[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37556-37565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17826]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 110

RIN 3150-AD36


Import and Export of Radioactive Waste

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its 
regulations to establish specific licensing requirements for the import 
and export of radioactive waste and to clarify the requirements for the 
import and export of incidental radioactive material coming into or 
leaving the United States. The amendments conform the policies of the 
United States to the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA) Code of Practice on the International Transboundary 
Movement of Radioactive Waste. These amendments strengthen the 
Commission's control over radioactive waste entering and leaving the 
United States.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Copies of comments received are available for public 
inspection and copying for a fee at the Commission's Public Document 
Room, located at 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Hauber, Office of International 
Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001, Telephone (301) 415-2344.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Objective and Background
II. Analysis of Public Comments on Proposed Rule
III. Overview of New Rule

I. Objective and Background

    Radioactive waste is generated from the nuclear fuel cycle during 
the normal operation of nuclear power plants, fuel fabrication plants, 
enrichment facilities, uranium mining and milling facilities; the 
decommissioning and close out of nuclear facilities (environmental 
restoration); and the use of radioactive materials in medicine, 
industrial applications, research, and education. The nuclear fuel 
cycle is by far the largest source of radioactive waste, with low-level 
radioactive waste (LLW) currently accounting for the largest proportion 
of waste by volume. The importance of protecting human health and the 
environment in radioactive waste management and disposal has long been 
recognized by the NRC. This rule helps ensure the safe management and 
disposal of radioactive waste by amending the NRC's regulations in 10 
CFR Part 110 with respect to radioactive waste entering or leaving the 
jurisdiction or control of the United States. The amendment also 
clarifies the requirements applicable to shipments of incidental 
radioactive material.
    This final rule is intended to reflect the principles of the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Code of Practice on the 
International Transboundary Movement of Radioactive Waste (Code). The 
Code was approved in September 1990, with strong U.S. Government 
support. The Code resulted from an international effort within the IAEA 
to address concerns about possible improper transfer and disposal of 
radioactive waste. A set of principles was established to guide 
countries in the development and harmonization of policies and laws on 
transboundary movements of radioactive waste to ensure its safe 
management and disposal. A basic principle of the Code is that 
international movements of radioactive waste should take place with the 
prior notification and consent of the sending, receiving, and transit 
countries. The Code also provides that no receiving country should 
permit the receipt of radioactive waste for management or disposal 
unless it has the administrative and technical capacity and regulatory 
structure to manage and dispose of the waste in a manner consistent 
with international safety standards. Before the issuance of this final 
rule, NRC's regulations were not consistent with the principles

[[Page 37557]]
embodied in the Code, especially with regard to possible transfers of 
LLW. (The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of 
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal expressly excludes from its 
coverage ``[w]astes which, as a result of being radioactive, are 
subject to other international control systems, including international 
instruments, applying specifically to radioactive materials''. Because 
the IAEA Code of Practice is an international instrument applying 
specifically to radioactive materials, radioactive waste is excluded 
from the scope of the Basel Convention.)
    Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, NRC has the 
statutory responsibility for authorizing the export and import of 
byproduct, source, and special nuclear material. The NRC regulates the 
import and export of these materials under 10 CFR Part 110. Until now, 
NRC's regulations in Part 110 were concerned primarily with exports and 
imports that have nuclear proliferation significance. Thus, radioactive 
materials that have little or no significance with respect to national 
security (proliferation), such as LLW, have not been subject to 
specific licensing. Rather, radioactive waste has been allowed to leave 
the United States under general export licenses pursuant to 
Secs. 110.21-110.23, and to enter the United States under similar Part 
110 provisions in Sec. 110.27. (After entry into the United States, the 
domestic regulations of the NRC and Agreement States apply.) During the 
development of this rulemaking, the NRC, in consultation with other 
government agencies, published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
(ANPR) on February 7, 1990 (55 FR 4181) to seek comments from the 
public, industry, and other government agencies on four possible 
options and thirteen associated questions for establishing an NRC 
policy on radioactive waste exports and imports. The comments received 
in response to the ANPR were considered in a proposed rule published in 
the Federal Register on April 28, 1992 (57 FR 17859). The comments on 
the proposed rule were considered in the development of the 
definitions, exceptions, procedures, and licensing criteria of the 
final rule.

II. Analysis of Public Comments on Proposed Rule

    Seventeen letters of comment were received in response to the 
proposed rule from individuals, organizations, industry, and government 
agencies. One letter was subsequently withdrawn.
    One commenter believed that the NRC should not permit any category 
of radioactive waste to be moved into or out of the United States, 
except perhaps in a few extraordinary circumstances. Another commenter 
urged the NRC to ban all imports and exports of radioactive waste. The 
NRC does not agree with these highly restrictive approaches. 
International commerce in radioactive waste, including movement of 
waste into and out of the United States, may be desirable from a policy 
perspective. For example, some commerce involving radioactive waste may 
further important policy goals of the international community (such as 
waste shipments for international research) and other shipments may 
embody desirable take-back features (such as return of U.S. Government 
radioactive waste and shipments of used radioactive sources to 
authorized consignees).
    Other commenters urged the NRC to exempt from specific licensing 
controls movements of sealed sources that are being returned to the 
U.S. or another country for reconditioning, recycling or reprocessing. 
They noted that, while the supplementary information of the proposed 
rule incorporated this view, no such provision was expressly provided 
in the regulations. The NRC believes that there should be an exclusion 
from the definition of ``radioactive waste'' in Part 110 for movements 
of sealed sources and devices containing sealed sources to any 
qualified manufacturer authorized to receive and possess them. These 
types of transfers help to ensure that the materials are handled 
responsibly and not left in dispersed and perhaps unregulated locations 
around the world, and therefore they should not be subject to specific 
licensing if the radioactive material involved would not otherwise be 
subject to such licensing. The definition of radioactive waste has been 
revised to exclude these shipments.
    One commenter expressed the view that export and import of LLW 
should be treated no differently from sealed sources and 
radiopharmaceuticals, opining that all radioactive materials should be 
handled consistently. It is not clear whether this means that the 
regulations should apply the same treatment to waste and non-waste 
forms of radioactive material, or whether the commenter simply believes 
that all types of radioactive waste should be treated identically. The 
NRC believes that the former approach would not be consistent with the 
view embodied in the Code of Practice that there should be a special 
regime for transboundary movements of radioactive waste. The NRC is in 
general agreement with the position that most radioactive waste should 
be handled consistently, but in some situations there are policy 
considerations that militate in favor of a different result. An example 
of this is found in the exclusion of certain sealed sources from the 
definition of ``radioactive waste'', discussed above. Other exceptions 
are discussed elsewhere in the supplementary information.
    Several commenters said that NRC's policy on regulation of export 
and import of radioactive waste for waste management purposes needs 
modification. They opined that import and export for waste management 
purposes, as distinct from disposal, should not be subject to specific 
licensing under Part 110. One of these commenters, representing 
businesses in decommissioning and environmental restoration activities, 
said that specific licensing should not be required for volume 
reduction, treatment, and resource recovery. Others argued that waste 
management practices should be encouraged internationally without 
unnecessary restrictions as rising disposal costs make them more 
feasible and cost effective, especially when residual LLW will be 
returned to the country of origin. In response to these comments, the 
NRC has made special provisions for certain shipments intended for 
recycling or resource recovery. (See the provisions in the final rule 
relating to incidental radioactive material.) However, though the 
proposed rule published in 1992 did have an exclusion for return of 
radioactive waste to a consignee in the country that previously 
exported the radioactive material, after careful consideration of the 
comments, the NRC has concluded that a general exemption for waste 
going to the country of origin would not ensure conformity with the 
Code of Practice. A country that exports radioactive material may not 
have adequate means to handle its management or disposal when returned 
as radioactive waste. Further, such a broad exemption would leave too 
large a regulatory gap, permitting a country of origin to be used as a 
way station for waste intended for disposition elsewhere. Thus, this 
change also addresses the concerns of commenters who expressed 
apprehension that radioactive waste might be exported from the U.S. 
under false pretenses.
    Three commenters were of the view that specific licenses should not 
be required for transboundary movements of what the final rule terms 
``incidental radioactive material''--i.e., radioactive material not 
otherwise subject to specific licensing under Part 110 that is 
contained in or a contaminant of any

