Notice of Acceptance of Application for Special Nuclear Materials Licensen From Rapiscan Laboratories, Inc., Opportunity To Request a Hearing, and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information for Contention Preparation, 62857-62861 [2011-26172]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2011 / Notices Act (36 CFR part 1275), NARA has identified, inventoried, and prepared for public access additional textual materials and sound recordings from among the Nixon Presidential Historical Materials. The following materials will be made available in accordance with this notice: 1. Previously restricted textual materials. Volume: 1 cubic foot. A number of textual materials previously withheld from public access have been reviewed for release and/or declassified under the systematic declassification review provisions and under the mandatory review provisions of Executive Order 13526, the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), or in accordance with 36 CFR 1275 (Public Access regulations). The materials are from integral file segments for the National Security Council (NSC Files and NSC Institutional Files); the Henry A. Kissinger (HAK) Office Files, including HAK telephone conversation transcripts; White House Special Files, Staff Member and Office Files, John D. Ehrlichman; and White House Central Files, Staff Member and Office Files, Anne L. Armstrong. 2. White House Central Files, Staff Member and Office Files. Volume: 18 cubic feet. The White House Central Files Unit was a permanent organization within the White House complex that maintained a central filing and retrieval system for the records of the President and his staff. The Staff Member and Office Files consist of materials that were transferred to the Central Files but were not incorporated into the Subject Files. The following file groups will be made available: Kenneth Cole (Accretion). 3. White House Central Files, Name Files: Volume: <1 cubic foot. The Name Files were used for routine materials filed alphabetically by the name of the correspondent; copies of documents in the Name Files were usually filed by subject in the Subject Files. The following Name Files folders will be made available: Burroughs, U–Z; Silberman, Laurence. 4. White House Special Files, Staff Member and Office Files. Volume: <60 minutes of audio recordings from the following collections: President’s Personal File (PPF). 5. Record Group 460, Records of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force (WSPF). Volume: <1 cubic foot. The segments of five transcripts of White House taped conversations from 1971 and 1973, which are part of the materials associated with President Richard M. Nixon’s June 23–24, 1975 grand jury testimony, were formerly VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:47 Oct 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 redacted as required by law, including the PRMPA. Dated: October 5, 2011. David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States. [FR Doc. 2011–26165 Filed 10–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7515–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 70–7021; NRC–2011–0232] Notice of Acceptance of Application for Special Nuclear Materials Licensen From Rapiscan Laboratories, Inc., Opportunity To Request a Hearing, and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified NonSafeguards Information for Contention Preparation Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: License application; opportunity for hearing and order. AGENCY: Requests for a hearing or Leave to Intervene must be filed by December 12, 2011. Any potential party as defined in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.4 who believes access to SUNSI information is necessary to respond to this notice must request document access by October 21, 2011. ADDRESSES: You can access publicly available documents related to this document using the following methods: • NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR): The public may examine and have copied, for a fee, publicly available documents at the NRC’s PDR, O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): Publicly available documents created or received at the NRC are available online in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. From this page, the public can gain entry into ADAMS, which provides text and image files of the NRC’s public documents. If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC’s PDR reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. • Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Public comments and supporting materials related to this final rule can be found at https://www.regulations.gov by searching on Docket ID NRC–2011– 0232. Address questions about NRC DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62857 dockets to Carol Gallagher, telephone: 301–492–3668; e-mail: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Diaz, Project Manager, Fuel Manufacturing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Mailstop: EBB2– C40M, Rockville, Maryland 20852; telephone: 301–492–3172; e-mail: Marilyn.Diaz@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The NRC has accepted for detailed technical review an application for a new license for the possession and use of special nuclear material (SNM) for performance testing of radiation detection systems for locating SNM, under a project sponsored by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Rapiscan Laboratories, Inc. (the Applicant) requested the new license for a period of 10 years. This license application, if approved, would authorize the Applicant to possess and use special nuclear materials under 10 CFR Part 70, ‘‘Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material.’’ II. Discussion In its application, dated October 22, 2010, the Applicant requested a license to possess and use SNM to conduct tests of new technology for use in detection systems. The SNM would be used as test objects for concept demonstrations and characterization testing. Following an administrative review, the NRC requested the Applicant to revise its application to include elements essential to conducting a detailed technical review. The Applicant submitted a revised license application, dated February 9, 2011, and supplemental information on March 10, 2011. By letter dated March 10, 2011, the NRC staff found the revised license application acceptable to begin a detailed technical review. The application has been docketed in Docket No. 70–7021. If the NRC approves the license application, the basis for approval will be documented in a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) supporting the issuance of a new NRC license. The SER would contain the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the NRC’s regulations, for issuing an SNM license. The SER would also include a determination of the need to complete an environmental E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM 11OCN1 62858 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2011 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES assessment based on the proposed action. III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing Requirements for submitting 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 Part 2, Section 2.309, which is available at the NRC’s PDR, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, O1–F21, Rockville, MD 20852. You may also call the PDR at 1–800–397–4209 or 301– 415–4737. The NRC regulations are also accessible electronically from the NRC’s Web site at https://www.nrc.gov. Any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding, and who desires to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written 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. 