Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/10/25/2016-25408/list-of-approved-spent-fuel-storage-casks-holtec-international-hi-storm-umax-canister-storage-system
Timestamp: 2018-02-22 11:44:56
Document Index: 260027351

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 72', 'art 72', 'art 20', 'art 72', 'art 72', 'art 51', 'art 72', 'art 72', 'art 20', 'art 72', 'art 51', 'art 72', 'art 72', 'art 72', 'art 72', 'art 52', 'art 52', '§\u200972']

Federal Register :: List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System; Certificate of Compliance No. 1040, Amendment No. 2
A Rule by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 10/25/2016
The direct final rule is effective January 9, 2017, unless significant adverse comments are received by November 25, 2016. If the direct final rule is withdrawn as a result of such comments, timely notice of the withdrawal will be published in the Federal Register.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 Commission 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.
81 FR 73335
73335-73339 (5 pages)
NRC-2016-0155
3150-AJ80
2016-25408
List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks - Holtec HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System, CoC No. 1040, Amendment No. 2
Proposed Certificate of Compliance No. 1040 Appendix B -...
Proposed Certificate of Compliance No. 1040 Appendix A -...
Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report for the HI-STORM UMAX...
Certificate of Compliance for Spent Fuel Storage Casks;...
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-25408 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-25408
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the Holtec International HI-STORM Underground Maximum Capacity (UMAX) Canister Storage System listing within the “List of approved spent fuel storage casks” to include Amendment No. 2 to Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1040. Amendment No. 2 adds new fuel types to the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System and updates an existing fuel type description. Additionally, Amendment No. 2 updates Table 3-4 of Appendix B of the CoC to reflect correct terminology and makes editorial changes to Appendix B of the CoC to clarify the description of the top surface pad. Each of these changes is described in Section IV, “Discussion of Changes,” in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2016-0155. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.
Gregory R. Trussell, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6445, or email: Gregory.Trussell@nrc.gov.
VII. Plain WritingStart Printed Page 73336
Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2016-0155 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:
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2016-0155.
Please include Docket ID NRC-2016-0155 in your comment submission.
This rule is limited to the changes contained in Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040 and does not include other aspects of the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System design. The NRC is using the “direct final rule procedure” to issue this amendment because it represents a limited and routine change to an existing CoC that is expected to be noncontroversial. Adequate protection of public health and safety continues to be ensured. The amendment to the rule will become effective on January 9, 2017. However, if the NRC receives significant adverse comments on this direct final rule by November 25, 2016, 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 Rule 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.
For detailed instructions on filing comments, please see the companion proposed rule published in the Proposed Rule section of this issue of the Federal Register.
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 which 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 (80 FR 12073; March 6, 2015), as corrected (80 FR 15679; March 25, 2015), that approved the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System design and added it to the list of NRC-approved cask designs in 10 CFR 72.214 as CoC No. 1040.
By letter dated March 31, 2015, as supplemented June 19 and November 30, 2015, Holtec International submitted a request to the NRC to amend CoC No. 1040. Amendment No. 2 adds new fuel types to the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System and updates an existing fuel type description. Additionally, Amendment No. 2 updates Table 3-4 of Appendix B of the CoC to reflect correct terminology and makes editorial changes to Appendix B of the CoC to clarify the description of the top surface pad.
Specifically, Amendment No. 2 adds new 16X16 fuel types to approved Start Printed Page 73337contents, in CoC No. 1040, named 16X16B and 16X16C and updates 15X15I fuel types to include those with guide tubes. Amendment No. 2 revises Table 2.1-1 to allow up to 37 undamaged 16X16A fuel assemblies in damaged fuel containers (DFCs) for the multipurpose canister—37 permitted for storage in the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System. An updated heat load pattern is also included for loading up to 37 intact 16X16A fuel assemblies in DFCs. Also, Appendix B, Table 3-4 was revised to clarify the “Top Surface Pad” term.
As documented in the Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report (PSER), the NRC staff performed a detailed safety evaluation of the proposed CoC amendment request. There are no significant changes to cask fabrication or design requirements in the proposed CoC amendment. There will be no significant change in the types or significant revisions in the 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 addition, any resulting occupational exposure or offsite dose rates from the implementation of Amendment No. 2 would remain within the 10 CFR part 20 limits. Thus, as discussed in the PSER, staff has determined that there is reasonable assurance that: (i) The activities authorized by the amended certificate can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public, and (ii) these activities will be conducted in compliance with the applicable regulations of 10 CFR part 72.
