SNM Control and Accounting Proposed Changes

NRC 11-08 NPRM SNM reporting changes.pdf

On November 08, 2013 (78 FR 67225), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a proposed rule to amend its regulations for material control and accounting (MC&A) of special nuclear material (SNM) in 10 CFR Parts 40, 70, 72, 74, and 150. The goal of this rulemaking is to revise and consolidate the MC&A requirements in order to update, clarify, and strengthen them. The proposed amendments add new requirements that would apply to NRC licensees who are authorized to possess SNM in a quantity greater than 350 grams. These include: Consolidating MC&A requirements for an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) with MC&A regulations applicable to other types of facilities authorized to possess SNM; adding general performance objectives (GPOs) to additional NRC licensees who are authorized to possess more than 350 grams of SNM; removing or modifying some current exemptions in the MC&A regulations; adding defined terms to clarify the regulations; making plain language revisions; and updating several guidance documents as necessary to reflect these proposed changes. Concurrently with this proposed rule, in this issue of the Federal Register, the NRC published a document (NRC–2013–0195) requesting comment on the following draft NUREGs: NUREG–1280, Revision 2, “Acceptable Standard Format and Content for the Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) Plan Required for Strategic Special Nuclear Material;” NUREG–2159, “Acceptable Standard Format and Content for the Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) Plan Required for Special Nuclear Material of Moderate Strategic Significance;” NUREG–1065, Revision 3, “Acceptable Standard Format and Content for the Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) Plan Required for Special Nuclear Material of Low Strategic Significance;” NUREG–2158 (formerly NUREG/CR–5734), “Acceptable Standard Format and Content for the Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) Plan Required for Low Enriched Uranium Enrichment Facilities;” and NUREG/BR–0096, Revision 2, “Instructions and Guidance for Completing Physical Inventory Summary Reports.” Submit comments on this proposed rule by February 18, 2014. Submit comments specific to the information collections aspects of this rule by December 9, 2013. Comments received after these dates will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before these dates.