Rulemaking Activities for the Security of Fuel Cycle Facilities by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) last updated its regulations for the security of fuel cycle facilities over 30 years ago. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the NRC determined that additional security measures should be put in place and issued approximately 50 security orders. The NRC is in the process of updating these regulations to incorporate the orders as appropriate. The NRC staff is also developing a new approach for graded security requirements that factor in the attractiveness of special nuclear material to adversaries. In addition, the updated regulations will need to take into consideration the recommendations in the recently published “Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Revision 5).” This paper provides a summary of rulemaking activities, to include significant changes from the current regulations. In addition, it provides a schedule for the upcoming rulemaking activities.