BRC Recommend BRC Recommendation ation of a of a New St New - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BRC Recommend BRC Recommendation ation of a

• f a

New St New Strategy for Back rategy for Back End End

• f Fuel Cycle
• f Fuel Cycle

Michael F. Weber Deputy Executive Director for Materials, Waste, Research, State, Tribal and Compliance Programs April 10, 2012

Key Messages, Key Messages, BRC BRC Stra Strategy and its Eleme tegy and its Elements, nts, and NRC I and NRC Implications mplications

Alicia Mullins, Project Manager Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

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Agenda Agenda

• Key Messages
• BRC’s proposed strategy
• Elements of the proposed

strategy and implications for NRC

• BRC recommendations
• BRC observations

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Key Messages Key Messages

• NRC actively engaged with BRC
• NRC positioned to respond to

changes in National policy for back-end of fuel cycle

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Consent Consent-based based appr approach

• ach
• Element 1: A consent-based

approach to siting

– Implications for NRC: Expanded

• utreach

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for New Org New Organizatio anization

• Element 2: A new Waste

Management Organization

– Implications for NRC: No significant implication

• Element 3: Nuclear Waste Fund

– Implications for NRC: Depends on how NWPA is revised

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Innova Innovation tion

• Element 7: Support for continued

U.S. innovation in nuclear technology and for workforce development

– Implications for NRC:

• Possible expanded NRC outreach
• Continued NRC staff development

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Leade Leadership rship

• Element 8: Active U.S.

international leadership in safety, waste management, non-proliferation, and security

– Implications for NRC:

• Continued international cooperation and

engagement

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Implications of BRC St Implications of BRC Strategy rategy for On for Ongoing a going and Near nd Near-Term Term NRC Pro NRC Programs for grams for Disposal, Disposal, Storage, and Fuel Cycle Storage, and Fuel Cycle

Brittain Hill, Senior Level Advisor for Repository Science Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Disposal Disposal

• Element 4: Geologic disposal

remains the fuel-cycle end point for foreseeable future

– Implications for NRC:

• Revise Part 60 considering:

– Risk-informed, performance-based approach – Licensing and compliance options

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Disposal, Disposal, cont cont.

– Implications for NRC:

• Consider regulatory framework for deep

borehole disposal and potential policy issues

• Coordinate development of standards

and regulations with EPA

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Storage Storage

• Element 5: Centralized interim

storage options

– Implications for NRC:

• Address NWPA siting restrictions in

Part 72

• Consider alternative SNF storage and

shipment strategies

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy for ategy for Storage, Storage, cont. cont.

– Implications for NRC, cont.:

• Enhance confidence in long-term

storage

• Continue Extended Storage and

Transportation program, identify potential policy issues

• Update to Waste Confidence rule

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BRC Observation BRC Observations on Fuel s on Fuel Cycle Cycle Techn Technologies

• logies
• BRC Observation: No changes

foreseen in the next 30-40 years to alter current fuel-cycle approach

– Implications for NRC:

• Consider reprocessing technology and

potential policy issues

• Regulation of advanced technology

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BRC Observation BRC Observations on Fuel s on Fuel Cycle Cycle Techn Technologies

• logies
• BRC encourages NRC efforts to

review and potentially revise the waste classification system

– Implications for NRC:

• Part 61 waste classification

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Implications of BRC strat Implications of BRC strategy egy for On for Ongoing a going and Near nd Near-Term Term NRC Pro NRC Programs for grams for Transport Transportation Regulation ation Regulation

Earl Easton, Senior Level Advisor for Transportation Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

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Elements of BRC Str Elements of BRC Strategy ategy Tran Transporta sportation tion

• Element 6: Prompt efforts for the

eventual large-scale transport of waste

– Implications for NRC:

• No significant implications
• Potential for increased stakeholder

engagement

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BRC Recomme BRC Recommendations on ndations on Tran Transporta sportation tion

• BRC: Revisit NAS recommendations

(specific to NRC)

– Analyze long-duration fires – Independent technical assessment of transportation security – Full-scale package testing

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List of Acronyms List of Acronyms

BRC Blue Ribbon Commission EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency HLW High-Level Waste NAS National Academy of Sciences NRC Nuclear Regulatory Commission NWPA Nuclear Waste Policy Act PPS Package Performance Study SNF Spent Nuclear Fuel U.S. United States

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