ML20077K146
| ML20077K146 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/16/2020 |
| From: | Wendy Reed NRC/NMSS/DFM/MSB |
| To: | Christopher Regan Division of Fuel Management |
| WAReed NMSS/DFM/MSB 415.7213 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20077K144 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML20077K146 (9) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555-0001 March 16, 2020 MEMORANDUM TO: Christopher M. Regan, Deputy Director Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards FROM: Wendy A. Reed, Chemist Materials and Structural Branch Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF MARCH 4, 2020 PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS STATUS OF SPENT FUEL REPROCESSING RULEMAKING
Background
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff held a Category 3 public meeting on March 4, 2020, to discuss the status of the spent fuel reprocessing rulemaking, which focuses on spent fuel from light water reactors. The purpose of the meeting was to provide stakeholders an opportunity to provide their opinion on the need for the rulemaking, and to seek information from industry regarding interest in constructing, operating and licensing a spent fuel reprocessing facility.
The meeting was noticed on February 9, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20042D237). The meeting attendance list is provided in Enclosure 1.
Discussion The meeting discussion followed the meeting agenda, which is provided in Enclosure 2. contains the presentation given by the NRC. The staff stated the purpose of the meeting and provided a brief history of NRCs efforts related to reprocessing. The presentation also discussed the current status of the technical basis development which was limited to assessing the application of quantitative risk analysis to reprocessing facility accidents, and the NRCs perception of continued industry interest in the reprocessing rulemaking.
CONTACT: Wendy Reed, NMSS/DFM 301-415-7213
To stimulate discussion, the NRC proposed two questions for public comment:
- 1. A typical rulemaking costs approximately 2.4 million dollars. Should the NRC discontinue the spent fuel reprocessing rulemaking?
- 2. What is the intention of industry with regard to the construction, licensing and operation of spent fuel reprocessing facilities?
Following the presentation by the NRC, nuclear industry representatives and members of the public provided comments and asked questions.
A representative of NEI stated that it is supportive of the technology but believed there is no economic driver to construct spent fuel reprocessing facilities. NEI supports any efforts to preserve the work that has already been done to inform the development of a reprocessing regulatory framework, which will help preserve reprocessing as an option.
A representative of the Union of Concerned Scientists stated that the organization does not support reprocessing, primarily because of proliferation, security and material and accounting concerns. Several other commenters also stated their opposition to reprocessing and the continuation of the rulemaking, stating proliferation, waste management (contamination) and economic concerns. Many commenters used the example of the West Valley Demonstration Project, NY, the site of the first and only commercial reprocessing plant in the United States, and the cost of managing and remediating contamination at this site to support their arguments against reprocessing. Some commenters expressed concerns that reprocessing increases the amounts of radioactive waste generated and is difficult to isolate. A representative of Beyond Nuclear also used the examples of La Hague, Sellafield and the Kyshtym disaster to emphasize concerns with emissions and contamination. One commenter was concerned with the cost of decommissioning a reprocessing facility and asked how these costs would be factored into the cost of constructing a reprocessing facility. Another commenter stated that an Environmental Impact Statement should be developed by the NRC for a reprocessing facility.
Representatives of Orano Federal Services (formerly AREVA) and GE Hitachi made comments regarding the reprocessing rulemaking. These organizations had both submitted letters of interest to the NRC regarding the construction of a commercial reprocessing facility (along with EnergySolutions). Both organizations stated support for the rulemaking, stating that it would allow options for industry and provide regulatory certainty. However, neither organization stated that they would be constructing a reprocessing facility soon. Orano Federal Services stated that they would not be submitting a license application, as previously stated (ADAMS Accession No. ML12298A318) for economic reasons. EnergySolutions informed the NRC via email that they would not be attending the public meeting and were no longer interested in reprocessing (ADAMS Accession No. ML20063M399). A representative of NuScale stated that potential NuScale customers in foreign nations have expressed interest in a U.S. fuel takeback option that involves reprocessing. NuScale also submitted their comments via email (ADAMS Accession No. ML20066F440).
A representative of Virginia Recycles SNF (spent nuclear fuel) stated that even though they think there is a future in reprocessing and recycling spent fuel, the rulemaking should be tabled for now. One commenter suggested that NRC conduct discussions with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discuss the EPA rule 40 CFR 190 which regulates radiation releases and doses to the public from the normal operations of nuclear power plants and other uranium fuel cycle facilities (including reprocessing).