[[Page 37558]]
non-hazardous, non-radioactive material that is exported or imported 
for recycling or resource recovery of the non-radioactive component. 
The Commission agrees that such movements should not require the 
issuance of a specific license because, by definition, the immediate 
purpose of these shipments is not waste management or disposal of the 
radioactive component. The rule helps to ensure the purpose is bona 
fide by limiting the use of the term ``incidental radioactive 
material'' to situations in which the exported material will not be 
processed for separation of the radioactive component before the 
recycling or resource recovery occurs or during the resource recovery 
process. However, since in these cases the radioactive component of the 
material being shipped has, in itself, no foreseeable use, the 
Commission believes that some form of regulatory oversight of these 
exports is required in order to help ensure that an exporter will not 
ship radioactive waste for disposal in another country under the guise 
of shipping usable materials for recycling or resource recovery. The 
proposed rule was somewhat ambiguous on this point. Therefore, the 
final regulations have been clarified in that regard. (The term 
``incidental radioactive material'' is applied to the radioactive 
component of the exported material, rather than a term identifying the 
radioactive component as a form of radioactive waste, because the 
Commission believes that this will avoid unnecessary limitations on the 
usefulness of the material for recycling or resource recovery.)
    Under the rule proposed in 1992, an exporter of material that 
contains or is contaminated with radioactive material for which no use 
is foreseen was generally required to file an NRC Form 7 before the 
export took place and the export required a specific license issued by 
the NRC. Under the final rule, an exporter of incidental radioactive 
material will still be required to file an NRC Form 7 before the export 
takes place (if the total amount of the shipment containing the 
incidental radioactive material exceeds 100 kilograms), but the NRC 
will not issue a specific license in these cases. Shipments involving 
incidental radioactive material will continue to take place under the 
general license provisions in Secs. 110.19-110.30. Deliberate 
misrepresentations on the form are subject to the same penalties as 
apply to falsification of other documents submitted in matters 
involving the United States and may subject a person to criminal 
sanctions under section 223 of the Atomic Energy Act. To help clarify 
the application of the rule in these cases, definitions of ``incidental 
radioactive material'' and ``management'' have been added in the final 
rule.
    Several commenters were concerned that the proposed definition of 
``radioactive waste'' was too vague and subjective, possibly leading to 
an exporter shipping radioactive waste for disposal in another country 
under the guise of shipping usable materials for recycling or resource 
recovery. Several other commenters, including one representing 
electrical utilities in the United States, criticized the proposed 
definition of radioactive waste as differing from the various waste 
terms in other parts of NRC's regulations. One said that the definition 
had not been sufficiently evaluated by affected parties and that basing 
it upon whether ``use is foreseen'' is unprecedented in NRC's 
regulations and represents new NRC thinking which could have 
implications beyond the amendments to Part 110. The NRC recognizes that 
the concept of foreseeable use, introduced by the IAEA Code of 
Practice, could cause some confusion. Therefore, in response to these 
concerns, the definition of ``radioactive waste'' has been clarified to 
provide for usage of the term in a manner that is generally more 
consistent with NRC's usage for domestic purposes. As so defined, the 
export and import of radioactive waste requires issuance of a specific 
license under Part 110.
    Generally, the final rule requires the filing of an NRC Form 7 for 
export of radioactive waste, as was provided under the proposed rule. 
Exports of radioactive waste remain subject to the specific licensing 
requirements of Part 110, unless expressly excluded. In addition, an 
NRC Form 7 must be filed before the export of incidental radioactive 
material (if the total amount of the shipment containing the incidental 
radioactive material exceeds 100 kilograms), but in most instances a 
specific license will not be required for such an export. Information 
required to be reported on NRC Form 7 is listed in 10 CFR 110.32.
    Under the final rule, imports of radioactive waste are also subject 
to the specific licensing provisions of Part 110. Imports of incidental 
radioactive material, however, do not require the filing of any 
information with the NRC and remain subject to the general licensing 
provisions of Part 110. This is considered sufficient in light of the 
extensive domestic regulatory program to which they will be subject 
when they enter the United States.
    One commenter said the proposed regulation was unclear on NRC's 
position on imports and exports of mixed waste (i.e., waste that 
consists of hazardous waste and radioactive waste). It is the NRC's 
view that with respect to radioactive waste components of mixed waste, 
such transboundary movements should be subject to the specific 
licensing requirements of Part 110, and the definitions of ``incidental 
radioactive material'' and ``radioactive waste'' reflect this position. 
Accordingly, the NRC, under the Atomic Energy Act, will license 
movements of mixed waste into and out of the United States. The 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Resource Conservation 
and Recovery Act and the NRC under the Atomic Energy Act jointly 
regulate exports of mixed waste from the jurisdiction of the United 
States. The NRC will consult with the EPA regarding Part 110 license 
applications relating to movements of mixed waste. (Domestically, mixed 
waste is subject to applicable regulations of the EPA and NRC.) A 
sentence has been added to Sec. 110.19 alerting potential shippers to 
the fact that an NRC license does not avoid the need to consult with 
the EPA regarding the hazardous component of mixed waste.
    One commenter stated its view that service tooling used in nuclear 
facilities contaminated with radioactive materials is not radioactive 
waste as defined in the proposed rule. It was not NRC's intent to 
include as radioactive waste exports and imports of contaminated 
equipment (including service tools) used in nuclear facilities, if the 
equipment is being shipped for use in another such facility and not for 
management or disposal. While one could reasonably maintain that this 
is not a question of radioactive waste at all, to ensure that the NRC's 
intent is free from doubt, the definition of ``radioactive waste'' in 
the final rule clarifies this point.
    Two commenters expressed concern that the information required on 
an application for a specific license did not include the date, time, 
and route of transit of the radioactive waste, or a statement of 
ultimate disposition of the waste. The NRC believes that at the time of 
filing an application for a specific license it may be too early for an 
exporter or importer to provide a precise shipping date and time. 
However, the approximate date of shipment is required to be stated. In 
addition, the NRC has added a requirement for the route of transit 
information to be

