Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Friday, January 24, 2014

NRC Revises Review Schedule for Waste Confidence Environmental Study and Final Rule



NRC Revises Review Schedule for Waste Confidence
Environmental Study and Final Rule
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is revising its review schedule for the final versions of its
Waste Confidence Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) and final rule on the extended
storage of spent nuclear fuel at the nation’s commercial nuclear p
ower plants.
When the Commission directed the staff to develop the environmental study and regulation, it
gave a deadline of September 2014. The new schedule envisions publication of the rule and GEIS no
later than Oct. 3. The delay reflects time lost during the government shutdown and lapse of
appropriations last October. The shutdown led the agency to reschedule several public meetings and
extend the public comment period on the draft versions of the GEIS and rule by nearly a month
.
“Waste confidence remins a high agency priority,” NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane said.
Our staff will continue to work aggressively to meet its schedule milestones and come as
close as possible to meeting the original deadline. However, it’s important for the
public and ourlicensees to know now that, due to unanticipated events the staff may need
some extra time to give the array of public comments the attention they deserve.
During the 98 day public comment period, the NRC held 13 public meetings nationwide to
collect public comments on the draft environmental statement and rule. The agency also received
more than 33,000 written comments.

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