[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 8752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4079]



[[Page 8752]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Draft Final Technical Study of Spent Fuel Pool Accident Risk at 
Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is soliciting public 
comment on the ``Draft Final Technical Study of Spent Fuel Pool 
Accident Risk at Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants.''
    As the number of power reactors involved in the decommissioning 
process increases, the ability to address regulatory issues generically 
has become more important. After a nuclear power plant permanently 
shuts down and the reactor is defueled, the traditional accident 
sequences that dominate operating reactor risk are no longer 
applicable. The predominant source of risk remaining at permanently 
shutdown plants involves accidents associated with spent fuel stored in 
the spent fuel pool.
    Following a Commission meeting held on March 17, 1999, the NRC 
staff formed a technical working group to evaluate spent fuel pool 
accident risk at decommissioning plants. The staff set out to develop a 
risk-informed technical basis that could be used to develop rulemaking 
and to establish a predictable method for reviewing future exemption 
requests and to identify the need for any research in areas of large 
uncertainty. The staff intends for this approach to meet the NRC 
outcome goals of maintaining safety, reducing unnecessary regulatory 
burden, increasing public confidence, and improving efficiency and 
effectiveness.
    The NRC released a preliminary draft version of the technical basis 
study in June 1999. A public workshop to discuss the report was held in 
July 1999. Numerous comments and other input were received from the 
public and the nuclear industry. The NRC has revised the report to 
address the comments received and to incorporate needed changes based 
on the results of outside technical reviews.
    All comments received will be considered before the final report is 
published as the basis for initiation of rulemaking activities.

DATES: The comment period expires April 7, 2000. Comments received 
after this date will be considered if practical to do so, but the staff 
is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, 
Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U. S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Comments may 
also be sent electronically by completing the online comment form 
available on the NRC Internet web page at the address below. Comments 
may also be hand delivered to Room 6D59, Two White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on 
Federal workdays.
    The report is available at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L 
Street NW., Washington, DC. and through the NRC Agencywide Documents 
Access and Management System (ADAMS). The report is also available via 
the Internet on the NRC web page at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/REACTOR/DECOMMISSIONING/SF/index.html>. Requests for single copies may be made 
to Richard Dudley, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop O-
11D19, Washington, DC 20555-0001 or by telephone at 301-415-1116 or 
email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Hubbard, U.S. NRC, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Mail Stop O-11A11, Washington, DC, 20555-
0001; telephone 301-415-2870; email: [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of February, 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stuart A. Richards,
Director, Project Directorate IV & Decommissioning, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-4079 Filed 2-18-00; 8:45 am]
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