[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51968-51969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Procedures for Meetings

Background

    This notice describes procedures to be followed with respect to 
meetings conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) 
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) pursuant to the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act. These procedures are set forth so that they may 
be incorporated by reference in future notices for individual meetings.
    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 conducted in accordance with the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act; they 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 process. ACRS reviews do not normally encompass matters 
pertaining to environmental impacts other than those related to 
radiological safety.
    The ACRS 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.

General Rules Regarding ACRS Meetings

    An agenda is published in the Federal Register for each full 
Committee meeting. There may be a need to make changes to the agenda to 
facilitate the conduct of the meeting. The Chairman of the Committee is 
empowered to conduct the meeting in a manner that, in his/her judgment, 
will facilitate the orderly conduct of business, including making 
provisions to continue the discussion of matters not completed on the 
scheduled day on another meeting day. Persons planning to attend the 
meeting may contact the Chief of the Nuclear Reactors Branch, ACRS, 
prior to the meeting to be advised of any changes to the agenda that 
may have occurred. This individual can be contacted (telephone: 301/
415-7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time.
    The following requirements shall apply to public participation in 
ACRS full Committee meetings:
    (a) Persons wishing to submit written comments regarding the agenda 
items

[[Page 51969]]

may do so by sending a readily reproducible copy addressed to the Chief 
of the Nuclear Reactors Branch specified in the Federal Register 
Notice, care of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Comments should be 
limited to items being considered by the Committee. Comments should be 
in the possession of the Chief of the Nuclear Reactors Branch at least 
five days prior to a meeting to allow time for reproduction and 
distribution.
    Written comments may also be submitted by providing a readily 
reproducible copy to the Designated Federal Official at the beginning 
of the meeting.
    (b) Persons desiring to make oral statements at the meeting should 
make a request to do so to 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 orderly arrangements can be made. The 
Committee will hear oral statements on topics being reviewed at an 
appropriate time during the meeting as scheduled by the Chairman.
    (c) Information regarding topics to be discussed, changes to the 
agenda, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, and the 
time allotted to present oral statements can be obtained by contacting 
the 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 presentations and discussions at ACRS meetings, 
questions may be asked only by ACRS members, ACRS consultants and 
staff, and the NRC staff.
    (e) The use of still, motion picture, and television cameras will 
be permitted at the discretion of the Chairman and 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 notified prior to the meeting and will 
authorize the installation or use of such equipment after consultation 
with the Chairman. The use of such equipment will be restricted as is 
necessary to protect proprietary or privileged information that may be 
in documents, folders, etc., in the meeting room. 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 
reproduction charges.
    ACRS meeting agenda, meeting transcripts, and letter reports are 
available for downloading or viewing on the internet at http://
www.nrc.gov/ACRSACNW.
    (g) Video teleconferencing service is available for observing open 
sessions of ACRS meetings. Those wishing to use this service for 
observing ACRS meetings should contact Mr. Theron Brown, ACRS Audio 
Visual Technician, (301-415-8066) between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. 
Eastern Time at least 10 days before the meeting to ensure the 
availability of this service. Individuals or organizations requesting 
this service will be responsible for telephone line charges and for 
providing the equipment and facilities that they use to establish the 
video teleconferencing link. The availability of video teleconferencing 
services is not guaranteed.

ACRS Subcommittee Meetings

    ACRS Subcommittee meetings will also be conducted in accordance 
with the above procedures, as appropriate. When Subcommittee meetings 
are held at locations other than at NRC facilities, reproduction 
facilities may not be available at a reasonable cost. 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 23, 1998.
Andrew L. Bates,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-25994 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P