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 order that may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner’s interest. A petition for Leave to Intervene must also include a specification of the contentions that the petitioner seeks to have litigated in the hearing. 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 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:47 Oct 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 applicant on a material issue of law or fact, including references to specific portions of the license application that the petitioner disputes and the supporting reasons for each dispute, or, if the petitioner believes that the license application fails 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. 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 crossexamination plan for cross-examination of witnesses, consistent with the NRC’s regulations, policies, and procedures. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (the Licensing Board) will set the time and place for any pre-hearing conferences and evidentiary hearings, and the appropriate notices will be provided. Petitions for leave to intervene must be submitted no later than 60 days from October 11, 2011. Non-timely petitions for Leave to Intervene and contentions, amended petitions, and supplemental petitions will not be entertained, absent a determination by the Commission, the Licensing Board or a Presiding Officer that the petition should be granted and/ or the contentions should be admitted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i)–(viii). A State, county, municipality, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, or agencies thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(d)(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 December 12, 2011. The petition must be filed in accordance with the filing instructions in Section IV of this document, and should meet the requirements for petitions for Leave to Intervene set forth in this section, except that State and Federally recognized Indian tribes do not need to address the standing requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d)(1) if the facility is located within its boundaries. The entities listed above could also seek to participate in a hearing as a non-party, 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 PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 Licensing Board. Persons desiring to make a limited appearance are requested to inform the Secretary of the Commission by December 12, 2011. IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing) All documents filed in NRC’s 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 any document 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 EFiling 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 petitioner/requestor should contact the Office of the Secretary by e-mail at hearing.docket@nrc.gov, or by telephone at 301–415–1677, to request: (1) A digital 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 petitioner/requestor, or its counsel or representative, already holds an NRCissued digital ID certificate.) Based on 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 NRC’s public Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/ apply-certificates.html. System requirements for accessing the ESubmittal server are detailed in NRC’s, E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM 11OCN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2011 / Notices ‘‘Guidance for Electronic Submission,’’ which is available on the agency’s public Web site at https://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’s 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, including the installation of the Web browser plug-in, is available on the NRC’s public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html. Once a petitioner/requestor has obtained a digital ID certificate and a docket has been created, the petitioner/ requestor can then submit a request for hearing or petition for Leave to Intervene. Submissions should be in Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with the NRC’s guidance available on the NRC public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/esubmittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the time the filer submits its documents through EIE. To be timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the EIE system no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on the due date. Upon receipt of a transmission, the EFiling system time-stamps the document and sends the submitter an e-mail notice confirming receipt of the document. The EIE system also distributes an e-mail 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 can obtain access to the document via the E-Filing system. A person filing electronically using the agency’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 Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals. html, by e-mail atMSHD.Resource@nrc.gov, or by calling 800–672–7640. The NRC Meta System Help Desk is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:47 Oct 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not submitting documents electronically must file a motion, 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: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or expedited delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, 16th Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Rulemakings 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 firstclass 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 NRC’s electronic hearing docket, which is available to the public at https:// 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 telephone 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 NonSafeguards 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). PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62859 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 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 e-mail address for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the General Counsel are Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov and OGCmailcenter@nrc.gov, respectively.1 The request must include the following information: (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) 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 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. E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM 11OCN1 62860 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2011 / Notices 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. 