ML24178A374
| ML24178A374 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/06/2024 |
| From: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS/RRPB |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML24178A369 | List: |
| References | |
| NRC-2017-0227, RIN 3150-AK19 | |
| Download: ML24178A374 (22) | |
Text
Draft Environmental Assessment for the Proposed RuleAdvanced Reactor Security Requirements Docket No. NRC-2017-0227
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
July 2024
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ii TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................................... iv
- 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background..................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Proposed Action.............................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Purpose and Need for Proposed Action.......................................................................... 5 1.4 Significant Changes in the Proposed Rule...................................................................... 5 1.4.1 Administrative.......................................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 General Performance Objective and Requirements................................................ 6 1.4.3 Alternative Physical Security Requirements............................................................ 7 1.4.4 Alternative Requirements for Physical Barriers....................................................... 9 1.4.5 Alternative Requirements for Secondary Alarm Stations...................................... 10 1.4.6 Alternative Requirements for Vital Areas.............................................................. 10
1.5 Conforming Changes.................................................................................................... 10
- 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION......................................... 12
- 3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROPOSED ACTION. 14
- 4. STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED...................................................................................... 14
- 5. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT......................................................................... 15
- 6. STAKEHOLDER INTERACTIONS.................................................................................... 15
iii ABBREVIATIONS
10 CFR Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations ADAMS Agencywide Documents Access and Management System COL combined license DBT design-basis threat EA environmental assessment FR Federal Register NEI Nuclear Energy Institute NEPA National Environmental Policy Act non-LWR nonlight-water reactor NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission OL operating license PDR Public Document Room SMR small modular reactor SRM staff requirements memorandum SSC structure, system, and component STC State and Tribal Communications
iv
- 1. INTRODUCTION The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a rule proposing
amendments to the NRCs security regulations for nuclear power reactors. This proposed rule
would provide alternatives to specific security requirements in Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR) 73.55, Requirements for physical protection of licensed activities in
nuclear power reactors against radiological sabotage. 1 for advanced reactors. In this document,
the term advanced reactors refers to light-wat er small modular reactors (SMRs) and non-light-
water reactors (non-LWRs).The proposed rule would provide a clear set of voluntary,
performance-based, alternative physical security requirements to certain existing physical
security requirements. Advanced reactor applicant s and licensees meeting the eligibility criterion
set forth in the proposed rule could elect to implement one or more of these alternative physical
security requirements, thereby reducing the need for reliance on the existing exemption and
alternative measures processes in 10 CFR 73.55.
The proposed rule would apply to advanced reactors licensed under 10 CFR Part 50,
Domestic Licensing of Production or Utilizati on Facilities, or 10 CFR Part 52, Licenses,
Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants. Under the proposed rule, an eligible
applicant for an operating license (OL) or a combined license (COL) that elects to use the
alternative requirements would be required to perform a technical analysis and describe that
analysis in their OL or COL application, respectively. An eligible holder of an OL or COL that
elects to use the alternative requirements would also perform the technical analysis but would
not be required to submit it to the NRC for review and approval. Instead, the analysis would be
subject to NRC audit or inspection. Under the current provisions of 10 CFR 73.55(r), applicants
1 As given in 10 CFR 73.2, Definitions, radiological sabotage means any deliberate act directed against a plant or transport in which an activity licensed pursuant to the regulations in 10 CFR Part 73, Physical Protection of Plants and Materials, is conducted, or against a component of such a plant or transport that could directly or indirectly endanger public health and safety by exposure to radiation.
1 for and holders of nuclear power reactor licenses under 10 CFR Part 50 or 10 CFR Part 52 may
apply for NRC approval to use alternative measures similar to those in the proposed rule for
meeting the prescribed requirements in 10 CFR 73.55.
This agency action would apply the insights from recent advances in reactor design and
safety research, retain the NRCs overall secu rity regulations framework for nuclear power
reactors, and provide alternatives and associated guidance for specific physical security
requirements. The current requirements in conjunction with these proposed revisions to the
security regulations in 10 CFR 73.55 would continue to provide adequate protection of public
health and safety and the common defense and security.
