
granting of License Amendment No. 125 Jennifer L. Dixon-Herrity, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
[for Unit 3 and No. 124 for Unit 4], Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of Washington, DC 20555–0001.
which is being issued concurrently with Licensing, Siting, and Environmental SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
this exemption. Analysis Office of New Reactors.
3. As explained in Section 5.0 of the I. Obtaining Information and
[FR Doc. 2018–16995 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am]
NRC staff’s Safety Evaluation (ADAMS Submitting Comments
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
Accession No. ML18106A638), this A. Obtaining Information
exemption meets the eligibility criteria
for categorical exclusion set forth in 10 Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2018–
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
CFR 51.22(c)(9). Therefore, pursuant to 0066 when contacting the NRC about
COMMISSION
10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental the availability of information for this
impact statement or environmental [NRC–2018–0066] action. You may obtain publicly-
assessment needs to be prepared in available information related to this
Dry Storage and Transportation of action by any of the following methods:
connection with the issuance of the
High Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
exemption.
4. This exemption is effective as of the AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory http://www.regulations.gov and search
date of its issuance. Commission. for Docket ID NRC–2018–0066.
ACTION: Draft NUREG; request for • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
III. License Amendment Request Access and Management System
comment.
By letter dated November 30, 2017 (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory available documents online in the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
(ADAMS Accession No. ML17334B211),
the licensee requested that the NRC Commission (NRC) is issuing for public ADAMS Public Documents collection at
amend the COLs for VEGP, Units 3 and comment a draft NUREG, NUREG–2224, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
4, COLs NPF–91 and NPF–92. The ‘‘Dry Storage and Transportation of High adams.html. To begin the search, select
proposed amendment is described in Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel.’’ The draft ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For
Section I of this document. NUREG provides technical background problems with ADAMS, please contact
The Commission has determined for information applicable to high burnup the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
these amendments that the application spent nuclear fuel (HBU SNF), provides reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–
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![39476 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2018 / Notices
415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@ Draft NUREG–2224, ‘‘Dry Storage and measured by ring compression testing of
nrc.gov. Draft NUREG–2224, ‘‘Dry Transportation of High Burnup Spent defueled HBU SNF specimens
Storage and Transportation of High Nuclear Fuel,’’ (ADAMS Accession No. reasonable? If not, please explain why
Burnup Spent Nuclear Fuel,’’ is ML18214A132) is a technical basis not.
available in ADAMS under Accession document which expands on the aspects In answering the questions, please
No. ML18214A132 of ISG–11, Rev. 3 and NUREG–1536, fully explain your answers. In addition,
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Rev. 1 that pertain to hydride comments are invited on any areas of
purchase copies of public documents at reorientation in HBU SNF cladding. the draft report.
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One Hydride reorientation is a process in
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville which the orientation of hydrides III. Public Meeting
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. precipitated in HBU SNF cladding The NRC will conduct a public
B. Submitting Comments during reactor operation changes from meeting for the purpose of describing
the circumferential-axial to the radial- the draft NUREG and answering
Please include Docket ID NRC–2018– axial direction. Draft NUREG–2224 questions from the public. The NRC will
0066 in your comment submission. provides an engineering assessment of publish a notice of the location, time,
The NRC cautions you not to include the results of NRC-sponsored research and agenda of the meeting on the NRC’s
identifying or contact information that (NUREG/CR–7198, Rev. 1, ‘‘Mechanical public meeting website at least 10
you do not want to be publicly Fatigue Testing of High-Burnup Fuel for calendar days before the meeting.
disclosed in your comment submission. Transportation Application,’’ ADAMS Stakeholders should monitor the NRC’s
The NRC will post all comment Accession No. ML17292B057) on the public meeting website for information
submissions at http:// mechanical performance of HBU SNF about the public meeting at: http://
www.regulations.gov as well as enter the following hydride reorientation; and per www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-
comment submissions into ADAMS. the conclusions of that assessment, meetings/index.cfm.