[[Page 37559]]
provided before the export or import takes place.
    One Federal official asked how other Federal agencies would be 
notified of an application for a specific license. The Department of 
State, as lead Executive Branch agency for the review of nuclear 
exports, has agreed to notify other appropriate Federal agencies. For 
an import application, the NRC would itself seek the views of 
appropriate Federal and State agencies. The NRC recognizes the unique 
interest and responsibilities of the States under the Low-level 
Radioactive Waste Policy Act for safe management and disposal of LLW. 
Therefore, consultation with affected States is appropriate.
    One commenter expressed concern that the proposed rule did not 
include a provision for informing LLW compacts before issuance of a 
specific license for import or export of radioactive waste. Section 
110.70(b) has been revised to require that the Commission publish in 
the Federal Register a notice of receipt of an application for a 
specific license for the export or import of radioactive waste (other 
than incidental radioactive material). To promote consideration of LLW 
compacts' restrictions on waste disposal, the Commission will exchange 
information and views with interested compacts. The NRC also intends to 
take other reasonable steps to inform States and LLW compacts of 
pending requests for specific licenses for import or export of 
radioactive waste, but believes it to be unnecessary to spell this out 
in the regulations.
    One commenter suggested that the Department of Transportation and 
the Customs Service should be able to initiate efforts to determine the 
validity of statements made with respect to a particular export or 
import. The Commission expects that if the Department of Transportation 
or the Customs Service encounters a questionable export, they will seek 
assistance from the NRC. The NRC will then work with the Department of 
State and other concerned parties in resolving questions raised in such 
circumstances.
    Another commenter referred, among other things, to the proposed 
rule's inconsistency with NRC's below regulatory concern (BRC) policy. 
The BRC policy has been withdrawn by the NRC (See 58 FR 44610; August 
24, 1993).
    One commenter suggested offering the import and export licensing 
program to the Agreement States for administration over its licensees. 
The NRC disagrees with this suggestion. This transfer would be 
inconsistent with Section 274 c. of the Atomic Energy Act, which 
specifically provides that no agreement entered into under the 
Agreement States program shall provide for discontinuance of any NRC 
authority with respect to the export from or import into the United 
States of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material. However, 
NRC's export and import licensing authority does not diminish any 
separate authority vested in States and LLW compacts, by the Atomic 
Energy Act or the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, in regard to 
the licensing, handling, and disposal of radioactive materials within 
the United States.

III. Overview of New Rule

    The purpose of this rule is to conform NRC's regulations on export 
and import of nuclear equipment and material with the principles of the 
IAEA Code of Practice on the International Transboundary Movement of 
Radioactive Waste. The Code's guidelines state that each individual 
country should take the appropriate steps necessary to ensure that the 
international transboundary movement of radioactive waste is managed 
safely. This rule is designed to serve that purpose.
    The final rule requires that a person file an application with the 
NRC for a specific license to export or import radioactive waste, 
including mixed waste, but distinguishes a separate category of 
``incidental radioactive material''. Radioactive waste subject to the 
specific licensing requirements of Part 110 may not be exported from or 
imported into the United States unless the NRC has granted such a 
license. The export and import of incidental radioactive material 
(i.e., radioactive material not subject to the specific licensing 
controls of Part 110 that is contained in or a contaminant of any non-
hazardous, non-radioactive material that is exported or imported for 
recycling or resource recovery) continues to be covered by the general 
license provisions of Part 110. However, an exporter must file an NRC 
Form 7 before a shipment of incidental radioactive material takes place 
if the total amount of the shipment containing the incidental 
radioactive material exceeds 100 kilograms. (Use of the 100 kilogram 
threshold is consistent with the threshold established in 
Sec. 110.27(b). This provision provides that a general license may not 
be used for import of source or special nuclear material in the form of 
irradiated fuel that exceeds 100 kilograms per shipment.) The final 
rule takes into account changes made in Part 110 by the final rule on 
Specific Licensing of Exports of Certain Alpha-Emitting Radionuclides 
and Byproduct Material, published on September 26, 1994 (59 FR 48994).
    The NRC has decided that it is consistent with the IAEA Code of 
Practice not to include the following within the definition of 
radioactive waste:

(These kinds of shipments will continue to enter or leave the United 
States under general or specific license, whichever is applicable under 
Part 110 to the nuclear material in question.)