1.1 Background
As stated in the Commissions Policy Statement on the Regulation of Advanced
Reactors, dated October 14, 2008 (73 FR 60612), [T]he Commission expects that advanced
reactors will provide enhanced margins of safety and/or use simplified, inherent, passive, or
other innovative means to accomplish their safety and security functions. Inherent features of
advanced reactor designs could include lower fission product inventories and longer thermal
time constants, as well as inherent passive safety characteristics such as natural circulation
decay heat removal, below-grade or in-ground c onstruction, integral primary systems, and
advanced fuel types.
Consistent with the Commissions policy statement, in Staff Requirements Memorandum
(SRM)-SECY-18-0076, Staff RequirementsSECY-18-0076Options and Recommendations
for Physical Security for Advanced Reac tors, dated November 19, 2018 (Agencywide
Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML18324A478), the
Commission approved the staffs recommendation to initiate a limited-scope rulemaking for
advanced reactor physical security. Consistent with the rulemaking plan approved in the SRM,
the proposed rule would establish a risk-informed, consequence-based approach with an
2 associated eligibility criterion to assess and addre ss physical security requirements that rely on
human interactions for the interdiction and neutralization of adversaries, requirements related to
physical barriers, the need for armed responders, and prescriptive requirements for an onsite
secondary alarm station and physical barriers. Intended primarily for large light-water reactors,
the current prescriptive requirements relating to the minimum number of armed responders are
included in 10 CFR 73.55(k)(5)(ii), while requirements relating to onsite secondary alarm
stations are contained within 10 CFR 73.55(i )(4)(iii). The physical protection program design
requirements of 10 CFR 73.55(e) address physical barriers.
Advanced reactors licensed under 10 CFR Parts 50 and 52 are subject to the regulatory
framework and physical security requirements in 10 CFR 73.55. This regulatory framework
requires licensees to protect against the design basis threat of radiological sabotage. To
achieve this, a licenses physical protection progr am must implement the security requirements
in 10 CFR 73.55 to enable a licensee to prevent significant core damage and spent fuel
sabotage. Given the anticipated enhanced designs and engineered safety features of advanced
reactors, applying some of these security requirements to advanced reactors may not be
necessary and would potentially impose an unnece ssary burden. Therefore, this proposed rule
provides a set of voluntary alternative physical security requirements that eligible advanced
reactor applicants and licensees may elect to implement. The rulemaking applies a
technology-inclusive approach to advanced reactors to accommodate a variety of facility
designs. The technical basis for a process to allow advanced reactors to apply to use
alternatives to current physical security requirements is the potential combination of enhanced
safety and security features incorporated into the advanced reactor designs that reduce reliance
on human actions to mitigate attempted acts of radiological sabotage as compared to reactors
currently licensed under 10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 52.
The NRC staff developed this environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the
environmental impacts of the proposed rule and doc ument the staffs finding of no significant
3 impact in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR 51.21, Criteria for and identification of
licensing and regulatory actions requiring environmental assessments, and the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). The rulemaking would retain the
current overall framework for security require ments but provide certain alternative physical
security requirements commensurate with the risks associated with advanced reactors. This EA
focuses on those aspects of the limited-scope security rulemaking for which there is a potential
for the revised requirements to affect the environment. As the staff noted in SECY-10-0034,
Potential Policy, Licensing, and Key Technical Issues for Small Modular Nuclear Reactor
Designs, dated March 28, 2010 (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML093290245), establishing
physical security requirements and guidance for SMRs and non-LWRs is a key policy issue of
high importance.
This rulemaking would amend the security requirements for advanced reactors and
revise 10 CFR 50.34, 50.54, 52.79, and 73.55, and Appendix B, General Criteria for Security
Personnel, to 10 CFR Part 73. It would remove and reserve 10 CFR 73.55(a)(5), modify
10 CFR 73.55(b)(3), and add a new 10 CFR 73.55(s) providing certain alternative physical
security requirements that advanced reactor appl icants and licensees could elect to use. For
consistency with these changes, the NRC would modify 10 CFR 73.55(b)(9),
10 CFR 73.55(e)(10), 10 CFR 73.55(k)(1), and Appendix B,Section VI.A, to 10 CFR Part 73
and would add the new 10 CFR 50.34(c)(4), 52.79(a)(35)(iii), and 50.54(p)(5) to conform to the
proposed performance objective and requirements for SMR and non-LWR technologies.
