In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2026
01/31/2024
01/31/2024
1,428
0
1,428
335,491
0
335,891
1,909
0
1,909
FINAL RULE - EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
FOR SMALL MODULAR REACTORS AND OTHER NEW TECHNOLOGY The U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to
include new alternative emergency preparedness (EP) requirements
for small modular reactors (SMR) and other new technologies (ONT).
This final rule acknowledges technological advancements and other
differences from large light-water reactors that are inherent in
small modular reactors and other new technologies. The information
collections create a transparent alternative EP regulatory
framework that allows SMR and ONT applicants and licensees to
submit for NRC approval a performance-based EP program, to include
a scalable plume exposure pathway EPZ and licensee-defined
performance objectives and metrics, while continuing to provide
reasonable assurance that adequate protective measures can and will
be implemented in a radiological emergency. Applicants or licensees
requesting approval to construct or operate utilization or
production facilities are required by the Atomic Energy Act of
1954, as amended, to provide information and data that the NRC may
determine necessary to ensure the adequate protection of health and
safety of the public. The submission of emergency plans to the NRC
is required in order to allow the NRC to determine that the
emergency plans and EP programs provide reasonable assurance that
adequate protective measures can and will be taken in the event of
a radiological emergency. Information is used by the NRC to
evaluate the adequacy of the alternative EP program for approval,
assess ongoing adequacy once implemented, determine whether to take
actions, such as to conduct inspections or to alert other licensees
to prevent similar events that may have generic implications, and
to update information in the NRC Emergency Operation Center used in
support of an NRC response to an actual emergency, drill, or
exercise. Responses to these collections of information are
required for applicants and licensees choosing to comply with 10
CFR 50.160. Confidential and proprietary information submitted to
the NRC is protected in accordance with NRC regulations at 10 CFR
9.17(a) and 10 CFR 2.390(b).
The final rule will reduce the
overall burden for the Part 52 information collection by 400 hours,
from 335,891 hours to 335,491 hours. The final rule’s changes to 10
CFR Part 50 and Part 52 will affect 10 CFR Part 52 applicants
during the period of this clearance. The annual estimated burden
reduction due to the final rule is 400 hours covering two
respondents annually (six respondents expected for the clearance
period). The final rule provides performance-based requirements for
planning and implementing an EP program for SMRs and ONTs. Having a
performance-based framework compared to a deterministic framework
that is prescribed in the CFR is expected to result in fewer LARs
as the performance-based program will allow for more regulatory
flexibility and provide a basis for appropriate EP through review
of design- and site-specific accident scenarios. However, this
burden reduction is captured in the 10 CFR Part 50 supporting
statement since LARs for both 10 CFR Part 50 and Part 52 licenses
are submitted under 10 CFR 50.90. The final rule’s
performance-based requirements for planning and implementing will
allow for more regulatory flexibility, provide a basis for
appropriate EP through the review of design- and site-specific
accident scenarios, and as a result minimize the need for exemption
requests that would otherwise be anticipated under the current
regulatory framework. However, this burden reduction is captured in
the 10 CFR Part 50 supporting statement since exemption requests
for both 10 CFR Part 50 and Part 52 licenses are submitted under 10
CFR 50.12. The final rule will decrease the information collection
burden for SMR and ONT licensees and applicants that will be
permitted to have a performance-based EPZ size less than 10 miles
assuming they meet the eligibility requirements. Under this new
performance-based framework, a smaller EPZ could reside within the
facility’s site boundary, which will allow the licensee or
applicant to forego the offsite emergency planning activities. The
final rule also eliminates a predetermined ingestion response
pathway EPZ (also known as IPZ). Therefore, the information
collection will be reduced. Contrastingly, the current framework
prescriptively requires a 50-mile IPZ and a 10-mile plume exposure
pathway EPZ, which has similar onsite planning activities but with
the same or additional offsite emergency planning activities as
compared to the performance-based EP framework. This estimated
application burden reduction from the final rule is reflected with
the NRC staff’s assumption that the burden associated with a
performance-based EP program is 10 percent less than the burden
associated with a deterministic EP program.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Final EP for SMR and ONT - Regulatory Analysis.docx
10 CFR Part 52, Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants