Waste Confidence Rulemaking
- Filter By Nuclear Update Blog
The NRC issued for public comment a proposed rule to revise its generic determination on the environmental impacts of the continued storage of spent nuclear fuel beyond a reactor’s licensed life for operation and prior to ultimate disposal. The NRC proposes that the analysis generically addresses the environmental impacts of continued storage of spent nuclear fuel beyond the licensed life for operation of a reactor and supports the determinations that it is feasible to safely store spent nuclear fuel beyond the licensed life for operation of a reactor and to have a mined geologic repository within 60 years following the licensed life for operation of a reactor.
The proposed rule also would clarify that the generic determination applies to a license renewal for an independent spent fuel storage installation. The proposed rule would also make conforming amendments to the Commission’s 2013 findings on the environmental effects of renewing the operating license of a nuclear power plant to address issues related to the storage of spent nuclear fuel after a reactor’s licensed life for operation and the offsite radiological impacts of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste disposal. Comments are due by November 27, 2013.
The NRC has also issued for public comment a draft generic environmental impact statement (“DGEIS”), NUREG-2157 “Waste Confidence Generic Environmental Impact Statement,” to support the proposed rule. The DGEIS forms the regulatory basis for the proposed amendments to the NRC’s regulations. NRC staff plans to hold 12 public meetings during the public comment period to present an overview of the DGEIS and proposed Waste Confidence rule. Comments on the DGEIS are due by November 27, 2013.