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NRC Moves to Add Improved Basket Design to NUHOMS Spent Fuel Storage Cask Approval

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is amending its approved spent fuel storage cask list to include a new basket design for the TN Americas NUHOMS system, with comments due September 25, 2026.

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The Action

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published both a direct final rule and a companion proposed rule to amend its spent fuel storage regulations under 10 CFR 72, revising the listing for the TN Americas, LLC Standardized NUHOMS® Horizontal Modular Storage System for Irradiated Nuclear Fuel to include Renewed Amendment No. 19 to Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1004. The two rules were published concurrently in the Federal Register — the direct final rule in the Rules and Regulations section and the proposed rule in the Proposed Rules section of the same issue. Comments submitted on the direct final rule will also be considered as comments on the companion proposed rule.

What the Amendment Does

Renewed Amendment No. 19 revises the certificate of compliance to provide for a 61BTH improved basket design using staggered plates. According to the NRC, this design is similar to the 24PTH Type 3 basket approved in CoC 1004 Amendment 18, and similar to the EOS 37PTH and 89BTH baskets approved in CoC 1042. The NRC states that the new design will simplify construction, reduce weight, and improve fabricability. The amendment also includes additional changes to address editorial corrections, consistency, and terminology clarifications.

Why It Is Called "Renewed Amendment No. 19"

The NRC explains that this amendment is designated "Renewed Amendment No. 19" because it was submitted after the renewal of the TN Americas, LLC Standardized NUHOMS Horizontal Modular Storage System for Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Certificate of Compliance No. 1004. As a result, it is subject to the Aging Management Program requirements of the renewed certificate.

Rulemaking Procedure

Because the NRC considers this action to be non-controversial, it published the proposed rule concurrently with the direct final rule. The direct final rule is effective November 9, 2026, unless significant adverse comments are received. The NRC notes that if the direct final rule is withdrawn as a result of such comments, timely notice of the withdrawal will be published in the Federal Register.

What to Watch

The deadline for comments on both the direct final rule and the companion proposed rule is September 25, 2026. The NRC states it can ensure consideration only for comments received on or before that date, though comments received after that date will be considered if it is practical to do so. If no significant adverse comments are received, the direct final rule takes effect November 9, 2026.

Related

Sources

13 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. The NRC is amending 10 CFR 72 to revise the TN Americas, LLC Standardized NUHOMS Horizontal Modular Storage System for Irradiated Nuclear Fuel listing to include Renewed Amendment No. 19 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1004.

    federalregister.gov

  2. The direct final rule and companion proposed rule were published concurrently in the Federal Register.

    federalregister.gov

  3. Renewed Amendment No. 19 revises the certificate of compliance to provide for a 61BTH improved basket design using staggered plates.

    federalregister.gov

  4. The 61BTH basket design is similar to the 24PTH Type 3 basket approved in CoC 1004 Amendment 18.

    federalregister.gov

  5. The 61BTH basket design is similar to the EOS 37PTH and 89BTH baskets approved in CoC 1042.

    federalregister.gov

  6. The NRC states the new design will simplify construction, reduce weight, and improve fabricability.

    federalregister.gov

  7. Additional changes in the amendment address editorial corrections, consistency, and terminology clarifications.

    federalregister.gov

  8. The amendment is designated 'Renewed Amendment No. 19' because it was submitted after the renewal of the Certificate of Compliance No. 1004 and is therefore subject to the Aging Management Program requirements of the renewed certificate.

    federalregister.gov

  9. The NRC considers this action to be non-controversial.

    federalregister.gov

  10. The direct final rule is effective November 9, 2026, unless significant adverse comments are received by September 25, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  11. If the direct final rule is withdrawn as a result of significant adverse comments, timely notice of the withdrawal will be published in the Federal Register.

    federalregister.gov

  12. The comment deadline for both the direct final rule and companion proposed rule is September 25, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  13. Comments received on the direct final rule will also be considered as comments on the companion proposed rule.

    federalregister.gov

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