[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 13414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3702]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Z-RIN 1660-ZA02


Preparedness Directorate; Protective Action Guides for 
Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) 
Incidents; Notice Extending the Public Comment Period

AGENCY: Preparedness Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice extending the public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: On January 3, 2006, the Preparedness Directorate of the 
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued ``Protective Action Guides 
for Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device 
(IND) Incidents'' at 71 FR 173 to establish guidance for planning for 
and responding to an RDD or IND incident. The guidance included 
recommended ``protective action guidelines'' (PAGs) to support 
decisions to protect the public in response to an RDD or IND incident. 
The Notice invited the public to comment on the guidance from the date 
of publication through March 6, 2006. DHS has received requests from 
several organizations to extend the comment period to allow for further 
review of the guidance and preparation of comments. Accordingly, DHS 
has extended the comment period for this interim rule until April 14, 
2006. This Notice informs the public that the comment period has been 
extended until April 14, 2006.

DATES: Comments on the guidance should be submitted on or before April 
14, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket Number FEMA-
2004-0004, Legacy ID DHS-2004-0029, and Z-RIN 1660-ZA02, by one of the 
following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include the Docket Number FEMA-2004-
0004, Legacy ID DHS-2004-0029, and Z-RIN 1660-ZA02 in the subject line 
of the message.
    Fax: 202-646-4536.
    Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Rules Docket Clerk, Office of the 
General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 406, 500 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://regulations.gov. Submitted comments may 
also be inspected at 500 C Street, SW., Room 406, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Conklin, Director, Chemical and 
Nuclear Preparedness and Protection Division, Preparedness Directorate, 
Department of Homeland Security, 1800 South Bell Street, Crystal City, 
VA 22202; 703-605-1228 (phone), 703-605-1198 (facsimile), or 
[email protected] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 3, 2006, the Preparedness 
Directorate of DHS issued ``Protective Action Guides for Radiological 
Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents'' 
at 71 FR 173 for Federal agencies, and, as appropriate, State and local 
governments, emergency responders, and the general public who may find 
it useful in planning and responding to an RDD or IND incident. The 
guidance recommends ``protective action guidelines'' (PAGs) to support 
decisions about actions that may need to be taken to protect the public 
when responding to or recovering from an RDD or IND incident. It also 
outlines a process to implement the recommendations and discusses 
operational guidelines that may be useful in the implementation of the 
PAGs. The full text of the document was included in the Notice. The 
guidance was provided for interim use and may be revised based on 
comments received. The Preparedness Directorate sought input on the 
guidance through a notice of public comment period that extended from 
publication of the Notice on January 3, 2006 through March 6, 2006. A 
number of comments have been provided by the public to date. Several 
potential commenters, however, have requested additional time to 
prepare and submit comments. Accordingly, DHS has extended the comment 
period until April 14, 2006.

    Dated: March 9, 2006.
George W. Foresman,
Under Secretary for Preparedness.
 [FR Doc. E6-3702 Filed 3-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-21-P