NRC Commissioner Responds to Lawmakers’ Waste Confidence Concerns

NRC Commissioner Kristine Svinicki indicated yesterday that the Commission expects to have a final rule for its Waste Confidence update published by early fall, she wrote in a response letter to House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.). Upton, along with other House Energy leaders, sent the NRC a letter back in July inquiring about the timetable of the Waste Confidence decision-making and how the delays have affected the timeliness of license renewals in an effort to draw urgency to the decision-making.

 

While Svinicki said she could not elaborate on the effect the rulemaking has had on the renewals, she assured the House lawmakers that the NRC is tackling the issue as a top priority. “With regard to your interest in the NRC’s schedule to conclude its review of the continued storage rule, I can assure you that the Commission is actively reviewing the draft final rule package provided by the NRC staff on July 21, 2014,” Svinicki said in her letter. “Although the NRC has not established a specific date for publication of the rule, this is an important rulemaking and the Commission is treating the matter as one of high priority. The Commission expects to have a final rule published by early fall.” The NRC is currently reviewing the final rule, and it tentatively scheduled an affirmation vote on the rulemaking for Aug. 26.