The NRC does not routinely edit presents example approaches for
comment submissions to remove Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day
licensing and certification of HBU SNF of August 2018.
identifying or contact information. for transportation (under part 71of title
If you are requesting or aggregating For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
comments from other persons for Michael C. Layton,
(10 CFR), ‘‘Packaging and
submission to the NRC, then you should Transportation of Radioactive Material’’) Director, Division of Spent Fuel Management,
inform those persons not to include Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
and dry storage (under 10 CFR part 72, Safeguards.
identifying or contact information that ‘‘Licensing Requirements for the
they do not want to be publicly Independent Storage of Spent Nuclear
[FR Doc. 2018–16994 Filed 8–8–18; 8:45 am]
disclosed in their comment submission. Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste, BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
Your request should state that the NRC and Reactor-Related Greater Than Class
does not routinely edit comment C Waste’’).
submissions to remove such information The staff will review and consider NUCLEAR REGULATORY
before making the comment public comments received on draft COMMISSION
submissions available to the public or NUREG–2224 as it finalizes the [Docket No. 040–08903; NRC–2018–0154]
entering the comment into ADAMS. guidance. The NRC is particularly
II. Discussion seeking public comment on the Homestake Mining Company of
following: California; Grants Reclamation Project;
Historically, the potential for changes 1. Are NRC’s assumptions regarding Groundwater Monitoring Plan
in the cladding performance of HBU the performance of other cladding alloys
SNF to compromise the analyzed fuel based on data obtained from HBU SNF AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
configuration in transportation packages with Zircaloy-4 cladding for evaluating Commission.
and dry storage systems has been design basis drop accidents reasonable? ACTION: License amendment application;
addressed through safety review If not, please explain why not. opportunity to request a hearing and to
guidance (Interim Staff Guidance 2. Are the described licensing and petition for leave to intervene.
(ISG)—11, Revision 3, ‘‘Cladding certification approaches easy to follow
Considerations for the Transportation and practical? If not, please explain why SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
and Storage of Spent Fuel’’ (ADAMS not. Commission (NRC) has received an
Accession No. ML033230335); NUREG– 3. Is the proposed approach for application from the Homestake Mining
1536, Revision 1, ‘‘Standard Review evaluation of vibration normally Company of California (the licensee), for
Plan for Spent Fuel Dry Storage Systems incident to transport clear? If not, please amendment of Materials License No.
at a General License Facility’’ (ADAMS explain why not. SUA–1471, which authorizes the
Accession No. ML101040620)). Time- 4. Are the discussions on possession of residual uranium and
dependent changes on the cladding consequence analyses due to byproduct material in the form of
performance of HBU SNF are primarily hypothetical fuel reconfiguration clear uranium waste tailings and other
driven by the fuel’s temperature, rod and meaningful? If not, please explain byproduct waste generated by the
internal pressure (and corresponding why not. licensee’s past milling operations at the
pressure-induced cladding hoop 5. Are there any potential conflicts licensee’s uranium mill located in
stresses), and the environment during Cibola County, New Mexico. The
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
between NUREG–2215, Standard
dry storage or transport operations. ISG– Review Plan for Spent Fuel Dry Storage amendment would update the
11, Revision 3 and NUREG–1536, Systems and Facilities, Draft for groundwater monitoring plan to adjust
Revision 1 defines adequate fuel Comment (ADAMS Accession No. the compliance monitoring for the
conditions, including peak cladding ML17310A693) and this document? If groundwater restoration areas at the
temperatures during short-term loading so, please describe any conflicts. Grants Reclamation Project site. This
operations to prevent and mitigate 6. Is the NRC’s reassessment of the change to the groundwater monitoring
degradation of the cladding. ductility transition temperature as plan should ensure that coverage is
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Document Created: 2018-08-09 01:10:53
Document Modified: 2018-08-09 01:10:53
| 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 | Draft NUREG; request for comment. | |
| Dates | Submit comments on the draft NUREG-2224 by September 24, 2018. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. | |
| Contact | Wendy Reed, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-7213; email: [email protected]; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 39475 |
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