    1. Radioactive material in used sealed sources, or devices 
containing used sealed sources, being sent to any qualified 
manufacturer authorized to receive and possess them. This exclusion 
acknowledges that shipment of used sources to a qualified manufacturer 
should be handled as expeditiously as possible because these types of 
shipments help to ensure that used sources are handled in a safe and 
responsible manner.
    2. Radioactive material that is a contaminant on equipment 
(including service tools) used in nuclear facilities, if the equipment 
is being shipped for use in another nuclear facility and is not being 
shipped for management or disposal. This exclusion recognizes that 
equipment used in nuclear facilities frequently becomes contaminated. 
However, this does not prevent the equipment from being used to service 
other nuclear facilities instead of being subject to disposal or waste 
management.
    3. Return of military and other U.S. Government radioactive waste 
to the United States when destined for a Federal or military facility 
authorized to possess the waste (see Sec. 110.27). This exclusion from 
specific licensing was requested by the Department of State.
    4. Radioactive waste generated in support of U.S. Government waste 
research and development testing programs under international 
arrangements. This exclusion recognizes that shipment of the waste is 
not for the purpose of disposal or waste management and that the 
exclusion will facilitate government-to-government waste research 
programs.
    In addition incidental radioactive material can continue to enter 
or leave the country without specific NRC approval. However, an export 
of incidental radioactive material requires the filing of an NRC Form 7 
if the total amount of the shipment containing the incidental 
radioactive material exceeds 100 kilograms.
    In applying for a specific license, applicants for the export or 
import of radioactive waste must include the information required by 
Secs. 110.31 and

[[Page 37560]]
110.32 of Part 110 for export and import of nuclear equipment and 
material. In addition, this final rule also requires the submission of 
the following information for the proposed export or import of 
radioactive waste: information on the volume and classification of the 
waste, the chemical and physical characteristics of the waste, its 
routing (including countries to be transited), and its disposition 
(including waste management). In the case of proposed imports, the 
information provided must include the industrial or other process 
responsible for generation of the waste and whether the compact and 
host State have agreed to accept the waste. The application must 
contain sufficient information to allow NRC to make a determination on 
whether a license should be granted. A notice of receipt of each 
application for a specific license for export or import of radioactive 
waste will be published in the Federal Register.
    As is the case with all applications for a specific license for 
export of radioactive material, the review of an application for a 
specific license for a proposed export of radioactive waste is governed 
by whether licensing the proposed export would be inimical to the 
common defense and security interests of the United States. The 
Commission's review is also governed by whether the receiving country 
consents to receipt of the radioactive waste.
    It is NRC's policy that the agency normally will not consider 
extraterritorial impacts. The latter policy was enunciated by the 
Commission in Westinghouse Electric Corporation (Exports to the 
Philippines), CLI-80-14, 11 NRC 631 (1980), where (among other things) 
the Commission refused to consider the health, safety, and 
environmental impacts on Philippine citizens of a proposed reactor 
export to the Philippines on the ground that the Commission should not 
consider such impacts upon the citizens of another country. (Though 
there was some divergence in the reasoning of the judges, the 
Commission's decision was upheld in NRDC v. NRC, 647 F.2d 1345 (D.C. 
Cir. 1981).) The rationale for the Commission's conclusion was that the 
regulation of economic and industrial activities taking place within a 
nation's territorial boundaries is a function of the territorial 
sovereign.
    The IAEA Code of Practice provides in clear terms that a receiving 
State should not permit receipt of radioactive waste for management or 
disposal unless the receiving country has an appropriate 
``administrative and technical capacity and regulatory structure to 
manage and dispose of such waste in a manner consistent with 
international safety standards.'' In contrast, the Code of Practice is 
far from clear when it states that it is the sending State's obligation 
to satisfy itself ``in accordance with the receiving State's consent'' 
that the receiving State is meeting the foregoing requirement. The Code 
does not explain the intended meaning of the phrase ``in accordance 
with the receiving State's consent,'' and it does not indicate how the 
sending State is expected to satisfy itself regarding the receiving 
State's capability.
    The NRC will expect a receiving State to indicate to the Department 
of State, during the process for obtaining the receiving State's 
consent, that it has found that it has the administrative and technical 
capacity and regulatory structure to manage and dispose of the waste. 
At this time, however, the NRC is not prepared to include provisions in 
this final rule that would necessitate independent and specific NRC 
assessments and findings and an opportunity for adjudication regarding 
the adequacy of the receiving State's administrative and technical 
capacity and regulatory structure for managing and disposing of the 
waste. This decision flows from (1) The ambiguity of the guiding 
provision in the IAEA Code, (2) the NRC's longstanding policy of not 
considering health, safety and environmental impacts in foreign 
countries, (3) the ongoing work--under the aegis of the IAEA--to 
develop a Convention on Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, and (4) 
Congressional inaction regarding implementation of the Basel Convention 
on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their 
disposal. Nevertheless, as indicated in the notice for the proposed 
rule, the NRC does not contemplate any circumstances in which a license 
would be issued to export radioactive waste to a country without a 
regulated waste disposal program. Moreover, the Commission would obtain 
the views of the Executive Branch before approving an application for 
export of radioactive waste.
    Note that this rule does not address on a generic basis the 
applicability of the National Environmental Policy Act to Part 110 
specific licensing actions. Such applicability (if any) will be 
determined on a case-by-case basis. Note also that export licenses and 
(with limited exceptions not relevant here) actions related to nuclear 
activities are exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 12114 
(44 FR 1957; January 4, 1979), Environmental Effects Abroad of Major 
Federal Actions.
    NRC has exclusive jurisdiction, vis-a-vis the States, for granting 
or denying all import licenses. However, in the case of a proposed 
import, the NRC recognizes the authority of LLW compacts to decide 
whether or not to accept an import of LLW for disposal in the compact 
region. The NRC will consult with interested States and LLW compacts 
prior to issuing an import license for LLW. The NRC will not grant an 
import license for waste intended for disposal unless it is clear that 
the waste will be accepted by a disposal facility, host State, and 
compact (where applicable). This will be part of the determination 
regarding the appropriateness of the facility that has agreed to accept 
the waste for management or disposal.
    The NRC will consult with the Department of State and other 
cognizant Federal agencies regarding proposed exports of radioactive 
waste. In addition, in all proposed export and import cases, the NRC 
will ask the Department of State to consult with transit countries, as 
the Department of State deems appropriate, to obtain any necessary 
approvals pursuant to the IAEA Code of Practice.
    Following review by the NRC staff, a determination will be made 
whether to approve or deny the application for a specific license for 
the import or export of radioactive waste. An import or export license 
issued by the NRC only authorizes the radioactive waste covered by the 
license to enter or exit the United States. This license alone does not 
authorize possession of the waste material or guarantee access to a 
waste management facility or a disposal site in the United States or 
another country.
    This rule requires specific licenses for exports and imports of 
mixed waste. Mixed waste is waste that consists of both hazardous waste 
and radioactive waste. In addition to meeting NRC requirements, mixed 
waste must also meet Environmental Protection Agency requirements 
applicable to the hazardous component of the waste. The exporter or 
importer is responsible for ensuring compliance with those 
requirements.
    The rule does not cover the export or import of naturally-occurring 
radioactive material (other than source material and byproduct material 
under section 11 e.(2) of the Atomic Energy Act) and accelerator-
produced radioactive material. Naturally-occurring radioactive material 
and accelerator-produced radioactive material lie outside NRC's 
regulatory authority and are subject to health and

[[Page 37561]]
safety regulation by the States and other Federal agencies.
    The new regulations in Part 110 do not affect existing or future 
NRC regulations in other parts of this chapter which may relate to 
matters covered by this rule.
    The Commission notes that violation of regulations issued under 
sections 161b, 161i, or 161o of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 may 
subject a person to criminal sanctions under section 223 of the Atomic 
Energy Act. The regulations in Part 110 that are not issued under 
Secs. 161b, 161i, or 161o of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 for the 
purposes of section 223 of the Act are listed in Sec. 110.67 of Part 
110, as amended by this final rule. The following regulations amended 
by this final rule are not listed in Sec. 110.67: Secs. 110.19, 110.20, 
110.21, 110.22, 110.23, and 110.27. Violation of these sections may 
subject a person to criminal sanctions under section 223 of the Atomic 
Energy Act.

