[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19302-19304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8503]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
32 CFR Part 655
RIN 0702-AA58
[Docket No. USA-2008-0001]
Radiation Sources on Army Land
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army proposes to revise its regulations
concerning radiation sources on Army land. The Army requires Non-Army
agencies (including their civilian contractors) to obtain an Army
Radiation Permit (ARP) from the garrison commander to use, store or
possess ionizing radiation sources on an Army Installation. For the
purpose of this proposed rule, ``ionizing radiation source'' means any
source that, if held or owned by an Army organization, would require a
specific Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license or Army Radiation
Authorization (ARA). The purpose of the ARP is to protect the public,
civilian employees and military personnel on an installation from
potential exposure to radioactive sources. The U.S. Army Safety Office
which is the proponent for the Army Radiation Safety Program is
revising the regulation to reflect the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
changes to licensing of Naturally-Occurring and Accelerator-Produced
Radioactive Material (NARM). Executive Order 12866 Regulatory Planning
and Review and Executive Order 13422 Further Amendment to Executive
Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review were followed to rewrite
this rule.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by June 14,
2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by 32 CFR Part 655,
Docket No. USA-2008-0001 and/or RIN 0702-AA58, by any of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 1160
Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-1160.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this
Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other
submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions
available for public viewing on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Mikulski, (703) 601-2408.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
On October 1, 2007, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued
a final rule which establishes requirements for the expanded definition
of byproduct material. 72 FR 55864 (Oct. 1, 2007). The final regulation
became effective on November 30, 2007. The NRC revised the definition
of byproduct material in 10 CFR Parts 20, 30, 50, 72, 150, 170, and 171
to be consistent with section 651(e) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
The same revision to the definition of byproduct material was made in a
separate rulemaking for 10 CFR Part 110 (April 20, 2006; 71 FR 20336).
The Department of the Army is revising 32 CFR Part 655 to reflect the
changes of the expanded definition of byproduct material that include
Naturally-Occurring and Accelerator-Produced Radioactive Material
(NARM). Specifically, the current 32 CFR 655.10 paragraphs (a)(2), (3)
and (4) have been removed, as the sources described in these sections
will now be covered under 32 CFR 655.10(a)(1), which incorporates the
expanded NRC definition of byproduct material (see, e.g., 10 CFR
20.1003).
Additional changes in the rule include:
--Clarification that the use, storage, or possession of ionizing
radiation sources must be in connection with an activity of the
Department of Defense or in connection with a service to be performed
on the installation for the benefit of the Department of Defense, in
accordance with 10 U.S.C. 2692(b)(1).
--The use of ionizing radiation to differentiate between ionizing
and nonionizing radioactive sources. Nonionizing radiation sources
include lasers and radio frequency sources that are not covered by an
ARP.
--The addition of an exemption of (1) non-Army entities using Army
owned/licensed radioactive materials and (2) other Military Departments
needing an ARP to bring radioactive sources on Army lands. The
Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) must be notified prior to ionizing
radiation sources being brought onto the installation.
--Clarification on when to file a NRC Form 241.
--The time the ARP is valid has been extended from three months to
twelve months to reduce the need for reapplication.
--Consideration of host nation regulations was included for Outside
the Continental United States (OCONUS) military installations.
--The land will be restored to the condition it was in prior to the
effective date of the ARP.
B. Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Department has certified that the rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities
because the rule imposes no additional costs. However, since this is a
proposed rule, the Department of the Army seeks comments from small
entities that may be impacted by this proposed rule change.
[[Page 19303]]
C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
The Department of the Army has determined that the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act does not apply because the proposed rule does not
include a mandate that may result in estimated costs to State, local or
Tribal governments in the aggregate, or the private sector, of $100
million or more.
D. National Environmental Policy Act
The Army has determined that this is not a major Federal action
significantly affecting the human environment.
