In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2026
10/31/2025
10/31/2025
42,191
0
42,196
3,633,354
0
3,636,646
273,281
0
273,447
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 50 information collection by 3,292 hours, from 3,636,646 hours to 3,633,354 hours. Reporting burden will decrease by 1,906 hours (from 1,186,462 to 1,184,556) and the recordkeeping burden will decrease by 1,386 hours (from 2,449,984 hours to 2,448,598 hours).
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 approach will allow for more regulatory flexibility and provide a basis for appropriate EP through review of design- and site-specific accident scenarios. This burden reduction is captured in this 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 ruleâs 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.
The final rule will decrease the information collection burden for SMR and ONT licensees and applicants that will be permitted to use a performance-based framework to monitor their EP program. Quarterly submissions of the performance objectives for a power reactor licensee are voluntary under the current framework, with most licensees participating. The staff expects the performance objectives gathered by the licensee under the final rule will be approximately the same as the current framework. However, the staff expects the amount of information submitted will be significantly less under the final rule, which will not require quarterly reporting of the performance objectives. Instead, all quarterly performance objective and associated metric paperwork for the previous eight calendar quarters will become a record kept onsite and available for NRC inspection. This estimated recurring reporting burden reduction due to the final rule is zero for this clearance period since no recurring reports will occur during this clearance period (zero for 10 CFR Part 50 and zero for 10 CFR Part 52).
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 facilityâs site boundary, which will allow the licensee or applicant to forego the offsite emergency planning activities. The final rule also does not provide for a specific IPZ. The final rule includes ingestion response planning requirements instead of an IPZ at a set distance as part of the performance-based framework. 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 due to the final rule is reflected with the NRC staffâs assumption that the burden associated with a performance-based EP program is 10 percent less than the burden associated with a deterministic EP program.
The burden hours per recordkeeper for the performance-based framework will be approximately 50 percent lower than the current deterministic requirements due to reduction in size of reports required to be kept as records.
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 - Part 50 Supporting Statement.docx
10 CFR Part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities