Decommissioning Planning During Operations, 41107 [2012-17014]

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• NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 41107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17014]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 134 / Thursday, July 12, 2012 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 41107]]



NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Parts 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 72

[NRC-2011-0162]


Decommissioning Planning During Operations

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting, webinar and opportunity to provide 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) 
is seeking input from the public, licensees, Agreement States, non-
Agreement States, and other stakeholders on revised draft regulatory 
guide (DG) 4014, ``Decommissioning Planning During Operations.'' This 
guide describes a method that the NRC staff considers acceptable for 
use in complying with the NRC's Decommissioning Planning Rule. The NRC 
will hold a public meeting and concurrent Webinar to facilitate the 
public's and other stakeholders' comments.

DATES: The public meeting and Webinar will be held at the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Two White Flint North, Room T-8A01, 11554 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852 on July 12, 2012, from 11:30 
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT). The revised draft guide will be issued by a 
separate notice that will contain information on submitting written 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Shepherd, Office of Federal 
and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-
6712; email: james.shepherd@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In 2011, the NRC published the Decommissioning Planning Rule (DPR) 
(June 17, 2011, 76 FR 33512). The DPR applies to the operational phase 
of a licensed facility, and requires licensees to operate in a way to 
minimize spills, leaks, and other unplanned releases of radioactive 
contaminants into the environment. It also requires licensees to check 
periodically for radiological contamination throughout the site, 
including subsurface soil and groundwater. Subsequently, to describe 
and make available to the public information on methods that are 
acceptable to the NRC staff for implementing this part of the 
regulations, the NRC published for comment DG-4014, ``Decommissioning 
Planning During Operations'' (December 13, 2011, 76 FR 77431). The NRC 
received more than 100 comments on the draft guide resulting in 
modifications to the draft on which the NRC staff believes public 
comment is appropriate. Therefore, the NRC is issuing a revision to the 
draft guidance (ML12179A246) that responds to the comments on the 
initial version.

II. Discussion

    Many of the comments provided during the initial comment period on 
DG-4014 stated that more information about specific actions for 
different types of licensee should be included in the regulatory guide. 
Additionally, some of the comments also called for more information on 
how a licensee could determine in which category it fell and what 
actions it must take. Some commenters indicated that the NRC should 
identify conditions that would, in effect, exempt certain licensees 
with limited activities or inventories from the sampling requirements 
of the rule. One comment stated the guidance should not, de facto, 
impose backfit requirements on licensees, and others stated the guide 
should address restricted release of a site. In response to the 
comments received, the NRC staff has revised the draft guide.

III. Public Webinar

    To facilitate the understanding of the public and other 
stakeholders of the issues addressed in the draft guide and the 
procedures for the submission of comments, the NRC staff has scheduled 
a public Webinar from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 12, 2012. 
Webinar participants will be able to view the presentation slides 
prepared by the NRC and electronically submit comments over the 
Internet. Participants must register to participate in the Webinar. 
Registration information may be found in the meeting notice 
(ML12179A347). The meeting notice is also available on the NRC's public 
Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm. Additionally, the final agenda for the public Webinar and 
the revised draft regulatory guide will be posted no fewer than 10 days 
prior to the Webinar at this Web site. Those who are unable to 
participate via Webinar may also participate via teleconference. For 
details on how to participate via teleconference, please contact Sarah 
Achten, telephone: 301-415-6009; email: sarah.achten@nrc.gov; or T.R. 
Rowe, telephone: 301-415-8008; email: t.rowe@nrc.gov.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of July 2012.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Keith I. McConnell,
Deputy Director, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing 
Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, 
Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-17014 Filed 7-11-12; 8:45 am]
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