[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16890-16893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06279]
[[Page 16890]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70-3103, NRC-2013-0044]
URENCO USA (Formerly Louisiana Energy Services, L.P.) License
Amendment Request: Notice of Opportunity To Request a Hearing and to
Petition for Leave to Intervene, and Commission Order Imposing
Procedures for Document Access
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: License amendment request; opportunity to request a hearing and
to petition for leave to intervene and order.
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SUMMARY: In November 2012, URENCO USA submitted to the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) a license amendment request. The existing
license (No. SNM-2010) authorizes operation of a uranium enrichment
facility in New Mexico. The facility produces enriched uranium up to a
maximum of 5.0 percent U-235, using a gas centrifuge process. If
granted, the license amendment would authorize increased annual
production capability from the present 3 million separative work units
(SWU) to 10 million SWU.
DATES: Requests for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene must
be filed by May 20, 2013. Any potential party as defined in Section 2.4
of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) who believes
access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information is
necessary to respond to this notice must request document access by
March 29, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2013-0044 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may access information related to this document, which the NRC
possesses and is publicly available, using any of the following
methods:
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2013-0044. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-492-
3668; e- mail: [email protected].
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the NRC
library at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the
search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then select ``Begin Web-
based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's
Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-
4737, or by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number
for each document referenced in this document (if that document is
available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is
referenced.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Raddatz, Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-492-3108; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
Notice is hereby given that, by letter dated November 9, 2012,
Louisiana Energy Services, L.P. (LES), doing business as URENCO USA
(UUSA), submitted to the NRC a license amendment request, pertaining to
its uranium enrichment facility located in Lea County, New Mexico. The
NRC License No. SNM-2010 authorizes UUSA to possess and use source,
byproduct, and special nuclear material at its facility, and authorizes
UUSA to produce enriched uranium up to a maximum of 5.0 percent U-235,
using a gas centrifuge process. If granted, the license amendment would
authorize UUSA to increase its annual production capability from 3
million SWU to 10 million SWU.
An NRC administrative review, documented in a letter to UUSA dated
January 25, 2013, found the November 9, 2012, request acceptable to
begin a technical review. If the NRC approves the amendment, the
approval will be documented in an amendment to NRC License No. SNM-
2010. However, before approving the proposed amendment, the NRC will
need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
amended (the Act), and the NRC's regulations. The required findings
will be documented in a Safety Evaluation Report. The NRC will also
make findings consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and 10 CFR Part 51.
II. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petitions for Leave To
Intervene
Requirements for hearing requests and petitions for leave to
intervene are found in 10 CFR 2.309, ``Hearing Requests, Petitions to
Intervene, Requirements for Standing, and Contentions.'' Interested
persons should consult 10 CFR 2.309, which is available at the NRC's
PDR, located at O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852. You may also call the PDR at 1-800-397-4209, or
301-415-4737. The NRC's regulations are also accessible online in the
NRC library at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.309(a), any person whose interest may be
affected by this proceeding, and who wishes to participate as a party
in the proceeding must file a written request for hearing and petition
for leave to intervene. As required by 10 CFR 2.309, a petition for
leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of
the petitioner in the proceeding and how that interest may be affected
by the results of the proceeding. Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.309(d), the
petition must provide the name, address, and telephone number of the
petitioner; and specifically explain the reasons why intervention
should be permitted with particular reference to the following factors:
(1) The nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made a
party to the proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of the petitioner's
property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the
possible effect of any decision or order that may be entered in the
proceeding on the petitioner's interest.
A request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene must also
identify specific contentions that the petitioner seeks to have
litigated in the hearing. As required by 10 CFR 2.309(f), for each
contention, the petitioner must provide a specific statement of the
issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted, as well as a brief
explanation of the basis for the contention. Additionally, the
petitioner must demonstrate that the issue raised by each contention is
within the scope of the proceeding, and is material to the findings
that the NRC must make to support the granting of a license amendment
in response to the application. The petition must also include a
concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinions which support
the position of the petitioner and on which the petitioner intends to
rely at the hearing, together with references to the specific sources
and documents on which the petitioner intends to rely. Finally, the
petition must provide sufficient information to show that a genuine
dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact,
including references to specific portions of the application for
amendment that the petitioner disputes and the supporting reasons for
each dispute; or, if the petitioner believes that the application for
amendment fails
[[Page 16891]]
to contain information on a relevant matter as required by law, the
identification of each failure, and the supporting reasons for the
petitioner's belief. Each contention must be one that, if proven, would
entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to satisfy
these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be
permitted to participate as a party.
Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding,
subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene,
and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the
hearing with respect to resolution of that person's admitted
contentions, including the opportunity to present evidence and to
submit a cross-examination plan for cross-examination of witnesses,
consistent with the NRC's regulations, policies, and procedures. The
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will set the time and place for any
prehearing conferences and evidentiary hearings, and the appropriate
notices will be provided.
Petitions for leave to intervene and requests for hearing, and
motions for leave to file new or amended contentions that are filed
after the deadline in 10 CFR 2.309(b) will not be entertained absent a
determination by the Commission, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board
or a Presiding Officer that the filing demonstrates good cause by
satisfying the following three factors in 10 CFR 2.309(c)(1): (i) The
information upon which the filing is based was not previously
available; (ii) The information upon which the filing is based is
materially different from information previously available; and (iii)
The filing has been submitted in a timely fashion based on the
availability of the subsequent information.
A State, local governmental body, Federally-recognized Indian
Tribe, or agency thereof may submit a petition to the Commission to
participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(1) and (2). The petition
should state the nature and extent of the petitioner's interest in the
proceeding. The petition should be submitted to the Commission by May
20, 2013. The petition must be filed in accordance with the filing
instructions in Section III of this document, and should meet the
requirements for petitions for leave to intervene set forth in this
section, except that under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(2), State and Federally-
recognized Indian tribes do not need to address the standing
requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d) if the facility is located within its
boundaries. A State, local governmental body, Federally-recognized
Indian Tribe, or agency thereof may also have the opportunity to
participate in a hearing as a nonparty pursuant to 10 CFR 2.315(c).
Any person who does not wish, or is not qualified, to become a
party to this proceeding may request permission to make a limited
appearance pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 2.315(a). A person
making a limited appearance may make an oral or written statement of
position on the issues, but may not otherwise participate in the
proceeding. A limited appearance may be made at any session of the
hearing or at any prehearing conference, subject to such limits and
conditions as may be imposed by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.
Persons desiring to make a limited appearance are requested to inform
the Secretary of the Commission by May 20, 2013.
III. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)
All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a
request for hearing, a petition for leave to intervene, any motion or
other document filed in the proceeding prior to the submission of a
request for hearing or petition to intervene, and documents filed by
interested governmental entities participating under 10 CFR 2.315(c),
must be filed in accordance with the NRC E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139,
August 28, 2007). The E-Filing process requires participants to submit
and serve all adjudicatory documents over the internet, or in some
cases to mail copies on electronic storage media. Participants may not
submit paper copies of their filings unless they seek an exemption in
accordance with the procedures described below.
To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 10
days prior to the filing deadline, the participant should contact the
Office of the Secretary by email at [email protected], or by
telephone at 301-415-1677, to request (1) a digital identification (ID)
certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or
representative) to digitally sign documents and access the E-Submittal
server for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise
the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a request or
petition for hearing (even in instances in which the participant, or
its counsel or representative, already holds an NRC-issued digital ID
certificate). Based upon this information, the Secretary will establish
an electronic docket for the hearing in this proceeding if the
Secretary has not already established an electronic docket.
Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is
available on the NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/apply-certificates.html. System requirements for accessing
the E-Submittal server are detailed in the NRC's ``Guidance for
Electronic Submission,'' which is available on the agency's public Web
site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. Participants
may attempt to use other software not listed on the Web site, but
should note that the NRC's E-Filing system does not support unlisted
software, and the NRC Meta System Help Desk will not be able to offer
assistance in using unlisted software.
If a participant is electronically submitting a document to the NRC
in accordance with the E-Filing rule, the participant must file the
document using the NRC's online, Web-based submission form. In order to
serve documents through the Electronic Information Exchange System,
users will be required to install a Web browser plug-in from the NRC's
Web site. Further information on the Web-based submission form,
including the installation of the Web browser plug-in, is available on
the NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
Once a participant has obtained a digital ID certificate and a
docket has been created, the participant can then submit a request for
hearing or petition for leave to intervene. Submissions should be in
Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC guidance
available on the NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the
documents are submitted through the NRC's E-Filing system. To be
timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the E-Filing system
no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. Upon receipt of
a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends
the submitter an email notice confirming receipt of the document. The
E-Filing system also distributes an email notice that provides access
to the document to the NRC's Office of the General Counsel and any
others who have advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to
participate in the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the
documents on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and
other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for
and receive a digital ID certificate before a hearing request/petition
to intervene is filed so that they
[[Page 16892]]
can obtain access to the document via the E-Filing system.
