License Renewal Interim Staff Guidance LR-ISG-2006-02: Staff Guidance Regarding the Acceptance Reviews for Environmental Requirements for License Renewal Applications; Notice of Withdrawal, 34597-34598 [E9-16920]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / Notices
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Need for the Proposed Action
These exemptions are needed in times
of molybdenum-99 shortages in the
United States to ensure that available
technetium-99m is used for patient
treatment. On May 14, 2009, the Chalk
River National Research Universal
reactor in Canada experienced an
unexpected shutdown that has resulted
in an extended shutdown for safety
repairs. The Chalk River reactor
produces approximately 50 percent of
the United States supply of
molybdenum-99 used to produce
molybdenum-99/technetium-99m
generators. This resulted in a United
States and worldwide shortage of
molybdenum-99 for generator
production and technetium-99m for
medical uses. The High Flux Reactor in
Petten, the Netherlands, also produces a
substantial amount of molybdenum-99
used to produce generators in the
United States and the world. The reactor
in Petten is currently operating on a
temporary operating permit and
expected to be shut down in early 2010
for a number of months for repairs. This
will also cause molybdenum-99 and
technetium-99m shortages in the United
States and the world. The supply chain
for fission-produced isotopes is fragile
and may shrink dramatically at any time
when these two, or the other three aging
international reactors currently
producing these isotopes, are shut down
for safety or routine maintenance.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
During times of supply shortages,
there is less molybdenum-99 and
technetium-99m available for
molybdenum-99/technetium-99
generator production. There are also
fewer generators to elute, and fewer
technetium-99m radioactive drugs
produced. The exemption will: (1)
Allow lower quantities of technetium99m to be used for calibrations and
delay the calibration test, making
quantities available for patient
administrations; (2) allow a licensee to
obtain unsealed byproduct material
from another licensee other than
directly from the manufacturer or
commercial nuclear pharmacy; and (3)
allow a licensee with sufficient product
to transfer excess to another authorized
licensee for patient administration. The
exemptions do not relieve the licensee
from NRC environmental release
requirements or worker dose or public
dose requirements associated with the
elution of molybdenum-99/technetium99m generators, preparation of
technetium-99m radioactive drugs,
administration of the technetium-99m
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15:08 Jul 15, 2009
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radioactive drugs to patients, handling
of these radioactive materials, or
handling of radioactive waste. All of
those protections remain in place.
Neither molybdenium-99 nor
technetium-99m is a volatile
radionuclide. Molybdenum-99 remains
attached to the generator resins and
technetium-99m stays suspended in the
eluent. Both radionuclides have short
half-lives. None of the proposed
exemptions affects how the licensee
handles these radionuclides. Their
medical use when there are no shortages
results in minimal impact on the
environment and public dose exposures.
During times of shortage, medical use
licensees will have less technetium-99m
to use and there will be fewer patients
receiving technetium-99m radioactive
drugs even when maximizing the
medical use of available technetium99m. Therefore, the proposed action
will not result in an increase in the
release of radioactive material into the
environment or increase public
radiation exposure. There will be no
impact on the environment as a result
of the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As required by Section 102(2)(E) of
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4322(2)(E)), possible
alternatives to the final action have been
considered. The NRC identified only
one reasonable alternative for
consideration: the no action alternative.
This no action alternative would not
result in any adverse impact on the
environment but would negatively
impact the medical use licensees’
provision of medical care to their
patients. During shortages in the United
States and the world of molybdenum99, the supply of technetium-99m
available to administer to patients is less
than the amount needed to perform
important cardiac, cancer, and other
imaging procedures. Using technetium99m to perform calibration tests at
maximum activities and at preset
intervals instead of for patient
administrations would prevent a
number of patients from receiving these
needed procedures. Temporary relief
from the national standards should not
result in significantly different patient
radiation dosages because most
instruments used to measure patient
dosages today are stable if not moved
and provided with reasonable climate
controls. Also, performing the test at
lower activity levels will provide
confidence that the instrument is still
calibrated over the levels of routine
technetium-99m dosages. For higher
dosages requiring written directives, the
licensee can use the activity provided
with the radioactive drug to assure
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34597
patient safety. Not granting an
exemption to permit distribution to and
receipt of excess generators and
technetium-99m by other authorized
medical use licensees that do not have
any also would reduce the number of
patients receiving needed procedures.
For these reasons, the NRC did not
adopt the no action alternative.
Alternative Use of Resources
No alternative use of resources was
considered due to the reasons stated
above.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
No other agencies or persons were
contacted regarding this proposed
action.
Identification of Source Used
None.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based on the above environmental
assessment, the NRC finds that the
proposed action will not have a
significant effect on the quality of the
human environment. Accordingly, the
NRC has determined that a Finding of
No Significant Impact is appropriate
and preparation of an environmental
impact statement is not warranted.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day
of July 2009.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Duane E. White,
Acting Chief, Radioactive Materials Safety
Branch, Division of Materials Safety and State
Agreements, Office of Federal and State
Materials and Environmental Management
Programs Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. E9–16916 Filed 7–15–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[NRC–2009–0313]
License Renewal Interim Staff
Guidance LR–ISG–2006–02: Staff
Guidance Regarding the Acceptance
Reviews for Environmental
Requirements for License Renewal
Applications; Notice of Withdrawal
AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC).
