[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 47835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24141]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Documents Containing Reporting or Recordkeeping Requirements: 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

ACTION: Notice of the OMB review of information collection and 
solicitation of public comment.

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SUMMARY: The NRC has recently submitted to OMB for review the following 
proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    1. Type of submission, new, revision, or extension: Revision.
    2. The title of the information collection: Proposed Rule, 10 CFR 
part 50, Financial Assurance Requirements for Decommissioning Nuclear 
Power Reactors.
    3. The form number if applicable: Not applicable.
    4. How often is the collection required: The initial report is to 
be submitted within 9 months after the effective date of this rule, and 
then at least once every 2 years. Any licensee that is within 5 years 
of the projected end of operation would be required to report annually.
    5. Who will be required or asked to report: Part 50 licensees.
    6. An estimate of the number of responses: About 100 responses 
within 9 months of the rule's effective date, then 100 responses every 
2 years, or an average of 50 per year.
    7. The estimated number of annual respondents: About 100 the first 
year, then approximately 50 licensees per year.
    8. An estimate of the total number of hours needed annually to 
complete the requirement or request: 800 the first year and 400 each 
year thereafter (8 hours per respondent).
    9. An indication of whether Section 3507(d), Pub. L. 104-13 
applies: Applicable.
    10. Abstract: Potential deregulation of the power generating 
industry has created uncertainty with respect to whether current NRC 
regulations concerning decommissioning funds and the financial 
mechanisms will require a modification to account for utility 
reorganizations not contemplated when current financial assurance 
requirements were promulgated. Therefore, the NRC is proposing to 
require power reactor licensees to periodically report on the status of 
their decommissioning funds. This mandatory requirement will ensure 
that sufficient funds will be set aside for decommissioning.
    The NRC is planning to issue a Regulatory Guide relative to this 
proposed rule in which the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) 
draft standard No. 158-B, ``Accounting for Certain Liabilities Related 
to Closure or Removal of Long-Lived Assets,'' will be endorsed for the 
reporting requirements of the proposed rule.
    Submit, by October 14, 1997, comments that address the following 
questions:
    1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC 
to properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical 
utility?
    2. Is the burden estimate accurate?
    3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected?
    4. How can the burden of information collection be minimized, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology?
    A copy of the submittal may be viewed free of charge at the NRC 
Public Document Room, 2120 L Street NW, (lower level), Washington, DC. 
The proposed rule indicated in ``The title of the information 
collection'' is or has been published in the Federal Register within 
several days of the publication date of this Federal Register Notice. 
Instructions for accessing the electronic OMB clearance package for the 
rulemaking have been appended to the electronic rulemaking. Members of 
the public may access the OMB clearance package by following the 
directions for electronic access provided in the preamble to the titled 
rulemaking.
    Comments and questions should be directed to the OMB reviewer by 
October 14, 1997: Norma Gonzales, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs (3150-0011), NEOB-10202, Office of Management and Budget, 
Washington, DC 20503.
    Comments can also be submitted by telephone at (202) 395-3084.
    The NRC Clearance Officer is Brenda Jo. Shelton, (301) 415-7233.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day of September, 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Arnold E. Levin,
Acting Designated Senior Official for Information Resources Management.
[FR Doc. 97-24141 Filed 9-10-97; 8:45 am]
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