1.2 Proposed Action
The proposed action is a rulemaking that would add new alternative physical security
requirements and guidance specifically fo r advanced reactor applicants and licensees.
Advanced reactor applicants and licensees would be required to develop a technical analysis to
determine if they are eligible to use the al ternative physical security requirements being
4 proposed in this rulemaking. This rulemaking would enable an eligible applicant or licensee to
elect to implement certain alternative requirem ents concerning interdiction and neutralization,
physical barriers, secondary alarm station location, and vital area designations for secondary
alarm station. For example, fewer than the currently required number of 10 armed responders
as specified in 10 CFR 75.55(k)(5)(ii), or even zero responders, could be allowed under the new
specified performance criterion in 10 CFR 75.55(s).
1.3 Purpose and Need for Proposed Action
Current physical security regulations address the security challenges related to power
reactors licensed under 10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 52. These security regulations are
based on requirements that may not be appropriate for advanced reactors given advances in
reactor design and engineered safety features. The ru lemaking provides alternatives related to
prescriptive physical security requirements for advanced reactors. The rulemaking would
(1) result in greater regulatory stability, predictability, and clarity, (2) reduce the need for future
advanced reactor applicants to request exemptions from certain physical security requirements,
(3) recognize technology advancements and design features associated with the
NRC-recommended attributes of advanced reactors, and (4) provide alternatives to existing
security requirements with risk-informed, consequence-based requirements.
1.4 Significant Changes in the Proposed Rule
The staff noted in SECY-11-0184, Security Regulatory Framework for Certifying,
Approving, and Licensing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (M110329), dated
December 29, 2011, that 10 CFR 73.55(r), Alternative measures, allows SMR and non-LWR
designers and potential licensees to propose alternative methods or approaches that are
equivalent in performance and meet the intended functions of the performance-based and
prescriptive security requirements under 10 CFR 73.55; however, the process results in a case-
by-case regulation of advanced reactors. The alternative physical security requirements
5 proposed in this new rule would (1) enhance regu latory effectiveness by providing greater
stability, predictability, and clarity in the licensi ng process for implementing physical security for
advanced reactors; (2) reduce requests for exem ptions from certain physical security
requirements; (3) consider technological advancements in reactor designs and their associated
design features impacting the possible loss of safety functions from malicious acts and any
resulting consequences; and (4) provide alternatives for meeting physical security requirements
commensurate with the risks posed by advanced reactors.
The alternative methods or approaches in this proposed rule may include increased
reliance on engineered systems that reduce dependence on operational requirements and
staffing to meet the intent of the regulatory requirements. This rulemaking builds on these
alternative measures by proposing an eligibilit y criterion and associated alternative physical
security requirements consistent with the enhan ced safety and security features of SMRs and
non-LWRs, as well as stakeholder comments. As described below, this proposed rule contains
significant alternatives to certain requirements in 10 CFR 73.55.
1.4.1 Administrative
A proposed administrative change includes the removal of an outdated reference to the
Tennessee Valley Authoritys Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 2, construction permit in
10 CFR 73.55(a)(5), which is proposed to be designated as Reserved.
1.4.2 General Requirements
The proposed rule would establish a new requirement in 10 CFR 75.55(b)(3) for
advanced reactor physical security protection pr ograms. Additionally, it would establish an
eligibility criterion that if met would allow an advanced reactor applicant or licensee to elect to
implement one or more of the new voluntary alternative physical security requirements in
10 CFR 73.55. An advanced reactor applicant or licensee would have to demonstrate eligibility
by performing a technical analysis that meets the specified criteria in proposed
6 10 CFR 73.55(s)(1)(ii). In addition, the applicant or licensee would identify the specific
alternative physical security requirement(s) it intends to implement as part of its physical
protection program and demonstrate how the requirements set forth in 10 CFR 73.55 are met
when the selected alternatives are used.
