[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 5348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2736]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NUREG-1620]


Solicitation of Comments on a Draft Standard Review Plan (NUREG-
1620) for Staff Reviews of Reclamation Plans for Mill Tailings Sites 
Under Title II of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability; Opportunity for comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is soliciting 
comments from interested parties on a Draft Standard Review Plan 
(NUREG-1620) which provides guidance for staff reviews of Reclamation 
Plans for uranium mill tailings sites covered by Title II of the 
Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act. An NRC Materials License 
is required, under the provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, part 40 (10 CFR part 40), Domestic Licensing of Source 
Material, in conjunction with uranium or thorium milling, or with 
byproduct material at sites formerly associated with such milling.
    Appendix A to part 40 establishes technical and other criteria 
relating to siting, operation, decontamination, decommissioning, and 
reclamation of mills and tailings. The licensee's site Reclamation Plan 
documents how the proposed activities demonstrate compliance with the 
criteria in Appendix A. This information, and the licensee's 
Environmental Report, are used by the NRC staff to determine whether 
the proposed activities will be protective of public health and safety 
and the environment.
    This Standard Review Plan provides the NRC staff with specific 
guidance on performing reviews of this information and will be used to 
ensure a consistent quality and uniformity of staff reviews. Each 
section in the review plan provides guidance on what is to be reviewed, 
the basis for the review, how the staff review is to be accomplished, 
what the staff will find acceptable in a demonstration of compliance 
with the regulations, and the conclusions that are sought regarding the 
applicable sections in 10 CFR part 40, Appendix A. The Standard Review 
Plan is also intended to improve the understanding of interested 
members of the public, and the uranium recovery industry, of the staff 
review process.
    A draft of NUREG-1620 was issued in January 1999 for public 
comment. A final NUREG-1620, which incorporated NRC staff responses to 
the comments received on the draft, was issued in June 2000. This draft 
of NUREG-1620 was developed from the final version of the Standard 
Review Plan. The issue of a new draft Standard Review Plan was a result 
of Commission policy decisions affecting uranium recovery issues, which 
are described in NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2000 -23, dated November 
30, 2000.
    Opportunity to Comment: Interested parties are invited to comment 
on the new draft standard review plan. A final standard review plan 
will be prepared after the NRC staff has evaluated comments received on 
the draft standard review plan. Written comments must be received prior 
to April 22, 2002. Comments on the draft standard review plan should be 
sent to the Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
    A copy of the Draft Standard Review Plan (NUREG-1620) may be 
obtained by writing to the Reproduction and Distribution Services 
Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, 
or e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Lusher @ (301) 415-7694 or 
[email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of January, 2002.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Melvyn N. Leach,
 Chief, Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, and 
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 02-2736 Filed 2-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P