[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44594-44600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17193]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 72

[NRC-2021-0108]
RIN 3150-AK64


List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: TN Americas, LLC, 
Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System, 
Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewal of Initial Certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Direct final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its 
spent fuel storage regulations by revising the TN Americas, LLC, 
Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System 
listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to 
renew, for an additional 40 years, the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029. The 
renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 
revises the certificate of compliance's conditions and technical 
specifications to address aging management activities related to the 
structures, systems, and components of the dry storage system to ensure 
that these will maintain their intended functions during the period of 
extended storage operations.

DATES: This direct final rule is effective October 27, 2021, unless 
significant adverse comments are received by

[[Page 44595]]

September 13, 2021. If this direct final rule is withdrawn as a result 
of such comments, timely notice of the withdrawal will be published in 
the Federal Register. Comments received after this date will be 
considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC is able to ensure 
consideration only for comments received on or before this date. 
Comments received on this direct final rule will also be considered to 
be comments on a companion proposed rule published in the Proposed 
Rules section of this issue of the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID NRC-2021-0108 
at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted 
using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the individuals listed 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for 
alternate instructions.
    For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting 
comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Markley, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards; telephone: 301-415-6293, email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#befdd6ccd7cdcad1ced6dbcc90f3dfccd5d2dbc7fed0ccdd90d9d1c8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="682b001a011b1c0718000d1a4625091a03040d1128061a0b460f071e">[email protected]</span></a> and Irene Wu, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-1951, email: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e073c2b202b60193b0e203c2d60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ade4dfc8c3c883fad8edc3dfce83cac2db">[email protected]</span></a>. Both are staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments
II. Rulemaking Procedure
III. Background
IV. Discussion of Changes
V. Voluntary Consensus Standards
VI. Agreement State Compatibility
VII. Plain Writing
VIII. Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
IX. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
X. Regulatory Flexibility Certification
XI. Regulatory Analysis
XII. Backfitting and Issue Finality
XIII. Congressional Review Act
XIV. Availability of Documents

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments

A. Obtaining Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2021-0108 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain 
publicly available information related to this action by any of the 
following methods:
    <bullet> Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2021-0108. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Dawn Forder, telephone: 301-415-3407, 
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a6e4b5d44046c45584e4f586a445849044d455c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ace8cddbc282eac3dec8c9deecc2decf82cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a>. For technical questions contact the 
individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
    <bullet> NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS 
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public 
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or 
by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3c3d7c19dc1d6c0dcc6c1d0d6f3ddc1d09dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7c7d3c599c5d2c4d8c2c5d4d2f7d9c5d499d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>. For the convenience of the reader, 
instructions about obtaining materials referenced in this document are 
provided in the ``Availability of Documents'' section.
    <bullet> Attention: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies 
of public documents, is currently closed. You may submit your request 
to the PDR via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99e9fdebb7ebfceaf6ecebfafcd9f7ebfab7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d7a7b3a5f9a5b2a4b8a2a5b4b297b9a5b4f9b0b8a1">[email protected]</span></a> or call 1-800-397-4209 
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2021-0108 in your comment submission. 
The NRC requests that you submit comments through the Federal 
rulemaking website at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material 
cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email 
the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this document for alternate instructions.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at 
https://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions 
into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove identifying or contact information.
    If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons 
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to 
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should 
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove such information before making the comment submissions available 
to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

