Proposed Rules. Petition for rulemaking; Notice of receipt

Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Action: Petition for rulemaking; Notice of receipt
Citation: FR Doc. 00-17340 · Docket No. PRM-54-1 · 10 CFR 54

Summary

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received and requests public comment on a petition for rulemaking filed by the Union of Concerned Scientists (petitioner). The petition has been docketed by the Commission and has been assigned Docket No. PRM-54-1. The petitioner requests that the NRC regulations governing requirements for renewal of operating licenses for nuclear power plants be amended to address potential concerns about aging degradation of liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems. The petitioner believes the degradation from aging of piping and components of liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems at nuclear power facilities may result in an increased probability and/or consequences from design and licensing bases events.

Dates

Submit comments by September 25, 2000. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be given except as to comments received on or before this date.

Supplementary Information

Background The Nuclear Regulatory Commission received a petition for rulemaking dated May 3, 2000, submitted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (petitioner). The petitioner requests that the regulations governing renewal of operating licenses for nuclear power plants in 10 CFR parts 51 and 54 be amended to address potential concerns relating to degradation through aging of piping and components of liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems at operating nuclear power plants. This petition was included as part of a document in which the petitioner details concerns related to the review of the license renewal application submitted by the owner of the Hatch Nuclear Plant. Specifically, the petitioner is concerned that the license renewal application for the Hatch facility has not addressed deficiencies it believes exists in the aging management of the liquid and gaseous radioactive waste (radwaste) systems. The petitioner concludes that the requirements pertaining to renewal of operating licenses for nuclear power plants do not adequately address degradation from aging of liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems. The petitioner requests that the regulations in 10 CFR part 51 and part 54 be amended to clarify that liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems must be covered by aging management programs during license renewal periods. The NRC has determined that the petition meets the threshold sufficiency requirements for a petition for rulemaking under 10 CFR 2.802. The petition has been docketed as PRM-54-1. The NRC is soliciting public comment on the petition for rulemaking. Discussion of the Petition The petitioner states that in 10 CFR part 51, appendix B to subpart A, “Environmental Effect of Renewing the Operating License of a Nuclear Power Plant,” the NRC concluded that radiation exposures to the public and occupational exposures to workers during the license renewal term will continue at levels below regulatory limits. The petitioner believes that this conclusion is based on an assumption that the piping and components of the liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems at nuclear power plants do not experience greater failure rates during the license renewal term. Using the case of a recent license renewal application, the petitioner cites the Hatch Nuclear Plant as an example in contending that the plant is being operated outside its design and licensing bases because the material condition of piping and components of the liquid (Contention No. 1) and gaseous (Contention No. 2) radioactive waste systems are not being properly inspected and maintained. In its request for a generic communication by the NRC to all nuclear power plant owners about potential aging degradation of liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems, the petitioner indicates that the Millstone facility received an Information Notice in 1979 regarding liquid radwaste system problems that the petitioner believes was ignored. The petitioner notes that in 1996 the Millstone facility received another Information Notice also regarding degradation problems with the liquid radwaste system. The petitioner believes that from its review of the license renewal applications submitted by the owners of the Calvert Cliffs, Oconee, and Hatch facilities, it appears that 10 CFR 54.4(a)(1)(iii) has been interpreted to exclude the liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems from aging management consideration. The petitioner requests that NRC amend 10 CFR parts 51 and 54 to clarify that the liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems must be covered by aging management programs during the license renewal term. The petitioner believes that regulations imposing aging management for these systems are necessary to ensure that these systems do not experience greater failure rates that could result in an increased probability and/or consequences from design bases events. The Petitioner's Conclusions The petitioner has concluded that the NRC requirements governing renewal of operating licenses of nuclear power facilities do not adequately address degradation that may result from aging of liquid and gaseous radioactive waste systems. The petitioner has also concluded that the degradation by aging of these systems may result in an increased probability of adverse consequences from design and licensing bases events. The petitioner requests that the regulations in 10 CFR part 54 and part 51, if appropriate, be amended to clarify that liquid and gaseous radwaste systems must be covered by aging management programs during the license renewal term of an operating nuclear power facility. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of July, 2000. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Andrew L. Bates, Acting Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 00-17340 Filed 7-7-00; 8:45 am]