For an SMR or non-LWR licensee to be eligible to use the alternative requirements, the
physical protection program would need to prevent a significant release of radionuclides from
any source. A licensee holding an operating license under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 50 or a
COL under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 52 for a light-water reactor other than an SMR, as
defined in 10 CFR 171.5, Definitions, must design the physical protection program for the
facility to prevent significant core damage and spent fuel sabotage consistent with existing
regulatory requirements. The proposed rule would not relieve licensees from the requirements
to interdict and neutralize threats up to and including the design-basis threat (DBT) 2 for
radiological sabotage, but it would authorize an alternative method that licensees could use to
fulfill these requirements as described in the new 10 CFR 73.55(s) discussed below.
1.4.3 Alternative Physical Security Requirements
The proposed rule would establish new 10 CFR 73.55(s) for the specific alternative
physical security requirements available to those advanced reactor applicants and licensees
who have met the proposed general requirement s for utilizing any of the alternative
requirements contained in proposed 10 CFR 73.55(s)(1). General provisions in proposed
10 CFR 73.55(s)(1)(i) would describe applicability while proposed 10 CFR 73.55(s)(1)(ii) and
10 CFR 73.55(s)(1)(iii) would permit licensees to im plement alternative security requirements if
the criterion in 10 CFR 73.55(b)(3) is satisfied and the licensee identifies specific alternatives
that are intended to be implemented and perform s a technical analysis demonstrating how the
alternative security requirements meet the performance objective in 10 CFR 73.55(b)(3),
2 The DBT is a profile of the type, composition, and capabilities of an adversary. The NRC describes the DBT of radiological sabotage in 10 CFR 73.1(a).
7 provided that the consequences of a postulated radiological release for a postulated security
initiated event do not exceed the offsite dose reference values defined in 10 CFR 50.34(a)(1)(D)
and 10 CFR 52.79(a)(1)(vi). The licensee would be required to maintain the technical analysis
until the submittal of the licensees certifications for permanent cessation of operations and
permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vessel required by 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) or
The proposed rule would provide voluntary alte rnative physical security requirements in
proposed 10 CFR 73.55(s)(2) to selected requirements currently in 10 CFR 73.55 for a licensee
satisfying the provisions of proposed 10 CFR 73.55(s)(1). Within the proposed new
10 CFR 75.55(s)(2)(i), a licensee that meets the requirements of 10 CFR 73.55(s)(1)(i) may be
relieved from meeting the minimum number of armed responders as specified in
10 CFR 73.55(k)(5)(ii).The proposed new 10 CFR 75.55(s)(2)(ii) would permit a licensee to
have no armed response personnel on site whose primary duty is to respond to, interdict, and
neutralize acts of radiological sabotage. Alternative requirements for interdiction and
neutralization would permit licensees to rely on law enforcement or other offsite armed
responders to fulfill the interdiction and neutralization capabilities required by
10 CFR 73.55(b)(3)(i); however, the licensee would maintain the capability to detect and assess
threats and protect against the DBT at all times while providing adequate delay for threats up to
and including the DBT of radiological sabotage to enable law enforcement and other offsite
armed responders to interdict and neutralize those threats. The licensee would provide the
necessary information and training to law enforcement or other offsite armed responders for
interdiction and neutralization against the DBT. Additionally, the licensee would describe how
law enforcement or other offsite armed res ponders meet the requirements related to armed
response personnel in 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix C, Licensee Safeguards Contingency Plans,
Section II, Nuclear Power Plant Safeguards Contingency Plans.
