Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools, 13685-13687 [2014-05236]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 47 / Tuesday, March 11, 2014 / Notices published in the Federal Register on November 8, 2013, (78 CFR 67205– 67206). Detailed meeting agendas and meeting transcripts are available on the NRC Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/acrs. Information regarding topics to be discussed, changes to the agenda, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, and the time allotted to present oral statements can be obtained from the Web site cited above or by contacting the identified DFO. Moreover, in view of the possibility that the schedule for ACRS meetings may be adjusted by the Chairman as necessary to facilitate the conduct of the meeting, persons planning to attend should check with these references if such rescheduling would result in a major inconvenience. If attending this meeting, please enter through the One White Flint North building, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. After registering with security, please contact Mr. Theron Brown (Telephone 240–888–9835) to be escorted to the meeting room. Dated: March 5, 2014. Cayetano Santos, Chief, Technical Support Branch, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. Conduct of the Meeting [FR Doc. 2014–05280 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting Notice U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: NRC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on May 8–9, 2014. A sample of agenda items to be discussed during the public session includes: (1) A discussion on possible revisions to the NRC Medical Policy Statement; (2) an update on medical-related events; (3) a discussion on amendments to the ACMUI Bylaws; (4) an update on the status of the research project related to the release of patients following iodine-131 therapy; and (5) a presentation on NNSA’s efforts related to molybdenum-99 production. The agenda is subject to change. The current agenda and any updates will be available at https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/acmui/meetings/ 2014.html, or by emailing Ms. Sophie Holiday at the contact information below. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:22 Mar 10, 2014 Jkt 232001 Purpose: Discuss issues related to 10 CFR Part 35 Medical Use of Byproduct Material. Date and Time for Closed Sessions: May 08, 2014, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and May 09, 2014 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The session on May 08, 2014 will be closed for badging and enrollment for new members to the ACMUI. Both sessions on May 09, 2014 will be closed for ACMUI training. Date and Time for Open Sessions: May 08, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and May 09, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Address for Public Meeting: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Two White Flint North Building, Room T2– B3, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Public Participation: Any member of the public who wishes to participate in the meeting in person or via phone should contact Ms. Holiday using the information below. The meeting will also be webcast live: video.nrc.gov. Contact Information: Sophie J. Holiday, email: sophie.holiday@nrc.gov, telephone: (301) 415–7865. Bruce R. Thomadsen, Ph.D., will chair the meeting. Dr. Thomadsen will conduct the meeting in a manner that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. The following procedures apply to public participation in the meeting: 1. Persons who wish to provide a written statement should submit an electronic copy to Ms. Holiday at the contact information listed above. All submittals must be received by May 1, 2014, and must pertain to the topic on the agenda for the meeting. 2. Questions and comments from members of the public will be permitted during the meeting, at the discretion of the Chairman. 3. The draft transcript and meeting summary will be available on ACMUI’s Web site https://www.nrc.gov/readingrm/doc-collections/acmui/meetings/ 2014.html on or about June 20, 2014. 4. Persons who require special services, such as those for the hearing impaired, should notify Ms. Holiday of their planned attendance. This meeting will be held in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (primarily Section 161a); the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App); and the Commission’s regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 7. PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13685 Dated: March 5, 2014. Andrew L. Bates, Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2014–05265 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2014–0040] Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft generic letter; public meeting and request for comment. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this draft generic letter to address degradation of neutron-absorbing materials in the spent fuel pool (SFP). The NRC has determined that it is necessary to obtain plant-specific information requested in the draft generic letter so that the NRC can determine if the degradation of the neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP is being managed to maintain reasonable assurance that the materials are capable of performing their intended safety function, and if the licensees are in compliance with the regulations. DATES: Submit comments by May 12, 2014. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods (unless this document describes a different method for submitting comments on a specific subject): • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2014–0040. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–287–3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual(s) listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB), Office of Administration, Mail Stop: 3WFN 06– 44M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001. For additional direction on accessing information and submitting comments, see ‘‘Accessing Information and Submitting Comments’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM 11MRN1 13686 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 47 / Tuesday, March 11, 2014 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Krepel, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 0001; telephone: 301–302–0399; email: Scott.Krepel@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Accessing Information and Submitting Comments A. Accessing Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2014– 0040 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may access publicly-available information related to this action by any of the following methods: • Federal rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2014–0040. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents Collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC–2014– 0040 in the subject line of your comment submission, in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make your comment submission available to the public in this docket. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at https:// www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information. If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:22 Mar 10, 2014 Jkt 232001 identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS. II. Discussion The NRC is issuing Generic Letter NRC–2014–0040, ‘‘Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools,’’ (ADAMS Accession No. ML13100A086) to request submittal of information from the stated licensees regarding the credited neutronabsorbing materials in the spent fuel pool (SFP) and associated surveillance or monitoring programs. Recent operating experience and regulatory actions have shown some gaps in the NRC knowledge base and regulatory guidance associated with management of the effects of aging on the neutronabsorbing materials in the SFP. Followup investigations of the identified gaps resulted in some NRC concerns with existing methods used in the industry to ensure compliance with the nuclear criticality safety (NCS) requirements in § 50.68 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) and in General Design Criterion 62 (found in Appendix A of 10 CFR Part 50). In light of recent findings related to neutron-absorbing material degradation and uncertainties in the tools used to monitor the current condition of neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP, the NRC decided to request detailed information in order to verify compliance with the applicable NCS