Commission approves storage rule, clears way for licensing action

摘要

NRC commissioners August 26 approved a final rule on the continued storage of utility spent fuel, opening the way for the agency to issue licenses to new reactors and to renew licenses of operating units for the first time in two years. The final rule will replace NRC’s 2010 waste confidence decision and spent fuel storage rule that a federal court struck down in 2012 and sent back to the agency to be redone. Waste confidence, which reflects NRC’s con- fidence that spent fuel can be safely stored until it is disposed of, is central to the agency’s ability to license new reactors and to renew the operating licenses of existing nuclear units.