NRC: News Release - 2002-083 - NRC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule For Spent Fuel Storage

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No. 02-083

July 18, 2002

NRC SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON PROPOSED RULE FOR
SPENT FUEL STORAGE
Printable Version

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting public comment on proposed regulations regarding licensing requirements for dry storage of spent nuclear fuel in an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) or in a Department of Energy monitored retrievable storage installation (MRS).

The proposed changes would make the siting and design criteria for dry storage more risk informed and would require that uncertainties be considered in seismic hazard evaluations. Reflected in these proposed changes are over 10 years of agency experience in licensing dry cask storage facilities and rapid advancements in the earth sciences and earthquake engineering.

Specifically, the proposed regulation would (1) require certain specific license applicants for a dry storage facility to account for uncertainties in their seismic evaluations by using probabilistic seismic hazard analysis methods or other suitable sensitivity analyses; (2) allow the ISFSI or MRS applicants to use a design earthquake ground motion appropriate for and commensurate with the risk associated with an ISFSI or MRS; and (3) require general licensees to conduct analyses to determine whether the designs of cask storage pads and areas adequately account for dynamic loads, in addition to static loads.

Detailed guidance on the procedures acceptable to the NRC for meeting the requirements is contained in a draft regulatory guide to be issued in parallel for public comment as Draft Regulatory Guide, DG-3021, "Site Evaluations and Determination of Design Earthquake Ground Motion for Seismic Design of Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations and DOE Monitored Retrievable Storage Installations."

Interested persons may submit comments within 75 days of publication of a Federal Register notice on this subject, expected shortly. The proposed rule will be available on the NRC web site at http://ruleforum.llnl.gov. Comments may be submitted electronically at the web site or by mail to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff.

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