Proposed Rules. Availability of preliminary proposed rule language; public meeting

Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Action: Availability of preliminary proposed rule language; public meeting
Citation: FR Doc. 2023-21988 · RIN 3150-AL00 · NRC-2023-0071 · 10 CFR 20, 30, 51

Summary

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering amending its byproduct material regulations to establish a regulatory framework for fusion systems. The NRC is making available preliminary proposed rule language for a limited-scope, technology-inclusive framework that will be added to NRC's regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations. The NRC plans to hold public meetings in October and November 2023, to promote understanding of the preliminary proposed rule and facilitate transparency in its public rulemaking process.

Dates

The NRC plans to hold a series of public meetings on October 11, 2023, November 1, 2023, and November 9, 2023. See Section II, “Preliminary Proposed Rule Language and Public Meetings,” of this document for more information on the meetings.

Supplementary Information

I. Background On January 14, 2019, the President signed into law the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA), Public Law 115-439, 132 Stat. 5565. Among other things, NEIMA directs the NRC to develop and establish, by December 31, 2027, a regulatory framework for fusion reactors. In response to NEIMA and the continued development of fusion technologies, the Commission directed the NRC staff to proceed with a limited scope rulemaking in a staff requirements memorandum (SRM) dated April 13, 2023, SRM-SECY-23-0001 (ADAMS Accession No. ML23103A449), associated with SECY-23-0001, “Options for Licensing and Regulating Fusion Energy Systems,” dated January 3, 2023 (ADAMS Accession No. ML22273A163). The NRC is proposing to amend its regulations at part 30, “Rules of General Applicability to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material,” in title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) to implement a regulatory framework for fusion systems. The NRC also is proposing similar changes to its regulations at 10 CFR part 20, “Standards for Protection Against Radiation,” and part 51, “Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions.” II. Preliminary Proposed Rule Language and Public Meetings The NRC is developing preliminary proposed rule language to provide for the licensing and oversight of the broad array of fusion systems currently under development. The proposed rule would amend 10 CFR parts 20, 30, and 51. The scope of this rulemaking is to augment NRC's byproduct material framework to address licensing requirements for fusion systems that may be deployed in the near-term. The NRC will propose appropriate fusion-related definitions, requirements for the content of a licensing application, and other appropriate requirements. The current preliminary proposed rule language is available on the Federal rulemaking website at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2023-0071. The ADAMS accession number for the current preliminary proposed rule text is ML23258A145. This preliminary proposed rule language is draft and may be incomplete in one or more respects; however, the NRC welcomes discussion with stakeholders at the public meetings to inform the NRC's rulemaking activity. The NRC may release additional preliminary proposed rule language throughout the development of the proposed rule. The NRC plans to hold public meetings on October 11, 2023, November 1, 2023, and November 9, 2023. The meetings are noticed in the NRC's Public Meeting Notice System. The NRC is providing preliminary proposed rule language to increase transparency and to facilitate discussions with stakeholders on the regulatory framework for fusion systems. Please monitor the NRC's Public Meeting Notice System website at https://www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg as the NRC may post materials for the public meetings at any time before to the start of each public meeting. The NRC will post materials related to this rulemaking on the Federal rulemaking website at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2023-0071. Please monitor the docket on https://www.regulations.gov and use the following information to sign up for docket alerts. The Federal rulemaking website allows you to receive alerts when changes or additions occur in a docket folder. To subscribe: (1) navigate to the docket folder (NRC-2023-0071); (2) click the “Sign up for Email Alerts” link; and (3) enter your email address and select how frequently you would like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or monthly). Dated: September 29, 2023. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Dafna E. Silberfeld, Acting Director, Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2023-21988 Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]