Environmental Impact: Categorical Exclusion

    The NRC has determined that this final rule is the type of action 
described in categorical exclusion 10 CFR 51.22(c)(1). Therefore 
neither an environmental impact statement nor an environmental 
assessment has been prepared for this final rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

    This final rule amends information collection requirements subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). These 
paperwork requirements were approved by the Office of Management and 
Budget, approval numbers 3150-0036 and 3150-0027.
    The public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time for 
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the 
collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate 
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information and Records 
Management Branch (T-6F33), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001; and to the Desk Officer, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, NEOB-10202, (3150-0036 and 3150-
0027), Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503.

Regulatory Analysis

    NRC regulations provide strong regulatory control over the export 
of strategic nuclear material from a national security 
(nonproliferation) standpoint, but they have traditionally provided 
much less control over non-strategic materials. Many non-strategic 
imports and exports qualify for general licenses without specific 
review or approval by the NRC. (Domestic regulations in the United 
States and abroad, and international transportation regulations, have 
provided the primary regulatory controls for health and safety and 
environmental protection purposes.) In recent years, national and 
worldwide concerns about radioactive waste disposal practices have 
brought attention to the limited focus of the NRC's import and export 
regulations and the fact that certain types and quantities of 
radioactive materials, including LLW, may be imported or exported 
without specific authorization by the NRC and without NRC's knowledge.
    The IAEA Code of Practice on the International Transboundary 
Movement of Radioactive Waste, which was approved by the IAEA General 
Conference in 1990 with strong U.S. Government support, provides that 
international shipments of radioactive wastes should take place only 
with the prior notification and consent of the sending, receiving and 
transit countries. The Code also provides that no receiving country 
should permit the receipt of radioactive waste for management or 
disposal unless it has the administrative and technical capacity and 
regulatory structure to manage and dispose of such waste in a manner 
consistent with international safety standards. This final rule is 
intended to conform U.S. regulations with these international 
guidelines. The final rule amends the Part 110 general license 
provisions applicable to the export and import of special nuclear, 
source, and byproduct materials to state specifically that general 
licenses do not provide authority to import or export radioactive 
waste, as defined by Part 110. Instead, persons desiring to import or 
export radioactive waste may do so only upon issuance of a specific 
license by the NRC. Persons desiring to export incidental radioactive 
material (i.e., radioactive material not otherwise subject to specific 
licensing under Part 110 that is contained in or a contaminant of any 
non-hazardous, non-radioactive material that is exported or imported 
for recycling or resource recovery of the non-radioactive component) 
are required to file an NRC Form 7 if the total amount of the shipment 
containing the incidental radioactive material exceeds 100 kilograms, 
thus providing information about the proposed export, but the NRC will 
not issue a specific license for such exports. Instead, the material 
may continue to be shipped under general license. Imports of incidental 
radioactive material continue to be subject to general licensing under 
Part 110, but they do not require any filing of information with the 
NRC under Part 110.
    The rule impacts persons interested in exporting radioactive waste 
from, or importing radioactive waste into, the United States, and those 
exporting or importing incidental radioactive material (i.e., 
radioactive material not subject to specific licensing under Part 110 
combined with non-hazardous, non-radioactive material exported or 
imported for recycling or resource recovery). The rule is necessary to 
satisfy the U.S. Government's commitment to the Code of Practice. There 
are no alternatives other than rulemaking for achieving the stated 
objective. (Alternatives to the changes made by this final rule were 
discussed in the ANPR published in February 1990 and the proposed rule 
published in April 1992.) We expect that there will be few exports and 
imports per year that will be covered by the new requirements 
established by the rule. (There should actually be little, if any, 
effect on those importing incidental radioactive material.) The agency 
also believes that, outside of having to pay a licensing fee, this 
regulation will have a minimal impact on the affected exporters and 
importers, since they should have ready access to most of the 
information required to be submitted to the NRC.
    The NRC has considered the resource implications for the agency in 
developing this final rule, and based on analogous NRC experience under 
Part 110, it is estimated that a typical waste export or import 
licensing case resulting from this final rule will require 40 to 50 NRC 
staff hours for review and processing. It is estimated that the cost 
associated with such review and processing will, on the average, be 
approximately $5,000 per case, though a few cases (particularly the 
first license applications received) may cost as much as $10,000. The 
total annual cost to the NRC is expected to be approximately $50,000, 
which would be offset by the collection of application fees.
    To the NRC's knowledge, there is no appreciable U.S. import or 
export traffic in radioactive waste. A possible exception is the widely 
accepted

