Overview
Title
Online Portal for Requesting Evaluation of Proposed Alternatives
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The NRC is making a new online tool where people with special licenses can ask for different ways to follow the rules. This will help them send their ideas more easily, but they still need to explain everything properly.
Summary AI
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced the upcoming launch of an online portal, available in Spring 2021, for licensees to request relief by proposing alternatives to certain regulatory requirements. This portal provides additional flexibility and permits the submission of these requests under specific sections of federal regulations. While using the portal is optional, licensees must still satisfy all current communication requirements and provide sufficient information for NRC to conduct technical evaluations. Public access to these requests and their supporting information will be available online.
Abstract
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is notifying the public of the upcoming availability of an online portal for licensees to submit a request for relief in the form of alternatives to the regulatory requirements.
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Sources
AnalysisAI
Summary of the Document
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is preparing to launch a new online portal designed for use by licensees to propose alternatives to existing regulatory requirements. Slated for availability in Spring 2021, this portal is intended to streamline the process for submitting requests to the NRC, giving licensees an optional, digital method to seek relief from some regulatory obligations. The NRC emphasizes that while using the portal is optional, all submissions must continue to meet the existing requirements stipulated under 10 CFR 50.4 concerning written communications. The submissions, once submitted, will be entered into the ADAMS system for public access.
Significant Issues and Concerns
The document does raise a few concerns and considerations worth noting:
Cost Implications: There is no information on the financial implications associated with creating and maintaining the online portal. Such ventures can often be expensive, and without transparency on these costs, there may be concerns about potential inefficient use of resources.
Complex Terminology: The document utilizes several acronyms and terms specific to the NRC, such as "ADAMS" and "10 CFR," which may not be immediately understood by individuals who are not familiar with NRC-specific procedures or language. This could be a barrier for broader public comprehension.
Security and Reliability: While the document introduces the online portal, it lacks details regarding the measures that would ensure the system is secure and reliable. Given the nature of NRC-regulated operations, stakeholders might have legitimate concerns about data privacy and the portal's operational robustness.
Impact on Processing Times: The document omits any discussion on whether the introduction of the online portal might expedite or delay the processing times of the submissions it receives. This information might be crucial for stakeholders planning their operations around NRC decisions.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, the introduction of an online portal may not have a direct, immediately perceptible impact. However, the portal represents a step towards modernizing administrative processes and potentially enhancing transparency, as the public can access submissions through the ADAMS system. This could contribute to more informed public discourse regarding nuclear regulations.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For licensees, the portal promises greater flexibility in submitting requests for regulatory relief, potentially making the process more efficient and less cumbersome than traditional submission methods. However, the lack of information about processing times and security could influence licensee decisions on whether to use the portal or stick with conventional submission methods.
Overall, the NRC's announcement of the new portal reflects an effort to adapt to modern technological possibilities, offering benefits of digital accessibility despite a few unanswered questions and potential areas of concern that stakeholders may want clarified.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific details on the cost implications of creating and maintaining the online portal, which could potentially involve wasteful spending.
• The document assumes familiarity with NRC-specific acronyms and terminology, such as ADAMS and 10 CFR, which may not be clear to all readers.
• The description of the portal's purpose and functionality could be simplified for better comprehension by a general audience.
• The document does not specify any safeguards or measures to ensure the online portal is secure and accessible, which could be a concern for data privacy and system reliability.
• The notice does not explicitly mention how the use of the online portal might impact processing times for requests, which could be relevant information for stakeholders.