ML24310A055
| ML24310A055 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Issue date: | 11/04/2024 |
| From: | Nichol M Nuclear Energy Institute |
| To: | Christopher Regan NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| References | |
| NRC-2019-0062, RIN 3150-AK31, 89FR86918 | |
| Download: ML24310A055 (1) | |
Text
Marcus Nichol Executive Director, New Nuclear Phone: 202.316.4412 Email: mrn@nei.org November 4, 2024 Mr. Christopher Regan Director, Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
Subject:
Request for an Extension of Comment Period for Part 53 Rulemaking (RIN-3150-AK31; NRC-2019-0062)
Submitted via Regulations.gov Project Number: 689
Dear Mr. Regan,
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting comments on the proposed Part 53 rule by December 30, 2024. Due to the importance of this rulemaking to the deployment of advanced reactors and the length of the document, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)1 requests that an additional 60 days be granted, extending the comment period to February 28, 2025.
We appreciate the NRC staffs efforts in developing this rule and will provide recommendations for the staffs consideration that we believe are needed for widespread use of the rule. We commend the NRCs stated goals for amending the regulatory framework, that The new alternative requirements and implementing guidance would adopt technology-inclusive approaches and use risk-informed and performance-based techniques to ensure an equivalent level of safety to that of operating commercial nuclear plants while providing flexibility for licensing and regulating a variety of technologies and designs for commercial nuclear reactors. Our comments are informed by lessons learned from license application 1 The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is responsible for establishing unified policy on behalf of its members relating to matters affecting the nuclear energy industry, including the regulatory aspects of generic operational and technical issues. NEIs members include entities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect and engineering firms, fuel cycle facilities, nuclear materials licensees, and other organizations involved in the nuclear energy industry.
Mr. Christopher Regan November 4, 2024 Page 2 Nuclear Energy Institute development and will ensure safety as well as efficiency, both of which are critical to the success of licensing new reactors under the future Part 53.
NEI is requesting extension due to the amount of information included in the draft rulemaking, the timing relative to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and the importance of this rulemaking to the nuclear industry. NRC approval of the requested extension will allow NEI and our members sufficient time to perform a thorough review of the document relative to the substantive input we have provided to the NRC on this topic since at least 2020, when the NRC issued the original plan for Part 53. The additional time should enable a more coordinated industry response, thereby making comment resolution more straightforward.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact J. Facemire at 202-256-0190; jwf@nei.org or me.
Sincerely, Marcus Nichol C:
Ms. Mirela Gavrilas, EDO, NRC Ms. Andrea Veil, NRR, NRC Mr. Gregory Bowman, DANU, NRC Mr. Jeremy Bowen, DANU, NRC Mr. Robert Beall, NMSS, NRC Mr. Anders Gilbertson, NRR, NRC