[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1340-1345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00208]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-608; NRC-2019-0173]


SHINE Medical Technologies, LLC

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: License application; opportunity to request a hearing and 
petition for leave to intervene; order imposing procedures.

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SUMMARY: On October 8, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC) staff accepted and docketed an application submitted by SHINE 
Medical Technologies, LLC (SHINE), dated July 17, 2019, filed pursuant 
to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the NRC's 
regulations, for an operating license for the SHINE Medical Isotope 
Production Facility. In accordance with the NRC's regulations, any 
persons whose interest may be affected by the issuance of an operating 
license to SHINE may file a request for a hearing and petition for 
leave to intervene with respect to the action. Because the license 
application contains Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information 
(SUNSI) and Safeguards Information (SGI), an included Order imposes 
procedures to obtain access to SUNSI and SGI for contention 
preparation.

DATES: A request for a hearing must be filed by March 10, 2020. Any 
potential party as defined in Sec.  2.4 of title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR), who believes access to SUNSI and/or SGI 
is necessary to respond to this notice must request document access by 
January 21, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket Number 50-608 or Docket ID NRC-2019-
0173 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for 
this action. You may obtain publicly-available information related to 
this action by any of the following methods:
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, 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 (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first 
time that it is mentioned in this document.
     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: Steven T. Lynch, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-1524; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    By letter dated July 17, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML19211C044) and 
supplemented by letter dated November 14, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML19337A275), SHINE filed with the NRC, pursuant to Section 103 of the 
Atomic Energy Act and part 50, ``Domestic Licensing of Production and 
Utilization Facilities,'' of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR), an application for an operating license for the 
SHINE Medical Isotope Production Facility to be located in Janesville, 
Wisconsin (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML19211C143). The November 14, 
2019, application supplement (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML19331A832) 
addressed facility design changes and administrative errors identified 
in application documents. A notice of receipt and availability of this 
application was previously published in the Federal Register on 
September 10, 2019 (84 FR 47557).
    SHINE has proposed to construct and operate a facility in 
Janesville, Wisconsin for the production of molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) 
through the irradiation and processing of a uranyl sulfate solution. As 
described in the operating license application, the proposed facility 
would comprise an irradiation facility and radioisotope production 
facility. The irradiation facility would consist of eight subcritical 
operating assemblies (or irradiation units), which would each be 
licensed as a utilization facility, as defined in 10 CFR 50.2, 
``Definitions,'' and supporting structures, systems, and components 
(SSCs) for the irradiation of low enriched uranium. The radioisotope 
production facility would consist of hot cell structures, licensed 
collectively as a production facility, as defined in 10

[[Page 1341]]

CFR 50.2, and associated SSCs for the processing of irradiated material 
and extraction and purification of Mo-99. The irradiation facility and 
radioisotope production facility are collectively referred to as the 
SHINE Medical Isotope Production Facility. Issuance of the operating 
license would authorize the applicant to operate the SHINE Medical 
Isotope Production Facility for a 30-year period.
    In accordance with 10 CFR part 2, ``Agency Rules of Practice and 
Procedure,'' and part 50, the NRC staff performed an acceptance review 
of the SHINE operating license application and, by letter dated October 
8, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML19276D411), accepted the application for 
docketing under Docket Number 50-608.

