The preapproval is contingent upon the adoption of the final rule. It is requested that NRC update ROCIS with the Federal Register citation once the final rule has been published.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2016
01/31/2016
01/31/2016
54
0
48
98,814
0
100,783
0
0
0
FINAL RULE, 10 CFR Part 51, Revisions to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its environmental protection regulations by updating the Commission's 1996 findings on the environmental effect of renewing the operating license of a nuclear power plant. The final rule redefines the number of and scope of the environmental impact issues that must be addressed by the NRC during license renewal environmental reviews. This final rule also incorporates lessons learned and knowledge gained from license renewal environmental reviews conducted by the NRC since 1996.
The NRC's regulatons at 10 CFR Part 51 specifies information to be provided by applicants and licensees so that the NRC can make determinations necessary to adhere to the policies, regulations, and public laws of the United States, which are to be interpreted and administered in accordance with the policies set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
The final rule will decrease the information collection burden for applicants for renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses and the total is 5,908.8 hours during a 3-year period (1,969.6 hours annually). The final rule will decrease the annual burden for 10 CFR 51 from 100,783 hours to 94,874 hours by redefining the number and scope of the environmental impact issues that applicants must address in their environmental reports for renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses. Exhibit 3 presents the total information collection burden reduction from 2013 through 2015 for industry and the NRC.
In the analysis done for the proposed rule, the estimated annualized one-time reporting burden to industry for this information collection was shown to increase by 1,800.0 hours during the 3-year OMB clearance period. The change from a burden increase (proposed rule) to a burden decrease (final rule) is largely due to the following:
 The proposed rule analysis assumed that a total of 18 applications were submitted to the
NRC during the 3-year OMB clearance period. The final rule analysis uses updated information during the 3-year OMB clearance period that assumes: 1) the NRC being bound by NEPA must use the revised requirements to evaluate applications as of the Commission affirmation date of the final rule (December 6, 2012), and 2) licensee compliance with the revised requirements will not be required until 2014 (i.e., one year from publication of the final rule in the Federal Register). Consequently, the NRC will evaluate 13 applications during 2013, 3 in 2014 and 3 more in 2015. On the other hand, licensees will submit 3 renewal applications to the NRC during 2014 and 3 more in 2015. As a result of revising the number of applications evaluated by the NRC and the number submitted by licensees, there will be a decrease in the estimated annualized one-time reporting burden to the NRC and industry for this information collection.
 The proposed rule analysis assumed that each applicant had to address all of the
changes made to Table B-1. The final rule analysis now assumes that each applicant addresses only those Table B-1 changes applicable to the environmental impact issues at the applicant's facility. Reducing the number of Table B-1 changes addressed for some applicants will decrease the estimated annualized one-time reporting burden to industry for this information collection.
 The proposed rule analysis identified 15 issues that increased the reporting burden and
4 issues that reduced this burden. Based on public comments received on the proposed rule and the draft revised GEIS, a number of the environmental impact issues identified in the proposed rule were re-evaluated for detailed consideration in the final revised GEIS and are reflected in changes made by the final rule. Consequently, the final rule analysis identifies 17 issues that increase the reporting burden and 18 issues that decrease this burden. The change in the latter number from the proposed to final rule results in a substantial decrease of the estimated annualized one-time reporting burden to industry for this information collection.
 A labor rate of $238/hr was used for the proposed rule analysis and $274/hr for the final
rule. However, the impact from the rise in hourly rate is offset by the substantial increase in the number of issues in the final rule that decrease the reporting burden to industry for this information collection. As a result, the increase in industry reporting burden that was determined for the proposed rule becomes a decrease in total burden under the final rule analysis.
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.
10 CFR Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestice Licensing and Related Regulatory