[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 10, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37471-37472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13318]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 71


Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material; 
Solicitation of Issue Proposals

AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Solicitation of Proposed Issues or Identified Problems with the 
International Atomic Energy Agency Regulations.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT) are jointly seeking proposed issues 
or identified problems with the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA) Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material 
(referred to as TS-R-1). Proposed issues or identified problems that 
are submitted by the United States and other IAEA member states and 
International Organizations might necessitate subsequent domestic 
compatibility rulemakings by both NRC and DOT.

DATES: Proposed issues or identified problems will be accepted until 
August 15, 2007. Proposals received after this date will be considered 
if it is practical to do so, however we are only able to assure 
consideration for proposals received on or before this date.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted either electronically or via U.S. 
mail.
    Mail proposed issues or identified problems to Michael T. Lesar, 
Chief, Rulemaking, Directives and Editing Branch, Mail Stop T6-D59, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Deliver 
proposals to 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, between 
7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. on Federal workdays. Submit proposals by 
electronic mail to: [email protected].
    Copies of proposal documents received may be reviewed at the NRC's 
Public Document Room, One White Flint North, Public File Area 01-F21, 
11555 Rockville Pike (First Floor), Rockville, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele M. Sampson, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, USNRC, Washington, DC 20555-0001, 
telephone: (301) 492-3292; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. 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 regard to Type B and fissile transportation packages.
    The IAEA recently initiated the review cycle for a potential 2011 
edition of TS-R-1. The IAEA's review process calls for Member States 
and International Organizations to provide proposals for review of 
issues or identified problems with the regulations to the IAEA by 
August 31, 2007. To assure opportunity for public involvement in the 
international regulatory development process, the DOT and the NRC are 
soliciting proposals for issues or identified problems with the IAEA 
international transportation standard, TS-R-1, at this time.
    A specific area of interest are proposals related to the IAEA 
package surface contamination limits in TS-R-1. In 2000, an IAEA 
Coordinated Research Project (CRP) to review contamination control 
methods and develop a non-fixed contamination dose model for packages 
was initiated. The results of the CRP were published as IAEA-TECDOC-
1449, Radiological aspects of non-fixed contamination of packages and 
conveyances, June 2005 (available at www.iaea.org). The CRP concluded 
that the current limits for non-fixed contamination on packages were 
developed using very conservative assumptions. Potential alternative 
methods of specifying contamination limits could include a radionuclide 
specific approach. We are seeking input regarding the usefulness, 
feasibility or practicality of implementing dose-based package surface 
contamination limits, and the issues or identified problems pertinent 
to incorporation of new non-fixed contamination limits into TS-R-1.
    The focus of this solicitation is to identify issues or problems 
with the current 2005 edition of TS-R-1. While it is helpful to 
identify potential changes or solutions to resolve the identified 
issues or problems, it is not required to provide a proposed change to 
accompany each identified issue or problem. This information will 
assist the DOT and the NRC in having a full range of views as the 
agencies develop the proposed issues the U.S. will submit to the IAEA.

II. Public Participation

    Proposed issues or identified problems should cite the publication 
date and page number of this Federal Register document. Proposals must 
be submitted in writing (electronic file on disk in WordPerfect format 
preferred) and should include:
     Name;
     Address;
     Telephone No.;
     E-mail address;
     Principal objective of issue or identified problem (e.g., 
Required to provide adequate protection to health and safety of public 
and occupational workers, needed to define or redefine level of 
protection to health and safety of public and occupational workers, 
required for consistency within the Transport Regulations, required as 
a result of advances in technology, needed to improve implementation of 
the Transport Regulations);
     Topic of issue or identified problem--Describe or frame 
the issue or the identified problem by reference to or using the table 
of contents of TS-R-1 (2005 Edition) and the Advisory Material for the 
IAEA Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material (TS-G-
1.1 (ST-2));
     Justification for proposed change--Provide a clear 
statement of the main objectives of the proposed change and the 
solution ``path'' (e.g., change to regulations, additional guidance, a 
research project);
     An assessment of the benefits and impacts of the proposed 
change--Including changes in public and occupational exposure, changes 
in accident risk, and effects on health, safety or the natural 
environment. The affected parties should be identified.
     Paragraphs affected and proposed text change to regulatory 
text in TS-R-1;
     Paragraphs affected and proposed text change to IAEA 
advisory material in TS-G-1.1;
     A listing of any applicable reference documents;
     Description of issue or identified problem to be 
addressed;
     Summary of proposed solution to the issue or identified 
problem; and
     Expected cost of implementation (negligible, low, medium 
or high).
    The DOT and the NRC will review the proposed issues, identified 
problems,

[[Page 37472]]

rationales and, if included, changes and proposed solutions. Based in 
part on the information received, the U.S. will develop proposed issues 
or identified problems to be submitted to the IAEA by August 31, 2007.
    Proposed issues and identified problems from all Member States and 
International Organizations will be considered at an IAEA Transport 
Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) Meeting to be convened by IAEA on 
October 1-5, 2007, in Vienna, Austria. Prior to that meeting, the DOT 
and the NRC will consider holding a public meeting to discuss the U.S. 
proposed changes submitted to the IAEA.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of June 2007.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Kevin Williams,
Chief, Rules, Inspections, and Operations Branch, Division of Spent 
Fuel Storage and Transportation, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. E7-13318 Filed 7-9-07; 8:45 am]
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