II. Rulemaking Procedure

    This rule is limited to the renewal of the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 and 
does not include other aspects of TN Americas, LLC, Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System. Amendment 
No. 2 was withdrawn and not issued by the NRC. The NRC is using the 
``direct final rule procedure'' to issue this renewal because it 
represents a limited and routine change to an existing certificate of 
compliance that is expected to be non-controversial. Adequate 
protection of public health and safety continues to be reasonably 
assured. The amendment to the rule will become effective on October 27, 
2021. However, if the NRC receives any significant adverse comments on 
this direct final rule by September 13, 2021, then the NRC will publish 
a document that withdraws this action and will subsequently address the 
comments received in a final rule as a response to the companion 
proposed rule published in the Proposed Rules section of this issue of 
the Federal Register. Absent significant modifications to the proposed 
revisions requiring republication, the NRC will not initiate a second 
comment period on this action.
    A significant adverse comment is a comment where the commenter 
explains why the rule would be inappropriate, including challenges to 
the rule's underlying premise or approach, or would be ineffective or 
unacceptable without a change. A comment is adverse and significant if:
    (1) The comment opposes the rule and provides a reason sufficient 
to require a substantive response in a notice-and-comment process. For 
example, a substantive response is required when:
    (a) The comment causes the NRC to reevaluate (or reconsider) its 
position or conduct additional analysis.
    (b) The comment raises an issue serious enough to warrant a 
substantive response to clarify or complete the record; or
    (c) The comment raises a relevant issue that was not previously 
addressed or considered by the NRC.
    (2) The comment proposes a change or an addition to the rule, and 
it is apparent that the rule would be ineffective or unacceptable 
without incorporation of the change or addition.
    (3) The comment causes the NRC to make a change (other than 
editorial) to the rule, certificate of compliance, or technical 
specifications.

[[Page 44596]]

III. Background

    Section 218(a) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended, 
requires that ``[t]he Secretary [of the Department of Energy] shall 
establish a demonstration program, in cooperation with the private 
sector, for the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel at civilian nuclear 
power reactor sites, with the objective of establishing one or more 
technologies that the [Nuclear Regulatory] Commission may, by rule, 
approve for use at the sites of civilian nuclear power reactors 
without, to the maximum extent practicable, the need for additional 
site-specific approvals by the Commission.'' Section 133 of the Nuclear 
Waste Policy Act states, in part, that ``[t]he Commission shall, by 
rule, establish procedures for the licensing of any technology approved 
by the Commission under Section 219(a) [sic: 218(a)] for use at the 
site of any civilian nuclear power reactor.''
    To implement this mandate, the Commission approved dry storage of 
spent nuclear fuel in NRC-approved casks under a general license by 
publishing a final rule that added a new subpart K in part 72 of title 
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) entitled ``General 
License for Storage of Spent Fuel at Power Reactor Sites'' (55 FR 
29181; July 18, 1990). This rule also established a new subpart L in 10 
CFR part 72 entitled ``Approval of Spent Fuel Storage Casks,'' which 
contains procedures and criteria for obtaining NRC approval of spent 
fuel storage cask designs. The NRC subsequently issued a final rule on 
January 6, 2003 (68 FR 463), that approved the Standardized Advanced 
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System design and added it to 
the list of NRC-approved cask designs in Sec.  72.214 as Certificate of 
Compliance No. 1029.

