[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 191 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 53757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25717]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Standard Review Plan: Licensee Requests To Delay Initiation of 
Decommissioning Activities

    NRC's ``Timeliness in Decommissioning of Materials Facility'' rule 
(hereafter the Timeliness Rule), became effective on August 15, 1994. 
The Timeliness Rule established the criteria necessary to avoid future 
problems resulting from delayed decommissioning of contaminated 
inactive facilities, separate buildings, and outdoor areas.
    In May 1996, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) filed a petition 
for rulemaking to amend the Timeliness Rule to allow licensees to delay 
decommissioning and operate in a ``standby'' mode. NRC denied NEI's 
petition for rulemaking because the Timeliness Rule contains provisions 
which allow licensee's to request delays or postponement of 
decommissioning, provided they can demonstrate that the delay is not 
detrimental to the public health and safety and is otherwise in the 
public interest. However, along with denying the petition, the 
Commission requested that NRC staff prepare guidance to identify the 
acceptance criteria necessary to demonstrate that postponement of 
decommissioning activities will not be detrimental to the public health 
and safety and is otherwise in the public interest.
    In response to the Commission request, NRC staff has developed the 
draft Standard Review Plan (SRP) titled, ``Licensee Requests to Delay 
Initiation of Decommissioning Activities.'' NRC posted the draft SRP on 
the internet (www.nrc.gov/NMSS/DWM/DECOM/decomm.htm) on August 11, 
1999, to provide interested parties an opportunity to review and 
comment on NRC's acceptance criteria necessary to demonstrate that 
postponement of decommissioning activities will not be detrimental to 
the public health and safety and is otherwise in the public interest. 
NRC staff received no comments on the draft SRP by the end of the 
initial comment period. Therefore, NRC staff is extending the comment 
period until October 15, 1999. NRC will consider all comments received 
in finalizing the SRP for implementation.
    The draft SRP is available for inspection at the NRC's Public 
Document Room, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC 20555-0001.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of September 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Larry W. Camper,
Chief, Decommissioning Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-25717 Filed 10-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P