[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49925-49926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23925]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Procedures for Meetings

Background

    Procedures to be followed with respect to meetings conducted 
pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act by the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) Advisory Committee on Reactor 
Safeguards (ACRS) are described in this notice. These procedures are 
set forth in order that they may be incorporated by reference in future 
individual meeting notices.
    The ACRS is a statutory group established by Congress to review and 
report on applications for the licensing of nuclear power reactor 
facilities and on certain other nuclear safety matters. The Committee's 
reports become a part of the public record. The ACRS meetings are 
normally open to the public and provide opportunities for oral or 
written statements from members of the public to be considered as part 
of the Committee's information gathering procedure. The meetings are 
not adjudicatory hearings such as those conducted by the NRC's Atomic 
Safety and Licensing Board Panel as part of the Commission's licensing 
process. ACRS reviews do not normally encompass matters pertaining to 
environmental impacts other than those related to radiological safety. 
ACRS full Committee meetings are conducted in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act.

General Rules Regarding ACRS Meetings

    An Agenda is published in the Federal Register for each full 
Committee meeting. Practical considerations may dictate some changes to 
the agenda. The Chairman of the Committee is empowered to conduct the 
meeting in a manner that, in his judgment, will facilitate the orderly 
conduct of business, including making provisions to continue 
discussions of matters not completed on the scheduled day to the next 
day.
    The following requirements shall apply to public participation in 
ACRS meetings:
    (a) Persons wishing to submit written statements regarding the 
agenda items may do so by providing a readily reproducible copy at the 
beginning of the meeting. Comments should be limited to areas related 
to nuclear safety within the Committee's purview.
    Persons desiring to mail written comments may do so by sending a 
readily reproducible copy addressed to the Designated Federal Official 
specified in the Federal Register notice for the individual meeting in 
care of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Comments should be in the 
possession of the Designated Federal Official at least five days prior 
to a meeting to allow time for reproduction, 

[[Page 49926]]
distribution, and consideration at the meeting.
    (b) Persons desiring to make oral statements at the meeting should 
make a request to do so to the Designated Federal Official prior to the 
beginning of the meeting and summarize the content of the oral 
statements for the Designated Federal Official. If possible, the 
request should be made five days before the meeting, identifying the 
topics to be discussed and the amount of time needed for presentation, 
so that appropriate arrangements can be made. The Committee will hear 
oral statements on topics being reviewed at an appropriate time during 
the meeting scheduled by the Chairman.
    (c) Further information regarding topics to be discussed, whether a 
meeting has been cancelled or rescheduled, and the Chairman's ruling on 
requests for the opportunity to present oral statements and the time 
allotted therefor can be obtained by contacting, at least two days 
prior to the meeting, Chief of the Nuclear Reactors Branch, ACRS 
(telephone: 301/415-7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern 
Time.
    (d) During the ACRS meeting presentations and discussions, 
questions may be asked by ACRS members, Committee consultants, the NRC 
staff, and the ACRS staff.
    (e) The use of still, motion picture, and television cameras will 
be permitted both before the meeting and during any recess, subject to 
the condition that the physical installation and presence of such 
equipment will not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. The 
Designated Federal Official will have to be informed prior to the 
installation or use of such equipment. The use of such equipment will 
be allowed while the meeting is in session at the discretion of the 
Chairman to a degree that it is not disruptive. When use of such 
equipment is permitted, appropriate measures will be taken to protect 
proprietary or privileged information that may be in documents, 
folders, etc., being used during the meeting. Electronic recordings 
will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are 
open to the public.
    (f) A transcript is kept for certain open portions of the meeting 
and will be available in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20555, for use within one week following the 
meeting. A copy of the certified minutes of the meeting will be 
available at the same location on or before three months following the 
meeting. Copies may be obtained upon payment of appropriate charges.
    ACRS Subcommittee meetings will also be conducted in accordance 
with these procedures, as appropriate. When Subcommittee meetings are 
held at locations other than at NRC facilities, reproduction facilities 
are usually not available. Accordingly, 25 additional copies of the 
materials to be used during the meeting should be provided for 
distribution at such meetings.

Special Provisions When Proprietary Sessions Are To Be Held

    If it is necessary to hold closed sessions for the purpose of 
discussing matters involving proprietary information, persons with 
agreements permitting access to such information may attend those 
portions of the ACRS meetings where this material is being discussed 
upon confirmation that such agreements are effective and related to the 
material being discussed.
    The Designated Federal Official should be informed of such an 
agreement at least five working days prior to the meeting so that it 
can be confirmed, and a determination can be made regarding the 
applicability of the agreement to the material that will be discussed 
during the meeting. The minimum information provided should include 
information regarding the date of the agreement, the scope of material 
included in the agreement, the project or projects involved, and the 
names and titles of the persons signing the agreement. Additional 
information may be requested to identify the specific agreement 
involved. A copy of the executed agreement should be provided to the 
Designated Federal Official prior to the beginning of the meeting for 
admittance to the closed session.

    Dated: September 21, 1995.
Andrew L. Bates,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 95-23925 Filed 9-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M