8 The licensees technical analysis would be required to include an evaluation that
describes the impact that the degradation or absence of law enforcement or other offsite armed
responders fulfilling the interdiction and neutralization capabilities would have on the overall
physical protection program, including physica l security. This evaluation would include
compensation measures to remedy any degradation consistent with the requirements of
If a licensee were to rely on law enforcement or offsite armed responders to fulfill
interdiction and neutralization capabilities, then the license would be relieved from the
requirements in 10 CFR 73.55(k)(3) through (k)(7) relating to armed response personnel and
the requirement in 10 CFR 73.55(k)(8)(ii) for the minimum number of armed responders. A
licensee that requires no onsite armed response personnel whose primary duty is to interdict
and neutralize acts of radiological sabotage would also be relieved from the training and
qualification requirements for armed response personnel within 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B,
General Criteria for Security Personnel,Section VI, Nuclear Power Reactor Training and
Qualification Plan for Personnel Performing Security Program Duties, with the exception of the
performance evaluation program requirements related to armed response personnel in
10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, Section VI.C.3, which applies for all armed response personnel,
including law enforcement. The NRC would also prov ide relief for the requirement related to
armed response personnel in 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix C, Section II.B.3.c.(iv).
1.4.4 Alternative Requirements for Physical Barriers
The proposed new requirement in 10 CFR 73.55(s)(2)(iii) would permit a licensee to utilize
means other than physical barriers and barrier systems to satisfy the physical protection
program design requirements with acceptable means consisting of any methods that
accomplished the delay and access control functions necessary to allow the licensee to protect
against a significant release of r adionuclides from any source.
9 1.4.5 Alternative Requirements for Secondary Alarm Stations
The requirement in the proposed new 10 CFR 73.55(s)(2)(iv) would permit the licensee
to locate the secondary alarm system offsite, notwithstanding the requirements in
10 CFR 73.55(i)(2) to have at least two alarm stations located on site; however, the central
alarm system must remain on site. Licensees im plementing this alternative requirement would
be relieved from the requirements of 10 CFR 73.55(i)(4)(iii) if the secondary alarm station is
located offsite.
1.4.6 Alternative Requirements for Vital Areas
The licensee implementing the alter native requirement in proposed new
10 CFR 73.55(s)(2)(v) would be relieved from the requirements in 10 CFR 73.55(e)(9)(v) to
designate an offsite secondary alarm station as a vital area and the requirement in
10 CFR 73.55(e)(9)(vi) to locate the secondary supply systems for an offsite secondary alarm
station in a vital area.
1.5 Conforming Changes
The rulemaking would make conforming changes to the requirements listed below to
ensure that the performance objective for non-LWRs and SMRs in proposed 10 CFR
73.55(b)(3) would be consistently applied throughout 10 CFR 73.55.
10 CFR 73.55(b)(9). The proposed rule accommodates advanced reactor technologies
that may not be susceptible to core damage but may be vulnerable to the release of
radionuclides from any source due to the DBT of radiological sabotage. Proposed changes
would ensure that the existing requirements are preserved while providing for the technologies
of non-LWRs and SMRs.
10 CFR 73.55(e)(10) (physical barriers). The proposed rule accommodates advanced
reactor technologies that may not be susceptible to core damage but may be vulnerable to the
release of radionuclides from any source due to the DBT of radiological sabotage from the
10 effects of a land vehicle bomb that could directly or indirectly endanger public health and safety
by exposure to radiation. Proposed changes woul d preserve the existing requirements while
providing for the technologies of non-LWRs and SMRs.
10 CFR 73.55(k)(1) (response requirements). The proposed rule accommodates
advanced reactor technologies that are not susceptible to core damage but may be vulnerable
to radiological sabotage of a plant component that could directly or indirectly endanger public
health and safety by exposure to radiation fr om any source. Proposed changes would preserve
the existing requirements while providing for the technologies of non-LWRs and SMRs.
Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 73. The proposed changes to Appendix B to 10 CFR Part
73, would include the implementation of documented NRC-approved security training and
qualification plans by all personnel assigned to prevent a significant release of radionuclides
from any source. These plans include licensee response strategy and implementing procedures
that meet minimum training and qualification requirements to ensure each individual possesses
the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to effectively perform the assigned duties and
responsibilities. The plans would also require that personnel be trained on the skills necessary
to prevent a significant release of radionuc lides for the new advanced reactor technologies.
