[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 18428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8871]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Announcement of the NRC's Intent To Reduce the Scope of Work to 
States Under Contract to the NRC To Perform Environmental Monitoring in 
the Environs of Selected NRC Licensed Facilities

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) is issuing an 
announcement of its intent to reduce the scope of work for contracts 
with States which perform environmental monitoring in the environs of 
selected NRC licensed facilities. The NRC is seeking comment from 
interested parties regarding the proposed contract action discussed in 
the announcement presented in the appendix to this document. The NRC 
will consider comments received from interested parties in the final 
evaluation of the proposed contract action.

DATES: Comment period expires May 26, 1995. Comments submitted after 
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but assurance 
of consideration cannot be given except for comments received on or 
before this date.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Chief, Rules Review and 
Directives Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555. Written comments may also be delivered to 11545 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 am to 4:15 pm, Federal workdays. Copies 
of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public Document 
Room, 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen Klementowicz, (301) 415-1084.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Announcement of the NRC's intent to reduce 
the scope of work to States under contract to the NRC to perform 
environmental monitoring in the environs of selected NRC licensed 
facilities appears in the appendix to this document.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of April 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Charles L. Miller,
Chief, Emergency Preparedness and Radiation Protection Branch, Division 
of Technical Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

Appendix--Announcement of the NRC's Intent to Reduce the Scope of Work 
to States Under Contract to the NRC To Perform Environmental Monitoring 
in the Environs of Selected NRC Licensed Facilities

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is soliciting comments on its 
plan to reduce the scope of work for the Cooperative Agreement 
program under which States are paid to conduct radiological 
environmental monitoring in the environs of selected nuclear 
facilities. The NRC plans to eliminate the scope of work in 1996 for 
the part of the program under which States obtain and analyze 
environmental samples. However, the NRC plans to continue the part 
of the program under which States participate in the NRC's direct 
radiation monitoring network. This reduction in the scope of work of 
the program directly affects 27 States. The elimination of the 
environmental monitoring portion of the program will not have an 
impact on public health and safety and does not represent a 
reduction in plant safety.
    The State Cooperative Agreement Program was established in the 
1970s to provide NRC assistance to State radiological health 
programs, through the use of NRC-funded contracts, to perform 
measurements of radioactive material released into the environment 
from NRC-licensed facilities. The States issue an annual report to 
the NRC of all analyses they perform with comparisons of similar 
analyses performed by the respective nuclear facility. The NRC uses 
this data as a supplemental tool in assessing the performance of 
environmental monitoring programs conducted by nuclear power plants. 
The contracts for environmental monitoring were intended as a means 
to assist States with nuclear facilities to develop their own 
environmental monitoring programs, but not to fully fund them.
    NRC-licensed facilities are under strict NRC requirements to 
monitor and control the release of radioactive materials to the air, 
water and ground around their facilities. The NRC inspects and 
reviews licensee conformance with the requirements on a routine 
basis.
    In addition to the environmental monitoring portion of the 
program, which will cost $1 million for 1995, the NRC has a 
provision in the contract, which will continue to remain, for the 
States to participate in the NRC's direct radiation monitoring 
network. The network provides continuous measurement of the ambient 
radiation levels around selected nuclear facilities by using small 
devices called thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). The cost of this 
program for 1995 is $195,000.
    The environmental monitoring portion of the program was 
specifically chosen for elimination because of the excellent record 
maintained by NRC-licensed facilities in controlling the release of 
radiological effluents into the environment within regulatory 
limits. In addition, the elimination of the data supplied by the 
States will not adversely affect NRC's ability to effectively 
monitor and regulate NRC licensees in this area.
    The NRC recognizes the excellent service and cooperation the 
States have provided under this program. However, the need to 
constantly examine and adjust programs to ensure that public health 
and safety is protected in the most cost-effective manner has 
necessitated the reduction in this program.

[FR Doc. 95-8871 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
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