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          Radioactive Waste  Decommissioning  Regulations, Guidance, and Communications  Decommissioning RegulationsRegulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning

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Proposed Rule with Request for Public Comment
	Submit a Formal Comment
	Documents Related to the Proposed Rule
	Public Meetings
	Additional Background DocumentsOn March 3, 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a proposed rule to amend its regulations that relate to the decommissioning of production and utilization facilities, primarily nuclear power reactors.

Decommissioning nuclear power reactors are currently subject to many of the same requirements as operating nuclear power reactors even though decommissioning power reactors have a significantly lower risk of, and potential consequences from, radiological accidents than operating power reactors.

The proposed rule would implement specific regulatory requirements for different phases of the decommissioning process, consistent with the reduced radiological risk.

Topics addressed in the proposed rule include:

Emergency preparedness
	Physical security
	Cyber security
	Drug and alcohol testing
	Certified fuel hander definition and elimination of the shift technical advisor
	Decommissioning funding assurance
	Offsite and onsite financial protection requirements and indemnity agreements
	Environmental considerations
	Record retention requirements
	Low-level waste transportation
	Spent fuel management planning
	Backfit rule
	Foreign ownership, control, or domination
	Clarification of scope of license termination plan requirement
	Removal of license conditions and withdrawal of orders
	Changes for consistent treatment of holders of combined licenses and operating licensesThe proposed regulations would incorporate best practices and lessons learned from plants that have recently transitioned to decommissioning and would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulatory framework.

This would allow both licensees and the NRC to focus efforts on safe and timely decommissioning of the facilities and the return of the land for future unrestricted use while protecting people and the environment.

The staff previously sought public feedback on this activity through an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and draft regulatory basis in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

The public comment period for the proposed rule ended on August 30, 2022.

Proposed Rule with Request for Public Comment

Read it in the *Federal Register*



Submit a Formal Comment

The public comment period for the proposed rule ended on August 30, 2022.
	Read comments received

Documents Related to the Proposed Rule

Date
			Description02/28/2022
			DG-1346 Revision 1 (Proposed New Regulatory Guide RG 1.235) Emergency Planning for Decommissioning Nuclear Power Reactors02/28/2022
			DG-1347 Revision 1 (Proposed Regulatory Guide RG 1.184 Rev 2) Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors02/28/2022
			DG-1348 Revision 1 (Proposed Regulatory Guide RG 1.159 Rev 3) Assuring the Availability of Funds for Decommissioning Production or Utilization Facilities02/28/2022
			DG-1349 Revision 1 (Proposed Regulatory Guide RG 1.185 Rev 2) Standard Format and Content for Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Report02/28/2022
			Draft Regulatory Analysis02/28/2022
			Draft Environmental Assessment03/02/2022
			Draft Supporting Statements for Information Collections03/02/2022
			Unofficial Redline Rule Text

Public Meetings

Date
			Description05/09/2022
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Proposed Rule (Plymouth, MA)
			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Summary05/04/2022
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Proposed Rule (San Luis Obispo, CA)
			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Summary04/19/2022
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Proposed Rule (Atlanta, GA)
			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Summary04/12/2022
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Proposed Rule (Chicago, IL)
			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Summary03/31/2022
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Proposed Rule (Rockville, MD)
			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Video
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Summary03/21/2022
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Proposed Rule (Rockville, MD)
			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Video
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Summary05/08/2017 – 05/10/2017
			Public Meeting on the "Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning" Rulemaking – Draft Regulatory Basis

			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides – 05/08/2017
				NRC Slides – 05/09/2017
				Webcast – 05/08/2017
				Webcast – 05/09/2017
				Meeting Summary03/15/2016
			Commission Briefing on Power Reactor Decommissioning Rulemaking (Rockville, MD)
			Agenda
				Slides
				Video
				Meeting Transcript
				Meeting Staff Requirements Memorandum12/09/2015
			Public Meeting to Discuss Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning Power Reactors: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

			Public Meeting Notice
				NRC Slides
				Meeting Summary

Additional Background Documents

Date
			Description01/31/2024
			For Commission Review (SECY-24-0011): Final Rule: Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning (RIN 3150-AJ59; NRC-2015-0070)05/17/2022
			Federal Register Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning – Proposed Rule; extension of comment period05/06/2022
			Federal Register Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning – Correction04/19/2022
			NRC Press Release (22-016): NRC to Hold Public Meetings on Proposed Regulations for Nuclear Power Plants Transitioning to Decommissioning03/03/2022
			NRC Press Release (22-010): NRC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Rule for Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants11/03/2021
			NRC Press Release (21-043): NRC Approves Proposed Rule on Regulatory Improvements for Nuclear Power Plants Transitioning to Decommissioning11/03/2021
			Staff Requirements (SECY-18-0055): Proposed Rule: Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning (RIN 3150-AJ59)11/03/2021
			Commission Voting Record (SECY-18-0055): Proposed Rule: Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning (RIN 3150-AJ59)05/07/2018
			For Commission Review (SECY-18-0055): Proposed Rule: Regulatory Improvements for Production and Utilization Facilities Transitioning to Decommissioning (RIN 3150-AJ59)02/07/2018
			*Federal Register* Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Regulatory Analysis; Availability11/27/2017
			NRC Press Release (17-047): NRC Issues Regulatory Basis for New Decommissioning Regulations11/27/2017
			*Federal Register* Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Regulatory Basis11/20/2017
			Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Regulatory Basis Document05/09/2017
			*Federal Register* Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Preliminary Draft Regulatory Analysis; Request for Comment03/15/2017
			*Federal Register* Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Draft Regulatory Basis; Request for Comment12/28/2015
			*Federal Register* Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Extension of Comment Period11/19/2015
			*Federal Register* Notice [NRC-2015-0070]: Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning – Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Request for Comment

      
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