NRC Generic Letter 79-41, Compliance with 40 CFR 190, EPA Uranium Fuel Cycle Standard

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GL79041

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555

September 17, 1979

TO ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES

Gentlemen:

The effective date for implementation of the EPA Uranium Fuel Cycle Standard, 40 CFR Part 190 for light-water reactors, is December 1, 1979. By agreement, NRC is responsible for the implementation of this standard for licensed power reactors. Compliance with Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications (RETS), NUREG-0472 (Rev. 2) for PWRs or NUREG-0473 (Rev. 2)

for BWRs, implements the LWR provisions to meet 40 CFR Part 190. Due to the delays in receiving and processing these Technical Specifications as scheduled in the letter to you from B. Grimes, Assistant Director for Engineering and Projects, dated November 15 1978, the Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications may not be in effect for your facility on December 1, 1979.

The lack of Technical Specifications which implement the provisions of 40 CFR Part 190 does not relieve you of the responsibility to conform to the EPA standard. Therefore, you should determine how you will demonstrate to the NRC conformance with the provisions of 40 CFR Part 190 until such time as the revised RETS are issued. A commitment to the provisions of Specification 3.11.4 of the RETS, Revision 2, as explained in Chapter 3.8 of NUREG-0133, "Preparation of Radiological Effluent Technical Specifications for Nuclear Power Plants" is an acceptable method for demonstration of conformance. This commitment or an alternative method of demonstrating compliance with 40 CFR Part 190 should be submitted to NRC no later than November 1, 1979.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Sincerely,

William P. Gamill, Acting Assistant Director for Operating Reactor Projects Division of Operating Reactors