Proposed revision to GEIS for license renewal published; input sought

The proposed rule is in response to CLI-22-02—a February 2022 ruling from the commissioners reversing the NRC’s earlier position that found the LR GEIS applicable to both initial and subsequent license renewals. In the view of commissioners Christopher Hanson and Jeff Baran (commissioner David Wright dissented), reviews of SLR applications must rely on a more extensive environmental analysis than that provided by the LR GEIS. (A separate commission decision, CLI-22-03, provided an option for license holders to provide additional environmental information on a site-specific basis instead of waiting for NRC staff to revise the LR GEIS and complete a related rulemaking.)

According to a March 3 agency press release, “the proposed rule amends the relevant rule language to account for initial license renewal and one term of subsequent license renewal, redefines the number and scope of the environmental issues that must be addressed during the review of each application for license renewal, and updates related guidance to fully address subsequent renewal.”

Your turn: The NRC is providing an opportunity for public input on the proposed rule, the draft revised LR GEIS, and associated draft guidance. Comments can be submitted to the federal rulemaking website at regulations.gov, with a search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0296; by email to Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov; or by mail to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555–0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff.

The deadline for submissions is May 2.