[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55643-55646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24256]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 216 / Wednesday, November 7, 2018 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 55643]]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR Part 72
[NRC-2018-0212]
RIN 3150-AK16
List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: TN Americas LLC,
Standardized NUHOMS[supreg] System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1004,
Renewed Amendment No. 15
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to
amend its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the TN Americas
LLC Standardized NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System
(NUHOMS[supreg] System) listing within the ``List of approved spent
fuel storage casks'' to include Renewed Amendment No. 15 to Certificate
of Compliance No. 1004. Because this amendment is subsequent to the
renewal of the TN Americas LLC Standardized NUHOMS[supreg] Certificate
of Compliance 1004 system and, therefore, subject to the Aging
Management Program requirements of the renewed certificate, it is
referred to as ``Renewed Amendment No. 15.'' Renewed Amendment No. 15
would revise the Certificate of Compliance's technical specifications
to: Unify and standardize fuel qualification tables; revise existing
and add new heat load zoning configurations; increase the allowable
maximum assembly average burnup; allow loading of damaged fuel
assemblies under certain conditions; expand the definition of the
poison rod assemblies to include rod cluster control assembly
materials; allow other zirconium alloy cladding materials; add model
OS197 as an authorized transfer cask; add the description for the solar
shield in the updated final safety analysis report; and add flexibility
to general licensees in verifying compliance regarding the storage pad
location and the soil-structure interaction. Additionally, the
rulemaking would make clarifications to rule text related to
Certificate of Compliance No. 1004 by removing redundant language.
DATES: Submit comments by December 7, 2018. Comments received after
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC
is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before
this date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0212. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact
the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section
of this document.
Email comments to: [email protected]. If you do
not receive an automatic email reply confirming receipt, then contact
us at 301-415-1677.
Fax comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission at 301-415-1101.
Mail comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff.
Hand deliver comments to: 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland 20852, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (Eastern Time) Federal
workdays; telephone: 301-415-1677.
For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christian Jacobs, Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards; telephone: 301-415-6825; email:
[email protected] or Edward M. Lohr, Office of Nuclear Material
Safety and Safeguards; telephone: 301-415-0253; email:
[email protected]. Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
II. Rulemaking Procedure
III. Background
IV. Plain Writing
V. Availability of Documents
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
A. Obtaining Information
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0212 when contacting the NRC
about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain
publicly-available information related to this action by any of the
following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0212.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS,
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. For
the convenience of the reader, instructions about obtaining materials
referenced in this document are provided in the ``Availability of
Documents'' section.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
B. Submitting Comments
Please include Docket ID NRC-2018-0212 in your comment submission.
The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into
ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove
identifying or contact information.
If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to
include
[[Page 55644]]
identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly
disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that
the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such
information before making the comment submissions available to the
public or entering the comment into ADAMS.
II. Rulemaking Procedure
This proposed rule is limited to the changes contained in Renewed
Amendment No. 15 to Certificate of Compliance 1004 and does not include
other aspects of the TN Americas LLC Standardized NUHOMS[supreg] System
design. Because the NRC considers this action non-controversial and
routine, the NRC is publishing this proposed rule concurrently with a
direct final rule in the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of
the Federal Register. The direct final rule will become effective on
January 22, 2019. However, if the NRC receives significant adverse
comments on this proposed rule by December 7, 2018, then the NRC will
publish a document that withdraws the direct final rule. If the direct
final rule is withdrawn, the NRC will address the comments received in
response to these proposed revisions in a subsequent final rule. Absent
significant modifications to the proposed revisions requiring
republication, the NRC will not initiate a second comment period on
this action in the event the direct final rule is withdrawn.
A significant adverse comment is a comment where the commenter
explains why the rule would be inappropriate, including challenges to
the rule's underlying premise or approach, or would be ineffective or
unacceptable without a change. A comment is adverse and significant if:
(1) The comment opposes the rule and provides a reason sufficient
to require a substantive response in a notice-and-comment process. For
example, a substantive response is required when:
(a) The comment causes the NRC to reevaluate (or reconsider) its
position or conduct additional analysis;
(b) The comment raises an issue serious enough to warrant a
substantive response to clarify or complete the record; or
(c) The comment raises a relevant issue that was not previously
addressed or considered by the NRC.