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.
SUMMARY: The NRC is withdrawing its
proposed License Renewal Interim Staff
Guidance (LR–ISG), LR–ISG–2006–02,
‘‘Staff Guidance on Acceptance Review
for Environmental Reports for License
Renewal Applications,’’ which was
noticed in the Federal Register (72 FR
7694 on February 16, 2007). This
E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM
16JYN1
erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
34598
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 135 / Thursday, July 16, 2009 / Notices
proposed LR–ISG was intended to aid
NRC staff in conducting environmental
acceptance reviews, and identify
information to include in environmental
reports (ERs). The proposed LR–ISG also
provided an acceptance review
checklist.
The staff informed NEI and other
stakeholders of the opportunity to
comment on the proposed LR–ISG–
2006–02 by letter dated February 8,
2007 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML063190440). The staff noted that the
guidance in this proposed LR–ISG
would be incorporated into a future
update of Environmental Standard
Review Plan (ESRP), NUREG–1555,
‘‘Standard Review Plans for
Environmental Reviews for Nuclear
Power Plants.’’ NEI provided comments
on the proposed LR–ISG in a letter
dated April 16, 2007 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML071090137). No other
stakeholders provided comments.
The NRC is currently preparing a
proposed rule to amend its regulations
in Part 51 of Title 10 of the Code of
Federal Regulations regarding findings
on environmental impacts related to
license renewal. Specifically, the
proposed rule will reestablish the scope
of the environmental impact issues
which must be addressed in conjunction
with the review of applications for
license renewal. As part of this
rulemaking, the NRC staff will issue for
comments a revised Generic
Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS)
for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants.
Concurrent with this update, the staff
will also publish a revised Regulatory
Guide 4.2, Preparation of Environmental
Reports for License Renewal
Applications, and a revised
Environmental Standard Review Plan,
Standard Review Plans for
Environmental Reviews for Nuclear
Power Plants. Consequently, the staff
has determined that ongoing efforts to
update the aforementioned documents
will obviate the need for LR–ISG–2006–
02. Comments received to date on LR–
ISG–2006–02 will be appropriately
considered as part of such efforts to
update existing guidance.
ADDRESSES: Documents created or
received after November 1, 1999, are
available electronically at the NRC’s
Public Electronic Reading Room on the
Internet at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/adams.html. From this site, the
public can gain entry into the NRC’s
Agencywide Documents Access and
Management System (ADAMS). If you
do not have access to the Internet or if
there are any problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, contact
the NRC Public Document Room
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15:08 Jul 15, 2009
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reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–
415–4737, or by e-mail at
PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Ian Spivack, Division of License
Renewal, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
0001; telephone 301–415–2564; or email Ian.Spivack@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC
issues LR–ISGs to communicate insights
and lessons learned, and to address
emergent issues not addressed in certain
license renewal guidance documents.
The NRC staff and stakeholders can use
approved LR–ISGs until their guidance
is incorporated into a formal license
renewal guidance document revision.
The NRC posts ISGs on the NRC public
Web page at https://www.nrc.gov/
reading-rm/doc-collections/isg.
For the reasons stated above, the NRC
has determined that LR–ISG–2006–02 is
not needed. The staff considers this LR–
ISG withdrawn and closed.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day
of July 2009.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samson S. Lee,
Deputy Director, Division of License Renewal,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. E9–16920 Filed 7–15–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. MC2009–27 and CP2009–37;
Order No. 231]
Priority Mail Contract
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice of contract approval.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This document informs the
public that the Commission has
reviewed and approved the Postal
Service’s recent request to add a new
Priority Mail contract to its list of
competitive offerings. It also addresses
other procedural and legal matters
aspects of the review and approval.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
202–789–6824 or
stephen.sharfman@prc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY HISTORY:
Regulatory History, 74 FR 30179 (June
24, 2009).
I. Background
II. Comments
III. Commission Analysis
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
The Postal Service seeks to add a new
product identified as Priority Mail
Contract 11 to the Competitive Product
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Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
List. For the reasons discussed below,
the Commission approves the Request.
I. Background
On June 11, 2009, the Postal Service
filed a notice, pursuant to 39 U.S.C.
3632(b)(3) and 39 CFR 3015.5,
announcing that it has entered into an
additional contract (Priority Mail
Contract 11), which it attempts to
classify within the previously proposed
Priority Mail Contract Group product.1
In support, the Postal Service filed the
proposed contract and referenced
Governors’ Decision 09–6 filed in
Docket No. MC2009–25. Id. at 1. The
Notice has been assigned Docket No.
CP2009–37.
