ML22189A098
| ML22189A098 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/04/2022 |
| From: | Blair A Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, NRC/NRR/DNRL/NRLB |
| To: | |
| Lauron C | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML22189A097 | List: |
| References | |
| ML120310169, ML20098D702 | |
| Download: ML22189A098 (3) | |
Text
Last Updated: 11/4/2022 Congressional Review Act Summary AGENCY:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission TITLE OF ACTION:
Safety Review of Light-Water Power-Reactor Construction Permit Applications TYPE OF ACTION:
Interim Staff Guidance (ISG)
LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE:
Non-Major AGENCY IDENTIFICATION:
3150 RIN AND/OR DOCKET ID:
N/A DATE OF ISSUANCE:
November 2022 STATUTORY OR JUDICIAL DEADLINE:
N/A DESCRIPTION OF ACTION:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) staff is providing interim staff guidance (ISG) to facilitate the safety review of light-water power-reactor construction permit (CP) applications and supplementing the guidance in NUREG-0800, Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants: [Light-Water Reactor (LWR)]
Edition.
This guidance is applicable to the safety review of light-water power-reactor CP applications submitted under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50, Domestic licensing of production and utilization facilities. The NRC last issued a power reactor CP in the 1970s and anticipates submission of power reactor CP applications within the next few years based on preapplication engagement initiated by several prospective applicants.
The review of CP applications falls within the two-step licensing process under 10 CFR Part 50 and involves the issuance of a CP before an operating license (OL). Most recently, the NRC issued combined construction and operating licenses (combined licenses or COLs) for power reactors through the one step licensing process under 10 CFR Part 52, Licenses, certifications, and approvals for nuclear power plants.
The ISG is intended to supplement the review guidance in NUREG-0800 and support the licensing process under 10 CFR Part 50 to allow an applicant to begin construction with preliminary design information. The guidance is not legally binding and provides prospective applicants one acceptable way of meeting the regulations for a construction permit.
Last Updated: 11/4/2022 ESTIMATED COSTS:
The staff anticipates the net economic impact to industry and NRC implementing this guidance is a savings of $106,752 per construction permit applicant.
The NRC is aware of one applicants interest in submitting a construction permit application within the next 5 years. This ISG provides guidance on the review of construction permit applications and clarifies the necessary information needed in 8 review areas for staff to perform its review. The staff anticipates a reduction in the number of issued Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) with the implementation of this guidance. This ISG reduces the overall review costs by reducing the amount of time for the NRC to review the application, request additional information, and subsequently review the responses. The NRC staff considers the benefits of this guidance outweigh the costs.
In estimating these savings, the staff assumed the following:
One applicant would submit a construction permit application within the next 5 years.
The ISG clarifying guidance in 8 review areas eliminates the need for the NRC staff to issue RAIs to obtain required information thereby saving the NRC 48 hours per review area (40 hours4.62963e-4 days <br />0.0111 hours <br />6.613757e-5 weeks <br />1.522e-5 months <br /> savings for the technical reviewer and 8 hours9.259259e-5 days <br />0.00222 hours <br />1.322751e-5 weeks <br />3.044e-6 months <br /> savings for the project manager).
The NRC charges $278 per review hour.
The NRC estimates that issuing this ISG would result in a net savings per applicant of $106,752
[($278 x 48 hours5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> x 8 review areas) x 1 applicant].
ANALYSIS:
Is there an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more?
No. The staff anticipates the net economic impact to industry and NRC implementing this guidance is a savings of $106,752 per construction permit applicant.
Is there a major increase (typically 10% - 20%) in costs for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or to geographical regions?
No, there will not be a major increase in costs for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or to geographical regions.
Is there a significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets?
Last Updated: 11/4/2022 No, there is no significant adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises in domestic and export markets.
SUMMARY
The NRC believes that issuing this ISG is not a major rule under the Congressional Review Act and is cost-justified. The ISG clarifies NRC staff review of construction permit applications.
Guidance provided in the ISG is not legally binding. The guidance will not result in a net economic impact of more than $100 million annually.
AGENCY CONTACT:
Angella Love Blair Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (301) 415-3453 Angella.LoveBlair@nrc.gov