Reactor Licensing & Regulation

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said this week that most of its licensees should expect a reduction in annual fees for fiscal 2016, as the agency works through regulation changes for licensing, inspection, special project, and fee schedules. NRC is accepting public comment on the proposed changes through April 22. The fiscal 2016 proposed rule would […]

Power provider Entergy wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reserve the right to issue regulatory exemptions at nuclear power plants undergoing decommissioning. That’s one of the suggestions the operator of the Vermont Yankee, James A. FitzPatrick, and Pilgrim plants made in its letter to the NRC at the conclusion of the agency’s public comment period on […]

U.S. A senior Nuclear Regulatory Commission official said Thursday the agency has begun preparing for a potential workload shift, as it expects two license applications this year for companies looking to operate interim storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel. NRC is expecting an application from Texas-based Waste Control Specialists in April and another a few […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Kristine Svinicki suggested Tuesday that NRC staff consider expediting parts of its decommissioning rulemaking, so that the new rules can be applied to any nuclear power plants that announce premature shutdowns in the next two years. The rulemaking is in an effort to improve nuclear plant decommissioning regulations, with a particular focus […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Kristine Svinicki suggested Tuesday that NRC staff consider expediting parts of its decommissioning rulemaking, so that the new rules can be applied to any nuclear power plants that announce premature shutdowns in the next two years. The rulemaking is in an effort to improve nuclear plant decommissioning regulations, with a particular focus on reducing […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission may free up resources outside its Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) in order complete reviews of one or more license applications for interim storage of nuclear waste, according to an official. Texas-based Waste Control Specialists plans to submit its license application for a consolidated interim spent nuclear fuel storage […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled a briefing on its power reactor decommissioning rulemaking for 9 a.m. Tuesday in Rockville, Md. The commission has directed its staff to by 2019 complete a decommissioning rulemaking in an effort to improve the regulatory framework for decommissioning power plants. The public comment period for the rulemaking is open through Friday. […]

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Jeff Baran said Wednesday that the agency’s continued storage rule is not an endorsement for indefinite storage of on-site nuclear waste but rather an attempt to ensure that storage is done safely. Last month, the NRC defended the continued storage rule in federal court against a challenge that the agency has […]

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission manager said Thursday that the regulatory exemption process for decommissioning power plants doesn’t deprive the public of any “awareness,” though the agency wants to remove the need for such exemptions in its 2019 decommissioning rulemaking. The commission in 2014 directed its staff to complete by 2019 the decommissioning rulemaking, which is the […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner William Ostendorff said Tuesday that he’s disappointed the U.S. still does not have a permanent repository for nuclear waste. While speaking at the NRC’s annual Nuclear Regulatory Information Conference in Bethesda, Md., Ostendorff was asked whether he thinks he’s leaving behind any unfinished business. A commissioner since 2010, Ostendorff announced in February […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Stephen Burns responded Tuesday to a report criticizing the agency’s post-Fukushima Daiichi disaster initiatives, arguing that American plants are safer now than they were when the Japanese nuclear accident occurred in March 2011. Speaking at NRC’s annual Regulatory Information Conference in Bethesda, Md., Burns noted that he has read a quick […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Jeff Baran said Wednesday that the agency’s continued storage rule is not an endorsement for indefinite storage of on-site nuclear waste but rather an attempt to ensure that storage is done safely. Last month, the NRC defended the continued storage rule in federal court against a challenge that the agency has not given […]

While the Obama administration has halted the nuclear waste deep geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev., there are still lessons to be learned from the unfinished Nuclear Regulatory Commission license application process. Speakers from the state and federal level will discuss the knowledge gained during development of the Yucca Mountain facility and how that can […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner William Ostendorff, who is leaving office this summer, said Tuesday that he’s disappointed the U.S. still does not have a permanent repository for nuclear waste. “I think that’s a significant shortcoming of government,” Ostendorff said during the commission’s annual Regulatory Information Conference. “I don’t think it’s been handled, quite frankly, with enough […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Stephen Burns responded Tuesday to a report criticizing the agency’s post-Fukushima Daiichi disaster initiatives, arguing that American plants are safer now than they were when the Japanese nuclear accident occurred in March 2011. Speaking at NRC’s annual Regulatory Information Conference in Bethesda, Burns noted that he has read a quick summary of […]