IV. Discussion of Changes

    On May 22, 2019, TN Americas, LLC submitted a request to the NRC to 
renew, for an additional 40 years, the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 for 
the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage 
System. TN Americas, LLC, supplemented its request on December 4, 2019, 
and July 10, 2020.
    The renewals of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, 
and 4 were conducted in accordance with the renewal provisions in Sec.  
72.240. This section of the NRC spent fuel storage regulations 
authorizes NRC staff to include any additional certificate conditions 
it deems necessary to ensure the safe operation of the cask during the 
certificate's renewal period. The NRC included five additional 
conditions to the renewal of the initial certificate of compliance and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4:
    <bullet> The submittal of an updated final safety analysis report 
(UFSAR) to address aging management activities resulting from the 
renewal of the certificate of compliance. This condition ensures that 
the UFSAR changes are made in a timely fashion to enable general 
licensees using the storage system during the period of extended 
operation to develop and implement necessary procedures.
    <bullet> The requirement that general licensees initiating or using 
spent fuel dry storage operations with the Standardized Advanced 
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System ensure that their 
evaluations are included in the reports required by Sec.  72.212, 
``Conditions of general license issued under Sec.  72.210.'' These 
reports will include appropriate considerations for the period of 
extended operation, a review of the UFSAR changes resulting from the 
certificate of compliance renewal, and a review of the NRC Safety 
Evaluation Report (SER) related to the certificate of compliance 
renewal.
    <bullet> The requirement that future amendments and revisions to 
this certificate of compliance include evaluations of the impacts to 
aging management activities to ensure that they remain adequate for any 
changes to the structures, systems, and components (SSCs).
    <bullet> The requirement that general licensees not use the OS197, 
OS197H, and OS200FC transfer casks approved under Certificate of 
Compliance No. 1004 aged 20 years or more to perform the transfer cask 
functions in the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal 
Modular Storage System. This condition prohibits the use of those 
transfer casks aged 20 years or older because the renewal application 
for the Certificate of Compliance No. 1004 did not assess performance 
of the transfer casks after the initial 20-year period.
    <bullet> The requirement that any Standardized Advanced 
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular System loaded up to and including 
those loaded on February 5, 2023, are considered loaded during the term 
of the initial certificate of compliance.
    The NRC made two corresponding changes to the technical 
specifications for the initial certificate of compliance and Amendment 
Nos. 1, 3, and 4:
    <bullet> Added text to the Transfer Cask Section to ensure that the 
requirements of the applicable transfer cask aging management program 
under the Renewed Certificate of Compliance No. 1004 have been 
satisfied.
    <bullet> Added a section to the initial certificate of compliance 
and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 on the aging management program, which 
includes establishing, implementing, and maintaining written procedures 
for each aging management program described in the UFSAR.
    As documented in the preliminary SER, the NRC performed a safety 
evaluation of the proposed certificate of compliance renewal request. 
The NRC determined that this amendment does not change the cask design 
or fabrication requirements in the proposed certificate of compliance 
renewal request. The NRC determined the design of the cask would 
continue to maintain confinement, shielding, and criticality control in 
the event of each evaluated accident condition. In addition, any 
resulting occupational exposure of offsite dose rates from the renewal 
of the initial certificate of compliance and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 
would remain well within the limits specified by 10 CFR part 20, 
``Standards for Protection Against Radiation.'' Thus, the NRC found 
there will be no significant change in the types or amounts of any 
effluent released, no significant increase in the individual or 
cumulative radiation exposure, and no significant increase in the 
potential for or consequences from radiological accidents. In its SER 
for the renewal of the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal 
Modular Storage System, the NRC has determined that if the conditions 
specified in the certificate of compliance to implement these 
regulations are met, adequate protection of public health and safety 
will continue to be reasonably assured.
    This direct final rule revises the Standardized Advanced 
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System listing in Sec.  
72.214 by renewing for 40 more years the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029. The 
renewal consists of the changes previously described, as set forth in 
the renewed initial certificate and amendments and their revised 
technical specifications. The revised technical specifications are 
identified in the SER.

V. Voluntary Consensus Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-113) requires that Federal agencies use technical standards that 
are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies unless 
the use of such a standard is inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise

[[Page 44597]]

impractical. In this direct final rule, the NRC revises the TN 
Americas, LLC Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular 
Storage System design listed in Sec.  72.214, ``List of approved spent 
fuel storage casks.'' This action does not constitute the establishment 
of a standard that contains generally applicable requirements.

VI. Agreement State Compatibility

    Under the ``Agreement State Program Policy Statement'' approved by 
the Commission on October 2, 2017, and published in the Federal 
Register on October 18, 2017 (82 FR 48535), this rule is classified as 
Compatibility Category NRC--Areas of Exclusive NRC Regulatory 
Authority. The NRC program elements in this category are those that 
relate directly to areas of regulation reserved to the NRC by the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, or the provisions of 10 CFR 
chapter I. Therefore, compatibility is not required for program 
elements in this category. Although an Agreement State may not adopt 
program elements reserved to the NRC, and the Category ``NRC'' does not 
confer regulatory authority on the State, the State may wish to inform 
its licensees of certain requirements by means consistent with the 
particular State's administrative procedure laws.

