10 CFR 61.26 - Amendment of license.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations that govern low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) disposal facilities to require new and revised site-specific analyses and to permit the development of criteria for waste acceptance based on the results of these analyses. These amendments will ensure that waste streams that are significantly different in terms of radiological characteristics (e.g., half-life) from those considered in the technical basis for the current regulations can be disposed of safely and meet the performance objectives for land disposal of LLRW. These amendments will also increase the use of site-specific information to ensure that public health and safety would continue to be protected. The NRC is publishing a second version of preliminary rule language and has revised the regulatory basis document that will support this rulemaking. NRC is taking this action to inform interested stakeholders of the current status of the NRC's activities and to solicit public comments on the preliminary rule language. The regulatory basis document is being made available to inform stakeholder comments on the preliminary rule language. The NRC is not requesting comments on the regulatory basis.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) plans to conduct a workshop on performance assessments of near-surface low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facilities. The workshop has been developed to facilitate communication among Federal and State agencies, industry representatives, contractors, and members of the public on three aspects of a performance assessment: (1) Features, Events, and Processes (FEPs) analysis, (2) the development of scenarios and conceptual models, and (3) the selection of computer codes. Information gathered from invited subject matter experts, stakeholders, and other interested members of the public will be used to improve guidance on performance assessments for near-surface disposal of LLW.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is amending its adjudicatory rules of practice. This rule makes changes to the NRC's adjudicatory process that the NRC believes will promote fairness, efficiency, and openness in NRC adjudicatory proceedings. This rule also corrects errors and omissions that have been identified since the major revisions to the NRC's rules of practice in early 2004.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) plans to conduct a public meeting to discuss proposed changes to its current regulatory requirements as directed by the Commission in a January 19, 2012, Staff Requirements Memorandum. Information will be gathered from invited subject matter experts, stakeholders, and other interested members of the public regarding the changes proposed by the Commission. Specifically, the NRC staff is interested in gaining a better understanding of the issues associated with specifying a regulatory time of compliance for a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility, allowing licensees the flexibility to implement waste acceptance criteria as an alternative to the current waste classification system, and revising the NRC's licensing requirements for land disposal of radioactive waste.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) plans to conduct a public meeting to discuss possible revisions to the regulatory framework for the management of commercial low-level radioactive waste (LLW). The purpose of this public meeting is to gather information and receive feedback from stakeholders and other interested members of the public concerning specific proposed revisions to the Commission's LLW regulations. Consistent with Commission direction, the NRC staff plans to hold a series of three public meetings in 2012 on the proposed revisions to the Commission's LLW regulations. This is the second of those public meetings.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) plans to conduct a public meeting to discuss possible revisions to the regulatory framework for the management of commercial low-level radioactive waste (LLW). The purpose of this public meeting is to gather information and receive feedback from stakeholders and other interested members of the public concerning specific proposed revisions to the Commission's LLW regulations. Consistent with Commission direction, the NRC staff plans to hold a series of three public meetings in 2012 on the proposed revisions to Commission's LLW regulations. This is the first of those public meetings.