Action Items/Next Steps The meeting was transcribed to capture the many comments on the spent fuel reprocessing rulemaking (ADAMS Accession No. ML20069H449). The staff will consider the public comments in the transcription received at the meeting and several emails opposed to the rulemaking1 as they prepare a paper to the Commission recommending next steps for the spent fuel reprocessing rulemaking.
Enclosures:
- 1. Meeting Attendees
- 2. Agenda
- 3. NRC Presentation 1 ADAMS Accession Nos ML20056C932; ML20063M367; ML12298A318; ML20066F770; ML20066F681; ML20066F583
SUMMARY
OF MARCH 4, 2020, PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS STATUS OF SPENT FUEL REPROCESSING RULEMAKING DATE:
DISTRIBUTION:
DFM e-mail RidsOpaMail Resource PJehle AKock ELohr YFaraz G:\SFST\RMB\Reprocessing Rulemaking\Public Meeting\Spent Fuel Reprocessing Public Meeting Summary 2020-03-04.docx ADAMS Accession Nos.: ML20077K144 (Pkg) ML20077K146 (Memo)
OFC NMSS/DFM NMSS/DFM NMSS/DFM NAME WReed SFigueroa via email MRahimi via email DATE 03/13/2020 03/13/2020 03/16/2020
MEETING ATTENDEES Topic: Status of Spent Fuel Reprocessing Rulemaking Date: March 4, 2020, 2:00-4:00 pm.
Location: One White Flint North Building, Commission Hearing Room NAME AFFILIATION Wendy Reed US NRC Edward Lohr US NRC Patricia Jehle US NRC Christopher Regan US NRC Meraj Rahimi US NRC Sven Bader Orano Federal Services Stephen Kung DOE Jana Bergman Curtiss-Wright/Scientech Ed Lyman UCS Kevin Kamps Beyond Nuclear/Dont Waste Michigan Fred Schofer US NRC Christina Leggett US NRC Olivier Lareynie US NRC Patricia Townsend (via West Valley Citizen Task Force bridgeline/webcast)
Mary Anderson (via bridgeline/webcast) US NRC Enclosure 1
Pamela Greenlaw (via Sierra Club bridgeline/webcast)
Suzanne Rhodes (via bridgeline/webcast) League of Women Voters of South Carolina NAME AFFILIATION Derick Botha (via bridgeline/webcast) NuScale Eric Loewen (via bridgeline/webcast) GE Hitachi Tom Clements (via bridgeline/webcast) Savannah River Site Watch Barbara Warren (via bridgeline/webcast) Citizens Environmental Coalition Cynthia Wheeler (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen Michael Keegan (via bridgeline/webcast) Dont Waste Michigan Marvin Lewis (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen John Kelly (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen Diane DArrigo (via bridgeline/webcast) Nuclear Information and Resource Service Steve Curtis (via bridgeline/webcast) Virginia Recycles SNF Martin Resnikoff (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen Jan Boudart (via bridgeline/webcast) Nuclear Energy Information Service Kathy Taylor (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen Phil Couture (via bridgeline/webcast) Entergy Nuclear Operations Terry Lodge (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen Carlyn Greene (via bridgeline/webcast) UxC Bret Leslie (via bridgeline/webcast) U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
Nigel Mote (via bridgeline/webcast) U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Kyle Sherman (via bridgeline/webcast) Private Citizen
NAME AFFILIATION Joni Arends (via bridgeline/webcast) Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Vina Colley (via bridgeline/webcast)
Security Don Hancock (via bridgeline/webcast) Southwest Research and Information Center
MEETING AGENDA Status of Spent Fuel Reprocessing Rulemaking March 4, 2020, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
NRC Two White Flint North First Floor Commission Hearing Room 11545 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2738 Time Topic Participants 2:00 p.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks NRC 2:10 p.m. Presentation on the Rulemaking NRC 2:25 p.m. Open Discussion NRC/Stakeholders 3:45 p.m. Closing Remarks NRC/Stakeholders 4:00 p.m. Meeting Adjourns Enclosure 2