VII. Plain Writing

    The Plain Writing Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-274) requires Federal 
agencies to write documents in a clear, concise, and well-organized 
manner. The NRC has written this document to be consistent with the 
Plain Writing Act as well as the Presidential Memorandum, ``Plain 
Language in Government Writing,'' published June 10, 1998 (63 FR 
31885).

VIII. Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 
and the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR part 51, ``Environmental Protection 
Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions,'' 
the NRC has determined that this direct final rule, if adopted, would 
not be a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of 
the human environment and, therefore, an environmental impact statement 
is not required. The NRC has made a finding of no significant impact 
based on this environmental assessment.

A. The Action

    The action is to amend Sec.  72.214 to revise the Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System listing 
within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to renew, for 
an additional 40 years, the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 
3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029.

B. The Need for the Action

    This direct final rule renews the initial certificate and Amendment 
Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 for the TN 
Americas, LLC, Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular 
Storage System design within the list of approved spent fuel storage 
casks to allow power reactor licensees to store spent fuel at reactor 
sites in casks with the approved modifications under a general license. 
Specifically, this rule extends the expiration date for the TN 
Americas, LLC, Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular 
Storage System certificate for an additional 40 years, allowing a power 
reactor licensee to continue using it under general license provisions 
in an independent spent fuel storage installation to store spent fuel 
in dry casks in accordance with 10 CFR part 72.

C. Environmental Impacts of the Action

    On July 18,1990 (55 FR 29181), the NRC issued an amendment to 10 
CFR part 72 to provide for the storage of spent fuel under a general 
license in cask designs approved by the NRC. The potential 
environmental impact of using NRC-approved storage casks was analyzed 
in the environmental assessment for the 1990 final rule. The 
environmental assessment for the renewal of the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 tiers 
off of the environmental assessment for the July 18, 1990, final rule. 
Tiering on past environmental assessments is a standard process under 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. As required 
by Sec.  72.240, applications for renewal of a spent fuel storage 
certificate of compliance design are required to demonstrate that SSCs 
important to safety will continue to perform their intended function 
for the requested renewal term. As discussed in the NRC staff's SER for 
the renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4, 
the NRC staff has approved conditions in the renewed initial 
certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 requiring the general 
licensee to implement the aging management activities described in the 
renewal application and incorporated into the UFSAR. These conditions 
ensure that the TN Americas, LLC, Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] 
Horizontal Modular Storage System will continue to perform its intended 
safety functions and provide reasonable assurance of adequate 
protection of public health and safety throughout the renewal period.
    Incremental impacts from continued use of the Standardized Advanced 
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System under a general 
license for an additional 40 years are not considered significant. When 
the general licensee follows all procedures and administrative 
controls, including the conditions established because of this renewal, 
no effluents are expected from the sealed dry cask systems. Activities 
associated with cask loading and decontamination may result in some 
small incremental liquid and gaseous effluents, but these activities 
will be conducted under 10 CFR parts 50 and 52 reactor operating 
licenses, and effluents will be controlled within existing reactor site 
technical specifications. Because reactor sites are relatively large, 
any incremental offsite doses due to direct radiation exposure from the 
spent fuel storage casks are expected to be small, and when combined 
with the contribution from reactor operations, well within the annual 
dose equivalent of 0.25 mSv (25 mrem) limit to the whole body specified 
in Sec.  72.104. Incremental impacts on collective occupational 
exposures due to dry cask spent fuel storage are expected to be only a 
small fraction of the exposures from operation of the nuclear power 
station.
    The Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage 
System is designed to mitigate the effects of design basis accidents 
that could occur during storage. Design basis accidents account for 
human-induced events and the most severe natural phenomena reported for 
the site and surrounding area. Postulated accidents analyzed for an 
independent spent fuel storage installation include tornado winds and 
tornado-generated missiles, a design basis earthquake, a design basis 
flood, an accidental cask drop, lightning effects, fire, explosions, 
and other incidents.
    During the promulgation of the amendments that added subpart K to 
10 CFR part 72 (55 FR 29181; July 18, 1990), the NRC staff assessed the 
public health consequences of dry cask storage accidents and sabotage 
events. In the supporting analyses for these amendments, the NRC staff 
determined that a release from a dry cask storage system would be 
comparable in magnitude to a release from the same quantity of fuel in 
a spent fuel storage pool. As a result of these evaluations, the NRC 
staff determined that, because

