The proposed rule would require all commercially operating plants, decommissioning sites and future facilities to have and maintain equipment that is capable of accurate measurements of spent pool water following an accident. The rule also would establish standards for integrated response capabilities that include regular drills and training, and would also facilitate stricter requirements for on-site response capabilities. It would also require that resources and procedures to cool reactor cores and spent fuel pools be maintained after an electrical failure.
The NRC said this rule has been developed in line with information gained after the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant in Japan in 2011.
This proposed rule is available through the Federal Register. The NRC said the plan combines two prior rulemaking processes relating to blackout mitigation solutions and emergency response. Recommendations from a task force of senior NRC staff informed the crafting of this recent proposal.
The NRC said public comments will be accepted until Feb. 11, 2016, and should be submitted through the regulations.gov website, emailed to Rulemaking.Comments@nrc.gov or mailed to Secretary, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff,
Washington, D.C., 20555-0001.
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