NEI: NRC must close regulatory gap in decommissioning

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently called attention to the need for new rules that address a gap in the efficiency of the process for the decommissioning and defueling process for nuclear reactors.

“Effective NRC rules are already in place to assure the safety of the decommissioning process itself, as has been demonstrated at 10 plants that have already completed the process,” NEI COO Maria Korsnick said. “With several additional plants anticipated to shut down in the near future, transition inefficiency should be addressed through rule-making in an expeditious manner so that NRC and industry resources can be better managed.”

Inefficiencies in the regulations surrounding the decommissioning process currently result in processing times that can extend from 12 to 18 months, and fees ranging from $13 million to $19 million.

“The current regulations do not appropriately address the risk reduction that occurs when plants permanently shut down and defuel,” Korsnick said. “The impact has been an unpredictable, time-sensitive workload for NRC and industry.”

Eighteen U.S. reactors are presently undergoing decommissioning, with several more preparing to follow suit in the coming years.

“The impact to NRC resources is further magnified when multiple plants request these exemptions in the same timeframe,” Korsnick said.

The NRC is currently in the process of addressing decommissioning regulations in ongoing rule-making, and expects to present a draft of the proposed rule in November.