[[Page 44598]]

of the physical characteristics of the storage casks and conditions of 
storage that include specific security provisions, the potential risk 
to public health and safety due to accidents or sabotage is very small.
    Considering the specific design requirements for each accident or 
sabotage condition, the design of the cask would maintain confinement, 
shielding, and criticality control. If confinement, shielding, or 
criticality control are maintained, the environmental impacts from an 
accident would be insignificant.
    There are no changes to cask design or fabrication requirements in 
the renewed initial certificate or Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4. Because 
there are no significant design or process changes, any resulting 
occupational exposure or offsite dose rates from the implementation of 
the renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 
would remain well within the 10 CFR part 20 limits.
    In summary, the changes will not result in any radiological or non-
radiological environmental impacts that significantly differ from the 
environmental impacts evaluated in the environmental assessment 
supporting the July 18, 1990, final rule. Compliance with the 
requirements of 10 CFR parts 20 and 72 would provide reasonable 
assurance that adequate protection of public health and safety will 
continue. The NRC, in its SER for the renewal of the Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System, has 
determined if the conditions specified in the certificate of compliance 
to implement these regulations are met, adequate protection of public 
health and safety will continue to be reasonably assured.
    Based on the previously stated assessments and its SER for the 
requested renewal of the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] 
Horizontal Modular Storage System certificates, the NRC has determined 
that the expiration date of this system in 10 CFR 72.214 can be safely 
extended for an additional 40 years, and that commercial nuclear power 
reactor licensees can continue using the system during this period 
under a general license without significant impacts on the human 
environment.

D. Alternative to the Action

    The alternative to this action is to deny approval of the renewals 
and not issue the direct final rule. Under this alternative, the NRC 
would either (1) require general licensees using the Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System to unload the 
spent fuel from these systems and either return it to a spent fuel pool 
or re-load it into a different dry storage cask system listed in 10 CFR 
72.214; or (2) require that users of the existing Standardized Advanced 
NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System request site-specific 
licensing proceedings to continue storage in these systems.
    The environmental impacts of requiring the licensee to unload the 
spent fuel and either return it to the spent fuel pool or re-load it 
into another NRC-approved cask system would result in increased 
radiological doses to workers. These increased doses would be due 
primarily to direct radiation from the casks while the workers 
unloaded, transferred, and re-loaded the spent fuel. These activities 
would consist of transferring the dry storage canisters to a cask-
handling building, opening the canister lid welds, returning the 
canister to a spent fuel pool or dry transfer facility, removing the 
fuel assemblies, and re-loading them, either into a spent fuel pool 
storage rack or another NRC-approved dry storage system. In addition to 
the increased occupational doses to workers, these activities may also 
result in additional liquid or gaseous effluents.
    Alternatively, users of the dry cask storage system would need to 
apply for a site-specific license. Under this option for implementing 
the no-action alternative, interested licensees would have to prepare, 
and the NRC would have to review, each separate license application, 
thereby increasing the administrative burden upon the NRC and the costs 
to each licensee.
    In summary, the no-action alternative would entail either (1) more 
environmental impacts than the preferred action from transferring the 
spent fuel now in the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal 
Modular Storage System; or (2) cost and administrative impacts from 
multiple licensing actions that, in aggregate, are likely to be the 
same as, or more likely greater than, the preferred action.

E. Alternative Use of Resources

    Renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 
to Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 would result in no irreversible 
commitment of resources.