10 CFR 50.54, Conditions of licenses. An amendment to this subsection as
10 CFR 50.54(p)(5) would account for reporting requirements to demonstrate how a licensee
would continue to meet the applicable criteria of the new rule given changes in facility features
or offsite support resources subsequent to completion of an initial site-specific technical
analysis.
10 CFR 50.34(c)(4) and 10 CFR 52.79(a)(35)(iii)
The same new paragraph would be added to 10 CFR 50.34 and 10 CFR 52.79 to
require each applicant electing to apply an alternative physical security requirement in proposed
10 CFR 73.55(s)(2) to provide a description of the technical analysis required by proposed 10
11 CFR 73.55(s)(1)(iv). The technical analysis would not need to be submitted to the NRC for
review and approval but would be subject to audit or inspection.
- 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION This EA focuses on those aspects of the proposed rulemaking for which there is a
potential for the revised requirements to affect the environment. The NRC has concluded that
there will be no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with implementation of
the proposed limited-scope security rule requirements for the following three reasons:
(1) The proposed alternative requirements for phy sical security would provide an equivalent
level of security as that for the existi ng requirements; therefore, the environmental
impacts would be the same because the resulting risk is similar regardless of which
requirement (current or proposed) is utilized.
(2) The proposed alternatives to the existing physical security requirements in 10 CFR
73.55would not result in changes to the design-basis requirements for the protection of
structures, systems, and components (SSCs) in a potential licensees facilities that
function to limit the release of radiological effluents during and following postulated
accidents. All the SSCs associated with limiting the releases of offsite radiological
effluents would therefore continue to be able to perform their functions, and as a result,
there would be no significant radiological effluent impact in that there would be no
significant release of radionuclides from any source.
(3) The standards and requirements applicable to radiological releases and effluents would
not be affected by the limited-scope security rulemaking and would continue to apply to
the SSCs affected by the limited-scope security rulemaking.
The principal effect of this action would be to provide voluntary alternative physical
security requirements appropriate for advanced reactors and add requirements consistent with
12 the rulemaking performance objective and requirements as discussed above. None of the
revisions would affect current occupational exposure requirements; consequently, the NRC has
concluded that this action would have no impact on occupational exposure.
For the reasons discussed above, the acti on would not significantly increase the
probability or consequences of accidents, nor result in changes to the types of any effluents that
may be released offsite, and there would be no significant increase in occupational or public
radiation exposure. The alternative security methods of the proposed rule would provide a level
of security equivalent to that for the existing requirements; therefore, the environmental impacts
would be the same because the resulting risk is similar.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the NRC could not
categorically refuse to consider the consequenc es of a terrorist attack in an analysis under
NEPA. As described above, the new security requirements for advanced reactors would have a
level of protection comparable to that of the existing requirements. Under the proposed rule and
associated guidance (Guidance for Alternative Physical Security Requirements for Small
Modular Reactors and Non-Light-Water Reactors, ADAMS Accession No. ML20041E037 and
Target Set Identification and Development for Nuclear Power Reactors, ADAMS Accession
No. ML22021B529), the NRC would review the information provided in the license application
for an advanced reactor to ensure the applicant has demonstrated how the requirements set
forth in 10 CFR 73.55 are met when the selected alternatives are used. This is consistent with
the existing regulatory requirements under 10 CFR Part 73. Therefore, an act of terrorism
evaluation for advanced reactors would have a sim ilar result to a bounding licensing-basis event
evaluated for compliance with the existing physical protection requirements under 10 CFR Part
73 based on adequate justification provided in an analysis submitted by an applicant or a
licensee.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, implementation of the rule requirements
would not have a significant impact on the envir onment. In addition, the revised requirements
13 would not affect any historic sites and would not affect nonradiological plant effluents.
Therefore, there would be no significant nonradi ological environmental impact associated with
this proposed rule action. Accordingly, the NRC finds that there would be no significant
environmental impact associated with this rulemaking action.
- 3. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROPOSED ACTION Under the no-action alternative (i.e., the status quo), the regulations would not change.
