83_FR_5399 83 FR 5373 - Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning

83 FR 5373 - Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 26 (February 7, 2018)

Page Range5373-5374
FR Document2018-02402

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared a regulatory analysis to support the regulatory basis for a rulemaking to amend the NRC's regulations for the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors. This regulatory analysis is based on receipt of public comments for the preliminary draft regulatory analysis, which was issued in the Federal Register on May 9, 2017. The NRC is making the regulatory analysis available for public information.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5373-5374]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02402]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 5373]]



NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Parts 20, 26, 50, 51, 52, 72, 73, and 140

[NRC-2015-0070]
RIN 3150-AJ59


Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to 
Decommissioning

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Regulatory analysis; availability.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared a 
regulatory analysis to support the regulatory basis for a rulemaking to 
amend the NRC's regulations for the decommissioning of nuclear power 
reactors. This regulatory analysis is based on receipt of public 
comments for the preliminary draft regulatory analysis, which was 
issued in the Federal Register on May 9, 2017. The NRC is making the 
regulatory analysis available for public information.

DATES: The regulatory analysis is available February 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0070 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-2015-0070. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individual 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 pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The 
ADAMS accession number for ``Regulatory Analysis for Regulatory Basis: 
Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to 
Decommissioning'' is ML17332A075.
     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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Howells, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1381, email: 
Christopher.Howells@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Discussion

    The NRC staff has prepared a regulatory analysis for the regulatory 
basis to support a rulemaking that would amend the NRC's regulations 
for the decommissioning of nuclear power reactors. The NRC's goals in 
amending these regulations would be to provide for an efficient 
decommissioning process; reduce the need for exemptions from existing 
regulations; address other decommissioning issues deemed relevant by 
the NRC staff; and support the principles of good regulation, including 
openness, clarity, and reliability. The NRC is recommending rulemaking 
in the areas of emergency planning, physical security, cyber security, 
drug and alcohol testing, training requirements for certified fuel 
handlers, decommissioning trust funds, applicability of backfitting 
provisions, and offsite and onsite financial protection requirements 
and indemnity agreements. These revised requirements would formalize 
steps to transition a power reactor from operating status to 
decommissioning while reducing the need for exemptions and license 
amendments. The NRC staff is also recommending clarifying requirements 
regarding topics such as spent fuel management and environmental 
reporting.
    Accompanying this rulemaking are updates to guidance that address 
aging management, the appropriate role of State and local governments 
in the decommissioning process, the level of NRC review of a licenee's 
Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report, the options for 
decommissioning, and the timeframe associated with decommissioning.
    The regulatory analysis discusses the economic impact to the 
nuclear power industry, government, and society that would result from 
the rulemaking and guidance contemplated by the regulatory basis. The 
regulatory analysis discusses the cost benefit analysis that was 
completed for the various alternatives put forth by the staff, and 
shows that the staff's recommendation for rulemaking and guidance 
development is overall cost benefical to the nuclear power industry, 
government, and society.

II. Cost Benefit Analysis Summary

    The following table provides the quantified and non-quantified 
costs and benefits for the staff-recommended alternatives discussed in 
the regulatory basis for each area of decommissioning under specific 
decommissioning topics and regulatory approaches. The complete analysis 
discusses at length the NRC staff's process, alternatives considered, 
and evaluation of costs and benefits for each area of decommissioning.

[[Page 5374]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP07FE18.000


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of February 2018.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Patricia K. Holahan,
Director, Division of Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2018-02402 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

