[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17014]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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. 77, No. 134 / Thursday, July 12, 2012 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 41107]]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR Parts 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 72
[NRC-2011-0162]
Decommissioning Planning During Operations
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting, webinar and opportunity to provide
comment.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission)
is seeking input from the public, licensees, Agreement States, non-
Agreement States, and other stakeholders on revised draft regulatory
guide (DG) 4014, ``Decommissioning Planning During Operations.'' This
guide describes a method that the NRC staff considers acceptable for
use in complying with the NRC's Decommissioning Planning Rule. The NRC
will hold a public meeting and concurrent Webinar to facilitate the
public's and other stakeholders' comments.
DATES: The public meeting and Webinar will be held at the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Two White Flint North, Room T-8A01, 11554
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852 on July 12, 2012, from 11:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT). The revised draft guide will be issued by a
separate notice that will contain information on submitting written
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Shepherd, Office of Federal
and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-
6712; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In 2011, the NRC published the Decommissioning Planning Rule (DPR)
(June 17, 2011, 76 FR 33512). The DPR applies to the operational phase
of a licensed facility, and requires licensees to operate in a way to
minimize spills, leaks, and other unplanned releases of radioactive
contaminants into the environment. It also requires licensees to check
periodically for radiological contamination throughout the site,
including subsurface soil and groundwater. Subsequently, to describe
and make available to the public information on methods that are
acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing this part of the
regulations, the NRC published for comment DG-4014, ``Decommissioning
Planning During Operations'' (December 13, 2011, 76 FR 77431). The NRC
received more than 100 comments on the draft guide resulting in
modifications to the draft on which the NRC staff believes public
comment is appropriate. Therefore, the NRC is issuing a revision to the
draft guidance (ML12179A246) that responds to the comments on the
initial version.
II. Discussion
Many of the comments provided during the initial comment period on
DG-4014 stated that more information about specific actions for
different types of licensee should be included in the regulatory guide.
Additionally, some of the comments also called for more information on
how a licensee could determine in which category it fell and what
actions it must take. Some commenters indicated that the NRC should
identify conditions that would, in effect, exempt certain licensees
with limited activities or inventories from the sampling requirements
of the rule. One comment stated the guidance should not, de facto,
impose backfit requirements on licensees, and others stated the guide
should address restricted release of a site. In response to the
comments received, the NRC staff has revised the draft guide.
III. Public Webinar
To facilitate the understanding of the public and other
stakeholders of the issues addressed in the draft guide and the
procedures for the submission of comments, the NRC staff has scheduled
a public Webinar from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 12, 2012.
Webinar participants will be able to view the presentation slides
prepared by the NRC and electronically submit comments over the
Internet. Participants must register to participate in the Webinar.
Registration information may be found in the meeting notice
(ML12179A347). The meeting notice is also available on the NRC's public
Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm. Additionally, the final agenda for the public Webinar and
the revised draft regulatory guide will be posted no fewer than 10 days
prior to the Webinar at this Web site. Those who are unable to
participate via Webinar may also participate via teleconference. For
details on how to participate via teleconference, please contact Sarah
Achten, telephone: 301-415-6009; email: [email protected]; or T.R.
Rowe, telephone: 301-415-8008; email: [email protected].
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of July 2012.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Keith I. McConnell,
Deputy Director, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing
Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection,
Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-17014 Filed 7-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P