Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Companies in the radioactive waste processing and disposal industry acknowledged this week they are feeling the pinch from the COVID-19 pandemic, but emphasized that they remain fully open for business. At least one industry mainstay confirmed that it has sought federal assistance via the $2.2 trillion CARES Act signed into law on March 27 to […]

A coalition of four jurisdictions supporting development of a storage facility in New Mexico for spent nuclear fuel has supported giving the public more time to comment on a key document from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Stakeholders currently have until May 22 to comment on the NRC draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Holtec International’s […]

The members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday unanimously approved a license for the Department of Energy to export nearly 5 kilograms of weapon-grade uranium to Europe for production of medical isotopes. The four commissioners offered no comments on the matter before or after a roll-call vote on the memorandum and order. The document […]

Both chambers of Congress will remain on recess later than scheduled, returning no earlier than May 4, lawmakers said this week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced the upper chamber would add two weeks to its current recess in a Tuesday note to fellow senators, then in a press release. His announcement followed a […]

By John Stang Limited liability companies and the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on long-term scheduling dominated discussion in a Nuclear Regulatory Commission webinar Tuesday on nearly completed recommendations for financial assurances for decommissioning of commercial nuclear power plants. The session was intended to receive input from the public on April 6 draft final recommendations from a […]

A natural gas pipeline does not pose a significant danger to the nearby Indian Point Energy Center in upstate New York, according to a team of experts formed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The group’s report was filed with the industry regulator on April 8 and made public Wednesday. “The team determined that, even though […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has acceded to a request from three senior members of Congress to delay collection of fees from licensees for 90 days amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision appears to supersede a more limited approach for economic relief previously planned by the industry regulator. All invoices for annual fees scheduled to be […]

A natural gas pipeline does not pose a significant danger to the nearby Indian Point Energy Center in upstate New York, according to a team of experts formed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The report, from agency personnel and outside specialists, was filed with the industry regulator on April 8 and made public Wednesday. “The […]

A coalition of four jurisdictions supporting development of a New Mexico storage facility for spent nuclear power plant fuel on Tuesday tentatively supported giving the public more time to comment on a key document from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Stakeholders currently have until May 22 to provide input on the NRC draft environmental impact statement […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has acceded to a request from three senior members of Congress to delay collection of fees from licensees for 90 days amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All invoices for annual fees scheduled to be issued for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 will now go out on July 22, NRC Chairman Kristine […]

The members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday unanimously approved a license for the Department of Energy to export nearly 5 kilograms of weapon-grade uranium to Europe for production of medical isotopes. The four commissioners offered no comments on the matter before or after the roll-call vote on the memorandum and order. The document […]

The Energy Department plans to retain the Jacobs-led incumbent cleanup contractor at the West Valley Demonstration Project in New York state through June 2023. The DOE Office of Environmental Management announced the 39-month extension for CH2M Hill BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) in a Thursday press release. The vendor is working under a $571 million contractor […]

The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remediation Action (UMTRA) project in Utah as of this week was the sole Energy Department Office of Environmental Management nuclear cleanup site maintaining normal operations during the COVID-19 crisis. The project’s two work sites are “fully operational” while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to minimize the risk […]

Pennsylvania’s top environmental official this week expressed deep reservations about plans for the expedited decommissioning of reactor Unit 2 at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. The reactor famously operated for only a few months before partially melting down in March 1979. It never resumed power production. “The TMI Unit 2 nuclear accident resulted […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering six staff recommendations for improving oversight of storage pads for spent nuclear fuel. The recommendations include increased training for inspectors and updating relevant documents. They were generated by a lessons learned evaluation from the agency’s Region IV office regarding the NRC response to an August 2018 mishap involving spent […]

By John Stang The Nuclear Regulatory Commission as of Friday had approved three exemptions for nuclear plants to exceed federal limits on work hours to ensure they remain operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. All three facilities are owned by Chicago-based power company Exelon: the Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County, Pa., on April 3; the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday provided a large swath of its licensees with an overview of options for relief from federal nuclear rules as they strive to sustain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency addressed a letter to more than 2,400 licensees authorized to hold byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials, excluding operating […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is giving the public additional time to comment on a proposed regulatory update that would ease the path for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) in commercial landfills. The deadline has been pushed back from April 20 to July 20, agency spokesman David McIntyre said by email this week. Very […]

Pennsylvania’s top environmental official on Monday expressed deep reservations about plans for the expedited decommissioning of reactor Unit 2 at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. The reactor famously operated for only a few months before partially melting down in March 1979. It never resumed service. Nuclear services firm EnergySolutions plans to buy the […]

The Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remediation Action (UMTRA) project in Utah as of Tuesday was the sole Energy Department Office of Environmental Management nuclear cleanup site maintaining normal operations during the COVID-19 crisis. The project’s two work sites are “fully operational” while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to minimize the risk of […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is giving the public additional time to comment on a proposed regulatory update that would ease the path for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) in commercial landfills. The deadline has been pushed back from April 20 to July 20, agency spokesman David McIntyre said by email this week. Very […]

A couple of smaller vendors to the nuclear industry say they are prepared to help clients withstand the current COVID-19 pandemic. UniTech Services Group, a provider of personal protective equipment for the nuclear industry in North America, last week predicted no “service disruptions” through the second quarter. “We’re going to take the right preventative measures […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved its first exemption authorizing a nuclear power plant to exceed federal limits on work hours to ensure it remains operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. The April 3 approval was filed one day after Exelon Generation submitted the request for its Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County, Pa. The document […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday provided a large swath of its licensees with an overview of options for relief from federal nuclear safety rules as they strive to sustain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency addressed a letter to licensees authorized to hold byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials, excluding operating commercial nuclear […]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spending from its Nuclear Waste Fund balance slipped below $100 in February, according to the agency’s monthly report to Congress. The outlay of $97 for unspecified program planning and support left the agency with a balance of $430,881 from the fund intended to pay for federal disposal of high-level radioactive waste from […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday announced receipt of its first request from a nuclear power plant for an exception to the federal limits for work hours during the COVID-19 crisis. Exelon Generation filed the request Thursday for its two-reactor Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County, Pa. “By implementing the alternate work hour controls, LGS […]

Radioactive waste management provider US Ecology said Tuesday it would cut tens of millions of dollars in costs this year to offset the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Boise, Idaho-based company said in a press release that unspecified “cost control initiatives” should save $15 million to $20 million annually. A 30% cut […]

By John Stang The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is allowing nuclear power plants to request exemptions for certain limits on work hours for personnel to help ensure continuity of operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “A sudden and potentially long-term reduction in available facility staffing, such as that which may result due to the COVID-19 (public health […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was urged Monday to give the public more time to comment on two controversial proceedings after the COVID-19 crisis has passed. Currently, stakeholders have a matter of weeks to provide input on a key environmental document in federal licensing of a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico, as […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has signed off on the transfer of the license for the retired Crystal River nuclear power plant in Florida, a key step toward its planned decommissioning within seven years. The reactor license now passes from property owner Duke Energy to decommissioning contractor ADP CR3 – a subsidiary of Accelerated Decommissioning Partners […]