A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC Meta System
Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC's public
Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by email to
[email protected], or by a toll-free call at 866-672-7640. The NRC
Meta System Help Desk is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays.
Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not
submitting documents electronically must file an exemption request, in
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g), with their initial paper filing
requesting authorization to continue to submit documents in paper
format. Such filings must be submitted by: (1) first class mail
addressed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention:
Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or
expedited delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth
Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
Maryland, 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff.
Participants filing a document in this manner are responsible for
serving the document on all other participants. Filing is considered
complete by first-class mail as of the time of deposit in the mail, or
by courier, express mail, or expedited delivery service upon depositing
the document with the provider of the service. A presiding officer,
having granted an exemption request from using E-Filing, may require a
participant or party to use E-Filing if the presiding officer
subsequently determines that the reason for granting the exemption from
use of E-Filing no longer exists.
Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in the
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at
http://ehd1.nrc.gov/ehd/, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the
Commission, or the presiding officer. Participants are requested not to
include personal privacy information, such as social security numbers,
home addresses, or home phone numbers in their filings, unless an NRC
regulation or other law requires submission of such information. With
respect to copyrighted works, except for limited excerpts that serve
the purpose of the adjudicatory filings and would constitute a Fair Use
application, participants are requested not to include copyrighted
materials in their submission.
Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information for Contention Preparation
A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties
to this proceeding may request access to documents containing Sensitive
Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information (SUNSI).
B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of hearing and
opportunity to petition for leave to intervene, any potential party who
believes access to SUNSI is necessary to respond to this notice may
request such access. A ``potential party'' is any person who intends to
participate as a party by demonstrating standing and filing an
admissible contention under 10 CFR 2.309. Requests for access to SUNSI
submitted later than 10 days after publication of this notice will not
be considered absent a showing of good cause for the late filing,
addressing why the request could not have been filed earlier.
C. The requester shall submit a letter requesting permission to
access SUNSI to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff, and provide a copy to the Associate General
Counsel for Hearings, Enforcement and Administration, Office of the
General Counsel, Washington, DC 20555-0001. The expedited delivery or
courier mail address for both offices is: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The email
address for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the General
Counsel are [email protected] and [email protected],
respectively.\1\ The request must include the following information:
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\1\ While a request for hearing or petition to intervene in this
proceeding must comply with the filing requirements of the NRC's
``E-Filing Rule,'' the initial request to access SUNSI under these
procedures should be submitted as described in this paragraph.
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(1) A description of the licensing action with a citation to this
Federal Register notice;
(2) The name and address of the potential party and a description
of the potential party's particularized interest that could be harmed
by the action identified in C.(1); and
(3) The identity of the individual or entity requesting access to
SUNSI and the requester's basis for the need for the information in
order to meaningfully participate in this adjudicatory proceeding. In
particular, the request must explain why publicly-available versions of
the information requested would not be sufficient to provide the basis
and specificity for a proffered contention.
D. Based on an evaluation of the information submitted under
paragraph C.(3) the NRC staff will determine within 10 days of receipt
of the request whether:
(1) There is a reasonable basis to believe the petitioner is likely
to establish standing to participate in this NRC proceeding; and
(2) The requestor has established a legitimate need for access to
SUNSI.
E. If the NRC staff determines that the requestor satisfies both
D.(1) and D.(2) above, the NRC staff will notify the requestor in
writing that access to SUNSI has been granted. The written notification
will contain instructions on how the requestor may obtain copies of the
requested documents, and any other conditions that may apply to access
to those documents. These conditions may include, but are not limited
to, the signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or
Protective Order \2\ setting forth terms and conditions to prevent the
unauthorized or inadvertent disclosure of SUNSI by each individual who
will be granted access to SUNSI.
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\2\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure
Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must be filed with the presiding
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer
has not yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline for the
receipt of the written access request.
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F. Filing of Contentions. Any contentions in these proceedings that
are based upon the information received as a result of the request made
for SUNSI must be filed by the requestor no later than 25 days after
the requestor is granted access to that information. However, if more
than 25 days remain between the date the petitioner is granted access
to the information and the deadline for filing all other contentions
(as established in the notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing),
the petitioner may file its SUNSI contentions by that later deadline.
G. Review of Denials of Access.
(1) If the request for access to SUNSI is denied by the NRC staff
either after a determination on standing and need for access, or after
a determination on trustworthiness and reliability, the NRC staff shall
immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the reason
or reasons for the denial.
