NRC LOOKING AT CHANGES TO REACTOR LICENSE RENEWAL PROCESS - ExchangeMonitor

Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
2/28/2014

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering updating its rulemaking process for power reactor license renewals in anticipation of an upcoming wave of renewal applications that if approved would extend the plant life past 60 years, according to a policy issue options paper released last week by the NRC staff. With an aging reactor fleet, this potential update would create clearer guidance in the rulemaking to ensure durability and “age-related maintenance” of the reactor in the license renewal process. “The staff has begun a regulatory framework and technical justification review of the operating power reactor license renewal process to be prepared for anticipated subsequent license renewal applications that will request approval to renew a facility’s operating license beyond 60 years,” the paper said. “The staff believes the license renewal process and regulations are sound and can support subsequent license renewal; however, the staff has identified several areas that should be modified in the existing rule to allow for a more predictable review process.”

The paper outlined four possible options the Commission could take regarding the rule. According to the staff’s preferred option in the rule, the Commission would pursue rulemaking for subsequent renewal-specific changes. “Under this option, the staff would develop a more explicit requirement for maintaining the effectiveness of aging-management activities and a new requirement for reporting aging-related degradation after a license is renewed,” the paper said. “This option also includes a proposal to explore reducing the time that a licensee may submit an application for subsequent license renewal before the expiration of an existing license.” This option would include two of the other options outlined in the paper: minor clarification of wording in the rule and updates to 10 CFR Part 54 regulations for current and subsequent renewals. The fourth option outlined by the paper and not recommended was an option of inaction.

Westinghouse’s AP100 reactor design certification renewal earned the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval and now extends the company’s reactor design through 2066, NRC said Wednesday.

NRC said in its press release this approval would give future applicants a standardized AP1000 reactor design that replicates Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Ga. NRC added that this move aims to “reduce duplicative regulatory reviews, lower licensing costs and help future AP1000 projects move through the NRC’s licensing process more efficiently.”

When Vogtle Units 3 and 4 were under construction and began operation, NRC reviewed and approved about 200 license amendments. This approval reflects those design changes and experiences in the renewed certification, NRC said.

“The NRC’s approval of the updated AP1000 design provides the regulatory foundation for America to move from building individual reactors to deploying them at scale,” NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said in the release. “This is how safety-focused, enabling regulation reduces regulatory uncertainty and investment risk.”

Westinghouse submitted its reactor design certification with NRC in April as a way to support the company’s efforts for fleet-scale deployment. With President Donald Trump’s administration calling for at least 10 large-scale reactors to be under construction by 2030, Westinghouse, the sole licensee of an advanced large-scale reactor, plans to have its reactor technology take on that goal.

Last October, Westinghouse, along with its owners Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management, and the Department of Commerce signed a $80 billion deal to partner up to speed up the deployment of the AP1000 reactor across the United States.

Prior to the design certification renewal, NRC approved Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor design certification until 2046.

Along with the approval, NRC issued a final rule proposing to change regulations to renew the AP1000 reactor design certification. Also with the rule, NRC issued an environmental assessment supplementing the rule.

NRC’s Wednesday Federal Register notice allows for the public to comment on the renewal by Nov. 13. Barring any public comments that raise significant concerns, the final rule is set to become effective on Dec. 28, according to the notice.

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