Stakeholders and interested parties have until March 18 to file public comments regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s proposed rulemaking that will address regulatory changes for decommissioning power reactors. Vice president of Nuclear Decommissioning at power company Entergy, Steven Scheurich, said during a phone interview Friday that the organization is working with the Nuclear Energy Institute […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is hosting its 28th annual Regulatory Information Conference this week, kicking off Tuesday with presentations from commissioners and senior officials. Held at the Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center, Tuesday’s event will begin at 7 a.m. Commission Chairman Stephen Burns, Director for the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Bill Dean, and […]

U.S. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a notice of a standard license modification to Duke Energy Corp. on Thursday, as the company prepares to move material from its spent fuel pool at the Crystal River Nuclear Plant into dry casks, starting in 2017.  The modification requires Duke Energy to have a safeguard contingency plan for response […]

A team led by Holtec International plans to submit its federal license application to build an underground consolidated interim spent fuel storage facility in southeast New Mexico by June, according to one senior executive. Holtec has teamed with the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance to build and operate the underground facility about 12 miles from the Department of Energy’s Waste […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday that the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is currently operating safely, based on findings from the first of three inspections the agency is performing as a result of increased oversight at the Massachusetts plant. NRC downgraded the plant’s safety rating in September following repeated unplanned shutdowns and issues with safety relief valves. […]

Waste Control Specialists CEO Rod Baltzer says the company expects to complete its license application for a consolidated interim spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Texas by May 1. WCS is one of two companies planning to submit an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to build and operate an interim storage […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday that the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is operating safely, based on results from the first of three inspections the agency is performing as part of increased oversight at the Massachusetts plant. NRC downgraded the plant’s safety rating in September following repeated unplanned shutdowns and issues with safety relief valves. […]

Waste Control Specialists CEO Rod Baltzer says the company expects to complete its license application for a consolidated interim spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Texas by May 1. WCS is one of two companies planning to submit an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to build and operate an interim storage […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled a public meeting on March 11 to gather input on improving public information for new or revised regulation. Set for 1-5 p.m. at NRC headquarters in Rockville, Md., NRC staff will work to develop recommendations for the commission. The meeting will be held in room T2B3 at 11555 Rockville […]

SHINE Medical Technologies on Thursday received federal approval to build its $100 million radioisotope production facility in Janesville, Wis., with operations expected to begin in 2019. In a unanimous decision this week, the four-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorized the issuance of the construction permit, which SHINE has been pursuing for four years, two of which […]

In its pursuit to build a $330 million medical isotope production facility in Florida, Coqui RadioPharmaceuticals Corp. plans to submit its construction and licensing application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2017, a project representative said Tuesday. Coqui is up against two other companies in a race to become the first American commercial producer of molybdenum-99, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has launched a Web page providing information on increased oversight at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. NRC downgraded the power plant’s safety rating in September, following repeated unplanned shutdowns and safety relief valve issues. A month later owner Entergy announced plans to shut down the Massachusetts facility as early as spring […]

U.S. After serving nearly six years on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Commissioner William Ostendorff said Wednesday he will not seek reappointment, as he has accepted a teaching position with his alma mater, the United States Naval Academy. “I’ve been privileged to serve NRC since 2010,” Ostendorff said Wednesday during the Platts Nuclear Energy Conference in […]

After serving nearly six years on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Commissioner William Ostendorff said Wednesday he will not seek reappointment, as he has accepted a teaching position with his alma mater, the United States Naval Academy. “I’ve been privileged to serve NRC since 2010,” Ostendorff said Wednesday during the Platts Nuclear Energy Conference in Washington, D.C. […]

Karl Herchenroeder RW Monitor 2/12/2016 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Stephen Burns said Wednesday the agency in its fiscal 2017 budget request is preparing for one license application for interim storage of nuclear waste, and regulators are prepared to shift appropriated funds if needed. Burns, who appeared with his fellow commissioners for a budget hearing before […]