The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission believes it needs to collect $826.7 million in fees from licensees and license applicants to fund its operations in the current year. The remainder of the anticipated budget authority of $967 million would come from other sources.
Of the total fee amount, $289.4 million would fund direct services for applicants and licensees and $537.3 million would be collected from annual fees.
In a Federal Register notice, the agency cautioned that its figures are based on its budget request for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1, 2017. Congress has yet to pass a full-year budget, instead keeping the government open with a series of stopgap spending measures that mostly freeze federal spending levels at prior-year levels. The current continuing resolutions expires on Feb. 8.
“If the NRC receives an appropriation providing a different total budget authority, the final fee rule will reflect the final appropriation,” according to the Federal Register notice.
The NRC employs more than 3,000 personnel to carry out its mission of licensing and oversight of commercial nuclear power and waste operations.
Comments on the fee plan are being taken through Feb. 26, at the regulations.gov website, Docket ID NRC-2017-0026; by email to [email protected]; by fax to Secretary. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, (301) 415-1101; by mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff; or in person at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md.