(2) The comment proposes a change or an addition to the rule, and
it is apparent that the rule would be ineffective or unacceptable
without incorporation of the change or addition.
(3) The comment causes the NRC to make a change (other than
editorial) to the rule.
For procedural information and the regulatory analysis, see the
direct final rule published in the Rules and Regulations section of
this issue of the Federal Register.
III. Background
Section 218(a) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982, as
amended, requires that ``the Secretary [of the Department of Energy]
shall establish a demonstration program, in cooperation with the
private sector, for the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel at civilian
nuclear power reactor sites, with the objective of establishing one or
more technologies that the [Nuclear Regulatory] Commission may, by
rule, approve for use at the sites of civilian nuclear power reactors
without, to the maximum extent practicable, the need for additional
site-specific approvals by the Commission.'' Section 133 of the NWPA
states, in part, that ``[the Commission] shall, by rule, establish
procedures for the licensing of any technology approved by the
Commission under Section 219(a) [sic: 218(a)] for use at the site of
any civilian nuclear power reactor.''
To implement this mandate, the Commission approved dry storage of
spent nuclear fuel in NRC-approved casks under a general license by
publishing a final rule which added a new subpart K in part 72 of title
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) entitled ``General
License for Storage of Spent Fuel at Power Reactor Sites'' (55 FR
29181; July 18, 1990). This rule also established a new subpart L in 10
CFR part 72 entitled ``Approval of Spent Fuel Storage Casks,'' which
contains procedures and criteria for obtaining NRC approval of spent
fuel storage cask designs. The NRC subsequently issued a final rule on
December 22, 1994 (59 FR 65898), that approved the TN Americas LLC
Standardized NUHOMS[supreg] System design and added it to the list of
NRC-approved cask designs provided in Sec. 72.214 as Certificate of
Compliance No. 1004. Most recently, on September 27, 2017 (82 FR
44879), the NRC issued a Renewal of the revised initial certificate and
Amendment Nos. 1 through 11, 13 and 14.
IV. Plain Writing
The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274) requires Federal
agencies to write documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.
The NRC has written this document to be consistent with the Plain
Writing Act as well as the Presidential Memorandum, ``Plain Language in
Government Writing,'' published June 10, 1998 (63 FR 31883). The NRC
requests comment on the proposed rule with respect to the clarity and
effectiveness of the language used.
V. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the following table are available to
interested persons through one or more of the following methods, as
indicated.
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ADAMS accession No./
Document web link/Federal
Register citation
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TN Americas LLC Request to Add Amendment No. 15 ML17094A714 (Package).
to Certificate of Compliance No. 1004, letter
dated March 28, 2017.
Revision to TN Americas LLC Request to Add ML17202Q145.
Amendment No. 15 to Certificate of Compliance
No. 1004, letter dated July 18, 2017.
Revision to TN Americas LLC Request to Add ML17363A276 (Package).
Amendment No. 15 to Certificate of Compliance
No. 1004, letter dated December 14, 2017.
Revision to TN Americas LLC Request to Add ML18088A180.
Amendment No. 15 to Certificate of Compliance
No. 1004, letter dated March 22, 2018.
TN Americas LLC Renewed Amendment No. 15 to ML18228A531.
Certificate of Compliance No. 1004.
Technical Specifications for TN Americas LLC ML18228A530.
Renewed Amendment No. 15 to Certificate of
Compliance No. 1004.
Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report for TN ML18234A012.
Americas LLC Renewed Amendment No. 15 to
Certificate of Compliance No. 1004.
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[[Page 55645]]
The NRC may post materials related to this document, including
public comments, on the Federal Rulemaking website at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2018-0212. The Federal
Rulemaking website allows you to receive alerts when changes or
additions occur in a docket folder. To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the
docket folder (NRC-2018-0212); (2) click the ``Sign up for Email
Alerts'' link; and 3) enter your email address and select how
frequently you would like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or
monthly).