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 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 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 4th day of October, 2011. 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 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. 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. 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). 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 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 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 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. Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to reverse NRC staff determination(s). (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. 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. Deadline for filing executed Non-Disclosure Affidavits. Access provided to SUNSI consistent with decision issuing the protective order. 10 .............. 60 .............. 20 .............. 25 .............. 30 .............. 40 .............. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES A ................ A + 3 ......... 2 Any motion for Protective Order or draft NonDisclosure Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must be filed with the presiding officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer has not VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:47 Oct 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline for the receipt of the written access request. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM 11OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 196 / Tuesday, October 11, 2011 / Notices 62861 ATTACHMENT 1—GENERAL TARGET SCHEDULE FOR PROCESSING AND RESOLVING REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO SENSITIVE UNCLASSIFIED NON-SAFEGUARDS INFORMATION IN THIS PROCEEDING—Continued Day Event/activity 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. (Contention receipt +25) Answers to contentions whose development depends upon access to SUNSI. (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor reply to answers. Decision on contention admission. A + 53 ....... A + 60 ....... >A + 60 ..... [FR Doc. 2011–26172 Filed 10–7–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50–498 and 50–499; NRC– 2011–0238] STP Nuclear Operating Company, South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), part 50, Section 50.46 ‘‘Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems [ECCSs] for light-water nuclear power reactors,’’ and Appendix K to 10 CFR Part 50, ‘‘ECCS Evaluation Models,’’ to allow the use of Optimized ZIRLOTM fuel rod cladding in future core reload applications for South Texas Project (STP), Units 1 and 2, Facility Operating License Nos. NPF–76 and NPF–80, respectively, issued to STP Nuclear Operating Company (the licensee) for operation of STP, Units 1 and 2, located Matagorda County, Texas. Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact. Environmental Assessment Identification of the Proposed Action: The proposed action would issue an exemption from Section 50.46 and Appendix K to 10 CFR 50, regarding fuel cladding material, and revise the Technical Specifications document, which is part of the Facility Operating Licenses for STP, Units 1 and 2, to permit use of Optimized ZIRLOTM fuel. The NRC staff has previously issued an exemption to STP, Units 1 and 2, to allow use of up to eight lead test assemblies (LTAs) containing fuel rods with Optimized ZIRLOTM cladding (69 FR 64113; November 3, 2004). Westinghouse has provided the NRC staff with information related to test data and models for the LTAs. LTA VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:47 Oct 07, 2011 Jkt 226001 measured data and favorable results from visual examinations of once, twice, and thrice-burned LTAs confirm, for three cycles of operation, that the current performance models are applicable for Optimized ZIRLOTM clad fuel rods. The purpose of this exemption request is to allow fuel rods with Optimized ZIRLOTM cladding to be used in future core reloads for STP, Units 1 and 2. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee’s application dated December 21, 2010, which is publicly available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession No. ML103630408. The Need for the Proposed Action: The proposed action is needed because the regulation in 10 CFR 50.46 contains acceptance criteria for the ECCS for reactors that have fuel rods clad either with Zircaloy or ZIRLO. Appendix K to 10 CFR part 50, paragraph I.A.5, requires the Baker-Just equation to be used to predict the rates of energy release, hydrogen concentration, and cladding oxidation for the metal-water reaction. The BakerJust equation assumed the use of a zirconium alloy different than Optimized ZIRLOTM; therefore, an exemption is required. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the exemption does not present undue risk to public health and safety, and is consistent with common defense and security. The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents. No changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released offsite. There is no significant increase in the amount of any effluent released offsite. There is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Based on the nature of the exemption, the proposed action does not result in PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 changes to land use or water use, or result in changes to the quality or quantity of non-radiological effluents. No changes to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit are needed. No effects on the aquatic or terrestrial habitat in the vicinity of the plant, or to threatened, endangered, or protected species under the Endangered Species Act, or impacts to essential fish habitat covered by the MagnusonStevens Act are expected. There are no impacts to the air or ambient air quality. There are no impacts to historic and cultural resources. There would be no noticeable effect on socioeconomic conditions in the region. Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action: As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered denial of the proposed actions (i.e., the ‘‘noaction’’ alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. Thus, the environmental impacts of the proposed actions and the alternative action are similar. Alternative Use of Resources: The action does not involve the use of any different resources than those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the STP, Units 1 and 2, NUREG–1171, dated August 1986. Agencies and Persons Consulted: In accordance with its stated policy, on September 1, 2011, the staff consulted with the Texas State official regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments. Finding of No Significant Impact On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action. E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM 11OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62857-62861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26172]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 70-7021; NRC-2011-0232]