requirements and to determine if any further regulatory action is necessary. The draft generic letter contains a more detailed discussion of the issues involved and the information being requested. III. Cumulative Effects of Regulation The NRC is considering the cumulative effects of regulation (CER) as they relate to this Generic Letter. The CER considers the challenges licensees face in addressing the implementation of new regulatory positions, programs, and requirements (e.g., rulemaking, guidance, backfits, inspections). The CER initiative stems from the total burden imposed on licensees by the NRC from simultaneous or consecutive regulatory actions that can adversely affect the licensee’s capability to implement those requirements while continuing to operate or construct its facility in a safe and secure manner. The NRC proposed several rulemaking PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 process enhancements to address CER in SECY–11–0032, ‘‘Consideration of the Cumulative Effects of Regulation in the Rulemaking Process,’’ dated October 11, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML112840466). In SECY–12–0137, ‘‘Implementation of the Cumulative Effects of Regulation Process Changes,’’ dated October 5, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12223A162) built upon the recommendations in SECY– 11–0032. In its Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY–12–0137 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13071A635), the Commission directed the staff to, among other items, ‘‘continue to develop and implement outreach tools that will allow NRC to consider more completely the overall impacts of multiple rules, orders, generic communications, advisories, and other regulatory actions on licensees and their ability to focus effectively on items of greatest safety importance.’’ With regard to this generic letter, the NRC requests that licensees comment about any CER challenges they may face. Specifically, the NRC requests comment on the following questions: a. In light of any current or projected cumulative effects, does this generic letter request provide sufficient time for licensees to respond with the information requested, including any need to develop this information through supporting engineering calculation or analyses? b. If a current or projected cumulative effect poses a significant challenge, what should be done to address it? For example, if more time is required to develop and provide the information, what period of time is sufficient? Are there equally effective alternatives to providing the requested information to the NRC that reduce the cumulative effects? c. Do other (NRC or other regulatory agency) regulatory actions (e.g., Orders, rules, generic letter, bulletins, 50.54(f) requests) influence licensee responses to this draft generic letter? If so what are they and do you have a suggested approach to reduce the cumulative effects in light of these other regulatory actions? d. Are there other projects that licensees are undertaking, plan to undertake, or should be undertaking that provide greater safety benefit, that might be displaced or delayed as a result of the expenditure of effort and resources to respond to this generic letter? e. Are there unintended consequences associated with responding to this generic letter at this time? E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM 11MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 47 / Tuesday, March 11, 2014 / Notices f. Please comment on the NRC’s supporting justification for this generic letter. IV. Public Meeting The NRC plans to hold an informational public meeting approximately 45 days into the public comment period to discuss draft Generic Letter NRC–2014–0040, ‘‘Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools’’, and to obtain feedback from members of the public. The public meeting will be transcribed by a court reporter. The public meeting notice will be made available electronically in ADAMS and posted on the NRC’s Public Meeting Schedule Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/public-involve/publicmeetings/index.cfm. The agenda for the public meeting will be noticed no fewer than 10 days prior to the meeting on the Public Meeting Schedule Web site. Any meeting updates or changes will be made available on this Web site. Information regarding topics to be discussed, changes to the agenda, whether the meeting has been cancelled or rescheduled, and the time allotted for public comments can be obtained from the Public Meeting Schedule Web site. Comments regarding the draft Generic Letter must be submitted in accordance with paragraph I.B of this document. Comments from the public meeting will not be considered as official comments to this Federal Register notice. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of February, 2014. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Sheldon Stuchell, Acting PGCB Branch Chief, Generic Communications Branch, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2014–05236 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2013–0230] Draft Fiscal Years 2014–2018 Strategic Plan Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft NUREG; correction and supplemental information. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register on March 5, 2014. The notice notified the public of the availability of draft NUREG–1614, Volume 6, ‘‘U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Strategic Plan, Fiscal Years 2014–2018.’’ This action is SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:22 Mar 10, 2014 Jkt 232001 necessary to correct the NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) accession number for draft NUREG– 1614, and to notify the public that the draft Strategic Plan can be found on the NRC’s public Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/plansperformance/draft-strategic-plan-20142018.html. DATES: This correction is effective on March 11, 2014. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2013–0230 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may access publicly-available information related to this action by any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2013–0230. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301–287–3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this final rule. • NRC’s ADAMS: You may access publicly-available documents online in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/ reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301– 415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@ nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The NRC’s draft Strategic Plan may be viewed online on the NRC’s Public Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/ plans-performance/draft-strategic-plan2014-2018.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Bladey, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, 20555–0001; telephone: 301–287–0949; email: Cindy.Bladey@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC is correcting the ADAMS accession number for draft NUREG–1614 in the notice published on March 5, 2014 (79 FR 12531). In Fr. Doc. 2014–04830, on page 12531, in the second column; second bullet under Section A., PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13687 Accessing Information; last sentence; ‘‘ML13254A234’’ is corrected to read ‘‘ML14023A605.’’ The NRC is notifying the public that the draft Strategic Plan can be found on the NRC’s public Web site at https:// www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/plansperformance/draft-strategic-plan-20142018.html. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of March 2014. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration. [FR Doc. 2014–05240 Filed 3–10–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Submission for Review: Application for U.S. Flag Recognition Benefit for Deceased Federal Civilian Employees, OPM 1825 Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: 30-day notice and request for comments. AGENCY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a new information collection request (ICR) 3206–NEW, Application for U.S. Flag Recognition Benefit for Deceased Federal Civilian Employees. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104–106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2013 at 78 FR 36314 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM 11MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13685-13687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05236]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2014-0040]


Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Draft generic letter; public meeting and request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this 
draft generic letter to address degradation of neutron-absorbing 
materials in the spent fuel pool (SFP). The NRC has determined that it 
is necessary to obtain plant-specific information requested in the 
draft generic letter so that the NRC can determine if the degradation 
of the neutron-absorbing materials in the SFP is being managed to 
maintain reasonable assurance that the materials are capable of 
performing their intended safety function, and if the licensees are in 
compliance with the regulations.

DATES: Submit comments by May 12, 2014. Comments received after this 
date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission 
is able to assure consideration only for comments received on or before 
this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods 
(unless this document describes a different method for submitting 
comments on a specific subject):
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2014-0040. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-287-
3422; email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact 
the individual(s) listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
of this document.
     Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, 
Announcements, and Directives Branch (RADB), Office of Administration, 
Mail Stop: 3WFN 06-44M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001.
    For additional direction on accessing information and submitting 
comments, see ``Accessing Information and Submitting Comments'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

[[Page 13686]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Krepel, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001; telephone: 301-302-0399; email: Scott.Krepel@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Accessing Information and Submitting Comments

A. Accessing Information

    Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0040 when contacting the NRC 
about the availability of information regarding this document. You may 
access publicly-available information related to this action by any of 
the following methods:
     Federal rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2014-0040.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may access publicly available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents Collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and 
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, 
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document 
(if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time 
that a document is referenced.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

B. Submitting Comments

    Please include Docket ID NRC-2014-0040 in the subject line of your 
comment submission, in order to ensure that the NRC is able to make 
your comment submission available to the public in this docket.
    The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact 
information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your 
comment submission. The NRC will post all comment submissions at https://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into 
ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove 
identifying or contact information.
    If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons 
for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to 
include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be 
publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should 
state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to 
remove such information before making the comment submissions available 
to the public or entering the comment submissions into ADAMS.

