[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65613-65614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27242]


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

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 70-3103]


Louisiana Energy Services Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Facility

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Extension of opportunity to provide public comments.

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

SUMMARY: In a Federal Register Notice (67 FR 61932), dated October 2, 
2002, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested comments 
from members of the public concerning a series of ``white papers'' 
presented to the NRC by the Louisiana Energy Services (LES) addressing 
licensing issues for a gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facility to be 
located in the area of Hartsville, Trousdale County, Tennessee. The 
October 2, 2002, Federal Register Notice provided a 30-day comment 
period. As a result of comments made at an October 14, 2002, public 
information forum sponsored by Trousdale County, Tennessee, the 
Commission is extending the comment period to November 13, 2002.

DATES: Comments are due by November 13, 2002. Comments received after 
this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the NRC 
is able to ensure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Timothy C. Johnson, Project 
Manager, Special Projects and Inspection Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle 
Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T-8A33, 
Washington, DC 20555. Telephone (301) 415-7299, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Federal Register Notice (67 FR 61932), 
dated October 2, 2002, NRC published an opportunity for the public to 
provide comments on six pre-application policy issue ``white papers.'' 
LES submitted these white papers to the Commission as LES believes that 
Commission direction on these issues will be essential to the conduct 
of an efficient regulatory review process. The white papers addressed 
the following subjects:

1. Analysis of need for the facility and the no-action alternative 
under the National Environmental Policy Act;
2. Environmental justice;
3. Financial qualifications;
4. Antitrust review;
5. Foreign ownership;
6. Disposition of depleted uranium tails.

    A public meeting was held on April 30, 2002, to discuss these 
papers. Comments on the papers were submitted by two attendees at the 
meeting: the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States 
Enrichment Corporation (USEC). The NRC prepared a meeting summary, 
dated May 28, 2002, which is publicly available. At the time of the 
April meeting, LES had not chosen a site for the facility.
    On October 14, 2002, at a public information forum sponsored by

[[Page 65614]]

Trousdale County, Tennessee, several members of the public requested a 
90-day extension of the comment period because the opportunity to 
provide comments was not locally advertised. On October 16, 2002, LES 
requested that NRC extend the comment period to end 30 days after the 
public information forum on October 14, 2002. After considering these 
requests, the Commission is extending the comment period. NRC considers 
that the extension provides sufficient time for members of the public 
to review the LES ``white papers'' and provide comment.
    The April 24, 2002, LES ``white papers''; the May 28, 2002, NRC 
Meeting Summary; DOE's July 25, 2002, comments; and USEC's June 19, 
2002, comments are accessible electronically from the NRC Agency wide 
Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic 
Reading Room on the internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/adams.html. The ADAMS Accession Numbers for these documents 
are: ML022350051, ML021480298, ML022350130, and ML021770197, 
respectively. These documents may also be examined and/or copied for a 
fee at NRC's Public Document Room located at One White Flint North, 
11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.
    Members of the public may provide comments by November 13, 2002. 
The comments may be provided to Michael Lesar, Chief, Rules Review and 
Directives Branch, Division of Administration Services, Office of 
Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day October, 2002.

    For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Melvyn N. Leach,
Chief, Special Projects and Inspection Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle 
Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 02-27242 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P