E. Paperwork Reduction Act
Section 655.10(d) of this proposed rule contains information
collection requirements. DoD has submitted the following proposal to
OMB under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of DoD, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of
the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Title: Letter Permit for Non-Army Agency Radiation Sources on Army
Land.
Type of Request: Reinstatement.
Number of Respondents: 235.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 235.
Average Burden per Response: 2 hours.
Annual Burden Hours: 470 hours.
Needs and Uses: Army radiation permits are required for use,
storage, or possession of radiation sources by non-Army agencies
(including their civilian contractors) on an Army installation.
The non-Army applicant will apply by letter, e-mail or facsimile
with supporting documentation to the garrison commander through the
appropriate tenant commander or garrison director.
The Army radiation permit application will specify the effective
date and duration for the Army radiation permit and describe the
purposes for which the Army radiation permit is being sought. The
application will include identification of the trained operating
personnel who will be responsible for implementation of the activities
authorized by the permit and a summary of their professional
qualifications; the point-of-contact name and phone number for the
application; the applicant's radiation safety Standing Operating
Procedures (SOPs); storage provisions when the radiation source is not
in use; and procedures for notifying the installation of reportable
incidents/accidents.
Affected Public: Business or other for-profit entities; not-for-
profit institutions; State, local or Tribal governments.
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Written comments and recommendations on the proposed information
collection should be sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Desk
Officer for the Department of Defense, Room 10235, New Executive Office
Building, Washington, DC 20503, fax number: (202) 395-5167, with a copy
to the Department of the Army, Army Safety Office, Chief of Staff DACS-
SF, 2221 S. Clark Street, Room 1113, Arlington, VA 22202 Attn: Mr. Greg
Komp, telephone (703) 601-2405. Comments can be received from 30 to 60
days after the date of this notice, but comments to OMB will be most
useful if received by OMB within 30 days after the date of this notice.
You may also submit comments, identified by docket number and
title, by the following method:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency
name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The
general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the
public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov as they are received without
change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.
To request more information on this proposed information collection
or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection
instruments, please write or e-mail the Department of the Army, Army
Safety Office, Chief of Staff DACS-SF, 2221 S. Clark Street, Room 1113,
Arlington, VA 22202 Attn: Mr. Greg Komp, telephone (703) 601-2405 or e-
mail [email protected].
F. Executive Order 12630 (Government Actions and Interference With
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights)
The Department of the Army has determined that Executive Order
12630 does not apply because the proposed rule does not impair private
property rights.
G. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review)
The Department of the Army has determined that according to the
criteria defined in Executive Order 12866 this proposed rule is a
significant regulatory action. As such, the proposed rule was subject
to Office of Management and Budget review under section 6(a)(3) of the
Executive Order.
H. Executive Order 13045 (Protection of Children From Environmental
Health Risk and Safety Risks)
The Department of the Army has determined that according to section
2-202 of Executive Order 13045 this proposed rule is not a covered
regulatory action to which Executive Order 13045 applies nor will this
rule present environmental health risks or safety risks that will
disproportionately affect children.
I. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)
The Department of the Army has determined that this proposed rule
will not have a substantial effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
William T. Wolf,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Director of Army Staff Safety.
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 655
Environmental protection, Radiation protection.
For reasons stated in the preamble the Department of the Army
proposes to revise 32 CFR Part 655 to read as follows:
PART 655--RADIATION SOURCES ON ARMY LAND
Authority: 10 U.S.C. 3012.
Sec. 655.10 Oversight of radiation sources brought on Army land by
non-Army entities (AR 385-10).
(a) Army radiation permits are required for use, storage, or
possession of ionizing radiation sources by non-Army agencies
(including their civilian contractors) on an Army installation. Such
use, storage, or possession of ionizing radiation sources must be in
connection with an activity of the Department of Defense or in
connection with a service to be performed on the installation for the
benefit of the Department of Defense, in accordance with 10 U.S.C.
2692(b)(1). Approval by
[[Page 19304]]
the garrison commander is required to obtain an Army radiation permit.
