[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 13157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4899]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 49 / Wednesday, March 12, 2008 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 13157]]



NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 50

RIN 3150-AI10


Enhancements to Emergency Preparedness Regulations

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Availability of preliminary draft rule language.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is making 
available preliminary draft rule language that would constitute 
amendments to its regulations on emergency preparedness (EP). The 
release of the preliminary draft requirements is intended to inform 
stakeholders of the current status of the NRC's activities on its EP 
rulemaking. The goal of this rulemaking is to enhance EP regulations 
based on operating experience and the post-September 11, 2001, threat 
environment. The Commission has not reviewed the preliminary draft rule 
language, and this preliminary draft rule language may be subject to 
significant revisions during the rulemaking process.

DATES: The NRC is not soliciting formal public comments on the 
preliminary draft rule language at this time. Comments can be submitted 
for NRC consideration in the development of the proposed rule through 
the www.regulations.gov Web site until July 1st, 2008. There will be an 
opportunity for formal public comment on the proposed rule when the 
notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The preliminary draft rule language can be viewed and 
downloaded electronically via the Federal rulemaking Web site at 
www.regulations.gov and can be found by searching under Docket ID no. 
NRC-2008-0122. Along with any publicly available documents related to 
this rulemaking, the draft information may be viewed electronically on 
public computers in the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR), located at 
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 
Room O-1 F21, and open to the public on Federal workdays from 7:45 a.m. 
until 4:15 p.m. The PDR reproduction contractor will make copies of 
documents for a fee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Quinones-Navarro, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone (301) 415-2007, e-mail, 
[email protected]; or Kathryn Brock, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident 
Response, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001, telephone (301) 415-2015, e-mail, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC staff is making a preliminary 
version of the draft proposed rule language available to inform 
stakeholders of the current status of the NRC's EP rulemaking effort. 
The staff recognizes that security-based events differ from accidental 
events at nuclear power plants and that EP regulations and guidance 
could be enhanced to better reflect the security elements in these 
regulations. Additionally, the NRC staff has determined that other 
aspects of the EP regulations could be enhanced based on years of EP 
inspection program implementation and stakeholder input. The rulemaking 
would codify security-based response elements of NRC Bulletin 2005-02, 
``Emergency Preparedness and Response Actions for Security-Based 
Events.'' It would also enhance other key EP regulations in the areas 
of NRC-evaluated biennial exercises, emergency response organization 
staffing, emergency response facilities and equipment, and emergency 
plan maintenance and implementation.
    The Commission paper (SECY-06-0200) which provided the results of 
the NRC staff review of the NRC's EP program and its recommendations 
regarding proposed enhancements to the EP regulations and guidance may 
be found at the NRC public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/secys/2006/secy2006-0200/2006-0200scy.pdf. 
The Rulemaking Plan concerning the revision of EP regulations and 
guidance may be found at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/rulemaking/rulemaking-plans.html.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of February, 2008.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Arlon Costa,
Chief, Financial Policy and Rulemaking Branch, Division of Policy and 
Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
 [FR Doc. E8-4899 Filed 3-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P