ML19247B347
| ML19247B347 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/20/2019 |
| From: | John Tappert Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| To: | Schultz K - No Known Affiliation |
| Dan Doyle 415-3748 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19224B876 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML19247B347 (3) | |
Text
September 20, 2019 Mr. Kraig D. Schultz 11919 Mill Lane Grand Haven, MI 49417
SUBJECT:
PROPOSED CHANGES TO DECOMMISSIONING REGULATIONS
Dear Mr. Schultz:
I am responding to your letter dated August 1, 2019, to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Kristine Svinicki (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML19224B875). Thank you for taking the time to write to the NRC with proposed changes to our regulations regarding decommissioning of nuclear power reactors.
Your letter contained two proposed changes:
- 1. We propose that plants be decommissioned as quickly as is safely possible. In particular, spent fuel should be moved from the spent fuel pools into hardened on-site storage casks on a similar schedule to how they were regularly able to be safely transferred when the plant was in power production.
- 2. We propose that the NRC amend its rules so that plants must maintain a site specific decommissioning plan and cost estimate on file that is submitted every 2 years at the time plants must report on their decommissioning fund status.
The NRC is currently considering changes to the regulations regarding nuclear power reactor decommissioning, and the Commission is reviewing a rulemaking proposal from the NRC staff.
Specific information about the rulemaking can be found at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/rulemaking-ruleforum/active/RuleDetails.html?id=49 and at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2015-0070. This rulemaking might be of interest to you because it includes the topics of spent fuel storage and financial assurance for decommissioning. Although the current staff proposal does not include the changes you have identified, you may submit these requested changes and other feedback as a comment on the proposed rule once it is published. You can use the links on the NRCs public website and regulations.gov to submit your comment.
Under the NRCs current regulations, the NRC ensures that storage of spent fuel is done safely and securely whether in a spent fuel pool or dry storage. Our regulations for ensuring adequate funding for power reactor decommissioning (10 CFR 50.75) do require licensees for nuclear power plants to estimate and accumulate funds during operations.
Additionally, the NRC has a formal process for submission and evaluation of requests for changes to NRC regulations. The process is described on our public website at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/petition-rule.html.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this letter, please contact me at John.Tappert@nrc.gov or 301-415-2486.
Sincerely,
/RA Fred Schofer Acting for/
John R. Tappert, Director Division of Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
LETTER FROM JOHN R. TAPPERT TO KRAIG SCHULTZ RE: PROPOSED CHANGES TO DECOMMISSIONING REGULATIONS DATED: September 20, 2019 DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsSecyMailCenter RidsEdoMailCenter RidsNmssOd RidsNmssDrm RidsNrrMailCenter RidsOgcMailCenter DDoyle, NMSS GLappert, NMSS SSotoLugo, NMSS FMiller, NRR BWatson, NMSS JTappert, NMSS ADAMS Accession Number: PKG: ML19224B876; Incoming: ML19224B875; Letter: ML19247B347
- concurrence via email OFFICE NMSS/DRM/PM*
NMSS/DRM/RS*
NMSS/DRM/RRPB/BC* NRR/DLP/PFPB/BC*
NAME DDoyle GLappert SSotoLugo FMiller DATE 09/03/2019 09/05/2019 09/06/2019 09/10/2019 OFFICE NMSS/DUWP/RDB/BC*
OGC*
NMSS/DRM/D NAME BWatson HBenowitz (NLO)
FSchofer for JTappert DATE 09/06/2019 09/19/2019 09/20/2019 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY