Numerous changes are coming to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reactor licensing as the agency proposed an overhaul of regulatory modifications to modernize its procedures, it said last week.
NRC said in a July 1 press release that these changes will modernize reactor licensing, oversight and siting practices of nuclear power plants. These sweeping changes were proposed on the same day as the agency announced that it was proposing to move away from the radiation protection safety principle “as low as reasonably achievable” – or ALARA.
Ho Nieh, NRC chair, said in a media roundtable that Exchange Monitor attended that this comprehensive rulemaking is separate from the Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 53 and Part 57 rulemakings, and will update the regulations that are currently in place.
The proposed changes would take a risk-informed, performance-based approach to updating regulations “across virtually every stage of a plant’s lifecycle—from initial design approvals and construction through operation, license renewal, and decommissioning,” NRC said.
“They [the current regulations] have not kept pace with new technologies,” Nieh said. “These rules were developed six to seven decades ago and were really put in place to license legacy reactors that are operating today…we’re updating all of those rules to really take into account the new technologies and the needs of our country when it comes to safe nuclear energy.”
According to the 553-page pre-published Federal Register notice, NRC is proposing to amend its regulations to allow for construction of specific structures, systems and components to be completed under a general license once the construction permit application is docketed.
NRC said that changing the definition of “construction” within its regulations to include certain structures, systems and components would provide applicants more flexibility to build those safety parts, when justified, at the site prior to issuing a license. Those safety components built without NRC authorization could still be subjected to additional requirements, according to the document.
Additionally, Nieh told reporters the proposed rulemaking will allow for increased enrichment levels up to 10% for low-enriched uranium at facilities and changing the 20-year license renewal to a 40-year license renewal period.