U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Safeguards Information Program: Helpful Resources for Applicants and Preapplicants (NUREG/BR-0531)

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Publication Information

Date Published: June 2024

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Overview

The purpose of this document is to provide U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) applicants or preapplicants with preliminary information and resources to help navigate the communication process about and submit a safeguards information (SGI) program application.¹ As part of an application for an NRC license submitted by a commercial entity, the applicant or preapplicant may have design facts, or other security-related information, that it would like the NRC to review as part of the total license application package. Additionally, the applicant or preapplicant may, in certain circumstances, require access to SGI information to prepare its application.

Section 147 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), provides the NRC with the authority to issue regulations or orders for the protection of certain information, designated as SGI, from unauthorized disclosure. Consistent with section 147(a)(1)—(3) of the AEA, SGI is information that specifically identifies a licensee’s or applicant’s detailed security measures or control and accounting procedures for the physical protection of special nuclear material; security measures for the physical protection of source material or byproduct material; or security measures for the physical protection of and the location of vital plant equipment.

Consistent with the authority granted by section 147 of the AEA, the NRC has promulgated regulations for the protection of SGI in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 73.21, 73.22, and 73.23:

• 10 CFR 73.21 sets forth performance requirements for the possession and use of SGI.
• 10 CFR 73.22 addresses activities related to power reactors; a formula quantity of strategic special nuclear material; transportation of or delivery to a carrier for transportation of a formula quantity of strategic special nuclear material or more than 100 grams of irradiated reactor fuel; uranium hexafluoride production or conversion facilities; fuel fabrication facilities; uranium enrichment facilities; independent spent fuel storage installations; and geologic repository operations areas.
• 10 CFR 73.23 addresses activities related to research and test reactors that possess special nuclear material of low or moderate strategic significance.

¹ In some instances, an entity or person not considered an applicant or preapplicant may request access to SGI. These instances will be treated on a case-by-case basis and require the entity or person to contact the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR), Information Security Branch (ISB).