[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 67492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29902]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Pilot Program on the Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the 
Enforcement Program; Request for Comments and Announcement of Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Request for comments and announcement of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has recently approved an NRC staff proposal to 
develop a pilot program on the use of ``Alternative Dispute 
Resolution'' (ADR) in cases involving the NRC's enforcement activities 
concerning allegations or findings of discrimination and other 
wrongdoing. See SECY-03-0115. ``ADR'' is a term that refers to a number 
of processes that can be used in assisting parties in resolving 
disputes and potential conflicts. Most of these processes are 
voluntary, where the parties to the dispute are in control of the 
decision on whether to participate in the process and whether to agree 
to any resolution of the dispute. The parties are assisted in their 
efforts to reach agreement by a neutral third party. The NRC staff is 
now proceeding to develop the policies and procedures for 
implementation of the pilot program. As an initial step in the 
development of the pilot program, the NRC will be holding a public 
workshop on December 10, 2003, at One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Room 014B6, Rockville, Maryland from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
to discuss multiple issues. These issues include: (1) How should cases 
be selected for the use of ADR?, (2) What ADR processes should be 
used?, (3) What is the appropriate NRC involvement in the early ADR 
process?, (4) Who Should Participate in the ADR Process?, (5) How 
Should Neutrals Be Selected?, (6) How Should Confidentiality Be 
Handled?, (7) What Information Concerning ADR Sessions Should Be 
Public?, (8) How Will NRC internal management procedures Be Impacted?, 
(9) How Will The Program Be Coordinated with NRC Enforcement Process? 
(10) What Training Will Be Done?, and (11) How Will The Program Be 
Evaluated? These issues are addressed in a document for comment on the 
NRC's Web site at http://www.nrc.gov: select What We Do, Enforcement, 
then Alternative Dispute Resolution. This document is also available in 
ADAMS at ML033290248.

DATES: The comment period expires December 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit written responses to the issues addressed in the 
``ADR Pilot Program Discussion Issues'' document included on the ADR 
Web page to Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of 
Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mail Stop T-6D59, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Hand 
deliver comments to: 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 
7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays. Comments may be submitted by 
e-mail to [email protected]. Copies of comments received may be examined 
at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North 
(O1-F21), Rockville, Maryland, 20852-2738.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Hilton, Enforcement Specialist, 
Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001, (301) 415-2741, e-mail [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of November, 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Frank J. Congel,
Director, Office of Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 03-29902 Filed 12-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P