[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 12116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6393]
[[Page 12116]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy; Public
Meeting on NRC Regulatory Oversight of DOE Facilities
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, March
24, 1998, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to address issues related to the
recently established pilot program for NRC's external regulation of
certain DOE facilities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission will hold a joint public meeting to provide
information on this pilot project on Tuesday, March 24, 1998, at 7:00
P.M. at the American Museum of Science and Energy, 300 S. Tulane
Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
In June 1997, DOE and NRC agreed to pursue NRC external regulation
of certain DOE facilities on a pilot program basis. A pilot program of
NRC simulated regulation has been established to collect information on
the desirability of NRC oversight and on whether to seek legislation to
authorize such oversight. The DOE and the NRC expect to evaluate six to
ten DOE facilities over the next two years under the pilot program. The
Radiochemical Engineering Development Center at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (ORNL) has been chosen as one of the pilot sites.
The major areas of discussion at this meeting will be:
The overall pilot program and background information.
The ORNL Work Plan.
Major issues affecting NRC oversight (generic and site-
specific).
One of the main purposes of the meeting is to describe the process
through which stakeholders may participate in the pilot program.
Stakeholders will be invited to ask questions and submit comments
relevant to the objectives of the pilot program and the process by
which those objectives are proposed to be addressed at the
Radiochemical Engineering Development Center. Issues raised by
stakeholders will be addressed in the final report following the pilot
evaluation at ORNL.
Since 1994, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been considering
whether there are advantages to be gained from external regulation of
existing DOE facilities. Two advisory groups recommended that the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) be considered as the external
regulator of nuclear and radiological safety at DOE sites. External
regulation by the NRC may improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
DOE's radiological safety programs. DOE facilities would be regulated
consistent with other facilities of the same type engaged in similar
activities, and the NRC could maintain complete independence because it
has no responsibility for operating the facilities.
A number of background documents pertaining to the issue of NRC
oversight of DOE facilities are available or will be made available
prior to the meeting. These include:
A draft Pilot Program Work Plan for the Radiochemical
Engineering Development Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
A Memorandum of Understanding between NRC and DOE, dated
November 21, 1997.
An NRC Commission Paper entitled, ``Status Report of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Task Force On Oversight of the Department
of Energy, In Response to COMSECY -96-053--DSI 2,'' SECY-97-206, dated
September 12, 1997.
An NRC Commission Paper entitled, ``Status Report of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Task Force On Oversight of the Department
of Energy, In Response to COMSECY -96-053--DSI 2 (Report No. 2),''
SECY-97-301, dated December 29, 1997.
NRC Staff Requirements Memorandum: COMSECY-96-053,
``Oversight of the Department of Energy (DSI 2),'' dated March 28,
1997.
NRC Direction Setting Issue Paper ``Oversight of the
Department of Energy'' (DSI 2) dated September 16, 1996.
Report of the DOE Working Group on External Regulation,
dated December 1996.
Report of the DOE Advisory Committee on External
Regulation of DOE Nuclear Safety, dated December 1995.
You may view these documents at the DOE Oak Ridge Public Reading
Room, American Museum of Science and Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak
Ridge, TN 37830, (423) 241-4780. Copies may be obtained by contacting
Amy Rothrock at (423) 576-1216. These documents are also available on
the joint DOE/NRC Web Site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/NMSS/
doepilot.html. As documents are completed, they will be added to the
web site. If you would like more information about this meeting, or
need special accommodations to attend, please contact Walter Perry of
the DOE Public Affairs Office at (423) 576-0885.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of March, 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carl J. Paperiello,
Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 98-6393 Filed 3-11-98; 8:45 am]
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