List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 72
Administrative practice and procedure, Hazardous waste, Indians,
Intergovernmental relations, Nuclear energy, Penalties, Radiation
protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security
measures, Whistleblowing.
For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization
Act of 1974, as amended; the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as
amended; and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553; the NRC is proposing to adopt the
following amendments to 10 CFR part 72:
PART 72--LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDEPENDENT STORAGE OF
SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND REACTOR-
RELATED GREATER THAN CLASS C WASTE
0
1. The authority citation for part 72 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 51, 53, 57, 62, 63,
65, 69, 81, 161, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234, 274 (42
U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2077, 2092, 2093, 2095, 2099, 2111, 2201, 2210e,
2232, 2233, 2234, 2236, 2237, 2238, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C.
5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(42 U.S.C. 4332); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, secs. 117(a),
132, 133, 134, 135, 137, 141, 145(g), 148, 218(a) (42 U.S.C.
10137(a), 10152, 10153, 10154, 10155, 10157, 10161, 10165(g), 10168,
10198(a)); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note.
0
2. In Sec. 72.214, Certificate of Compliance 1004 is revised to read
as follows:
Sec. 72.214 List of approved spent fuel storage casks.
* * * * *
Certificate Number: 1004.
Initial Certificate Effective Date: January 23, 1995, superseded by
Initial Certificate, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Initial Certificate, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Initial Certificate, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 1 Effective Date: April 27, 2000, superseded by
Amendment Number 1, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 1, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 1, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 2 Effective Date: September 5, 2000, superseded by
Amendment Number 2, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 2, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 2, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 3 Effective Date: September 12, 2001, superseded
by Amendment Number 3, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 3, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 3, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 4 Effective Date: February 12, 2002, superseded by
Amendment Number 4, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 4, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 4, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 5 Effective Date: January 7, 2004, superseded by
Amendment Number 5, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 5, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 5, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 6 Effective Date: December 22, 2003, superseded by
Amendment Number 6, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 6, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 6, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 7 Effective Date: March 2, 2004, superseded by
Amendment Number 7, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 7, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 7, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 8 Effective Date: December 5, 2005, superseded by
Amendment Number 8, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 8, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 8, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 9 Effective Date: April 17, 2007, superseded by
Amendment Number 9, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 9, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 9, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 10 Effective Date: August 24, 2009, superseded by
Amendment Number 10, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 10, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 10, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017.
Amendment Number 11 Effective Date: January 7, 2014, superseded by
Amendment Number 11, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 11, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 11, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017, as corrected (ADAMS Accession No. ML18018A043).
Amendment Number 12 Effective Date: Amendment not issued by the
NRC.
Amendment Number 13 Effective Date: May 24, 2014, superseded by
Amendment Number 13, Revision 1, on April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 13, Revision 1, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 13, Revision 1, Effective Date: December
11, 2017, as corrected (ADAMS Accession No. ML18018A100).
Amendment Number 14 Effective Date: April 25, 2017, superseded by
Renewed Amendment Number 14, on December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 14 Effective Date: December 11, 2017.
Renewed Amendment Number 15 Effective Date: January 22, 2019.
SAR Submitted by: Transnuclear, Inc.
SAR Title: Final Safety Analysis Report for the Standardized
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System for Irradiated Nuclear
Fuel.
Docket Number: 72-1004.
Certificate Expiration Date: January 23, 2015.
Renewed Certificate Expiration Date: January 23, 2055.
Model Number: NUHOMS[supreg]-24P, -24PHB, -24PTH, -32PT, -32PTH1,
[[Page 55646]]
-37PTH, -52B, -61BT, -61BTH, and -69BTH.
* * * * *
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of October 2018.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Margaret M. Doane,
Executive Director for Operations.
[FR Doc. 2018-24256 Filed 11-6-18; 8:45 am]
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