F. Agencies and Persons Contacted

    No agencies or persons outside the NRC were contacted in connection 
with the preparation of this environmental assessment.

G. Finding of No Significant Impact

    The environmental impacts of the action have been reviewed under 
the requirements in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, and the NRC's regulations in subpart A of 10 CFR part 51, 
``Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and 
Related Regulatory Functions.'' Based on the foregoing environmental 
assessment, the NRC concludes that this direct final rule, ``List of 
Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: TN Americas, LLC, Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System, Certificate 
of Compliance No. 1029, Renewal of Initial Certificate and Amendment 
Nos. 1, 3, and 4,'' will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment. Therefore, the NRC has determined that an environmental 
impact statement is not necessary for this direct final rule.

IX. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    This direct final rule does not contain any new or amended 
collections of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Existing collections of information were 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget, approval number 3150-
0132.

Public Protection Notification

    The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to 
respond to, a request for information or an information collection 
requirement unless the requesting document displays a currently valid 
Office of Management and Budget control number.

X. Regulatory Flexibility Certification

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), the 
NRC certifies that this direct final rule will not, if issued, have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This direct final rule affects only nuclear power plant licensees and 
TN Americas, LLC. These entities do not fall within the scope of the 
definition of small entities set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act or the size standards established by the NRC (Sec.  2.810).

XI. Regulatory Analysis

    On July 18, 1990 (55 FR 29181), the NRC issued an amendment to 10 
CFR part 72 to provide for the storage of spent nuclear fuel under a 
general license in cask designs approved by the NRC. Any nuclear power 
reactor licensee can use NRC-approved cask

[[Page 44599]]

designs to store spent nuclear fuel if (1) it notifies the NRC in 
advance; (2) the spent fuel is stored under the conditions specified in 
the cask's certificate of compliance; and (3) the conditions of the 
general license are met. A list of NRC-approved cask designs is 
contained in Sec.  72.214. On January 6, 2003 (68 FR 463), the NRC 
issued an amendment to 10 CFR part 72 that approved the Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System design by 
adding it to the list of NRC-approved cask designs in Sec.  72.214 as 
Certificate of Compliance No. 1029.
    On May 22, 2019, TN Americas, LLC requested a renewal of the 
initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of the Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System for an 
additional 40 years beyond the initial certificate term. TN Americas, 
LLC supplemented its request on December 4, 2019, and July 10, 2020. 
Because TN Americas, LLC filed its renewal application at least 30 days 
before the certificate expiration date of February 5, 2023, pursuant to 
the timely renewal provisions in Sec.  72.240(b), the initial issuance 
of the certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of 
Compliance No. 1029 did not expire.
    The alternative to this action is to deny approval of the renewal 
of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of 
Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 and end this direct final rule. 
Under this alternative, the NRC would either (1) require general 
licensees using the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal 
Modular Storage System to unload spent fuel from these systems and 
return it to a spent fuel pool or re-load it into a different dry 
storage cask system listed in 10 CFR 72.214; or (2) require that users 
of the existing Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular 
Storage System request site-specific licensing proceedings to continue 
storage in these systems. Therefore, the no-action alternative would 
result in a significant burden on licensees and an additional 
inspection or licensing caseload on the NRC. In addition, the no action 
alternative would entail either (1) more environmental impacts than the 
preferred action from transferring the spent fuel now in the 
Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System; 
or (2) cost and administrative impacts from multiple licensing actions 
that, in aggregate, are likely to be the same as, or more likely 
greater than, the preferred action.
    Approval of this direct final rule is consistent with previous NRC 
actions. Further, as documented in the preliminary SER and 
environmental assessment, this direct final rule will have no adverse 
effect on public health and safety or the environment. This direct 
final rule has no significant identifiable impact or benefit on other 
government agencies. Based on this regulatory analysis, the NRC 
concludes that the requirements of this direct final rule are 
commensurate with the NRC's responsibilities for public health and 
safety and the common defense and security. No other available 
alternative is believed to be as satisfactory; therefore, this action 
is recommended.