II. Opportunity To Request a Hearing and Petition for Leave To 
Intervene

    Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, any 
persons (petitioner) whose interest may be affected by the issuance of 
an operating license to SHINE may file a request for a hearing and 
petition for leave to intervene (petition) with respect to the action. 
Petitions shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's ``Agency 
Rules of Practice and Procedure'' in 10 CFR part 2. Interested persons 
should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309, ``Hearing Requests, 
Petitions to Intervene, Requirements for Standing, and Contentions.'' 
The NRC's regulations are accessible electronically from the NRC 
Library on the NRC's website at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/. Alternatively, a copy of the regulations is available 
at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 
Room O1-F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (First Floor), Rockville, Maryland 
20852. If a petition is filed, the Commission or a presiding officer 
will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing 
will be issued.
    As required by 10 CFR 2.309(d) the petition should specifically 
explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with 
particular reference to the following general requirements for 
standing: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the 
petitioner; (2) the nature of the petitioner's right to be made a party 
to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the petitioner's 
property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (4) the 
possible effect of any decision or order which may be entered in the 
proceeding on the petitioner's interest.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f), the petition must also set 
forth the specific contentions which the petitioner seeks to have 
litigated in the proceeding. Each contention must consist of a specific 
statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In 
addition, the petitioner must provide a brief explanation of the bases 
for the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or 
expert opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner 
intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The 
petitioner must also provide references to the specific sources and 
documents on which the petitioner intends to rely to support its 
position on the issue. The petition must include sufficient information 
to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant or licensee on 
a material issue of law or fact. Contentions must be limited to matters 
within the scope of the proceeding. The contention must be one which, 
if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who 
fails to satisfy the requirements at 10 CFR 2.309(f) 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. 
Parties have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the 
hearing with respect to resolution of that party's admitted 
contentions, including the opportunity to present evidence, consistent 
with the NRC's regulations, policies, and procedures.
    Petitions must be filed no later than 60 days from the date of 
publication of this notice. Petitions and motions for leave to file new 
or amended contentions that are filed after the deadline will not be 
entertained absent a determination by the presiding officer that the 
filing demonstrates good cause by satisfying the three factors in 10 
CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i) through (iii). The petition must be filed in 
accordance with the filing instructions in the ``Electronic Submissions 
(E-Filing)'' section of this document.
    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). The petition should 
state the nature and extent of the petitioner's interest in the 
proceeding. The petition should be submitted to the Commission no later 
than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. The petition 
must be filed in accordance with the filing instructions in the 
``Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)'' section of this document, and 
should meet the requirements for petitions set forth in this section, 
except that under 10 CFR 2.309(h)(2) a State, local governmental body, 
or Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof does not need 
to address the standing requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d) if the facility 
is located within its boundaries. Alternatively, a State, local 
governmental body, Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, or agency thereof 
may participate as a non-party under 10 CFR 2.315(c).
    If a hearing is granted, any person who is not a party to the 
proceeding and is not affiliated with or represented by a party may, at 
the discretion of the presiding officer, be permitted 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 
his or her 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 the limits and 
conditions as may be imposed by the presiding officer. Details 
regarding the opportunity to make a limited appearance will be provided 
by the presiding officer if such sessions are scheduled.

III. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)

    All documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including a 
request for hearing and petition for leave to intervene (petition), 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 that request to 
participate under 10 CFR 2.315(c), must be filed in accordance with the 
NRC's E-Filing rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77 FR 
46562; August 3, 2012). 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. Detailed 
guidance on making electronic submissions may be found in the Guidance 
for Electronic Submissions to the NRC and on the NRC website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. 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 (1) request a digital identification (ID) 
certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or

[[Page 1342]]

representative) to digitally sign submissions and access the E-Filing 
system for any proceeding in which it is participating; and (2) advise 
the Secretary that the participant will be submitting a petition or 
other adjudicatory document (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 website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/getting-started.html. Once a participant has obtained a 
digital ID certificate and a docket has been created, the participant 
can then submit adjudicatory documents. Submissions must be in Portable 
Document Format (PDF). Additional guidance on PDF submissions is 
available on the NRC's public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/electronic-sub-ref-mat.html. A filing is considered complete at the 
time the document is 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 (ET) 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 document on those participants separately. Therefore, 
applicants and other participants (or their counsel or representative) 
must apply for and receive a digital ID certificate before adjudicatory 
documents are filed so that they can obtain access to the documents via 
the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically using the NRC's adjudicatory E-
Filing system may seek assistance by contacting the NRC's Electronic 
Filing Help Desk through the ``Contact Us'' link located on the NRC's 
public website at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by 
email to [email protected], or by a toll-free call at 1-866-672-
7640. The NRC Electronic Filing Help Desk is available between 9 a.m. 
and 6 p.m., ET, 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 
stating why there is good cause for not filing electronically and 
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, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and 
Adjudications Staff. Participants filing adjudicatory documents 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 
https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd, unless excluded pursuant to an order of the 
Commission or the presiding officer. If you do not have an NRC-issued 
digital ID certificate as described above, click ``cancel'' when the 
link requests certificates and you will be automatically directed to 
the NRC's electronic hearing dockets where you will be able to access 
any publicly available documents in a particular hearing docket. 
Participants are requested not to include personal privacy information, 
such as social security numbers, home addresses, or personal phone 
numbers in their filings, unless an NRC regulation or other law 
requires submission of such information. For example, in some 
instances, individuals provide home addresses in order to demonstrate 
proximity to a facility or site. 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.