Notice of Acceptance of Application for Special Nuclear Materials 
Licensen From Rapiscan Laboratories, Inc., Opportunity To Request a 
Hearing, and Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive 
Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information for Contention Preparation

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: License application; opportunity for hearing and order.

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DATES: Requests for a hearing or Leave to Intervene must be filed by 
December 12, 2011. Any potential party as defined in Title 10 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.4 who believes access to SUNSI 
information is necessary to respond to this notice must request 
document access by October 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You can access publicly available documents related to this 
document using the following methods:
     NRC's Public Document Room (PDR): The public may examine 
and have copied, for a fee, publicly available documents at the NRC's 
PDR, O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): Publicly available documents created or received at the NRC 
are available online in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this page, the public can gain entry into ADAMS, 
which provides text and image files of the NRC's public documents. If 
you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing 
the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC's PDR reference staff 
at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.
     Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Public comments and 
supporting materials related to this final rule can be found at https://www.regulations.gov by searching on Docket ID NRC-2011-0232. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher, telephone: 301-492-
3668; e-mail: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marilyn Diaz, Project Manager, Fuel 
Manufacturing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, 
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Mailstop: EBB2-C40M, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852; telephone: 301-492-3172; e-mail: 
Marilyn.Diaz@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC has accepted for detailed technical review an application 
for a new license for the possession and use of special nuclear 
material (SNM) for performance testing of radiation detection systems 
for locating SNM, under a project sponsored by the Domestic Nuclear 
Detection Office (DNDO) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
(DHS). Rapiscan Laboratories, Inc. (the Applicant) requested the new 
license for a period of 10 years. This license application, if 
approved, would authorize the Applicant to possess and use special 
nuclear materials under 10 CFR Part 70, ``Domestic Licensing of Special 
Nuclear Material.''

II. Discussion

    In its application, dated October 22, 2010, the Applicant requested 
a license to possess and use SNM to conduct tests of new technology for 
use in detection systems. The SNM would be used as test objects for 
concept demonstrations and characterization testing. Following an 
administrative review, the NRC requested the Applicant to revise its 
application to include elements essential to conducting a detailed 
technical review. The Applicant submitted a revised license 
application, dated February 9, 2011, and supplemental information on 
March 10, 2011. By letter dated March 10, 2011, the NRC staff found the 
revised license application acceptable to begin a detailed technical 
review. The application has been docketed in Docket No. 70-7021.
    If the NRC approves the license application, the basis for approval 
will be documented in a Safety Evaluation Report (SER) supporting the 
issuance of a new NRC license. The SER would contain the findings 
required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and 
the NRC's regulations, for issuing an SNM license. The SER would also 
include a determination of the need to complete an environmental

[[Page 62858]]

assessment based on the proposed action.