XII. Backfitting and Issue Finality

    The NRC has determined that the backfit rule (Sec.  72.62) does not 
apply to this direct final rule. Therefore, a backfit analysis is not 
required. This direct final rule renews Certificate of Compliance No. 
1029 for the Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular 
Storage System, as currently listed in Sec.  72.214, to extend the 
expiration date of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 
4 by 40 years. The renewed initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, 
and 4 consist of the changes previously described, as set forth in the 
revised certificate of compliance and technical specifications.
    Extending the effective date of the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 for 40 more years and requiring the 
implementation of aging management activities does not impose any 
modification or addition to the design of a cask system's SSC, or to 
the procedures or organization required to operate the system during 
the initial 20-year storage period of the system, as authorized by the 
current certificate. General licensees that have loaded these casks, or 
that load these casks in the future under the specifications of the 
applicable certificate, may continue to store spent fuel in these 
systems for the initial 20-year storage period authorized by the 
original certificate. The aging management activities required to be 
implemented by this renewal are only required after the storage cask 
system's initial 20-year service period ends. As explained in the 2011 
final rule that amended 10 CFR part 72 (76 FR 8872, Question I), the 
general licensee's authority to use a particular storage cask design 
under an approved certificate of compliance terminates 20 years after 
the date that the general licensee first loads the particular cask with 
spent fuel, unless the cask's certificate of compliance is renewed. 
Because this rulemaking renews the initial certificate and Amendment 
Nos. 1, 3, and 4, and renewal is a separate licensing action 
voluntarily implemented by vendors, the renewal of the initial 
certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 is not an imposition of new 
or changed requirements from which these licensees would otherwise be 
protected by the backfitting provisions in 10 CFR 72.62.
    Even if renewal of the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1, 3, 
and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 could be considered a 
backfit, TN Americas, LLC, as the holder of the certificate of 
compliance and vendor of the casks, is not protected by the backfitting 
provisions in 10 CFR 72.62.
    Unlike a vendor, general licensees using the existing systems 
subject to these renewals would be protected by the backfitting 
provisions in 10 CFR 72.62 if the renewals constituted new or changed 
requirements applicable during the initial 20-year storage period. But, 
as previously explained, renewal of the initial certificate and 
Amendment Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 does 
not impose such requirements. The general licensee using the initial 
certificate or Amendment Nos. 1, 3, or 4 of Certificate of Compliance 
No. 1029 may continue storing material in their respective cask systems 
for the initial 20-year storage period identified in the applicable 
certificate or amendment with no changes. If general licensees choose 
to continue to store spent fuel in Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] 
Horizontal Modular Storage Systems after the initial 20-year period, 
these general licensees will be required to implement aging management 
activities for any cask systems subject to a renewed certificate of 
compliance, but such continued use is voluntary.
    For these reasons, renewing the initial certificate and Amendment 
Nos. 1, 3, and 4 of Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, and imposing 
the additional conditions previously discussed, does not constitute 
backfitting under Sec.  72.62, or otherwise represent an inconsistency 
with the issue finality provisions applicable to combined licenses in 
10 CFR part 52. Accordingly, the NRC has not prepared a backfit 
analysis for this rulemaking.

XIII. Congressional Review Act

    This direct final rule is not a rule as defined in the 
Congressional Review Act.

XIV. Availability of Documents

    The documents identified in the following table are available to 
interested persons, as indicated.

