NRC SEEKS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED STAFF GUIDANCE REGARDING

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comment on two proposed staff guidance documents that would help applicants for new reactor designs and operating licenses properly analyze potential radioactive liquid spills at future reactors.

The NRC’s Office of New Reactors has made available Interim Staff Guidance (ISG)-013, “Assessing the Consequences of an Accidental Release of Radioactive Materials from Liquid Waste Tanks,” and ISG-014, “Assessing Ground Water Flow and Transport of Accidental Radionuclide Releases.” These documents will provide additional guidance in properly assessing how accidental releases of radioactive liquids could affect surface and groundwater resources. ISG-013 was previously open for comment in 2009; the NRC staff feels the public will benefit from commenting on both documents at the same time.

The ISGs are available on the NRC Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/isg/col-app-design-cert.html or by going to http://www.regulations.gov and entering Docket IDs NRC-2009-0189 and NRC-2010-0047. The documents are also available in the NRC’s Public Document Room, O1F21, One White Flint North, 15555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md.

The NRC staff will consider the public’s comments before finalizing the ISGs and incorporating them into the agency’s new reactor review processes. Comments on both ISGs should be submitted by April 26 via one of the following methods:

• Visit http://www.regulations.gov and submit comments under Docket IDs NRC-2009-0189 and NRC-2010-0047. Questions about NRC dockets should be directed to Carol Gallagher at 301-492-3668 or via e-mail at Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov;
• Mail comments to:Michael T. Lesar, Chief, Rulemaking and Directives Branch (RDB), Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWB-05-B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001;
• Fax comments to RDB at 301-492-3446.