IV. Order Imposing Procedures for Access to SUNSI and SGI for 
Contention Preparation

    A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties 
to this proceeding may request access to documents containing sensitive 
unclassified information (including SUNSI and SGI). Requirements for 
access to SGI are primarily set forth in 10 CFR parts 2 and 73. Nothing 
in this Order is intended to conflict with the SGI regulations.
    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 or SGI is necessary to respond to this notice 
may request access to SUNSI or SGI. 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 or SGI submitted later than 10 days after publication 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 requestor shall submit a letter requesting permission to 
access SUNSI, SGI, or both 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 Deputy 
General Counsel for Hearings and Administration, Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 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 and/or SGI 
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);
    (3) If the request is for SUNSI, the identity of the individual or 
entity requesting access to SUNSI and the

[[Page 1343]]

requestor'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; and
    (4) If the request is for SGI, the identity of each individual who 
would have access to SGI if the request is granted, including the 
identity of any expert, consultant, or assistant who will aid the 
requestor in evaluating the SGI. In addition, the request must contain 
the following information:
    (a) A statement that explains each individual's ``need to know'' 
the SGI, as required by 10 CFR 73.2 and 10 CFR 73.22(b)(1). Consistent 
with the definition of ``need to know'' as stated in 10 CFR 73.2, the 
statement must explain:
    (i) Specifically, why the requestor believes that the information 
is necessary to enable the requestor to proffer and/or adjudicate a 
specific contention in this proceeding; \2\ and
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    \2\ Broad SGI requests under these procedures are unlikely to 
meet the standard for need to know; furthermore, NRC staff redaction 
of information from requested documents before their release may be 
appropriate to comport with this requirement. These procedures do 
not authorize unrestricted disclosure or less scrutiny of a 
requestor's need to know than ordinarily would be applied in 
connection with an already-admitted contention or non-adjudicatory 
access to SGI.
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    (ii) The technical competence (demonstrable knowledge, skill, 
training or education) of the requestor to effectively utilize the 
requested SGI to provide the basis and specificity for a proffered 
contention. The technical competence of a potential party or its 
counsel may be shown by reliance on a qualified expert, consultant, or 
assistant who satisfies these criteria.
    (b) A completed Form SF-85, ``Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive 
Positions,'' for each individual who would have access to SGI. The 
completed Form SF-85 will be used by the Office of Administration to 
conduct the background check required for access to SGI, as required by 
10 CFR part 2, subpart C, and 10 CFR 73.22(b)(2), to determine the 
requestor's trustworthiness and reliability. For security reasons, Form 
SF-85 can only be submitted electronically through the Electronic 
Questionnaires for Investigations Processing website, a secure website 
that is owned and operated by the Office of Personnel Management. To 
obtain online access to the form, the requestor should contact the 
NRC's Office of Administration at 301-415-3710.\3\
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    \3\ The requestor will be asked to provide his or her full name, 
social security number, date and place of birth, telephone number, 
and email address. After providing this information, the requestor 
usually should be able to obtain access to the online form within 
one business day.
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    (c) A completed Form FD-258 (fingerprint card), signed in original 