[[Page 37562]]
practice of returning depleted sealed radioactive sources to a 
manufacturer for recycle or disposal. This practice is generally 
encouraged by governmental authorities as a way of helping to ensure 
that the items are handled in a responsible manner at the end of their 
useful life. For this reason such shipments are excluded from the 
definition of ``radioactive waste'' in the final rule.
    The changes made by this rule could affect waste management 
companies interested in importing radioactive waste from other 
countries because the imports will now require specific import licenses 
from the NRC, and an individual import of this type may not satisfy the 
licensing criteria. However, it is not clear whether this licensing 
requirement imposes any more difficult obstacles to a prospective waste 
importer than does the authority given LLW compacts to block shipments 
of such waste into their respective jurisdictions. (Note that the 
function of new Sec. 110.43, which sets forth import licensing 
criteria, is primarily to bring together criteria stated in other 
sections of Part 110. That the host State and compact do not object to 
the importation of the waste will be part of the determination 
regarding the appropriateness of the facility that has agreed to accept 
the waste for management purposes or disposal.)
    The final rule focuses greater attention on shipments of 
radioactive waste from or into the United States. This is consistent 
with the intent of the recommendations of the Code of Practice. The 
rule effectively excludes from the new requirements for specific 
licensing export and import of sealed sources, and devices containing 
sealed sources, to manufacturers qualified to receive and possess them; 
export and import of contaminated service equipment used in nuclear 
facilities, if the service equipment is being shipped for use in 
another nuclear facility and not for management purposes or disposal; 
and import of government waste returning to the United States. These 
exclusions from the specific licensing requirements for export and 
import of radioactive waste, the limited nature of the requirement for 
export of incidental radioactive material (confined to filing of NRC 
Form 7), and the absence of any new requirement with respect to import 
of incidental radioactive material, help to minimize the impact of the 
rule on commercial activities in the United States. Persons applying 
for a specific license will be subject to license application fees, 
which are currently under $10,000 per license. (Fees for licensing 
services rendered by the NRC pursuant to 10 CFR Part 110 are covered in 
10 CFR Part 170.) We do not expect that an annual fee will be assessed 
because we do not foresee that any significant NRC inspection or 
enforcement activities will result from this final rule.
    Overall, the NRC believes that requiring specific licensing of 
radioactive waste coming into or leaving the United States for 
management purposes or disposal is a sound regulatory approach to help 
ensure that such shipments are subject to U.S. Government approval and 
the consent of other involved parties. Filing of an NRC Form 7 before 
export of incidental radioactive material (if the total amount of the 
shipment containing the incidental radioactive material exceeds 100 
kilograms) will help ensure that the regulatory program is effective.

Regulatory Flexibility Certification

    As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 
605(b)), the Commission certifies that this rule does not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This rule establishes specific licensing requirements on the import and 
export of radioactive waste coming into or leaving the United States, 
pursuant to which certain information must be filed with the NRC. It 
also clarifies the application of these requirements with respect to 
the import and export of incidental radioactive material. The 
additional burden for the collection of this information is estimated 
to average 20 hours per response, which will increase the cost of the 
shipment only by a minimal amount. In all, the amendments to Part 110 
are expected to result in fewer than ten new export and import licenses 
per year.

Backfit Analysis

    The NRC has determined that the backfit rule, 10 CFR 50.109, does 
not apply to this final rule and, therefore, a backfit analysis is not 
required because these amendments do not involve any provision which 
would impose backfits as defined in 10 CFR 50.109(a)(1).

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 110

    Administrative practice and procedure, Classified information, 
Criminal penalties, Export, Import, Intergovernmental relations, 
Nuclear materials, Nuclear power plants and reactors, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Scientific equipment.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of 
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the Energy Reorganization 
Act of 1974, as amended, and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553, the NRC is adopting 
the following amendments to 10 CFR Part 110.

PART 110--EXPORT AND IMPORT OF NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL

    1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: Secs. 51, 53, 54, 57, 63, 64, 65, 81, 82, 103, 104, 
109, 111, 126, 127, 128, 129, 161, 181, 182, 183, 187, 189, 68 Stat. 
929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 936, 937, 948, 953, 954, 955, 956, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 2071, 2073, 2074, 2077, 2092-2095, 2111, 2112, 
2133, 2134, 2139, 2139a, 2141, 2154-2158, 2201, 2231-2233, 2237, 
2239); sec. 201, 88 Stat. 1242, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5841); sec. 5, 
Pub. L. 101-575, 104 Stat. 2835 (42 U.S.C. 2243).
    Sections 110.1(b)(2) and 110.1(b)(3) also issued under Pub.L. 
96-92, 93 Stat. 710 (22 U.S.C. 2403). Section 110.11 also issued 
under sec. 122, 68 Stat. 939 (42 U.S.C. 2152) and secs. 54c and 57d, 
88 Stat. 473, 475 (42 U.S.C. 2074). Section 110.27 also issued under 
sec. 309(a), Pub. L. 99-440. Section 110.50(b)(3) also issued under 
sec. 123, 92 Stat. 142 (42 U.S.C. 2153). Section 110.51 also issued 
under sec. 184, 68 Stat. 954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2234). Section 
110.52 also issued under sec. 186, 68 Stat. 955 (42 U.S.C. 2236). 
Sections 110.80-110.113 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552, 554. 
Sections 110.130-110.135 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 553. Sections 
110.2 and 110.42(a) (9) also issued under sec. 903, Pub.L. 102-496 
(42 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.).
    2. Section 110.2 is amended by adding the terms disposal, 
incidental radioactive material, management, radioactive material, 
radioactive waste, storage, and treatment to read as follows:


Sec. 110.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Disposal means permanent isolation of radioactive material from the 
surrounding environment.
* * * * *
    Incidental radioactive material means any radioactive material not 
otherwise subject to specific licensing under this part that is 
contained in or a contaminant of any non-radioactive material that:
    (1) For purposes unrelated to the regulations in this part, is 
exported or imported for recycling or resource recovery of the non-
radioactive component; and
    (2) Will not be processed for separation of the radioactive 
component before the recycling or resource recovery occurs or as part 
of the resource recovery process.
    The term does not include material that contains or is contaminated 
with ``hazardous waste'' as defined in section

[[Page 37563]]
1004(5) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. 6903(5).
* * * * *
    Management means storage, packaging, or treatment of radioactive 
waste.
* * * * *
    Radioactive material means source, byproduct, or special nuclear 
material.
    Radioactive waste means any waste that contains or is contaminated 
with source, byproduct, or special nuclear material, including any such 
waste that contains or is contaminated with ``hazardous waste'' as 
defined in section 1004(5) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. 
6903(5), but such term does not include radioactive material that is--
    (1) Contained in a sealed source, or device containing a sealed 
source, that is being returned to any manufacturer qualified to receive 
and possess the sealed source or the device containing a sealed source;
    (2) A contaminant on service equipment (including service tools) 
used in nuclear facilities, if the service equipment is being shipped 
for use in another nuclear facility and not for waste management 
purposes or disposal; or
    (3) Generated or used in a United States Government waste research 
and development testing program under international arrangements.
* * * * *
    Storage means the temporary holding of radioactive material.
* * * * *
    Treatment means any method, technique, or process, including 
storage for radioactive decay, designed to change the physical, 
chemical or biological characteristics or composition of any 
radioactive material.
* * * * *
    3. Section 110.19 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 110.19  Types of licenses.