5373 Proposed Rules Federal Register Vol. 83, No. 26 Wednesday, February 7, 2018 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this training requirements for certified fuel contains notices to the public of the proposed document. handlers, decommissioning trust funds, issuance of rules and regulations. The • NRC’s Agencywide Documents applicability of backfitting provisions, purpose of these notices is to give interested Access and Management System and offsite and onsite financial persons an opportunity to participate in the (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- protection requirements and indemnity rule making prior to the adoption of the final available documents online in the agreements. These revised requirements rules. ADAMS Public Documents collection at would formalize steps to transition a http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ power reactor from operating status to NUCLEAR REGULATORY adams.html. To begin the search, select decommissioning while reducing the COMMISSION ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then need for exemptions and license select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS amendments. The NRC staff is also 10 CFR Parts 20, 26, 50, 51, 52, 72, 73, Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, recommending clarifying requirements and 140 please contact the NRC’s Public regarding topics such as spent fuel Document Room (PDR) reference staff at management and environmental [NRC–2015–0070] 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by reporting. RIN 3150–AJ59 email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The Accompanying this rulemaking are ADAMS accession number for Regulatory Improvements for Power updates to guidance that address aging ‘‘Regulatory Analysis for Regulatory Reactors Transitioning to management, the appropriate role of Basis: Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning State and local governments in the Power Reactors Transitioning to decommissioning process, the level of AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Decommissioning’’ is ML17332A075. NRC review of a licenee’s Post- Commission. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Shutdown Decommissioning Activities ACTION: Regulatory analysis; availability. purchase copies of public documents at Report, the options for the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One decommissioning, and the timeframe SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory White Flint North, 11555 Rockville associated with decommissioning. Commission (NRC) has prepared a Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. regulatory analysis to support the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The regulatory analysis discusses the regulatory basis for a rulemaking to Chris Howells, Office of Nuclear economic impact to the nuclear power amend the NRC’s regulations for the Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. industry, government, and society that decommissioning of nuclear power Nuclear Regulatory Commission, would result from the rulemaking and reactors. This regulatory analysis is Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: guidance contemplated by the based on receipt of public comments for 301–415–1381, email: regulatory basis. The regulatory analysis the preliminary draft regulatory Christopher.Howells@nrc.gov. discusses the cost benefit analysis that analysis, which was issued in the was completed for the various SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal Register on May 9, 2017. The alternatives put forth by the staff, and NRC is making the regulatory analysis I. Discussion shows that the staff’s recommendation available for public information. The NRC staff has prepared a for rulemaking and guidance DATES: The regulatory analysis is regulatory analysis for the regulatory development is overall cost benefical to available February 7, 2018. basis to support a rulemaking that the nuclear power industry, ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID would amend the NRC’s regulations for government, and society. NRC–2015–0070 when contacting the the decommissioning of nuclear power II. Cost Benefit Analysis Summary NRC about the availability of reactors. The NRC’s goals in amending information for this action. You may these regulations would be to provide The following table provides the obtain publicly-available information for an efficient decommissioning quantified and non-quantified costs and related to this action by any of the process; reduce the need for exemptions benefits for the staff-recommended following methods: from existing regulations; address other alternatives discussed in the regulatory • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to decommissioning issues deemed basis for each area of decommissioning http://www.regulations.gov and search relevant by the NRC staff; and support under specific decommissioning topics for Docket ID NRC–2015–0070. Address the principles of good regulation, and regulatory approaches. The questions about NRC dockets to Carol including openness, clarity, and complete analysis discusses at length Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; reliability. The NRC is recommending the NRC staff’s process, alternatives email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For rulemaking in the areas of emergency considered, and evaluation of costs and technical questions, contact the planning, physical security, cyber benefits for each area of individual listed in the FOR FURTHER security, drug and alcohol testing, decommissioning. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:53 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\07FEP1.SGM 07FEP1

5374 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 26 / Wednesday, February 7, 2018 / Proposed Rules Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day The comment period for the RFI ends on that is exempt from public disclosure, of February 2018. February 16, 2018. Through this notice, may not be publicly available. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. DOE extends the comment period until The docket web page can be found at Patricia K. Holahan, March 2, 2018. https://www.regulations.gov/ Director, Division of Rulemaking, Office of DATES: The comment period for the RFI docket?D=EERE-2017-BT-STD-0062. Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. published in the Federal Register on The docket web page will contain [FR Doc. 2018–02402 Filed 2–6–18; 8:45 am] December 18, 2017 (82 FR 59992) is simple instructions on how to access all BILLING CODE 7590–01–P extended to March 2, 2018. Written documents, including public comments, comments and information are in the docket. requested on or before March 2, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ADDRESSES: Interested persons are Caitlin Davis, U.S. Department of encouraged to submit comments by any Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 10 CFR Part 430 of the following methods: Renewable Energy, 1000 Independence [EERE–2017–BT–STD–0062] • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. www.regulations.gov. Follow the Email: Regulatory.Review@hq.doe.gov. Energy Conservation Program: instructions for submitting comments. Telephone: 202–586–6803. Procedures, Interpretations, and • Email: Regulatory.Review@ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of Policies for Consideration of New or hq.doe.gov. Include ‘‘Process Rule RFI’’ its implementation of, ‘‘Reducing Revised Energy Conservation in the subject line of the message. Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Standards for Consumer Products • Postal Mail: U.S. Department of Costs,’’ (January 30, 2017) and, AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Energy, Office of General Counsel, 1000 ‘‘Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Renewable Energy, Department of Independence Avenue SW, Room Agenda,’’ (February 24, 2017), the Energy. 6A245, Washington, DC 20585 Department of Energy (DOE) published ACTION: Notice of comment period Docket: The docket for this activity, a Request for Information (RFI), on which includes Federal Register December 18, 2017 (82 FR 59992), sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS extension. notices, comments, and other seeking comments from interested SUMMARY: The Department of Energy supporting documents/materials, is parties to assist DOE in identifying (DOE) published, on December 18, 2017, available for review at http:// potential modifications to its ‘‘Process a Request for Information (RFI) seeking www.regulations.gov. All documents in Rule’’ for the development of appliance comments from interested parties to the docket are listed in the http:// standards, in an effort to achieve assist DOE in identifying potential www.regulations.gov index. However, meaningful burden reduction while modifications to its ‘‘Process Rule’’ for some documents listed in the index, continuing to achieve the Department’s the development of appliance standards. such as those containing information statutory obligations in the development EP07FE18.000</GPH> VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:26 Feb 06, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\07FEP1.SGM 07FEP1


Document Created: 2018-10-26 13:56:19
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 13:56:19
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionRegulatory analysis; availability.
DatesThe regulatory analysis is available February 7, 2018.
ContactChris Howells, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1381, email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 5373 
RIN Number3150-AJ59
CFR Citation10 CFR 140
10 CFR 20
10 CFR 26
10 CFR 50
10 CFR 51
10 CFR 52
10 CFR 72
10 CFR 73
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