ML20094G271
| ML20094G271 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/02/2020 |
| From: | Jack Cushing NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ENRB |
| To: | |
| Sebrosky J, NRR/DANU/UARP, 301-415-1132 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20094G271 (10) | |
Text
Discussion of ISG-029 Jack Cushing Senior Environmental Project Manager Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Advanced Reactor Stakeholders Meeting April 2, 2020 International Conference on Radioecology and Environmental Radioactivity, Bergen, 1 Norway
The Challenges
- Current environmental review were originally developed for licensing large reactors.
- How to adapt the new practices to licensing micro-reactors?
- How to scale the practices to reflect a reduced potential for adverse environmental impacts?
- How to streamline the practices while maintaining the necessary rigor?
Possible Environmental Characteristics of a Micro-Reactor
- Occupies small land area
- Low usage of resources such as water or fuel
- Low level of emissions
- Smaller footprints could avoid sensitive lands such as wetlands and floodplains
Possible Environmental Characteristics of a Micro-Reactor (cont.)
- Smaller footprints could avoid areas with cultural, historic, or environmental justice significance
- More opportunities to use mitigation to reduce impacts
- Construction and operation phases would require fewer workers
- Simpler designs with limited interfaces with the environment
Possible Short-Term and Long-Term Approaches Short Term
- Development of Interim Staff Guidance (ISG)
Long Term
- Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS)
- New Regulatory Guides
Interim Staff Guidance
- Engaged interdisciplinary team of environmental subject matter experts
- Discussed at stakeholder meetings
- Provides guidance to scale guidance in NUREG-1555 to micro reactors
- Applicants should be aware of how to scale the analysis
- Discuss it with NRC in pre-application before and during the development of the environmental report
Environmental Resource Areas Addressed in ISG
- Land Use
- Water Resources
- Terrestrial Ecology
- Aquatic Ecology
- Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice
- Historic and Cultural Resources
- Need for Power and Alternatives
Environmental Resource Addressed in ISG (cont.)
- Meteorology and Air Quality
- Nonradiological Health
- Radiological Health
- Postulated Accidents
- Severe Accident Mitigation Alternatives
- Fuel Cycle, Transportation of Fuel and Waste, and Continued Storage of Spent Fuel
- Cumulative Impacts
Status
- ISG published for Public Comment on February 21, 2020.
Comment period closes on May 11, 2020.
- Comment on regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NRC-2020-0051
- Finalization of ISG
- ISG will inform advance reactor generic environmental impact statement
Discussion & Questions 10 Advanced Reactor Stakeholders Meeting April 2, 2020