This direct final rule revises the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System listing in 10 CFR 72.214 by adding Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040. The amendment consists of the changes previously described, as set forth in the revised CoC and TSs. The revised TSs are identified in the PSER.
The amended Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System design, when used under the conditions specified in the CoC, the TSs, and the NRC's regulations, will meet the requirements of 10 CFR part 72; therefore, adequate protection of public health and safety will continue to be ensured. When this direct final rule becomes effective, persons who hold a general license under 10 CFR 72.210 may load spent nuclear fuel into Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System casks that meet the criteria of Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040 under 10 CFR 72.212.
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 impractical. In this direct final rule, the NRC will revise the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System design listed in 10 CFR 72.214, “List of approved spent fuel storage casks.” This action does not constitute the establishment of a standard that contains generally applicable requirements.
Under the “Policy Statement on Adequacy and Compatibility of Agreement State Programs” approved by the Commission on June 30, 1997, and published in the Federal Register on September 3, 1997 (62 FR 46517), this rule is classified as Compatibility Category “NRC.” Compatibility is not required for Category “NRC” regulations. 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. Although an Agreement State may not adopt program elements reserved to the NRC, and a 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.
The action is to amend 10 CFR 72.214 to revise the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System listing within the “List of approved spent fuel storage casks” to include Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040. Under 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,” the NRC has determined that this 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 on the basis of this environmental assessment.
This direct final rule amends the CoC for the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System design within the list of approved spent fuel storage casks that power reactor licensees can use to store spent fuel at reactor sites under a general license. Amendment No. 2 adds new fuel types to the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System and updates an existing fuel type description. Additionally, Amendment No. 2 updates Table 3-4 of Appendix B of the CoC to reflect correct terminology and makes editorial changes to Appendix B of the CoC to clarify the description of the top surface pad.
Specifically, Amendment No. 2 adds new 16X16 fuel types to approved contents, in CoC No. 1040, named 16X16B and 16X16C and updates 15X15I fuel types to include those with guide tubes. Amendment No. 2 revises Table 2.1-1 to allow up to 37 undamaged 16X16A fuel assemblies in DFCs for the multipurpose canister—37 permitted for storage in the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System. An updated heat load pattern is also included for loading up to 37 intact 16X16A fuel assemblies in DFCs. Also, Appendix B, Table 3-4 was revised to clarify the “Top Surface Pad” term.
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 initially analyzed in the environmental assessment for the 1990 final rule. The environmental assessment for this Amendment No. 2 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.
The Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System is designed to mitigate the effects of design basis accidents that could occur during Start Printed Page 73338storage. 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, the type of facility at which a holder of a power reactor operating license would store spent fuel in casks in accordance with 10 CFR part 72, 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.
Considering the specific design requirements for each accident condition, the design of the cask would prevent loss of confinement, shielding, and criticality control. If there is no loss of confinement, shielding, or criticality control, the environmental impacts would be insignificant. This amendment does not reflect a significant change in design or fabrication of the cask. There are no significant changes to cask design requirements in the proposed CoC amendment. In addition, because there are no significant design or process changes, any resulting occupational exposure or offsite dose rates from the implementation of Amendment No. 2 would remain well within the 10 CFR part 20 limits. Therefore, the proposed CoC 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. There will be no significant change in the types or significant revisions in the 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. The staff documented its safety findings in a PSER.
The alternative to this action is to deny approval of Amendment No. 2 and discontinue the direct final rule process. Consequently, any 10 CFR part 72 general licensee that seeks to load spent nuclear fuel into the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System in accordance with the changes described in proposed Amendment No. 2 would have to request an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 72.212 and 72.214. Under this alternative, an interested licensee would have to prepare, and the NRC would have to review, a separate exemption request, thereby increasing the administrative burden upon the NRC and the costs to each licensee. Therefore, the environmental impacts would be the same or less than the proposed action.
Approval of Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040 would result in no irreversible commitment of resources.
The environmental impacts of the action have been reviewed under the requirements in 10 CFR part 51. Based on the foregoing environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that this direct final rule entitled, “List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System, Amendment No. 2” 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.
This 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 os information were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), approval number 3150-0132.
