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Reactor License Renewal Regulations
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License Renewal Rule - 10 CFR Part 54
In 1982, the NRC held a workshop on nuclear power plant aging, in anticipation
of the interest in license renewal. That led the NRC to establish a comprehensive
program plan for Nuclear Plant Aging Research (NPAR). Based on the results
of that research, a technical review group concluded that many aging phenomena
are readily manageable and do not pose technical issues that would preclude
life extension for nuclear power plants. In 1986, the NRC published a
request for comment on a policy statement that would address major policy,
technical and procedural issues related to life extension. In 1991, the
NRC published the license renewal rule in 10
CFR Part 54, "Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses
For Nuclear Power Plants." The NRC then undertook a demonstration
program to apply the rule to pilot plants and develop experience to establish
implementation guidance. To establish a scope of review for license renewal,
the rule defined age-related degradation unique to license renewal. However,
during the demonstration program, the NRC found that many aging mechanisms
occur and are managed during the period of the initial license. In addition,
the NRC found that scope of the review did not allow sufficient credit
for existing programs, particularly the implementation of the maintenance
rule which also manages plant aging phenomena.
As a result, in 1995 the NRC amended the license renewal rule. The amended
10
CFR Part 54 established a regulatory process that is simpler, more
stable, and more predictable than the previous license renewal rule. In
particular, Part 54 was clarified to focus on managing the adverse effects
of aging rather than identification of all aging mechanisms. The rule
changes were intended to ensure that important systems, structures, and
components will continue to perform their intended function in the period
of extended operation. In addition, the integrated plant assessment (IPA)
process was clarified and simplified to be consistent with the revised
focus on passive, long-lived structures and components. The development
of the License Renewal Rule revision and the current Commission philosophy
regarding license
renewal is discussed in the Statement of Considerations that accompanies
the License Renewal Rule as published in the Federal Register, May 8,
1995.
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Environmental Regulations - 10 CFR Part 51
The environmental protection regulations in 10
CFR Part 51, "Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic
Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions," were revised on December
18, 1996, to facilitate the environmental review for license renewal,
codifying the findings documented in the Generic Environmental Impact
Statement (GEIS). The GEIS examines the possible environmental impacts
that could occur as a result of renewing any commercial nuclear power
plant license, and, to the extent possible, establishes the bounds and
significance of these potential impacts. The application must also contain
an analysis of the plant's impact on the environment if allowed to continue
operation beyond the initial license term. A review of the environmental
aspects of renewing an operating license continues on a separate "track"
than the safety reviews of the technical information.
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