II. Discussion

    The NRC is issuing Generic Letter NRC-2014-0040, ``Monitoring of 
Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools,'' (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML13100A086) to request submittal of information from the stated 
licensees regarding the credited neutron-absorbing materials in the 
spent fuel pool (SFP) and associated surveillance or monitoring 
programs. Recent operating experience and regulatory actions have shown 
some gaps in the NRC knowledge base and regulatory guidance associated 
with management of the effects of aging on the neutron-absorbing 
materials in the SFP. Follow-up investigations of the identified gaps 
resulted in some NRC concerns with existing methods used in the 
industry to ensure compliance with the nuclear criticality safety (NCS) 
requirements in Sec.  50.68 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR) and in General Design Criterion 62 (found in 
Appendix A of 10 CFR Part 50). In light of recent findings related to 
neutron-absorbing material degradation and uncertainties in the tools 
used to monitor the current condition of neutron-absorbing materials in 
the SFP, the NRC decided to request detailed information in order to 
verify compliance with the applicable NCS requirements and to determine 
if any further regulatory action is necessary. The draft generic letter 
contains a more detailed discussion of the issues involved and the 
information being requested.

III. Cumulative Effects of Regulation

    The NRC is considering the cumulative effects of regulation (CER) 
as they relate to this Generic Letter. The CER considers the challenges 
licensees face in addressing the implementation of new regulatory 
positions, programs, and requirements (e.g., rulemaking, guidance, 
backfits, inspections). The CER initiative stems from the total burden 
imposed on licensees by the NRC from simultaneous or consecutive 
regulatory actions that can adversely affect the licensee's capability 
to implement those requirements while continuing to operate or 
construct its facility in a safe and secure manner. The NRC proposed 
several rulemaking process enhancements to address CER in SECY-11-0032, 
``Consideration of the Cumulative Effects of Regulation in the 
Rulemaking Process,'' dated October 11, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML112840466). In SECY-12-0137, ``Implementation of the Cumulative 
Effects of Regulation Process Changes,'' dated October 5, 2012 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML12223A162) built upon the recommendations in SECY-11-
0032. In its Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY-12-0137 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML13071A635), the Commission directed the staff to, among 
other items, ``continue to develop and implement outreach tools that 
will allow NRC to consider more completely the overall impacts of 
multiple rules, orders, generic communications, advisories, and other 
regulatory actions on licensees and their ability to focus effectively 
on items of greatest safety importance.''
    With regard to this generic letter, the NRC requests that licensees 
comment about any CER challenges they may face. Specifically, the NRC 
requests comment on the following questions:
    a. In light of any current or projected cumulative effects, does 
this generic letter request provide sufficient time for licensees to 
respond with the information requested, including any need to develop 
this information through supporting engineering calculation or 
analyses?
    b. If a current or projected cumulative effect poses a significant 
challenge, what should be done to address it? For example, if more time 
is required to develop and provide the information, what period of time 
is sufficient? Are there equally effective alternatives to providing 
the requested information to the NRC that reduce the cumulative 
effects?
    c. Do other (NRC or other regulatory agency) regulatory actions 
(e.g., Orders, rules, generic letter, bulletins, 50.54(f) requests) 
influence licensee responses to this draft generic letter? If so what 
are they and do you have a suggested approach to reduce the cumulative 
effects in light of these other regulatory actions?
    d. Are there other projects that licensees are undertaking, plan to 
undertake, or should be undertaking that provide greater safety 
benefit, that might be displaced or delayed as a result of the 
expenditure of effort and resources to respond to this generic letter?
    e. Are there unintended consequences associated with responding to 
this generic letter at this time?

[[Page 13687]]

    f. Please comment on the NRC's supporting justification for this 
generic letter.

IV. Public Meeting

    The NRC plans to hold an informational public meeting approximately 
45 days into the public comment period to discuss draft Generic Letter 
NRC-2014-0040, ``Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent 
Fuel Pools'', and to obtain feedback from members of the public. The 
public meeting will be transcribed by a court reporter. The public 
meeting notice will be made available electronically in ADAMS and 
posted on the NRC's Public Meeting Schedule Web site at https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm. The agenda for 
the public meeting will be noticed no fewer than 10 days prior to the 
meeting on the Public Meeting Schedule Web site. Any meeting updates or 
changes will be made available on this Web site. Information regarding 
topics to be discussed, changes to the agenda, whether the meeting has 
been cancelled or rescheduled, and the time allotted for public 
comments can be obtained from the Public Meeting Schedule Web site. 
Comments regarding the draft Generic Letter must be submitted in 
accordance with paragraph I.B of this document. Comments from the 
public meeting will not be considered as official comments to this 
Federal Register notice.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of February, 2014.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Sheldon Stuchell,
Acting PGCB Branch Chief, Generic Communications Branch, Division of 
Policy and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2014-05236 Filed 3-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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