The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information collection unless the document requesting or requiring the collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), the NRC certifies that this 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 Holtec International. 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 (10 CFR 2.810).
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 designs to store spent nuclear fuel if it notifies the NRC in advance, the spent fuel is stored under the conditions specified in the cask's CoC, and the conditions of the general license are met. A list of NRC-approved cask designs is contained in 10 CFR 72.214. On March 6, 2015 (80 FR 12073), as corrected on March 25, 2015 (80 FR 15679), the NRC issued an amendment to 10 CFR part 72 that approved the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System design by adding it to the list of NRC-approved cask designs in 10 CFR 72.214. By letter dated March 31, 2015, as supplemented June 19 and November 30, 2015, Holtec submitted an application to amend the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System as described in Section IV, “Discussion of Changes,” of this document.
The alternative to this action is to withhold approval of Amendment No. 2 and to require any 10 CFR part 72 general licensee seeking to load spent nuclear fuel into the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System under the changes described in Amendment No. 2 to request an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 72.212 and 72.214. Under this alternative, each interested 10 CFR part 72 licensee would have to prepare, and the NRC would have to review, a separate exemption request, thereby increasing the administrative burden upon the NRC and the costs to each licensee.
Approval of the direct final rule is consistent with previous NRC actions. Further, as documented in the PSER and the environmental assessment, the 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 the 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, and therefore, this action is recommended.
The NRC has determined that the backfit rule (10 CFR 72.62) does not apply to this direct final rule. Therefore, a backfit analysis is not required. This direct final rule revises CoC No. 1040 Start Printed Page 73339for the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System, as currently listed in 10 CFR 72.214, “List of approved spent fuel storage casks.” Amendment No. 2 adds new fuel types to the HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System and updates an existing fuel type description. Additionally Amendment No. 2 updates Table 3-4 of Appendix B of the CoC to reflect correct terminology and makes editorial changes to Appendix B of the CoC to clarify the description of the top surface pad.
Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040 for the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System was initiated by Holtec and was not submitted in response to new NRC requirements, or an NRC request for amendment. Amendment No. 2 applies only to new casks fabricated and used under Amendment No. 2. These changes do not affect existing users of the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System, and the current Amendment No. 1 continues to be effective for existing users. While current CoC users may comply with the new requirements in Amendment No. 2, this would be a voluntary decision on the part of current users. For these reasons, Amendment No. 2 to CoC No. 1040 does not constitute backfitting under 10 CFR 72.62, 10 CFR 50.109(a)(1), or otherwise represent an inconsistency with the issue finality provisions applicable to combined licenses in 10 CFR part 52. Accordingly, no backfit analysis or additional documentation addressing the issue finality criteria in 10 CFR part 52 has been prepared by the staff.
Holtec License Amendment Request; Letter Dated March 31, 2015 ML15092A783
Supplemental Letter Dated June 19, 2015 ML15170A434
Supplemental Letter Dated November 30, 2015 ML15334A496
Proposed CoC No. 1040, Amendment No. 2 ML16035A416
Proposed CoC No. 1040, Amendment No. 2—Technical Specifications, Appendix A ML16039A113
Proposed CoC No. 1040, Amendment No. 2—Technical Specifications, Appendix B ML16039A115
CoC No. 1040, Amendment No. 2—Preliminary Safety Evaluation Report ML16039A156
The NRC may post materials related to this document, including public comments, on the Federal rulemaking Web site at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2016-0155. The Federal rulemaking Web site allows you to receive alerts when changes or additions occur in a docket folder. To subscribe: (1) Navigate to the docket folder (NRC-2016-0155); (2) click the “Sign up for Email Alerts” link; and (3) enter your email address and select how frequently you would like to receive emails (daily, weekly, or monthly).
2. In § 72.214, Certificate of Compliance 1040 is revised to read as follows:
Certificate Number: 1040.
Initial Certificate Effective Date: April 6, 2015.
Amendment Number 1 Effective Date: September 8, 2015.
Amendment Number 2, Effective Date: January 9, 2017.
SAR Title: Final Safety Analysis Report for the Holtec International HI-STORM UMAX Canister Storage System.
Docket Number: 72-1040.
Certificate Expiration Date: April 6, 2035.
Model Number: MPC-37, MPC-89.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day of October, 2016.
[FR Doc. 2016-25408 Filed 10-24-16; 8:45 am]