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Nuclear Reactors COVID-19 Activities:
10 CFR Part 20 | 10 CFR Part 26 | 10 CFR 50.48 | 10 CFR 50.55a Codes & Standards | Owner's Activity Reports | 10 CFR Part 55 | 10 CFR Part 73 | Research & Test Reactors | Resident Inspectors | Approved Licensing Requests

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10 CFR Part 26 Work Hour Requirements

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Highlights

  • The US electricity system is part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Providing regulatory flexibility that maintains safety during the COVID-19 pandemic helps to ensure safe and reliable electric power during a national emergency.

  • The NRC's March 28 letter contains the regulatory basis for our determination that such exemptions, if approved, will maintain reasonable assurance of safety during a defined, limited period of flexible work hour controls.

  • The NRC is prepared to use its existing authority in granting, upon request from individual licensees, exemptions from the work hour controls specified in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1)-(d)(7), if alternate administrative controls are used to manage worker fatigue.

  • Any granted exemptions will ensure work hour controls and worker fatigue management appropriately maintain licensee flexibility in using personnel resources to most effectively manage the impacts of the COVID-19 PHE on maintaining the safe operation of nuclear power reactors.

  • For approved COVID-19 licensing requests, please see Approved COVID-19 Licensing Actions webpage.

Related Communication

  • On November 10, 2020, the NRC issued a letter to provide guidance on the continued use of expedited processes beyond December 31, 2020 for COVID-19 related requests in seven topical areas. Enclosures to the letter address informational needs for each of the seven topical areas to facilitate the continued licensee’s use of the NRC's expedited review process, such as providing justifications for the hardships that have resulted from the COVID-19 PHE and information related to the potential cumulative effects of these exemptions.

  • On March 28, 2020 the NRC issued a letter to outline the process by which the NRC is prepared to grant temporary exemptions from the work hour controls specified in 10 CFR 26.205(d)(1) – (d)(7). The addendum issued April 8, 2020 provides several administrative corrections and does not affect the process outlined in the original letter.

Frequently Asked Questions - 10 CFR Part 26

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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, November 25, 2020