Martin Schneider
RW Monitor
7/25/2014
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff submitted the draft final Waste Confidence rule—now proposed to be known as the “Continued Storage” rule—to the NRC Commissioners this week, a move that likely keeps the NRC on track for approving the final rule by its promised October deadline. The NRC’s proposed waste confidence ruling, released last year, found that spent fuel can be stored on site for 60 years past a reactor’s licensed life. When the NRC first issued a revised waste confidence rule in 2010, the Commission extended the length of time assumed to be safe for storage of spent fuel at a reactor site from 30 to 60 years. Last year, though, a federal court found the NRC’s rule deficient and mandated an updated version, along with an environmental impact statement. The public comment period lasted for 98 days, ending on Dec. 20, 2013. The NRC received more than 33,000 written comments along with comments made at 13 public meetings.
Additionally, Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week urged NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane to act quickly in approving the final rule. “NRC has been in a holding pattern for the last two years, unable to carry out its core function of issuing licenses. It’s time we get our nuclear future back on track,” said committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.). In a July 23 letter, Upton and 18 other Republicans asked Macfarlane for a detailed schedule of when the Commission will act. Specifically, the letter requested:
- The date by which the Commission expects to conclude its action on the draft final rule, including the schedule for the Commission affirmation meeting;
- A list of the licensing matters that await final action pending issuance of the final Waste Confidence rule and the schedule for action on each of those licenses; and
- A description of any hurdles to the NRC’s resumption of licensing responsibilities.
The letter requested a response by Aug. 6.
