[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37733-37734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13468]



[[Page 37733]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Chapter 1


Rulemaking Communications Improvements

AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking comments 
and recommendations from all interested persons regarding options for 
improving NRC communications with the public on agency rulemaking 
activities.

DATES: Submit comments by July 1, 2002. Comments received after this 
date will be considered only if it is practical to do so.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Secretary, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: 
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, Mail Stop O-16C1, or deliver 
written comments to One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal 
workdays.
    You may also provide comments via the NRC's interactive rulemaking 
Web site at http://ruleforum.llnl.gov. This site provides the 
capability to upload comments as files (any format), if your Web 
browser supports that function. For information about the interactive 
rulemaking Web site, contact Ms. Carol Gallagher at (301) 415-5905 or 
by e-mail to [email protected]. Copies of any comments received and certain 
documents related to this notice may be examined at the NRC Public 
Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike 
(first floor), Rockville, Maryland. The NRC maintains an electronic 
Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), which 
provides text and image files of NRC's public documents. Public 
comments on this notice may be accessed In ADAMS through the NRC's 
Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. If you do not have access to ADAMS, or if there 
are problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the 
NRC Public Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-
415-4737 or by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Huffman, Policy and Rulemaking 
Program, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; Telephone: (301) 415-1141; E-
mail: [email protected] or Merri Horn, Rulemaking and Guidance Branch, Office 
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards; Telephone: (301) 415-8126; 
E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC currently communicates with the 
public about rulemaking activities in a number of ways. The agency 
notices all rulemaking actions in the Federal Register, and invites the 
public to comment on noticed actions via mail, hand delivery, or by 
uploading a file to the agency's RuleForum Web site (http://ruleforum.llnl.gov). The RuleForum site contains extensive information 
on both specific rulemakings under development and general rulemaking 
activities, and allows visitors to read comments submitted to the NRC 
by other members of the public. Documents related to rulemaking 
activities, including public comments, can also be accessed online 
through the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS) at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
    In addition, the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR), located at the 
agency's headquarters in Rockville, MD, is open to the public on all 
Federal work days. Occasionally, the agency conducts meetings or 
workshops related to specific rulemakings, events which are publicized 
in the Federal Register and on the NRC's home page (http://www.nrc.gov).
    As part of an ongoing effort to improve stakeholder satisfaction 
with the way the NRC communicates with the public, the agency is 
considering enhancements to its current methods of informing the public 
about rulemaking activities and to encourage public participation in 
the rulemaking process. To support this endeavor, the NRC is requesting 
comment on its rulemaking communications process. Comment is requested 
on, but need not be limited to, the topics below:
    (1) In addition to the use of the Federal Register and the NRC 
rulemaking Web site, what other forums would be effective in informing 
the public about rulemaking activities?--e.g., e-Mail, mailing lists, 
announcements on related Web sites, public meetings, or other 
suggestions.
    (2) The general process used by the public to provide comments on 
rulemakings published in the Federal Register is to either mail the 
comments to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission or use 
the NRC's interactive rulemaking Web site. In addition, public meetings 
are occasionally used for obtaining public comments for some 
rulemakings. Are there any other methods that might be used to 
facilitate public comments on rulemaking activities?
    (3) At what stage(s) of the rulemaking process is interaction with 
the public most effective and beneficial?--e.g., at the beginning of 
the process before a rulemaking plan has been approved; shortly after a 
rulemaking plan has been approved; shortly before issuing a proposed 
rule; during the public comment period; or after a rulemaking has been 
proposed to the public and comments have been received and assessed but 
before the final rule has been approved?
    (4) What method of public interaction on rulemaking activities is 
preferred?--e.g., Federal Register notice; posting draft rule language 
on the Web; meetings; or other suggestions?
    (5) How useful are public meetings for communicating NRC rulemaking 
activities to all stakeholders?
    A. Are there occasions where public meetings are important in 
conducting rulemaking activities?
    B. For those that consider public meetings on rulemaking activities 
an important part of the process, at what stage of the rulemaking 
process would meetings be most beneficial and effective?--e.g., at the 
beginning of the process before a rulemaking plan has been approved; 
shortly after a rulemaking plan has been approved; shortly before 
issuing a proposed rule; during the public comment period; or after a 
rulemaking has been proposed to the public and comments have been 
received and assessed but before the final rule has been approved?
    (6) Are published responses to public comments on proposed rules 
generally comprehensive, clearly written, and well-argued?
    (7) How useful is the initiative by the NRC to place draft 
rulemaking language on the NRC Web site with or without the associated 
statement of considerations?
    (8) How can the NRC obtain better information and comments on the 
cost or benefit of a rulemaking under development--i.e., information 
used to create a regulatory analysis?
    (9) Is the NRC's typical 75-day comment period for proposed rules 
sufficient?

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of May, 2002.


[[Page 37734]]


For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Christopher I. Grimes,
Program Director, Policy and Rulemaking Program, Division of Regulatory 
Improvement Programs, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Patricia K. Holahan,
Chief, Rulemaking and Guidance Branch, Division of Industrial and 
Medical Nuclear Safety, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 02-13468 Filed 5-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P