For the purposes of this section, an ionizing radiation source is:
(1) Radioactive material used, stored, or possessed under the
authority of a specific license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) or an Agreement State (10 CFR Parts 30, 40, and 70 or
Agreement State equivalent); or
(2) A machine-produced ionizing-radiation source capable of
producing an area, accessible to individuals, in which radiation levels
could result in an individual receiving a dose equivalent in excess of
0.1 rem (1 mSv) in 1 hour at 30 centimeters from the ionizing radiation
source or from any surface that the radiation penetrates.
(b) A permit is not required for Non-Army entities (including
civilian contractors) that use Army licensed radioactive material on
Army installations in coordination with the NRC licensee. The Non-Army
entity must obtain permission from the Army NRC licensee to use the
radioactive materials and be in compliance with all of the Army NRC
license conditions prior to beginning work on Army land.
(c) Other Military Departments are exempt from the requirement of
subsection (a) to obtain an Army radiation permit; however the garrison
Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) must be notified prior to radioactive
sources being brought onto the installation.
(d) Applicants will apply by letter with supporting documentation
(subsection (e) of this section) to the garrison commander through the
appropriate tenant commander or garrison director. Submit the letter so
that the garrison commander receives the application at least 30
calendar days before the requested effective date of the permit.
(e) The Army radiation permit application will specify effective
date and duration for the Army radiation permit and describe the
purposes for which the Army radiation permit is being sought. The
application will include: identification of the trained operating
personnel who will be responsible for implementation of the activities
authorized by the permit and a summary of their professional
qualifications; the point-of-contact name and phone number for the
application; the applicant's radiation safety Standing Operating
Procedures (SOPs); storage provisions when the ionizing radiation
source is not in use; and procedures for notifying the garrison of
reportable incidents/accidents.
(f) The garrison commander will approve the application only if the
applicant provides evidence to show that one of the following is true:
(1) The applicant possesses a valid NRC license or Department of
Energy (DOE) radiological work permit that allows the applicant to use
the source in the manner specified in the Army radiation permit
application;
(2) The applicant possesses a valid Agreement State license that
allows the applicant to use radioactive material in the manner
specified in the Army radiation permit application. An applicant
operating in areas subject to exclusive Federal jurisdiction (Agreement
States Letter SP-96-022) has to file a NRC Form-241, Report of Proposed
Activities in Non-Agreement States, with the NRC in accordance with 10
CFR 150.20(b);
(3) For machine-produced ionizing radiation sources, the applicant
has an appropriate State authorization that allows the applicant to use
the source as specified in the Army radiation permit application and
has in place a radiation safety program that complies with Army
regulations; or
(4) For overseas installations, the applicant has an appropriate
host-nation authorization as necessary that allows the applicant to use
the source in the manner specified in the Army radiation permit
application and has in place a radiation safety program that complies
with applicable Army regulations and Host Nation regulations.
Applicants will comply with applicable status-of-forces agreements
(SOFAs) and other international agreements.
(g) All Army radiation permits will require applicants to remove
all permitted sources from Army property prior to the expiration of the
permit and restore all real or personal property of the Army that was
modified, altered, or otherwise changed as a result of the applicant's
activities to the condition such property was in prior to the effective
date of the permit.
(h) An Army radiation permit issued under provisions of this
section will be valid for no more than 12 months.
(i) Disposal of radioactive material (byproduct, source or special
nuclear) by non-Army agencies on Army property is prohibited. However,
the garrison commander may give written authorization for releases of
radioactive material to the atmosphere or to the sanitary sewerage
system that are in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and
local laws or regulations, including but not limited to, the NRC
regulations at 10 CFR Part 20, Subpart K or Agreement State equivalent,
and regulations issued by the Army or the Department of Defense, to
include compliance with any applicable requirement to obtain a permit,
license, or other authorization, or to submit any information,
notification, or report for such release.
[FR Doc. 2010-8503 Filed 4-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P