    (a) Licenses for the export and import of nuclear equipment and 
material in this part consist of two types: General licenses and 
Specific licenses. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, 
a general license is effective without the filing of an application 
with the Commission or the issuance of licensing documents to a 
particular person. A specific license is issued to a named person and 
is effective upon approval by the Commission of an application filed 
pursuant to the regulations in this part and issuance of licensing 
documents to the applicant. Issuance of a specific or general license 
under this part does not relieve a person from complying with 
applicable regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency for any 
export or import that contains or is contaminated with hazardous waste.
    (b) A person using a general license under this part as authority 
to export incidental radioactive material that is contained in or a 
contaminant of a shipment that exceeds 100 kilograms in total weight 
shall file a completed NRC Form 7 before the export takes place.
    4. In Sec. 110.20, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 110.20  General license information.

    (a) A person may use an NRC general license as authority to export 
or import nuclear equipment or material (including incidental 
radioactive material), if the nuclear equipment or material to be 
exported or imported is covered by the NRC general licenses described 
in Secs. 110.21 through 110.30.
    (1) A person using a general license under this part as authority 
to export incidental radioactive material that is contained in or a 
contaminant of a shipment that exceeds 100 kilograms in total weight 
shall file a completed NRC Form 7 before the export takes place.
    (2) If an export or import is not covered by the NRC general 
licenses described in Secs. 110.21 through 110.30, a person must file 
an application with the Commission for a specific license in accordance 
with Secs. 110.31 through 110.32.
* * * * *
    5. Section 110.21 is amended by revising the introductory texts of 
paragraphs (a) and (b), revising paragraph (c), and adding new 
paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.21  General license for the export of special nuclear 
material.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export the following to any country 
not listed in Sec. 110.28:
* * * * *
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export the following to any country 
not listed in Sec. 110.28 or Sec. 110.29:
* * * * *
    (c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export Pu-236 or Pu-238 to any 
country listed in Sec. 110.30 in individual shipments of 1 gram or 
less, not to exceed 100 grams per year to any one country.
    (d) The general licenses in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this 
section do not authorize the export of special nuclear material in 
radioactive waste.
    (e) Persons using the general licenses in paragraphs (a), (b), and 
(c) of this section as authority to export special nuclear material as 
incidental radioactive material shall file a completed NRC Form 7 
before the export takes place if the total weight of the shipment 
exceeds 100 kilograms.
    6. Section 110.22 is amended by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (a), revising paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), and adding new 
paragraphs (e) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.22  General license for the export of source material.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export the following to any country 
not listed in Sec. 110.28:
* * * * *
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export uranium or thorium, other 
than U-230, U-232, Th-227, or Th-228, in individual shipments of 10 
kilograms or less to any country not listed in Sec. 110.28 or 
Sec. 110.29, not to exceed 1,000 kilograms per year to any one country 
or 500 kilograms per year to any one country when the uranium or 
thorium is of Canadian origin.
    (c) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export uranium or thorium, other 
than U-230, U-232, Th-227, or Th-228, in individual shipments of 1 
kilogram or less to any country not listed in Sec. 110.29, not to 
exceed 100 kilograms per year to any one country.
    (d) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export U-230, U-232, Th-227, or Th-
228 in individual shipments of 10 kilograms or less to any country 
listed in Sec. 110.30, not to exceed 1,000 kilograms per year to any 
one country or 500 kilograms per year to any one country when the 
uranium or thorium is of Canadian origin.
    (e) Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section do not 
authorize the export under general license of source material in 
radioactive waste.
    (f) Persons using the general licenses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), 
and (d) of this section as authority to export source material as 
incidental radioactive material shall file a completed NRC Form 7 
before the export takes place if the total weight of the shipment 
exceeds 100 kilograms.
    7. Section 110.23 is amended by revising the introductory text of

[[Page 37564]]
paragraph (a), revising paragraphs (b) and (c), and adding new 
paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.23  General license for the export of byproduct material.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export the following to any country 
not listed in Sec. 110.28:
* * * * *
    (b) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export to the countries listed in 
Sec. 110.30 tritium in any dispersed form (e.g., luminescent light 
sources and paint, accelerator targets, calibration standards, labeled 
compounds) in quantities of 40 curies (4.12 milligrams) or less per 
item, not to exceed 1,000 curies (103 milligrams) per shipment or 
10,000 curies (1.03 grams) per year to any one country. This general 
license does not authorize exports for tritium recovery or recycling 
purposes.
    (c) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, a general 
license is issued to any person to export to the countries listed in 
Sec. 110.30 actinium-225, actinium-227, californium-248, californium-
250, californium-252, curium-240, curium-241, curium-242, curium-243, 
curium-244, einsteinium-252, einsteinium-253, einsteinium-254, 
einsteinium-255, fermium-257, gadolinium-148, mendelevium-258, 
polonium-208, polonium-209, polonium-210, and radium-223, except that 
polonium-210 when contained in static eliminators must not exceed 100 
curies (22 grams) per individual shipment.
    (d) Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this section do not authorize 
the export under general license of byproduct material in radioactive 
waste.
    (e) Persons using the general licenses in paragraphs (a), (b), and 
(c) of this section as authority to export byproduct material as 
incidental radioactive material shall file a completed NRC Form 7 
before the export takes place if the total weight of the shipment 
exceeds 100 kilograms.
    8. Section 110.27 is amended by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (a), redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (d), and adding 
a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.27  General license for imports.

    (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, a 
general license is issued to any person to import byproduct, source, or 
special nuclear material if the consignee is authorized to possess the 
material under:
* * * * *
    (c) Paragraph (a) of this section does not authorize the import 
under general license of radioactive waste, other than radioactive 
waste that is being returned to a United States Government or military 
facility in the United States which is authorized to possess the 
material.
* * * * *
    9. Section 110.32 is amended by revising the heading, redesignating 
paragraph (f)(5) as (f)(7), and adding new paragraphs (f)(5) and (f)(6) 
to read as follows:


Sec. 110.32  Information required in an application for a specific 
license/NRC Form 7.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (5) For proposed exports or imports of radioactive waste, and for 
proposed exports of incidental radioactive material--the volume, 
classification (as defined in Sec. 61.55 of this chapter), physical and 
chemical characteristics, route of transit of shipment, and ultimate 
disposition (including forms of management) of the waste.
    (6) For proposed imports of radioactive waste--the industrial or 
other process responsible for generation of the waste, and the status 
of the arrangements for disposition, e.g., any agreement by a low-level 
waste compact or State to accept the material for management purposes 
or disposal.
* * * * *
    10. In Sec. 110.40, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 110.40  Commission review.

