04/23/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/23/2024 14:14
The Nuclear Regulatory Agency is issuing a proposed generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) for use in reviewing applications for new nuclear reactors.
In an April 17 memo, NRC secretary Carrie Safford wrote that the commission approved NRC staff's recommendation to publish in the Federal Register a proposed rule amending 10 CFR Part 51, "Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions."
In short, the NRC is proposing a technology-neutral approach for the GEIS to streamline the environmental reviews for future nuclear reactors.
What's next: The NRC will seek public comment on the proposed rule following its publication in the Federal Register and will hold public meetings and use other methods to solicit comments.
Safford also said the proposed rule will be reviewed every 10 years.
A closer look: The memo instructed staff to do the following:
If the rule is finalized, new reactor license filings would supplement applicable generic environmental findings with evaluation of project-specific issues.
Related news: The NRC spent time last year seeking public feedback on another update to its environmental standards regarding license renewal for legacy nuclear plants. That proposed rule updated the environmental review process to apply to all license renewals-not just initial renewal-as the life of nuclear plants has been extended from 60 to 80 years among some of the U.S. reactor fleet.
The update also added consideration for newer environmental issues, such as the impact of greenhouse gases on nuclear plants.