(2) The requester may challenge the NRC staff's adverse
determination by
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filing a challenge within 5 days of receipt of that determination with:
(a) The presiding officer designated in this proceeding; (b) if no
presiding officer has been appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge,
or if he or she is unavailable, another administrative judge, or an
administrative law judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a);
or (c) if another officer has been designated to rule on information
access issues, with that officer.
H. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requester may
challenge an NRC staff determination granting access to SUNSI whose
release would harm that party's interest independent of the proceeding.
Such a challenge must be filed with the Chief Administrative Judge
within 5 days of the notification by the NRC staff of its grant of
access.
If challenges to the NRC staff determinations are filed, these
procedures give way to the normal process for litigating disputes
concerning access to information. The availability of interlocutory
review by the Commission of orders ruling on such NRC staff
determinations (whether granting or denying access) is governed by 10
CFR 2.311.\3\
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\3\ Requesters should note that the filing requirements of the
NRC's E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007) apply to appeals
of NRC staff determinations (because they must be served on a
presiding officer or the Commission, as applicable), but not to the
initial SUNSI request submitted to the NRC staff under these
procedures.
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I. The Commission expects that the NRC staff and presiding officers
(and any other reviewing officers) will consider and resolve requests
for access to SUNSI, and motions for protective orders, in a timely
fashion in order to minimize any unnecessary delays in identifying
those petitioners who have standing and who have propounded contentions
meeting the specificity and basis requirements in 10 CFR Part 2.
Attachment 1 to this Order summarizes the general target schedule for
processing and resolving requests under these procedures.
It is so ordered.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of March 2013.
For the Commission.
Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.
Attachment 1--General Target Schedule for Processing and Resolving
Requests for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information
in This Proceeding
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Day Event/activity
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0........................ Publication of Federal Register notice of
hearing and opportunity to petition for
leave to intervene, including order with
instructions for access requests.
10....................... Deadline for submitting requests for access
to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
Information (SUNSI) with information:
supporting the standing of a potential party
identified by name and address; describing
the need for the information in order for
the potential party to participate
meaningfully in an adjudicatory proceeding.
60....................... Deadline for submitting petition for
intervention containing: (i) Demonstration
of standing; (ii) all contentions whose
formulation does not require access to SUNSI
(+25 Answers to petition for intervention;
+7 petitioner/requestor reply).
20....................... The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
staff informs the requester of the staff's
determination whether the request for access
provides a reasonable basis to believe
standing can be established and shows need
for SUNSI. (NRC staff also informs any party
to the proceeding whose interest independent
of the proceeding would be harmed by the
release of the information). If the NRC
staff makes the finding of need for SUNSI
and likelihood of standing, NRC staff begins
document processing (preparation of
redactions or review of redacted documents).
25....................... If NRC staff finds no ``need'' or no
likelihood of standing, the deadline for
petitioner/requester to file a motion
seeking a ruling to reverse the NRC staff's
denial of access; NRC staff files copy of
access determination with the presiding
officer (or Chief Administrative Judge or
other designated officer, as appropriate).
If the NRC staff finds ``need'' for SUNSI,
the deadline for any party to the proceeding
whose interest independent of the proceeding
would be harmed by the release of the
information to file a motion seeking a
ruling to reverse the NRC staff's grant of
access.
30....................... Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to
reverse NRC staff determination(s).
40....................... (Receipt +30) If NRC staff finds standing and
need for SUNSI, deadline for NRC staff to
complete information processing and file
motion for Protective Order and draft Non-
Disclosure Affidavit. Deadline for applicant/
licensee to file Non-Disclosure Agreement
for SUNSI.
A........................ If access granted: Issuance of presiding
officer or other designated officer decision
on motion for protective order for access to
sensitive information (including schedule
for providing access and submission of
contentions) or decision reversing a final
adverse determination by the NRC staff.
A + 3.................... Deadline for filing executed Non-Disclosure
Affidavits. Access provided to SUNSI
consistent with decision issuing the
protective order.
A + 28................... Deadline for submission of contentions whose
development depends upon access to SUNSI.
However, if more than 25 days remain between
the petitioner's receipt of (or access to)
the information and the deadline for filing
all other contentions (as established in the
notice of hearing or opportunity for
hearing), the petitioner may file its SUNSI
contentions by that later deadline.
A + 53................... (Contention receipt +25) Answers to
contentions whose development depends upon
access to SUNSI.
A + 60................... (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor
reply to answers.
>A + 60.................. Decision on contention admission.
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[FR Doc. 2013-06279 Filed 3-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P