NRC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revision to Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewing Reactor Licenses

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release

No: 23-016 March 3, 2023

CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200

 

NRC Seeks Comment on Proposed Revision to Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Renewing Reactor Licenses

 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has published a proposed rule that would update the license renewal Generic Environmental Impact Statement used by the agency when considering applications to renew operating reactor licenses.

 

The proposed rule is in response to a 2022 Commission order that concluded the license renewal GEIS did not analyze the environmental impacts of a subsequent license renewal term (from 60 to 80 years of operation). The proposed rule amends the relevant rule language to account for intial license renewal and one term of subsequent license renewal, redefines the number and scope of the environmental issues that must be addressed during the review of each application for license renewal, and updates related guidance to fully address subsequent renewal.

 

The GEIS covers environmental topics relevant to all nuclear power plant licensees seeking renewed licenses. The revised document accounts for new or revised environmental impacts, changes in regulations or guidance, and applies what the agency has learned during previous license renewals.

 

The NRC will hold hybrid public meetings to gather comments before finalizing the rule and GEIS for Commission consideration. The first two meetings will be March 16 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road in Rockville, Maryland, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. The staff will host a 30-minute open house prior to each meeting. In the near future, the agency will announce four additional public meetings across the country. The meetings are one method for submitting comments on the proposed rule before the May 2 deadline. Comments can also be submitted via regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2018-0296, via email to Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov, or via U.S. mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff.

23-016.pdf