As stated in Section 2 of this EA, the proposed rule would not result in a significant impact on
the environment. Therefore, there would be no di fference in environmental impacts between the
no-action alternative and the proposed rule. The only difference would be in the costs
attributable to reviewing the environmental impacts of exemption and license amendment
requests under the no-action alternative. Under the no-action alternative, an applicant or
licensee for an advanced reactor technology would hav e to comply with the existing regulations,
request an exemption from the regulations, or use the 10 CFR 73.55(r) process, which involves
a license amendment request. The NRC would analyze the environmental impacts of
exemptions and license amendment requests on a ca se-by-case basis. Therefore, the averted
costs (benefits) of the rulemaking would not occur. The staff describes the costs and benefits of
the no-action alternative and the proposed action in the regulatory analysis for the proposed rule
(ADAMS Accession No. ML24178A372).
- 4. STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED The NRC developed the proposed rule and this draft EA. The NRC is requesting public
comment on this draft EA. The NRC may hold a public meeting during the proposed rule
comment period to allow stakeholders to ask questions about the proposed rule and this EA.
The NRC will consider comments received on the docket as it develops the final rule and the
final EA. The NRC will issue the final EA when it publishes the final rule.
14 During the development of this proposed rule, the NRC conducted public meetings and
other interactions with stakeholders on issues related to the advanced reactor physical security
requirements rulemaking. To provide notice of the publication of the proposed alternative
security requirements for SMRs and non-LWRs, the NRC intends to issue a State and Tribal
Communications (STC) letter no later than 2 days after the proposed rules publication in the
Federal Register. The letter would be sent to all Agreement States, non-Agreement States,
State Liaison Officers, and Federally recognized Tribes requesting comment on the proposed
rule (ADAMS Accession No. ML22045A054). Table 1 in Section 6 of this EA provides details
about stakeholder interactions and the STC letter.
- 5. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Based on the EA, the NRC staff finds that the proposed action would not have a
significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC staff is not
required to prepare an environmental impact stat ement for the proposed action. Documents
may be examined, and copied for a fee, at the NRC Public Document Room (PDR), located at
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, MD 20852. Publicly available
records are accessible electronically from t he ADAMS Public Electronic Reading Room on the
NRC Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm /adams.html. Persons who do not have access
to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents in ADAMS should contact
the NRC PDR reference staff at (800) 397-4209 or (301) 415-4737 or send an e-mail to
pdr@nrc.gov.
- 6. STAKEHOLDER INTERACTIONS
Table 1 lists the interactions between the NRC and stakeholders during public meetings
and associated correspondence on issues related to the proposed rule and alternative
requirements.
15 Table 1. NRC and Stakeholder Interactions Date Action December 14, 2016 The NEI submitted a white paper, Proposed Physical Security Requirements for Advanced Reactor Technologies, to the NRC for consideration in developing requirements to address the inherently safer features of advanced reactors ( ML17026A474). Location N/A December 13, 2017 NRC met with the nuclear industry and other stakeholders for input on possible modifications to regulatory requirements related to physical security for advanced reactor designs (light-water small modular reactors and non-light-water reactors) ( ML17334A212).
Location: NRC Headquarters, Rockville, MD 20852 July 16, 2019 The NRC published a notice in Volume 86 of the Federal Register (FR), page 33861 (84 FR 33861), requesting comment on the regulatory basis to support a rulemaking that would amend the NRCs regulations to develop specific physical security requirements for advanced reactors. The comment period closed August 15, 2019, and the NRC received four comments supporting the basis and two comments opposing the basis. The staff addressed comments on the regulatory basis for the proposed rule when developing a draft of the proposed rule. Location: N/A August 8, 2019 The NRC held a public meeting to discuss information on the scope and related costs and benefits associated with the proposed rulemaking on physical security for advanced reactors (ADAMS Accession No. ML19221B611). The staff considered feedback obtained at the meeting during the development of the proposed rule.