In response to Order No. 222,2 and in
accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3642 and 39
CFR 3020 subpart B, the Postal Service
filed a formal request to add Priority
Mail Contract 11 to the Competitive
Product List as a separate product.3 The
Postal Service asserts that the Priority
Mail Contract 11 product is a
competitive product ‘‘not of general
applicability’’ within the meaning of 39
U.S.C. 3632(b)(3). This Request has been
assigned Docket No. MC2009–27.
In support of its Notice and Request,
the Postal Service filed the following
materials: (1) A redacted version of the
contract which, among other things,
provides that the contract will expire 3
years from the effective date, which is
proposed to be the day that the
Commission issues all regulatory
approvals; 4 (2) requested changes in the
Mail Classification Schedule product
list; 5 (3) a Statement of Supporting
Justification as required by 39 CFR
3020.32; 6 and (4) certification of
compliance with 39 U.S.C. 3633(a).7
In the Statement of Supporting
Justification, Mary Prince Anderson,
Acting Manager, Sales and
Communications, Expedited Shipping,
asserts that the service to be provided
under the contract will cover its
attributable costs, make a positive
contribution to coverage of institutional
costs, and will increase contribution
toward the requisite 5.5 percent of the
Postal Service’s total institutional costs.
Request, Attachment B, at 1. W. Ashley
1 Notice of Establishment of Rates and Class Not
of General Applicability (Priority Mail Contract 11),
June 11, 2009 (Notice).
2 PRC Order No. 222, Notice and Order
Concerning Filing of Priority Mail Contract 11
Negotiated Service Agreement, June 17, 2009 (Order
No. 222).
3 Request of the United States Postal Service to
Add Priority Mail Contract 11 to Competitive
Product List, June 23, 2009 (Request).
4 Attachment A to the Notice.
5 Attachment A to the Request.
6 Attachment B to the Request.
7 Attachment B to the Notice.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 135 (Thursday, July 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34597-34598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16920]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[NRC-2009-0313]
License Renewal Interim Staff Guidance LR-ISG-2006-02: Staff
Guidance Regarding the Acceptance Reviews for Environmental
Requirements for License Renewal Applications; Notice of Withdrawal
AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The NRC is withdrawing its proposed License Renewal Interim
Staff Guidance (LR-ISG), LR-ISG-2006-02, ``Staff Guidance on Acceptance
Review for Environmental Reports for License Renewal Applications,''
which was noticed in the Federal Register (72 FR 7694 on February 16,
2007). This
[[Page 34598]]
proposed LR-ISG was intended to aid NRC staff in conducting
environmental acceptance reviews, and identify information to include
in environmental reports (ERs). The proposed LR-ISG also provided an
acceptance review checklist.
The staff informed NEI and other stakeholders of the opportunity to
comment on the proposed LR-ISG-2006-02 by letter dated February 8, 2007
(ADAMS Accession No. ML063190440). The staff noted that the guidance in
this proposed LR-ISG would be incorporated into a future update of
Environmental Standard Review Plan (ESRP), NUREG-1555, ``Standard
Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants.'' NEI
provided comments on the proposed LR-ISG in a letter dated April 16,
2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML071090137). No other stakeholders provided
comments.
The NRC is currently preparing a proposed rule to amend its
regulations in Part 51 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
regarding findings on environmental impacts related to license renewal.
Specifically, the proposed rule will reestablish the scope of the
environmental impact issues which must be addressed in conjunction with
the review of applications for license renewal. As part of this
rulemaking, the NRC staff will issue for comments a revised Generic
Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear
Plants. Concurrent with this update, the staff will also publish a
revised Regulatory Guide 4.2, Preparation of Environmental Reports for
License Renewal Applications, and a revised Environmental Standard
Review Plan, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for
Nuclear Power Plants. Consequently, the staff has determined that
ongoing efforts to update the aforementioned documents will obviate the
need for LR-ISG-2006-02. Comments received to date on LR-ISG-2006-02
will be appropriately considered as part of such efforts to update
existing guidance.
ADDRESSES: Documents created or received after November 1, 1999, are
available electronically at the NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room on
the Internet at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this
site, the public can gain entry into the NRC's Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System (ADAMS). If you do not have access to the
Internet or if there are any problems in accessing the documents
located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public Document Room reference staff
at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail at PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ian Spivack, Division of License
Renewal, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone 301-415-2564; or e-
mail Ian.Spivack@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC issues LR-ISGs to communicate
insights and lessons learned, and to address emergent issues not
addressed in certain license renewal guidance documents. The NRC staff
and stakeholders can use approved LR-ISGs until their guidance is
incorporated into a formal license renewal guidance document revision.
The NRC posts ISGs on the NRC public Web page at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/isg.
For the reasons stated above, the NRC has determined that LR-ISG-
2006-02 is not needed. The staff considers this LR-ISG withdrawn and
closed.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of July 2009.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samson S. Lee,
Deputy Director, Division of License Renewal, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. E9-16920 Filed 7-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P