ink, and submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 73.57(d). Copies of Form 
FD-258 may be obtained by writing the Office of Administrative 
Services, Mail Services Center, Mail Stop P1-37, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by email to 
[email protected]. The fingerprint card will be used to satisfy 
the requirements of 10 CFR part 2, subpart C, 10 CFR 73.22(b)(1), and 
Section 149 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, which 
mandates that all persons with access to SGI must be fingerprinted for 
an FBI identification and criminal history records check.
    (d) A check or money order payable in the amount of $357.00 \4\ to 
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for each individual for whom the 
request for access has been submitted.
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    \4\ This fee is subject to change pursuant to the Office of 
Personnel Management's adjustable billing rates.
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    (e) If the requestor or any individual(s) who will have access to 
SGI believes they belong to one or more of the categories of 
individuals that are exempt from the criminal history records check and 
background check requirements in 10 CFR 73.59, the requestor should 
also provide a statement identifying which exemption the requestor is 
invoking and explaining the requestor's basis for believing that the 
exemption applies. While processing the request, the Office of 
Administration, Personnel Security Branch, will make a final 
determination whether the claimed exemption applies. Alternatively, the 
requestor may contact the Office of Administration for an evaluation of 
their exemption status prior to submitting their request. Persons who 
are exempt from the background check are not required to complete the 
SF-85 or Form FD-258; however, all other requirements for access to 
SGI, including the need to know, are still applicable.
    Note: Copies of documents and materials required by paragraphs 
C.(4)(b), (c), and (d) of this Order must be sent to the following 
address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Personnel Security 
Branch, Mail Stop TWFN--07D04M, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 
20852.
    These documents and materials should not be included with the 
request letter to the Office of the Secretary, but the request letter 
should state that the forms and fees have been submitted as required.
    D. To avoid delays in processing requests for access to SGI, the 
requestor should review all submitted materials for completeness and 
accuracy (including legibility) before submitting them to the NRC. The 
NRC will return incomplete packages to the sender without processing.
    E. Based on an evaluation of the information submitted under 
paragraphs C.(3) or C.(4) above, as applicable, 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 or need to know the SGI requested.
    F. For requests for access to SUNSI, if the NRC staff determines 
that the requestor satisfies both E.(1) and E.(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 setting forth 
terms and conditions to prevent the unauthorized or inadvertent 
disclosure of SUNSI by each individual who will be granted access to 
SUNSI.\5\
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    \5\ 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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    G. For requests for access to SGI, if the NRC staff determines that 
the requestor has satisfied both E.(1) and E.(2) above, the Office of 
Administration will then determine, based upon completion of the 
background check, whether the proposed recipient is trustworthy and 
reliable, as required for access to SGI by 10 CFR 73.22(b). If the 
Office of Administration determines that the individual or individuals 
are trustworthy and reliable, the NRC will promptly notify the 
requestor in writing. The notification will provide the names of 
approved individuals as well as the conditions under which the SGI will 
be provided. Those conditions may include, but are not limited to, the 
signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement

[[Page 1344]]