    (a) Immediately after receipt of a license application for an 
export or import requiring a specific license under this part, the 
Commission will initiate its licensing review and, to the maximum 
extent feasible, will expeditiously process the application 
concurrently with any applicable review by the Executive Branch.
* * * * *
    11. Section 110.41 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (a)(7) 
and (a)(8) as paragraphs (a)(8) and (a)(9) and adding a new paragraph 
(a)(7) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.41  Executive Branch review.

    (a) * * *
    (7) An export involving radioactive waste.
* * * * *
    12. Section 110.42 is amended by revising the introductory text of 
paragraph (a) and paragraphs (a)(3) and (c) and adding a new paragraph 
(d) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.42  Export licensing criteria.

    (a) The review of license applications for export for peaceful 
nuclear uses of production or utilization facilities 1 or for 
export for peaceful nuclear uses of special nuclear or source material 
requiring a specific license under this part is governed by the 
following criteria:

    \1\  Exports of nuclear reactors, reactor pressure vessels, 
reactor primary coolant pumps, ``on-line'' reactor fuel charging and 
discharging machines, and complete reactor control rod systems, as 
specified in paragraphs (1) through (4) of appendix A to this part, 
are subject to the export licensing criteria in Sec. 110.42(a). 
Exports of nuclear reactor components, as specified in paragraphs 
(5) through (9) of appendix A to this part, when exported separately 
from the items described in paragraphs (1) through (4) of appendix A 
of this part, are subject to the export licensing criteria in 
Sec. 110.42(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (3) Adequate physical security measures will be maintained with 
respect to such material or facilities proposed to be exported and to 
any special nuclear material used in or produced through the use 
thereof. Physical security measures will be deemed adequate if such 
measures provide a level of protection equivalent to that set forth in 
Sec. 110.44.
* * * * *
    (c) Except where paragraph (d) is applicable, the review of license 
applications for export of byproduct material or for export of source 
material for non-nuclear end uses requiring a specific license under 
this part is governed by the criterion that the proposed export is not 
inimical to the common defense and security.
    (d) The review of license applications for the export of 
radioactive waste requiring a specific license under this part is 
governed by the following criteria:
    (1) The proposed export is not inimical to the common defense and 
security.
    (2) The receiving country, after being advised of the information 
required by Sec. 110.32(f)(5), finds that it has the administrative and 
technical capacity and regulatory structure to manage and dispose of 
the waste and consents to the receipt of the radioactive waste. In the 
case of radioactive waste containing a nuclear material to which 
paragraph (a) or (b) of this section is applicable, the criteria in 
this paragraph (d) shall be in addition to the criteria provided in 
paragraph (a) or (b) of this section.

[[Page 37565]]



Secs. 110.43, 110.44, and 110.45  [Redesignated]

    13. Sections 110.43, 110.44, and 110.45 are redesignated as 
Secs. 110.44, 110.45, and 110.46.
    14. A new Sec. 110.43 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 110.43  Import licensing criteria.

    The review of license applications for imports requiring a specific 
license under this part is governed by the following criteria:
    (a) The proposed import is not inimical to the common defense and 
security.
    (b) The proposed import does not constitute an unreasonable risk to 
the public health and safety.
    (c) Any applicable requirements of subpart A of part 51 of this 
chapter are satisfied.
    (d) With respect to the import of radioactive waste, an appropriate 
facility has agreed to accept the waste for management or disposal.
    15. Section 110.45 is amended by revising paragraphs (b) and (c) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 110.45  Issuance or denial of licenses.

* * * * *
    (b) The Commission will issue an import license if it finds that:
    (1) The proposed import will not be inimical to the common defense 
and security;
    (2) The proposed import will not constitute an unreasonable risk to 
the public health and safety;
    (3) The requirements of subpart A of part 51 of this chapter (to 
the extent applicable to the proposed import) have been satisfied; and
    (4) With respect to a proposed import of radioactive waste, an 
appropriate facility has agreed to accept the waste for management or 
disposal.
    (c) If, after receiving the Executive Branch judgement that the 
issuance of a proposed export license will not be inimical to the 
common defense and security, the Commission does not issue the proposed 
license on a timely basis because it is unable to make the statutory 
determinations required under the Atomic Energy Act, the Commission 
will publicly issue a decision to that effect and will submit the 
license application to the President. The Commission's decision will 
include an explanation of the basis for the decision and any dissenting 
or separate views. The provisions in this paragraph do not apply to 
Commission decisions regarding license applications for the export of 
byproduct material or radioactive waste requiring a specific license.
* * * * *
    16. In Sec. 110.67, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 110.67  Criminal Penalties.

* * * * *
    (b) The regulations in part 110 that are not issued under sections 
161b, 161i, or 161o for the purposes of section 223 are as follows: 
Secs. 110.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4, 110.7, 110.10, 110.11, 110.30, 
110.31, 110.32, 110.40, 110.41, 110.42, 110.43, 110.44, 110.45, 110.46, 
110.51, 110.52, 110.60, 110.61, 110.62, 110.63, 110.64, 110.65, 110.66, 
110.67, 110.70, 110.71, 110.72, 110.73, 110.80, 110.81, 110.82, 110.83, 
110.84, 110.85, 110.86, 110.87, 110.88, 110.89, 110.90, 110.91, 
110.100, 110.101, 110.102, 110.103, 110.104, 110.105, 110.106, 110.107, 
110.108, 110.109, 110.110, 110.111, 110.112, 110.113, 110.120, 110.122, 
110.124, 110.130, 110.131, 110.132, 110.133, 110.134, and 110.135.
    17. Section 110.70 is amended by revising paragraph (a), adding a 
new paragraph (b)(4), redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (d), and 
adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec. 110.70  Public notice of receipt of an application.

    (a) The Commission will notice the receipt of each license 
application for an export or import for which a specific license is 
required by placing a copy in the Public Document Room.
    (b) * * *
    (4) Radioactive waste.
    (c) The Commission will also publish in the Federal Register a 
notice of receipt of a license application for an import of radioactive 
waste for which a specific license is required.
* * * * *
    18. Section 110.72 is amended by revising the introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec. 110.72  Availability of documents in the Public Document Room.

    Unless exempt from disclosure under part 9 of this chapter, the 
following documents pertaining to each license and license application 
for an import or export requiring a specific license under this Part 
will be made available in the Public Document Room:
* * * * *
    19. Section 110.82(a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 110.82  Hearing request or intervention petition.

    (a) A person may request a hearing or petition for leave to 
intervene on a license application for an import or export requiring a 
specific license.
* * * * *
    Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of July, 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John C. Hoyle,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 95-17826 Filed 7-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P