June 4, 2010 

MEMORANDUM TO: Thomas Hiltz, Chief 

 Advanced Fuel Cycle, Enrichment, 

 and Uranium Conversion Branch 

 Special Projects and Technical 

 Support Directorate 

 Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and Safeguards 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

FROM: Jeannette Arce, Project Manager /RA/ 

 Advanced Fuel Cycle, Enrichment, 

 and Uranium Conversion Branch 

 Special Projects and Technical 

 Support Directorate

 Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and Safeguards 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF MAY 13, 2010, MEETING WITH THE NUCLEAR 

ENERGY INSTITUTE ON SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL 

REPROCESSING 

 

 On May 13, 2010, a Category 2 meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) and representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) at NRC 

Headquarters, Rockville, Maryland. Enclosed is the meeting summary. The summary contains 

no proprietary or classified information. 

Enclosure: As stated 

cc: Rodney McCullum, NEI 

CONTACT: Jeannette Arce, NMSS/FCSS 

 (301) 492-3411 

 
MEMORANDUM TO: Thomas Hiltz, Chief 

 Advanced Fuel Cycle, Enrichment, 

 and Uranium Conversion Branch 

 Special Projects and Technical 

 Support Directorate 

 Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and Safeguards 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

FROM: Jeannette Arce, Project Manager /RA/ 

 Advanced Fuel Cycle, Enrichment, 

 and Uranium Conversion Branch 

 Special Projects and Technical 

 Support Directorate

 Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and Safeguards 

 Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Safeguards 

 

SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF MAY 13, 2010, MEETING WITH THE NUCLEAR ENERGY 

INSTITUTE ON SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING 

 

 On May 13, 2010, a Category 2 meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC) and representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) at NRC Headquarters, Rockville, Maryland. 

Enclosed is the meeting summary. The summary contains no proprietary or classified information. 

Enclosure: As stated 

cc: Rodney McCullum, NEI 

CONTACT: Jeannette Arce, NMSS/FCSS 

 (301) 492-3411 

DISTRIBUTION: 

D. Dorman, NMSS KMarkham, NMSS J. Rivers, NSIR 

M. Bailey, NMSS A. Murray, NMSS M. Kohen, NSIR 

T. Hiltz, NMSS W.Reed, RES P. Reed, RES 

Y. Faraz, NMSS T. Pham, NMSS J. Hull, OGC 

M. Lee, FSME NTanious, FSME J. Goshen, NMSS 

J. Park, FSME J. Flack, ACRS 

PMNS Web Site- YES

ML101450520 

OFFICE NMSS/FCSS JA NMSS/FCSS LA NMSS/FCSS 

NAME JArce LAllen THiltz 

DATE 05/26/10 05/27/10 06/04 /10 

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Enclosure 

Summary of NRC and NEI Public Meeting on Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing 

DATE: May 13, 2010 

PLACE: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 

 Rockville, MD 

ATTENDEES: See Attachment 1 

PURPOSE: 

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss NRC’s ongoing activities related to revising the 

regulatory framework for licensing and regulating spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities. The 

meeting agenda is in Attachment 2. 

DISCUSSION: 

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) representatives presented information concerning industry 

perspectives on the development of reprocessing regulations. Discussions were focused on 

several of the regulatory gaps identified in SECY-09-0081, titled “Update on Reprocessing 

Regulatory Framework – Summary of Gap Analysis,” May 28, 2009. NEI representatives 

provided recommendations concerning regulatory gaps 3, 5, 8 and 9, HLW/WIR Definition, Risk 

Considerations, Risk Informing Part 73 and Part 74, and Baseline Design Criteria, respectively. 

Meeting handouts are available electronically in the Agencywide Documents Access and 

Management System Accession No. ML101400539. During the meeting, the NEI 

representatives stated the need for a technology-neutral regulatory infrastructure that is risk 

informed and performance based—and accommodates potential advanced separation 

technologies. 

The NRC staff presented information about regulatory gap 5, Risk Considerations for a 

Production Facility Licensed under 10 CFR Part 70 and regulatory gap 9, General Design 

Criteria and Baseline Design Criteria. The NRC staff indicated that if rulemaking is supported 

and appropriate resources are made available, a final rule could be completed in 2015. In 

addition, the NRC staff mentioned initial plans for public outreach meetings later this year to 

inform the development of the regulatory basis. The NEI representatives indicated their 

continued support of NRC’s efforts to revise the regulatory framework. 

Members of the public were in attendance. A member of the public who was unable to attend 

emailed their comment to the NRC prior to the meeting (Attachment 3). Before adjourning the 

meeting, members of the public had an opportunity to make comments and ask NRC 

representatives questions. 

Attachments: 

1. Meeting Attendees 

2. Meeting Agenda 

3. Email - Input on Reprocessing Regulatory Framework