Information collections
contained in 10 CFR Part 51 for Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors Final Rule
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
11/21/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
1
0
1
0
0
0
FINAL RULE: GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT STATEMENT FOR LICENSING OF NEW NUCLEAR REACTORS The current
submission is a request for a new clearance number, to be
discontinued once the burden and associated information collections
can be transferred into 3150-0021 (10 CFR Part 51). The final rule
amends the regulations that govern the NRC's environmental reviews
of new nuclear reactor applications under NEPA. The NRC's
regulations in § 51.45, “Environmental report,” require each
applicant to prepare and submit an environmental report which
includes, among other things, a description of the proposed action,
a statement of its purposes, a description of the environment
affected, and a discussion of the environmental impacts of the
proposed action and alternatives. The rulemaking codifies the
generic findings of NUREG-2249, “Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors” (NR GEIS), which
presents impact analyses for the environmental issues common to
many new nuclear reactors that can be addressed generically,
thereby eliminating the need to repeatedly reproduce the same
analyses each time a licensing application is submitted. The rule
reduces burden on an applicant based on potential simplifications
in the environmental report that an applicant must submit to the
NRC associated with a new nuclear reactor licensing application.
The applicant’s environmental report must assess the environmental
impacts of constructing and operating a new nuclear reactor and of
alternatives that meet the purpose and need. The applicant is not
required to assess the environmental impacts of NR GEIS Category 1
issues (i.e., issues for which a generic analysis is possible) if
(1) the applicant has demonstrated that its project is bounded by
the applicable nuclear power plant parameter envelope and site
parameter envelope values and assumptions, and (2) the applicant
has not identified any new and significant information that would
change the conclusions in the NR GEIS. If a value or assumption is
not met or bounded, then the applicant may be able to limit its
analysis to just the impact of not meeting the value or assumption.
Similarly, if the applicant identifies new and significant
information that would change the conclusions in this NR GEIS, then
the applicant may be able to limit its analysis to just the impact
of the new and significant information.
Due to ROCIS limitations for
new clearances, the burden worksheet shows an increase of one hour
and one response; however, burden for the 10 CFR Part 51
information collection will be reduced by 53,788 hours. The NR GEIS
and associated rulemaking incorporate text to improve the
effectiveness and efficiency of the environmental review for new
nuclear reactor applications by codifying the NR GEIS findings in
Table C 1 in Appendix C to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. Improving
the effectiveness and efficiency of new nuclear reactor
environmental reviews will reduce the cost to industry in preparing
environmental reports for new nuclear reactor applications and
focuses resources on project specific analyses.
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.
Information collections for 10 CFR Part 51 contained in Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors final rule