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2011.

NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DRY WASTE

Disposal of Large Reactor Components - NRC Rulemaking to Address Funding of Disposal Costs
Jim Lieberman, John Greeves; JTG Consulting
The nuclear industry has sought a rulemaking by petition to amend a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) standard that decommissioning of a plant cannot begin until operations at the site have ceased. Because of this rule, only a small portion of decommissioning funds may be withdrawn prior to reactor shutdown. Many major components, however, such as steam generators, could be shipped offsite prior to ceasing operations, which would eliminate the need to build expensive mausoleums to store them. Without access to the fund sooner, waste disposition is delayed and costs rise. NRC is currently considering this petition.

NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Nuclear power plants produce 20 percent of U.S. electricity. DOE estimates that annual demand for electricity will increase by 1.8 percent per year through 2030.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The NRC now offers a combined construction and operating license (COL) for new reactors. An environmental review must be completed with the COL and standard reactor designs (approved through a design certification rulemaking process with NRC) may be referenced in the COL for expedited approval. An early site permit may be granted before the COL to conduct an optional siting review.

Legislation was introduced at the federal level in the 1980s to allow for a combined application, but nothing passed. The NRC initiated a regulatory change (Part 52) in 1988 to allow for the combination, and it was issued in 1989. The regulatory change was focused on the process of application submission and review, and included standardization, complete designs and control of hearings. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 codified Part 52 into law.

Where we are today:

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 renewed the Price-Anderson Act through 2025 (provides protection against commercial liabilities associated with accidents at reactors), allowed for the 40-year operating license at a nuclear reactor to begin at the start of operations rather than construction, eliminated the need for an NRC anti-trust review and provided risk insurance and tax credits to industry for building new plants. So far, four design certifications have been issued by the NRC for U.S. advanced boiling water reactor standardized designs. Three early site permits were granted in 2007.

Future regulatory decisions are expected on the following:

A final rulemaking on revised security standards for nuclear facilities;
A proposed aircraft impact rule that could alter future reactor designs;
A final policy on the conduct of NRC license proceedings; and
Procedures for conducting mandatory hearings that are uncontested.

Bob Evans, Vice President of New Plant Services; Enercon Services, Inc.
Four early site permit applications were submitted to the NRC between 2003-2006, and three were granted. Industry formed Design Centered Working Groups to find a common approach to the application process. The first partial COL was submitted in 2007 by Calvert Cliffs nuclear reactor in Maryland, and six full COLs were submitted in 2007-2008. Other companies, particularly concentrated in the southeast and Texas, are also considering submitting applications.

After receiving the applications mentioned above, the NRC accepted for review the partial COL and four of the six full COLs. NRC has also accepted for review two new design certifications. New reactor construction is still at least three-four years from commencement. In the next five years, industry expects two to four waves of submittals, after which NRC will issue its first round of licenses. New nuclear power plants will probably not be online until 2015-2016.

James Little, President; Washington Safety Management Solutions
In the 1970s, there were 300+ nuclear plants in various stages of planning, licensing, engineering and construction. But the 1978 U.S. Nuclear Nonproliferation Act, Three Mile Island accident and flawed business models led to the 1980s and 90s when 200 plants were scrapped and projects associated with breeder reactors and recycling spent fuel were terminated. These negative events actually resulted in the nuclear industry becoming stronger, safer, more efficient and consolidated.

Today, there is a growing consensus for nuclear power given climate change concerns with energy generation from fossil fuels. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided for tax credits and 80 percent loan guarantees to industry for new nuclear projects. Forty percent of the U.S. population will live in the southeast by 2030, and most of the 25-30 new nuclear power plants being considered (at a total cost of about $120 billion) would be located there. No actual contracts are expected to be signed until 2009.

Although industry feels positive about a nuclear resurgence, there are several risk elements to consider:

A new, untested licensing process with the NRC. The renaissance will probably come in waves though - only three or four contracts initially - so it is important to get the first ones right.
An aging workforce. Again, the waves do not create for an immediate dire situation.
Long lead equipment investment, and a deteriorated domestic supply base for nuclear reactor components.
Global competition for critical materials. Forty plants are planned in China's near future.

To meet these challenges, industry must step up and make the reactors more efficient, and academia must step up and provide for adequate education in nuclear fields.

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