Reactor Site Criteria Including Seismic and Earthquake Engineering Criteria for Nuclear Power Plants

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to update the criteria used in decisions regarding power reactor siting, including geologic, seismic, and earthquake engineering considerations for future nuclear power plants. The rule allows NRC to benefit from experience gained in the application of the procedures and methods set forth in the current regulation and to incorporate the rapid advancements in the earth sciences and earthquake engineering. This rule primarily consists of two separate changes, namely, the source term and dose considerations, and the seismic and earthquake engineering considerations of reactor siting. The Commission also is denying the remaining issue in petition (PRM-50-20) filed by Free Environment, Inc. et al.