[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21684-21685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8371]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 71


Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material; 
Solicitation of Comments on Proposed Changes

AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Solicitation of comments on proposed changes.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT) are jointly seeking comments on 
proposed changes to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (referred to 
as TS-R-1). The proposed changes were submitted by the U.S. and other 
IAEA member states and International Organizations, and might 
necessitate subsequent domestic

[[Page 21685]]

compatibility rulemakings by both the NRC and the DOT.

DATES: Proposed changes will be accepted until July 1, 2005. Proposed 
changes received after this date will be considered if it is practical 
to do so, but the NRC is able to assure consideration only for proposed 
changes received on or before this date.

ADDRESSES: Mail proposed changes to Michael Lesar, Chief, Rules and 
Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of 
Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001.
    Hand deliver proposed changes to Two White Flint North, 11545 
Rockville Pike (Mail Stop T6D59), Rockville, Maryland 20852, between 
7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Cook, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001, telephone: (301) 415-8521; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The IAEA periodically revises its Regulations for the Safe 
Transport of Radioactive Material (TS-R-1) to reflect new information 
and accumulated experience. The DOT is the U.S. competent authority 
before the IAEA for radioactive material transportation matters. The 
NRC provides technical support to the DOT in this regard, particularly 
with respect to Type B and fissile packages.
    On April 7, 2005, the IAEA posted for comment 28 proposed changes 
to TS-R-1. The IAEA's review process calls for Member States and 
International Organizations to provide comments to the IAEA by August 
5, 2005. The proposed changes may be incorporated in a revised edition 
of the regulations in 2007, nominally to become effective worldwide in 
2009. To assure opportunity for public involvement in the international 
regulatory development process, the DOT and the NRC are soliciting 
comments on the proposed changes at this time. This information will 
assist the DOT and the NRC in having a full range of views as the 
agencies develop comments the U.S. will submit to the IAEA.
    The following documents are available for viewing and downloading 
on the Internet at: http://hazmat.dot.gov/regs/files/IAEADraftChanges.htm.
     Table of the regulatory changes proposed by the IAEA.
     A consolidated draft of the proposed TS-R-1 revision.
     A standard comment form for the proposed TS-R-1 revision.
     Table of the advisory material changes proposed by the 
IAEA.
     A consolidated draft of the proposed TS-G-1.1 revision.
     A standard comment form for the proposed TS-G-1.1 
revisions.
    Public comments on proposed changes must be submitted in writing 
(electronic file on disk in Word format preferred) using the standard 
comment forms referred to above. The NRC and the DOT will review the 
public comments received by July 1, 2005. Based in part on the 
information, the agencies will determine the U.S. comments on the 
proposed changes to be submitted to IAEA by August 5, 2005.
    Comments on the proposed changes from the U.S., other Member States 
and International Organizations will be considered at an IAEA Review 
Panel Meeting to be convened by IAEA on September 5-9, 2005, in Vienna, 
Austria. Note that future domestic rulemakings, if necessary, will 
continue to follow established rulemaking procedures, including the 
opportunity to formally comment on proposed rules.

    Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of April 2005.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
David W. Pstrak,
Transportation and Storage Project Manager, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 05-8371 Filed 4-26-05; 8:45 am]
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