[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 188 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24073]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 29, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
 

Petitions Filed Under 10 CFR 2.206; Improved Reviewing Procedures

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Petitions Under 10 CFR 2.206; Implementation of Improved 
Reviewing Procedures.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has improved the primary 
mechanism available to the public for raising potential safety issues 
involving NRC-licensed facilities under the provisions of 10 CFR 2.206.

    The Sec. 2.206 petition process, contained in Part 2 of NRC's 
regulations, provides members of the public with the means to request 
evaluation and resolution of potential health and safety issues 
associated with facilities that have been licensed by the NRC. 
Consistent with current efforts to enhance public participation in the 
decisionmaking process, the Commission undertook a review of the 
Sec. 2.206 process to make it more effective, understandable, and as 
credible as possible.
    As a result, the NRC has adopted procedures to increase meaningful 
participation of the petitioner in the Sec. 2.206 process and to 
improve communications between the NRC and the petitioners. In addition 
to being kept informed of the status of the petition and being provided 
with a copy of the licensee's response to the petition, petitioners 
will be given an opportunity to participate in NRC-licensee meetings on 
the petition.
    There will also be a provision for offering an informal public 
hearing at an open meeting on petitions with present new information 
on, or a new approach to evaluating, a significant safety issue. This 
provision and the associated criteria will be applicable also to 
petitions that allege violations of NRC requirements. The informal 
public hearings will be transcribed. If warranted, the NRC will take 
action to resolve a public health or safety problem before resolution 
of the Sec. 2.206 petition.
    A formal Director's Decision, signed by the director of the 
appropriate program office, will continue to set forth results of staff 
reviews governing Sec. 2.206 petitions. However, for qualifying 
petitions, the director now will have the additional benefit of 
information elicited from the informal public hearing.
    A new Management Directive and Handbook 8.11 have been prepared to 
ensure agency-wide implementation of the improved Sec. 2.206 petition 
process.
    A pamphlet describing the new practice and procedures has been 
prepared for public information. Copies of the pamphlet may be obtained 
from the Government Printing Office, telephone (202) 512-2249.
    To further enhance meaningful participation by the petitioners and 
the public in the Sec. 2.206 petition process, an electronic bulletin 
board system (BBS) has been established to provide information on the 
status of all pending petitions. The status of each pending petition 
will be updated monthly. The BBS can be accessed directly by a toll 
free number, (800) 303-9672, at modem speeds up to 9600 Baud with 
communication parameters set at 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, 
full duplex, and ANSI terminal emulation. Select the ``Subsystem/
Databases'' option from the ``NRC Main Menu'' and then the ``Public 
Petitions'' option. The BBS can also be accessed from the FedWorld by 
using Internet and Telnet access: fedworld.gov (192.239.92.3); FTP site 
access: ftp.fedworld.gov (192.239.92.205); and World Wide Web (Home 
Page): www.fedworld.gov (this is the URL). If assistance is needed, 
contact the Public Petitions BBS Operator, Tom Dunning, by calling 
(301) 504-1189, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mohan Thadani, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301) 504-1430.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of September 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James L Milhoan,
Acting Executive Director for Operations.
[FR Doc. 94-24073 Filed 9-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M