[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 145 (Thursday, July 29, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19366]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 20


Release of Solid Materials at Licensed Facilities: Postponement 
of Public Meeting Currently Scheduled for August 4-5, 1999, in Chicago, 
Illinois

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of postponement of public meeting scheduled for Chicago, 
Illinois, on August 4-5, 1999.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering a 
rulemaking that would set specific requirements on releases of solid 
materials in order to establish a regulatory framework more consistent 
with existing NRC requirements on air and liquid releases. The NRC 
previously announced its intent to conduct a public meeting on August 4 
and 5 in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss those issues, however that 
meeting is being postponed to allow additional time for participants to 
familiarize themselves with the issues involved.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chip Cameron; e-mail [email protected], 
telephone: (301) 415-1642; Office of the General Counsel, USNRC, 
Washington DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC previously announced in a Federal 
Register Document (FRD) dated June 30, 1999 (64 FR 35090), that it is 
considering a rulemaking that would set specific requirements for 
release of solid materials. That notice also indicated that NRC is 
supplementing its standard rulemaking process by conducting enhanced 
public participatory activities including facilitated public meetings, 
before the start of any formal rulemaking process, to solicit early and 
active public input on major issues associated with release of solid 
materials, including whether the NRC should proceed with such a 
rulemaking. The FRD noted that four public meetings were planned from 
August through November 1999, in Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and 
Washington, DC.
    The first public meeting planned was to be held in Chicago, 
Illinois, on August 4 and 5, 1999. However the NRC has decided to 
postpone the Chicago meeting and reschedule it. The postponed meeting 
will still be held in Chicago on a date to be announced soon. We 
decided to postpone this meeting because several stakeholder groups 
indicated that the short time frame between publication of the June 30, 
1999, FRD and the August 4-5 meeting did not allow for adequate 
preparation and participation. Since NRC is looking for substantive 
reactions and discussions based on the June 30 FRD, it was felt that 
postponing the first of the four workshops to a later date would allow 
all stakeholders to adequately prepare for the discussions and obtain 
the participation of their key leaders knowledgeable about these 
issues.
    The enhanced participatory rulemaking process will begin with the 
San Francisco meeting on September 15-16, 1999. As noted in the June 30 
FRD, the meeting in San Francisco will take place at the Radisson 
Miyako Hotel, 1625 Post St., San Francisco, California. As also noted 
in the June 30 FRD, the meetings in Atlanta and Washington DC will take 
place as scheduled on October 5-6, 1999, and November 1-2, 1999, 
respectively.
    The NRC regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause those 
that planned to attend the Chicago meeting. However, we believe that a 
balance of stakeholders familiar with the issues and alternatives 
associated with potential release of solid materials is critical to 
conducting a comprehensive discussion.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of July, 1999.
Donald A. Cool,
Director, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety.
[FR Doc. 99-19366 Filed 7-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P