[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 236 (Friday, December 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30336]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 9, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Parts 20, 30, 40, 50, 51, 70, and 72

RIN 3150-AD65

 

Radiological Criteria for Decommissioning

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Extension of Comment Period for Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On August 22, 1994, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
published for comment a proposed rule on Radiological Criteria for 
Decommissioning (59 FR 43200). The period for submitting comments on 
the proposed rule ends on December 20, 1994. The Commission is 
extending the comment period for the proposed rule until January 20, 
1995 for the following reasons: the proposed rule did not explicitly 
seek comments on the appropriateness of the proposed 15 mrem/yr 
distinguishable from background radiation standard; the complexity of 
the issues involved; the broad interest in the rulemaking; the 
solicitation of comments on supporting documents (e.g., NUREG-1500); 
and the short time available for submitting written comments after the 
Site Characterization Workshop held November 29-30, 1994, and the SSAB 
Workshop held from December 6-8, 1994.

DATES: Submit comments by January 20, 1995. Comments received after 
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the 
Commission is able to assure consideration only for comments received 
on or before this date.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555. ATTN: Docketing and Service Branch.
    Hand deliver comments to: 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays.
    Comments may be submitted electronically, in either ASCII text or 
Wordperfect format, by calling the NRC Enhanced Participatory 
Rulemaking on Radiological Criteria for Decommissioning Electronic 
Bulletin Board, 1-800-880-6091 (58 FR 37760; July 13, 1993). The 
bulletin board may be accessed using a personal computer, a modem, and 
most commonly available communications software packages. Communication 
software parameters should be set as follows: parity to none, data bits 
to 8, and stop bits to 1 (N,8,1). Use ANSI or VT-100 terminal 
emulation. Background documents on the rulemaking are also available 
for downloading and viewing on the bulletin board. For more information 
about this bulletin board, call Ms. Christine Daily, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Phone (301) 415-6026; FAX 
(301) 415-5385, e-mail [email protected].
    In addition, comments may be submitted electronically by calling 
the NRC Online subsystem on FedWorld. This bulletin board can be 
accessed directly by dialing the toll free number: 1-800-303-9672. 
Communication software parameters should be set as follows: parity to 
none, data bits to 8, and stop bits to 1 (N,8,1). Using ANSI or VT-100 
terminal emulation, the NRC rulemaking subsystems can then be accessed 
by selecting the ``Rules Menu'' option from the ``NRC Main Menu.'' For 
further information about options available for NRC at FedWorld consult 
the ``Help/Information Center'' from the ``NRC Main Menu.''
    The NRC subsystem on FedWorld can also be accessed by a direct dial 
phone number for the main FedWorld BBS: 703-321-8020; Telnet via 
Internet: fedworld.gov (192.239.93.3); File Transfer Protocol (FTP) via 
Internet: ftp.fedworld.gov (192.239.92.205); and World Wide Web using: 
http://www.fedworld.gov (this is the Uniform Resource Locator (URL)).
    If using a method other than the toll free number to contact 
FedWorld, then the NRC subsystem will be accessed from the main 
FedWorld menu by selecting the ``F--Regulatory, Government 
Administration and State Systems'', then selecting ``A--Regulatory 
Information Mall''. At that point, a menu will be displayed that has an 
option ``A--U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission'' that will take you to 
the NRC Online main menu. You can also go directly to the NRC Online 
area by typing ``/go nrc'' at a FedWorld command line. If you access 
NRC from FedWorld's main menu, then you may return to FedWorld by 
selecting the ``Return to FedWorld'' option from the NRC Online Main 
Menu. However, if you access NRC at FedWorld by using NRC's toll-free 
number, then you will have full access to all NRC systems, but you will 
not have access to the main FedWorld system. For more information on 
NRC bulletin boards call Mr. Arthur Davis, Systems Integration and 
Development Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555, telephone (301) 415-5780; e-mail AXD[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Charleen T. Raddatz, Office of 
Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301) 415-6215.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 22, 1994, the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission published for comment a proposed rule on Radiological 
Criteria for Decommissioning (59 FR 43200). The period for submitting 
comments on the proposed rule ends on December 20, 1994. The Commission 
is extending the comment period for the proposed rule until January 20, 
1995, for the following reasons: the original Federal Register Notice 
did not explicitly seek comments on the appropriateness of the proposed 
15 mrem/yr distinguishable from background radiation standard; the 
complexity of the issues involved; the broad interest in the 
rulemaking; the solicitation of comments on supporting documents (e.g., 
NUREG-1500); and the short time available for submitting written 
comments after the Site Characterization Workshop held November 29-30, 
1994, and the SSAB Workshop held from December 6-8, 1994.
    During a review of the August 22, 1994, notice of proposed 
rulemaking, a concern was expressed that sufficient emphasis had not 
been placed on the Commission's desire to receive comment on the 
appropriateness of the proposed 15 mrem/y distinguishable from 
background standard. Since the 15 mrem/yr distinguishable from 
background proposed standard is central to the proposed rule, the 
Commission is particularly interested in comments concerning the 
appropriateness of this standard. Comments received during the enhanced 
participatory workshop process expressed a range of viewpoints and 
recommendations concerning an appropriate dose or risk level. For 
example, some commenters recommended that NRC decommissioning standards 
be based on, and be consistent with, the scientific information and 
advice of such organizations as NCRP and ICRP; that NRC consider 
adopting a risk limit standard equating to a radiation dose of 25 to 
100 mrem/y; and that the NRC establish a risk or dose limit on the 
order of the variability of natural background radiation occurring 
across the United States. Other commenters recommended using the NCRP 
recommendation of a ``Negligible Individual Risk Level'' of 1 mrem/y as 
the limit; using values consistent with the EPA standards of one in 
10,000 to 1 in 1,000,000 lifetime risk of fatal cancer promulgated 
under superfund; and that NRC use a zero increment above background in 
establishing its standard. A more complete discussion of the comments 
received is contained in the supplemental information for the proposed 
rule (59 FR 43200).
    Commenters are also invited to comment on each of the other issues 
presented in the original Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (59 FR 43200).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of December 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John C. Hoyle,
Acting Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 94-30336 Filed 12-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P