Location: NRC Headquarters, Rockville, MD 20852 December 12, 2019 The NRC held a public meeting with the nuclear industry and other stakeholders to discuss initiatives within the industry and the NRC related to the development and licensing of non-LWRs (ADAMS Accession No. ML19344D035). The proposed rule for alternative physical security for advanced reactors was a topic of these discussions, and the staff considered the comments and feedback obtained at the meeting and from subsequent correspondence in the development of the proposed rule. Location: NRC Headquarters, Rockville, MD 20852 February 20, 2020 The NRC held a public meeting to discuss with the nuclear industry and other stakeholders the initiatives within the industry and the NRC related to the development and licensing of non-LWRs. This included information on alternative security requirements for advanced reactors (ADAMS Accession No. ML20054A703). Location: NRC Headquarters, Rockville, MD 20852 April 13, 2020 The NRC received a draft of Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 20-05, Methodological Approach and Considerations for a Technical Analysis to Demonstrate Compliance with the Performance Criteria of 10 CFR 73.55(a)(7), issued April 2020, from the NEI that was intended as industry guidance for meeting alternative security requirements (ADAMS Accession No. ML20107D894). The document is public and was made available for the staffs review and comment.
Location: N/A
16 Date Action April 22, 2020 The NRC held a public meeting to discuss the draft proposed rule text and the NRC staffs disposition of public comments screened out of this rulemaking related to the development of alternative physical security requirements for non-LWRs and SMRs (ADAMS Accession No. ML20112F411). The staff considered the feedback obtained at the meeting for revisions to the proposed rule. Location: Virtual meeting May 26, 2020 The NRC received a letter dated May 26, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20154K704), from the NEI articulating the industry position as stated during the April 22, 2020, public meeting for consideration in revising the proposed rule. The staff considered the NEIs letter in revisions to the proposed rule. Location: N/A September 17, 2020 The NRC followed up (ADAMS Accession No. ML20212L397) on comments in the NEI letter dated May 26, 2020 (ADAMS Accession No. ML20154K704), and in response published a modified preliminary proposed rule notice of availability in the Federal Register on September 14, 2020 (85 FR 56548). Location: N/A April 21, 2021 The NRC held a public meeting to discuss the draft NEI implementation guidance document (NEI 20-05) related to the proposed rulemaking (ADAMS Accession No. ML21105A510).
Location: Virtual meeting May 14, 2021 The NRC held a public meeting to discuss issues and clarifications related to the draft implementation guidance document (NEI 20-05) on the proposed rulemaking for alternative physical security requirements for non-LWRs and SMRs (ADAMS Accession No. ML21124A174).
Location: Virtual meeting August 17, 2021 The NRC held a meeting (ADAMS Accession No. ML21218A150) to discuss the regulatory issues and clarifications related to the draft implementation guidance documents (draft NEI 20-05 and potential revision to Regulatory Guide 5.81, Target Set Identification and Development for Nuclear Power Reactors (OUO-SRI), Revision 1, issued December 2019). Location: Virtual meeting September 16, 2021 The NRC held a public meeting to discuss the draft eligibility criteria related to the alternative physical security requirements for non-LWRs and SMRs proposed rule (ADAMS Accession No. ML21246A143).
Location: Virtual meeting October 19, 2021 The NRC held a public meeting (ADAMS Accession No. ML21279A152) to discuss the latest preliminary proposed rule language and the eligibility criteria related to the alternative physical security requirements for non-LWRs and SMRs proposed rule.
Location: Virtual meeting October 29, 2021 In a letter dated October 29, 2021, the NEI notified the NRC that it will cease the development of NEI 20-05 with guidance related to the proposed rule and will defer to the NRC staff to develop the guidance (ADAMS Accession No. ML21306A365). In a response letter dated November 24, 2021 (ADAMS Accession No. ML21307A120), the NRC notified the NEI that it will cease its review of NEI 20-05.
Location: N/A
17 Date Action January 20, 2022 NRC held a public meeting to present the revised preliminary proposed rule, requirements and key elements of the rule, and guidance documents while responding to questions and comments from attendees (ML21336A510). Location: Virtual Meeting
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