III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing

    Requirements for submitting 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 Part 2, Section 2.309, which 
is available at the NRC's PDR, located at One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, O1-F21, Rockville, MD 20852. You may also call the PDR 
at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737. The NRC regulations are also 
accessible electronically from the NRC's Web site at https://www.nrc.gov.
    Any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding, and 
who desires to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a 
written 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. 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 order that may be entered in the proceeding on the 
petitioner's interest.
    A petition for Leave to Intervene must also include a specification 
of the contentions that the petitioner seeks to have litigated in the 
hearing. 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 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 license 
application that the petitioner disputes and the supporting reasons for 
each dispute, or, if the petitioner believes that the license 
application fails 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.
    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 (the Licensing Board) will set the 
time and place for any pre-hearing conferences and evidentiary 
hearings, and the appropriate notices will be provided.
    Petitions for leave to intervene must be submitted no later than 60 
days from October 11, 2011. Non-timely petitions for Leave to Intervene 
and contentions, amended petitions, and supplemental petitions will not 
be entertained, absent a determination by the Commission, the Licensing 
Board or a Presiding Officer that the petition should be granted and/or 
the contentions should be admitted based upon a balancing of the 
factors specified in 10 CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i)-(viii).
    A State, county, municipality, Federally recognized Indian Tribe, 
or agencies thereof, may submit a petition to the Commission to 
participate as a party under 10 CFR 2.309(d)(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 
December 12, 2011. The petition must be filed in accordance with the 
filing instructions in Section IV of this document, and should meet the 
requirements for petitions for Leave to Intervene set forth in this 
section, except that State and Federally recognized Indian tribes do 
not need to address the standing requirements in 10 CFR 2.309(d)(1) if 
the facility is located within its boundaries. The entities listed 
above could also seek to participate in a hearing as a non-party, 
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 pre-hearing conference, subject to such limits and 
conditions as may be imposed by the Licensing Board. Persons desiring 
to make a limited appearance are requested to inform the Secretary of 
the Commission by December 12, 2011.

IV. Electronic Submissions (E-Filing)

    All documents filed in NRC's 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 any document 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 petitioner/requestor should 
contact the Office of the Secretary by e-mail at 
hearing.docket@nrc.gov, or by telephone at 301-415-1677, to request: 
(1) A digital 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 
petitioner/requestor, or its counsel or representative, already holds 
an NRC-issued digital ID certificate.) Based on 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 NRC's public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/apply-certificates.html. System requirements for accessing 
the E-Submittal server are detailed in NRC's,

[[Page 62859]]

``Guidance for Electronic Submission,'' which is available on the 
agency's public Web site at https://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's 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, including 
the installation of the Web browser plug-in, is available on the NRC's 
public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html.
    Once a petitioner/requestor has obtained a digital ID certificate 
and a docket has been created, the petitioner/requestor can then submit 
a request for hearing or petition for Leave to Intervene. Submissions 
should be in Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with the 
NRC's guidance available on the NRC public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. A filing is considered 
complete at the time the filer submits its documents through EIE. To be 
timely, an electronic filing must be submitted to the EIE system no 
later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time on the due date. Upon 
receipt of a transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document 
and sends the submitter an e-mail notice confirming receipt of the 
document. The EIE system also distributes an e-mail 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 can obtain access 
to the document via the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically using the agency'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 Web site 
at https://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html, by e-mail 
atMSHD.Resource@nrc.gov, or by calling 800-672-7640. The NRC Meta 
System Help Desk is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
    Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not 
submitting documents electronically must file a motion, 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: Rulemakings and 
Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or expedited 
delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, 16th Floor, One White 
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 
Attention: Rulemakings 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 
NRC's electronic hearing docket, which is available to the public at 
https://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 telephone 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 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 e-mail 
address for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of the General 
Counsel are Hearing.Docket@nrc.gov and OGCmailcenter@nrc.gov, 
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);
    (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

[[Page 62860]]

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 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 4th day of October, 2011.

    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.......................  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 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 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.

[[Page 62861]]

 
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. 2011-26172 Filed 10-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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