Reactor Licensing & Regulation

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 3/6/2015 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission this week approved the emergency planning exemption requests for both the San Onofre Generating Station (SONGS) and Vermont Yankee Station. The NRC Staff had previously recommended both reactors receive the requested exemptions due to the decreased risk of an emergency at a defueled and shutdown reactor. […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday approved the emergency planning exemption requests for both the San Onofre Generating Station (SONGS) and Vermont Yankee Station. The NRC Staff had previously recommended both reactors receive the requested exemptions due to the decreased risk of an emergency at a defueled and shutdown reactor. “The Commission continues to support the current practice […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff issued a finding of no significant impact for the proposed emergency planning exemptions at the Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant, according to a posting in the Federal Register yesterday. Duke Florida, the site operator, is seeking the exemptions as a way to reduce requirements at the site while […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission late last week voted down the appeal of its Continued Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel Rule, formerly known as Waste Confidence, after determining its interpretation of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 only requires the Commission to prove the technical feasibility of continued storage and not the likelihood of a repository. […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 2/27/2015 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has opened an Atomic Licensing and Safety Board adjudication for Vermont Yankee’s license amendment request to reduce emergency preparedness requirements, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register this week. The state of Vermont had requested a hearing in the adjudication process earlier this […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 2/20/2015 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will complete the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement needed for the Yucca Mountain licensing review, NRC Chair Steven Burns said this week at the 11th Annual Platts Nuclear Energy Conference in Washington, D.C. The Department of Energy originally said it would complete the EIS on groundwater […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 2/13/2015 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspector should improve it oversight of spent fuel pools at commercial reactor sites, the NRC Inspector General said in a report released this week. Adequate oversight exists now, the IG report said, but it noted regulatory uncertainties and issues with the inspection program. “NRC provides […]

Citing Water/Land Ownership Issues, Staff Recommends Against Construction Authorization Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 1/30/2015 While the Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Report meets most applicable regulatory requirements for safety, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should not issue a construction authorization until land and ownership rights by the Department of Energy are resolved, the NRC Staff found […]

NRC Division Director Larry Camper Offers Perspective on Rulemaking Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 1/16/2015 Following the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s direction for staff to complete a decommissioning rulemaking, NRC Division Director Larry Camper suggested this week that the 2019 completion date would be a challenge to meet. In remarks at the Institute for Nuclear Materials […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 1/9/2015 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission directed its Staff last week to begin a rulemaking to better address the NRC’s role in regulating decommissioning power plants, with an end date tentatively set for 2019. Currently, the NRC does not have regulations that reflect the decreased security and safety threat posed by […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 1/9/2015 Stephen Burns took over last week as the new Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Burns replaces Allison Macfarlane, who left the NRC to take a position at George Washington University. Burns was confirmed by the Senate this fall to serve as an NRC Commissioner, and among his previous […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday opened the public comment period for Vermont Yankee’s Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report, submitted last month, while scheduling a public meeting in Vermont on the plan for next month. Comments can be submitted to the NRC until March 23, and the public meeting will take place on Feb. 19 in Brattleboro, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission directed its Staff last week to begin a rulemaking to better address the NRC’s role in regulating decommissioning power plants, with an end date tentatively set for 2019, according to the Commission’s Staff Related Memorandum. Currently, the NRC does not have regulations that reflect the decreased security and safety threat a […]

The following interview with Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Allison Macfarlane was conducted by RadWaste Monitor reporter Jeremy L. Dillon this week at NRC headquarters in Rockville, Md. Macfarlane plans to leave her position on the Commission at the end of this year. RW Monitor 12/19/2014                     […]

Land Ownership and Water Rights Still Needed Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 12/19/2014 The Yucca Mountain license application meets most administrative and programmatic requirements, except land ownership and water rights, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Safety Evaluation Report Volume Four released this week. The conclusions only bolstered  both pro-Yucca support that gained momentum in […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to release the Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Report Volume Four as early as this Thursday and no later than next week, WC Morning Briefing has learned. Volume Four is expected to build upon the safety case expounded by Volume Three, released in October, which said that the Yucca Mountain design […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 12/12/2014 The Senate confirmed this week Jeffrey Baran to a longer term on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with a 52-40 vote along party lines. President Barack Obama nominated Baran to serve the remaining years left on outgoing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s term, which would expire in June 2018. Baran initially […]

The Senate confirmed yesterday Jeffrey Baran to a longer term on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on a 52-40 vote along party lines. President Barrack Obama nominated Baran to serve the remaining years left on departing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s tenure, which would expire in June 2018. Baran initially was confirmed to serve out the remainder […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 12/5/2014 The Senate appears set to confirm early next week Jeffrey Baran to a longer term on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after voting this week to approve a cloture motion to limit debate on Baran’s nomination. President Barrack Obama nominated Baran to serve the remaining years left on departing NRC […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 12/5/2014 The U.S. Army is seeking a license termination from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its Depleted Uranium Impact Area at the Jefferson Proving Ground in southeastern Indiana that would leave thousands of pounds of depleted uranium on-site. The Army submitted a license termination request in 2013 to the NRC […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 12/5/2014 Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) this week continued her fight against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s refusal to hand over sensitive documents to Congressional oversight. Boxer has fought with the Commission for much of the past year over the release of documents to the committee, mainly […]

RW Monitor 12/5/2014 IN THE NRC The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comment on its draft Interim Staff Guidance document for the review of security exemptions at decommissioning plants, according to a notice in the Federal Register this week. If approved, the guidance would help establish a consistent review process for exemption requests from […]

Senate Republicans chastised Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) yesterday during a Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversight hearing for pushing the re-nomination of Commissioner Jeffrey Baran through committee without a hearing. Baran moved through the committee earlier this week on a 10-8 party line vote, despite Republican protests. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) echoed […]

Senate Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee successfully pushed the re-nomination of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Jeffrey Baran out of committee yesterday, despite protests from Republican members. The vote passed 10-8 along party lines, with all Republicans voting by proxy in what appears to be a protest against Chair Barbara Boxer’s (D-Calif.) decision […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comment on its draft Interim Staff Guidance document for the review of security exemptions at decommissioning plants, according to a posting in the Federal Register yesterday. If approved, the guidance would help establish a consistent review process for exemption requests from decommissioning plants. With the latest wave of […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will host a public comment meeting on Wednesday for the license termination of the U.S. Army’s Depleted Uranium Impact Area at the Jefferson Proving Ground in southeastern Indiana, the Commission announced late last week. The Army submitted a license termination request in 2013 to the NRC in hopes of ending the […]

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will vote on the re-nomination to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of Commissioner Jeffrey Baran tomorrow during a committee business meeting. President Barrack Obama nominated Baran to serve the remaining years left on departing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s tenure, which would expire in June 2018. Baran initially was confirmed […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 11/21/2014 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair Allison Macfarlane called for the Commission to work on developing more specific regulations tied to the decommissioning of nuclear power plants,  in remarks she made this week at the National Press Club in Washington. Macfarlane’s comments came in the context of lessons learned during her […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 11/21/2014 President Barrack Obama late last week nominated current Nuclear Regulatory Commission member Jeffrey Baran to serve the remaining years left on departing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s tenure. Macfarlane is set to leave the NRC at the end of this year, ahead of when her tenure would expire in June […]

RW Monitor 11/21/2014 IN THE NRC The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff has recommended the Commission approve the exemptions requests for reduced emergency preparedness and security at Duke Energy’s Crystal River Nuclear Plant, according to a Staff paper released this week. Citing the decreased risk of a shutdown reactor in comparison to an operating one, the […]