[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66498-66499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32109]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 60

RIN 3150-AC03


Elimination of Inconsistencies Between NRC Regulations and EPA 
High-Level Waste Standards

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule: Withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is withdrawing a 
notice of proposed rulemaking that would have eliminated several 
inconsistencies with the generic Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
standards to be developed for the disposal of High-Level Waste (HLW) in 
deep geologic repositories. Because the NRC is developing site-specific 
disposal regulations for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, consistent with the 
Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EnPA), the proposed rule is being withdrawn.

ADDRESSES: The Commission paper, the staff requirement memoranda (SRM), 
and associated documents are available for public inspection, and 
copying for a fee, at the NRC Public Document Room located at 2120 L 
Street NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20012-7082, telephone: (202) 
512-2249.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim McCartin, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone (301) 415-6681, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    On June 19, 1986 (51 FR 22288), the NRC published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register that would have eliminated 
several inconsistencies with the EPA standards to be developed for the 
disposal of HLW in deep geologic repositories. The Nuclear Waste Policy 
Act of 1982 (NWPA) directs NRC to issue criteria for the licensing of 
HLW geologic repositories. Section 121(c) of this Act states that the 
criteria for the licensing of HLW geologic repositories must be 
consistent with these standards. The proposed rule was necessary to 
eliminate several inconsistencies with the EPA standards, thus 
fulfilling the statutory requirement. However, since then, Congress 
passed the EnPA, which requires EPA to issue radiation standards for 
the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, based on and 
consistent with the findings and recommendations of the National 
Academy of Sciences (NAS). Under EnPA, NRC is also required to develop 
site-specific disposal regulations that would apply solely to the 
proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. NAS published its 
findings and recommendations in 1995.
    The NRC staff has considered and is implementing a strategy for 
developing site-specific disposal regulations that would apply solely 
to the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, and is deferring 
the updating of 10 CFR Part 60 generic requirements to a later date. 
These site-specific regulations will be issued consistent with EnPA, 
which also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to issue 
radiation standards for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, based 
on and consistent with the 1995 findings and recommendations of the 
NAS.
    The NRC staff's strategy for developing the site-specific disposal

[[Page 66499]]

regulations for Yucca Mountain can be found in a Commission paper, 
designated SECY-97-300, dated December 24, 1997. This strategy was 
approved by the SRM dated March 6, 1998. Because the NRC is developing 
site-specific disposal regulations for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the 
proposed rulemaking is being withdrawn.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of November, 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John C. Hoyle,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 98-32109 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
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