[[Page 44600]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Document                                           ADAMS accession No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TN Americas, LLC Renewal Application for the Standardized    ML19148A484 (package).
 NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System
 Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, dated May 22, 2019.
TN Americas, LLC Response to Request for Supplemental        ML19338E132.
 Information for the Technical Review of the Application
 for Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, dated December 4,
 2019.
TN Americas, LLC Response to Request for Additional          ML20192A127.
 Information of the Application for Renewal of the
 Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, dated May 28, 2020.
User Need Memorandum for Rulemaking for Certificate of       ML21067A166.
 Compliance Renewal, Initial Issue (Amendment Number 0),
 Amendment Numbers 1, 3, and 4 to Standardized Advanced
 NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System.
Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report for the Standardized    ML21067A167.
 Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System
 Certificate of Compliance Renewal.
Proposed Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed         ML21067A168.
 Initial Certificate.
Proposed Technical Specifications, Attachment A,             ML21067A169.
 Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed Initial
 Certificate.
Proposed Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed         ML21067A170.
 Amendment No. 1.
Proposed Technical Specifications, Attachment A,             ML21067A171.
 Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed Amendment No.
 1.
Proposed Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed         ML21067A172.
 Amendment No. 3.
Proposed Technical Specifications, Attachment A,             ML21067A173.
 Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed Amendment No.
 3.
Proposed Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed         ML21067A174.
 Amendment No. 4.
Proposed Technical Specifications, Attachment A,             ML21067A175.
 Certificate of Compliance No. 1029, Renewed Amendment No.
 4.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The NRC may post materials related to this document, including 
public comments, on the Federal rulemaking website at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2021-0108.

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 72

    Administrative practice and procedure, Hazardous waste, Indians, 
Intergovernmental relations, Nuclear energy, Penalties, Radiation 
protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security 
measures, Spent fuel, Whistleblowing.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of 
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization 
Act of 1974, as amended; the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as 
amended; and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553; the NRC is adopting the following 
amendments to 10 CFR part 72:

PART 72--LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INDEPENDENT STORAGE OF 
SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE, AND REACTOR-
RELATED GREATER THAN CLASS C WASTE

0
1. The authority citation for part 72 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 51, 53, 57, 62, 63, 
65, 69, 81, 161, 182, 183, 184, 186, 187, 189, 223, 234, 274 (42 
U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2077, 2092, 2093, 2095, 2099, 2111, 2201, 2210e, 
2232, 2233, 2234, 2236, 2237, 2238, 2273, 2282, 2021); Energy 
Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202, 206, 211 (42 U.S.C. 
5841, 5842, 5846, 5851); National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(42 U.S.C. 4332); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, secs. 117(a), 
132, 133, 134, 135, 137, 141, 145(g), 148, 218(a) (42 U.S.C. 
10137(a), 10152, 10153, 10154, 10155, 10157, 10161, 10165(g), 10168, 
10198(a)); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note.


0
2. In Sec.  72.214, Certificate of Compliance No. 1029 is revised to 
read as follows:


Sec.  72.214  List of approved spent fuel storage casks.

* * * * *
    Certificate Number: 1029.
    Initial Certificate Effective Date: February 5, 2003, superseded by 
Renewed Initial.
    Certificate Effective Date: October 27, 2021.
    Amendment Number 1 Effective Date: May 16, 2005, superseded by 
Renewed.
    Amendment Number 1 Effective Date: October 27, 2021.
    Amendment Number 2 Effective Date: Amendment not issued by the NRC.
    Amendment Number 3 Effective Date: February 23, 2015, superseded by 
Renewed.
    Amendment Number 3 Effective Date: October 27, 2021.
    Amendment Number 4 Effective Date: March 12, 2019, superseded by 
Renewed.
    Amendment Number 4 Effective Date: October 27, 2021.
    SAR Submitted by: Transnuclear, Inc., now TN Americas, LLC.
    Renewal SAR Submitted by: TN Americas, LLC.
    SAR Title: Final Safety Analysis Report for the Standardized 
Advanced NUHOMS[supreg] Horizontal Modular Storage System for 
Irradiated Nuclear Fuel.
    Docket Number: 72-1029.
    Certificate Expiration Date: February 5, 2023.
    Renewed Certificate Expiration Date: February 5, 2063.
    Model Number: Standardized Advanced NUHOMS[supreg]-24PT1, -24PT4, 
and -32PTH2<INF>.</INF>
* * * * *

    Dated: August 6, 2021.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Daniel H. Dorman,
Acting Executive Director for Operations.
[FR Doc. 2021-17193 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P


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