U.S. Department of Energy; Three Mile Island Unit 2 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation; License Amendment

U.S. Department of Energy; Three Mile Island Unit 2 Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation; License Amendment

DATES:

The license amendment was issued and effective on March 27, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

By letter dated November 21, 2024, DOE submitted to the NRC an application to amend the license and TS for the TMI-2 ISFSI, located in Scoville, Butte County, Idaho. Special Nuclear Materials License No. SNM-2508 authorizes the licensee to receive, possess, store, and transfer canisters containing core debris and damaged spent nuclear fuel from the TMI-2 reactor, in addition to other authorized uses. The proposed amendment revises the license and TS so that they explicitly designate the Manager for the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) as the DOE official who is responsible for the operation and nuclear safety of the TMI-2 ISFSI and for ensuring its compliance with NRC license conditions and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the amendment includes an editorial change to TS 5.5.1.b regarding section 72.48 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) to remove outdated language. The amendment includes title changes to refer to DOE ICP instead of DOE Idaho Operations Office, and clerical changes throughout the document such as changes to spacing.

In an email dated January 8, 2026, the NRC notified DOE that the application was acceptable to begin a detailed review. The NRC's Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards docketed this application under Docket No. 72-20. In accordance with 10 CFR 72.16(e), the NRC published a notice of docketing in the Federal Register on February 19, 2026.

The NRC prepared a safety evaluation report (SER) to document its review and evaluation of the amendment request. As further explained in the SER, the NRC has determined that the license amendment is administrative in nature and satisfies the criterion of 10 CFR 51.22(c)(10) for categorical exclusion from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. This action qualifies for categorical exclusion under 10 CFR 51.22(c)(10) because it is an amendment to a materials license issued under 10 CFR chapter I which merely changes the position titles of relevant officials of the licensee and makes certain editorial, corrective, and minor revisions, as described previously. Consequently, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

Upon completing its review, the NRC staff determined the application complies with the standards and requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the NRC's regulations. The NRC has made appropriate findings as required by the Act and the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR part 72, which are set forth in the license amendment. The license amendment, Amendment No. 6 to License No. SNM-2508, was issued and effective on March 27, 2026.

In accordance with 10 CFR 72.46(b)(2), the NRC has determined that Amendment No. 6 does not present a genuine issue as to whether the health and safety of the public will be significantly affected. Therefore, the publication of a notice of proposed action and an opportunity for hearing or a notice of hearing is not warranted. Notice is hereby given of the right of interested persons to request a hearing on whether the action should be rescinded or modified.

II. Availability of Documents

The documents identified in this notice are available to interested persons through ADAMS.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.