or Affidavit, or Protective Order \6\ by each individual who will be 
granted access to SGI.
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    \6\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure 
Agreement or Affidavit for SGI must be filed with the presiding 
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer 
has not yet been designated, within 180 days of the deadline for the 
receipt of the written access request.
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    H. Release and Storage of SGI. Prior to providing SGI to the 
requestor, the NRC staff will conduct (as necessary) an inspection to 
confirm that the recipient's information protection system is 
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR 73.22. Alternatively, 
recipients may opt to view SGI at an approved SGI storage location 
rather than establish their own SGI protection program to meet SGI 
protection requirements.
    I. Filing of Contentions. Any contentions in these proceedings that 
are based upon the information received as a result of the request made 
for SUNSI or SGI must be filed by the requestor no later than 25 days 
after receipt of (or access to) that information. 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 or SGI contentions by that later 
deadline.
    J. Review of Denials of Access.
    (1) If the request for access to SUNSI or SGI is denied by the NRC 
staff either after a determination on standing and requisite need, 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) Before the Office of Administration makes a final adverse 
determination regarding the trustworthiness and reliability of the 
proposed recipient(s) for access to SGI, the Office of Administration, 
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.336(f)(1)(iii), must provide the proposed 
recipient(s) any records that were considered in the trustworthiness 
and reliability determination, including those required to be provided 
under 10 CFR 73.57(e)(1), so that the proposed recipient(s) have an 
opportunity to correct or explain the record.
    (3) The requestor may challenge the NRC staff's adverse 
determination with respect to access to SUNSI or with respect to 
standing or need to know for SGI by 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.
    (4) The requestor may challenge the Office of Administration's 
final adverse determination with respect to trustworthiness and 
reliability for access to SGI by filing a request for review in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.336(f)(1)(iv).
    (5) Further appeals of decisions under this paragraph must be made 
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.311.
    K. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requestor 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 within 5 days of the notification by the 
NRC staff of its grant of access and must be filed 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.
    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.\7\
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    \7\ Requestors should note that the filing requirements of the 
NRC's E-Filing Rule (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007, as amended at 77 
FR 46562; August 3, 2012) 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/SGI 
request submitted to the NRC staff under these procedures.
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    L. The Commission expects that the NRC staff and presiding officers 
(and any other reviewing officers) will consider and resolve requests 
for access to SUNSI or SGI, 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. The attachment 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 6th of January 2020.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory 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
              and Safeguards Information in This Proceeding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Day                             Event/activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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) and/or
                                Safeguards Information (SGI) 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; demonstrating
                                that access should be granted (e.g.,
                                showing technical competence for access
                                to SGI); and, for SGI, including
                                application fee for fingerprint/
                                background check.
60...........................  Deadline for submitting petition for
                                intervention containing: (i)
                                Demonstration of standing; (ii) all
                                contentions whose formulation does not
                                require access to SUNSI and/or SGI (+25
                                Answers to petition for intervention; +7
                                requestor/petitioner reply).

[[Page 1345]]

 
20...........................  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
                                staff informs the requestor of the
                                staff's determination whether the
                                request for access provides a reasonable
                                basis to believe standing can be
                                established and shows (1) need for SUNSI
                                or (2) need to know for SGI. (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 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). If NRC staff makes
                                the finding of need to know for SGI and
                                likelihood of standing, NRC staff begins
                                background check (including
                                fingerprinting for a criminal history
                                records check), information processing
                                (preparation of redactions or review of
                                redacted documents), and readiness
                                inspections.
25...........................  If NRC staff finds no ``need,'' no ``need
                                to know,'' or no likelihood of standing,
                                the deadline for requestor/petitioner 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
                                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.
190..........................  (Receipt +180) If NRC staff finds
                                standing, need to know for SGI, and
                                trustworthiness and reliability,
                                deadline for NRC staff to file motion
                                for Protective Order and draft Non-
                                disclosure Affidavit (or to make a
                                determination that the proposed
                                recipient of SGI is not trustworthy or
                                reliable). Note: Before the Office of
                                Administration makes a final adverse
                                determination regarding access to SGI,
                                the proposed recipient must be provided
                                an opportunity to correct or explain
                                information.
205..........................  Deadline for petitioner to seek reversal
                                of a final adverse NRC staff
                                trustworthiness or reliability
                                determination under 10 CFR
                                2.336(f)(1)(iv).
A............................  If access granted: Issuance of a decision
                                by a presiding officer or other
                                designated officer 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 and/or SGI consistent with
                                decision issuing the protective order.
A + 28.......................  Deadline for submission of contentions
                                whose development depends upon access to
                                SUNSI and/or SGI. 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 opportunity to request a
                                hearing and petition for leave to
                                intervene), the petitioner may file its
                                SUNSI or SGI contentions by that later
                                deadline.
A + 53.......................  (Contention receipt +25) Answers to
                                contentions whose development depends
                                upon access to SUNSI and/or SGI.
A + 60.......................  (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor
                                reply to answers.
>A + 60......................  Decision on contention admission.
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[FR Doc. 2020-00208 Filed 1-9-20; 8:45 a.m.]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P