Reactor Licensing & Regulation

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission had kind words for one of its outgoing commissioners at her last public meeting this week. Commissioner Annie Caputo, whose three-year term ends June 30, was honored by NRC chair Christopher Hanson during the agency’s midyear review meeting held Tuesday. Hanson said that he had “no doubt” that Caputo would continue […]

Members of the public have a few extra months to provide comments on cleanup at the site of one of the country’s worst radioactive accidents, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced this week. The comment period for a proposed license amendment allowing the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) to move radioactive mine waste from the defunct Church […]

Two of the government’s top decision makers on nuclear energy again asked the nuclear energy industry for its help to get their goals for nuclear power across the finish line at a trade conference Monday. The Joe Biden administration “can launch more nuclear projects across the country, we can power more communities with clean energy, […]

Two of the government’s top decision makers on nuclear energy again asked the nuclear energy industry for its help to get their goals for nuclear power across the finish line at a trade conference Monday. The Joe Biden administration “can launch more nuclear projects across the country, we can power more communities with clean energy, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will focus on modernization of the existing fleet of nuclear power plants and developing regulations for advanced reactors, the agency’s chairman told one of the nuclear industry’s largest trade groups at its annual conference Monday. NRC wants to ensure the nation’s current fleet of nuclear plants are outfitted with new technologies […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted four nuclear power plants exemptions to federal regulations governing employee work hours and training during the month of April, according to a notice published by the agency this week. Between April 6 and April 29 NRC granted work-hour control exemptions to: Fermi Nuclear Generating Station in Michigan; Clinton Power Station […]

The public comment period for a proposed license amendment enabling cleanup operations at the Church Rock uranium mine is now over, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The last day for comments on the agency’s draft environmental impact statement for the action was Thursday, NRC has said. The commission will evaluate all responses and release […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted four nuclear power plants exemptions to federal regulations governing employee work hours and training during the month of April, according to a notice published by the agency Tuesday. Between April 6 and April 29 NRC granted work-hour control exemptions to: Fermi Nuclear Generating Station in Michigan; Clinton Power Station in […]

Members of the public only have a few days to get in their comments on a proposed license amendment enabling cleanup operations at the Church Rock uranium mine, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The last day for comments on the agency’s draft environmental impact statement for the action is Thursday, NRC has said. The […]

With the state Senate showing no signs of urgency about the measure, prospects looked dim at deadline for a bill that would have adjusted low-level waste disposal rates and banned storage of high level radioactive waste in the Lone Star.  According to the legislative calendar, Friday was the last day for the state Senate to […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission isn’t looking too closely at disposal or repurposing of spent nuclear fuel from future advanced reactors, the agency’s fuel safety chief told a National Academies panel Tuesday. NRC won’t regulate the back end of the advanced fuel cycle until it has “a firmer idea of what advanced reactor developers are looking […]

The state of New York’s public service committee voted unanimously this week to approve a proposed joint settlement agreement in which the company set to decommission Indian Point Energy Center will commit to greater financial transparency and community engagement. The New York Public Service Commission’s 4-0 vote at a virtual meeting Wednesday to greenlight the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission isn’t looking too closely at disposal or repurposing of spent nuclear fuel from future advanced reactors, the agency’s fuel safety chief told a National Academies panel Tuesday. NRC won’t regulate the back end of the advanced fuel cycle until it has “a firmer idea of what advanced reactor developers are looking […]

New York’s public service commission will vote on the proposed settlement between the state, Holtec International and Entergy over decommissioning of the Indian Point Energy Center on Wednesday, state attorney general Letitia James said in a recent court filing. In the Thursday filing, the state asked a federal judge for a little more time to […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission denied a request for a new rule that would establish a framework for restarting retired nuclear reactors, according to a notice published last week. There’s not enough industry interest in a regulatory framework to reauthorize operations at retired reactors, NRC said in its denial of a 2018 petition for a new […]

The company seeking a federal license to build an interim storage facility in New Mexico doesn’t have standing to intervene in the state’s suit against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, New Mexico’s attorney general said in a court filing this week. There’s no need for Holtec International to intervene in the case on NRC’s behalf since […]

The window is rapidly closing for a proposed bill that would ban the storage of high-level nuclear waste in Texas after a week of floor meetings in the state’s Senate ended without a vote on the measure.  Despite appearing on the regular order of business for the full chamber, S.B. 1046, sponsored by state Sen. […]

With just over two weeks left in the session, the Texas state Senate has not yet debated a suddenly controversial proposal to ban storage of high-level nuclear waste in the Lone Star state. The Senate-side version of H.B. 2692, introduced in March by state Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R), is still listed on the state Senate’s […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission denied a request for a new rule that would establish a framework for restarting retired nuclear reactors, according to a notice published last week. There’s not enough industry interest in a regulatory framework to reauthorize operations at retired reactors, NRC said in its denial of a 2018 petition for a new […]

The New York county executive with jurisdiction over the recently-shuttered Indian Point Energy Center urged federal legislators to find disposal solutions for the site’s spent fuel inventory, according to a series of requests published by the county office this week. New York’s legislators and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should also continue their oversight over the […]

Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission board member Peter Lyons died, according to a statement from the agency this week. Lyons, 78, passed away April 29 after a year-long battle with cancer, according to the Los Alamos Daily Post. Those who worked with Lyons throughout his nearly 50-year career in the nuclear industry expressed their condolences throughout […]

The company seeking federal approval to build an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico is asking to get involved with the state’s ongoing lawsuit against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to recent court filings. Holtec International filed a formal petition April 29 to intervene in New Mexico’s proceedings against NRC in […]

A federal judge this week dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by a prominent nuclear trade group over the agency’s interpretation of very-low level waste disposal regulations.  The court lacked jurisdiction to make a ruling, according to a filing Tuesday. If a 2019 letter to industry from NRC detailing its interpretation of […]

The Nuclear Energy Institute, the Energy Communities Alliance and six other groups Monday urged Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to set up a Nuclear Waste Management office to oversee both civilian- and defense-nuclear waste. The federal government “has effectively failed to pursue a nuclear waste program for over a decade,” according to the letter. “We […]

A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by a prominent nuclear trade group over the agency’s interpretation of very-low level waste disposal regulations.  The court lacked jurisdiction to make a ruling, according to a filing Tuesday. If a 2019 letter to industry from NRC detailing its interpretation of […]

A bill that would have banned storage of high level waste in Texas was yanked ahead of a scheduled floor vote in the state’s House of Representatives for being “substantially and materially misleading,” the state Speaker of the House said. H.B. 2692, proposed in March by state Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R), got tossed back into […]

The company seeking federal approval to build an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico is asking to get involved with the state’s ongoing lawsuit against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to recent court filings. Holtec International filed a formal petition April 29 to intervene in New Mexico’s proceedings against NRC in […]

Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission board member Peter Lyons has died, according to a Monday statement from the agency. “For decades, Pete distinguished himself as an influential thought leader in nuclear science and energy policy, first at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and later at the NRC and Department of Energy,” said NRC chair Christopher Hanson […]

The Nuclear Energy Institute, the Energy Communities Alliance and six other groups Monday urged Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to set up a Nuclear Waste Management office to oversee both civilian- and defense-nuclear waste. The federal government “has effectively failed to pursue a nuclear waste program for over a decade,” according to the letter. “We […]

The Texas legislature was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a proposed bill that would ban the storage of high-level nuclear waste in the Lone Star State as a waste management company seeks a federal license to do so. H.B. 2692, introduced by state Rep, Brooks Landgraf (R), would also lower state fees associated with the […]