Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Holtec International believes it can complete decommissioning of the three-reactor Indian Point Energy Center by 2036, assuming it receives federal authorization to buy the nuclear power plant. The Camden, N.J., energy technology company laid out its schedule in a presentation to be given today to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in advance of the application […]

Just two days after officially completing the reorganization of its nuclear materials office, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday announced it had combined two offices that provide oversight for nuclear power reactors. As of Sunday, the federal agency has merged its Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation with its Office of New Reactors. The new […]

It could be two years before a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission board holds a hearing in the single contention it allowed against licensing of a consolidated interim storage facility in Texas for spent nuclear power reactor fuel. The anticipated “trigger date” for parties to begin filing various paperwork and then the evidentiary hearing itself is […]

EnergySolutions on Tuesday said it had sealed the deal for acquisition of reactor Unit 2 (TMI-2) at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, which famously partially melted down 40 years ago. The Salt Lake City-based nuclear services firm will buy TMI-2’s assets and obtain its licenses from reactor owner FirstEnergy Corp. It […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is accepting hearing petitions on proposed license transfers for the retired Crystal River nuclear power plant in Florida. Owner Duke Energy wants to transfer the facility’s operations and spent-fuel storage licenses to a subsidiary of Accelerated Decommissioning Partners (ADP). That company, a joint venture of NorthStar Group Services and Orano, […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has formally accepted SHINE Medical Technologies’ application to obtain a 30-year operating license for a proposal medical isotope production facility in Wisconsin. The agency said in a Federal Register notice, issued Saturday and dated Tuesday, that it had docketed the application following its acceptance review. That license application will now […]

House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) on Thursday said she would retire from Congress rather than seeking re-election in 2020. “I am honored that my colleagues in Congress elected me as the first Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee and will fight vigorously for House Democratic priorities as I negotiate spending bills for fiscal […]

By John Stang A watchdog organization on Monday asked a state court in California to halt the transfer of used reactor fuel at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and to make majority owner Southern California Edison prove it is on track to move the radioactive waste to an off-site location. The San Diego […]

Perma-Fix Northwest on Monday applied for a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to export up to 10,000 kilograms of radioactive waste back to Italy after it has been treated in the United States. The incoming waste would be comprised of personal protective gear, plastic, paper, and a small amount of glass contaminated by […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still reviewing two petitions for intervention in the license transfer proceeding for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts, even though it approved the transfer in August ahead of the sale of the retired plant. The “presidentially appointed Commission that oversees the NRC still has to rule on the […]

Two members of Congress from Missouri are calling on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to hold an open hearing on a license application for export of weapon-grade uranium to Europe. The Department of Energy on July 31 filed an application for export of nearly 4.8 kilograms of highly enriched uranium to the Institute for Radioelements […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still reviewing two petitions for intervention in the license transfer of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts, even though it approved the transfer in August ahead of the sale of the retired plant. The “presidentially appointed Commission that oversees the NRC still has to rule on the requests […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday asked states and Indian tribes to weigh in with their thoughts on best practices and operations for organizations intended to provide local guidance for decommissioning of nearby nuclear power plants. That input would be incorporated into an agency report on the topic that was mandated in the Nuclear […]

Perma-Fix Northwest on Monday applied for a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to export up to 10,000 kilograms of radioactive waste back to Italy after it has been treated in the United States. The incoming waste would be comprised of personal protective gear, plastic, paper, and a small amount of glass contaminated by […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has formally closed out a regulatory update to expand the scope of stakeholders who would be required to provide “complete and accurate information” in applying for a regulatory approval. The rulemaking was initiated by a petition filed in April 2013 by James Lieberman, a former NRC official who consults on […]

Vermont on Monday officially became the 39th agreement state to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It now assumes primary responsibility for regulatory oversight of radioactive materials within state borders, though that does not include the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant being decommissioned. The four NRC commissioners in early September voted unanimously in favor of giving […]

By John Stang Southern California Edison and partnering companies have petitioned a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging decommissioning and transfer of spent fuel at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) — saying the complaint features legal, engineering, and scientific errors. The motion to dismiss focuses on arguments that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory […]

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry plans to resign in a matter of weeks, after nearly three years as the Trump administration’s top manager for a range of civilian nuclear operations, Politico reported Thursday. Three informed sources said Perry would make an announcement before the end of November, according to the report. Deputy Energy Secretary Dan […]

NAC International is asking the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to waive $632,398 in fees from its review of the company’s new transportation package for spent reactor fuel. The costs were an unfair outcome of incorrect thermal modeling of the MAGNATRAN cask by an unidentified contractor for the federal agency, according to the Peachtree, Ga.-based manufacturer […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has suspended work on a study of potential regulatory updates for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) while it considers other approaches to the matter. As recently as March, the agency said it expected to issue its scoping-study findings before the end of spring. However, staff is now separately […]

The deadline came and went Monday for the Department of Energy and other federal agencies to terminate at least one-third of their federal advisory committees, but it was not clear this week whether the agency had complied with the directive. A DOE spokesperson did not reply to multiple requests for a list of committees cut […]

By John Stang Nonproliferation advocates and medical isotopes companies hope to persuade the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission that a Belgian company should not receive additional highly enriched uranium from the United States to make its own isotopes. The regulator has received at least four petitions for intervention in its review of an export application from […]

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry plans to resign in a matter of weeks, after nearly three years as the Trump administration’s top manager for a range of civilian nuclear operations, Politico reported Thursday. Three informed sources said Perry would make an announcement before the end of November, according to the report. Deputy Energy Secretary Dan […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as of Tuesday has placed a new branch in charge of oversight of the recently retired reactor Unit 1 at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pa. Oversight has been transferred from the agency’s operating power reactor inspection program to its decommissioning power reactor inspection program under […]

New Jersey has established a panel of state officials to provide additional oversight of decommissioning at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced Wednesday. The Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel “will enhance existing oversight to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and provide assurances to the public that the proper protocols for […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has suspended work on a study of potential regulatory updates for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) while it considers other approaches to the matter. As recently as March, the agency said it expected to issue its findings before the end of spring. However, staff is now separately gearing […]

NAC International is asking the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to waive $632,398 in fees from its review of the company’s new transportation package for spent reactor fuel. The Georgia-based used fuel management specialist said the costs were an unfair outcome of incorrect thermal modeling of the MAGNATRAN system by an unidentified contractor for the federal […]

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in August continued to spend little of its remaining balance from the Nuclear Waste Fund – just $863, leaving it with an unobligated tranche of $407,176. The money was used for unspecified program planning and support, according to the agency’s latest spending report to Congress. As of Aug. 31, the […]

Vermont on Monday officially became the 39th agreement state to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It now assumes primary responsibility for regulatory oversight of radioactive materials within state borders, though that does not include the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant being decommissioned. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and NRC Chairman Kristine Svinicki signed the agreement on […]

Fluor, the Texas-based engineering and construction giant trying to reverse its worsening financial condition, said Tuesday it will sell off its government contracting business that includes its work for the U.S. Department of Energy. While long a major player in government services, Fluor sees the business as a valuable property that can be moved in […]