Geological and Seismological Characteristics for Siting and Design of Dry Cask Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations and Monitored Retrievable Storage Installations

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its licensing requirements for dry cask modes of storage of spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and power reactor-related Greater than Class C (GTCC) waste in an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) or in a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) monitored retrievable storage installation (MRS). These amendments update the seismic siting and design criteria, including geologic, seismic, and earthquake engineering considerations. The final rule allows the NRC and its licensees to benefit from experience gained in the licensing of existing facilities and to incorporate rapid advancements in the earth sciences and earthquake engineering. The amendments make the NRC regulations that govern certain ISFSIs and MRSs more compatible with the 1996 amendments that addressed uncertainties in seismic hazard analysis for nuclear power plants. The amendments allow certain ISFSI or MRS applicants to use a design earthquake level commensurate with the risk associated with an ISFSI or MRS.