Uranerz Energy Corporation, 53464-53466 [2014-21413]
Download as PDF
53464
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 2014 / Notices
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 14th day
of August 2014.
For the Nuclear Regulatory 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; and (ii) all contentions whose formulation does not require access to SUNSI (+25 Answers to petition for intervention; +7 petitioner/requestor reply).
U.S. 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.
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.
10 ......................
60 ......................
20 ......................
25 ......................
30 ......................
40 ......................
A .......................
A + 3 .................
A + 28 ...............
A + 53 ...............
A + 60 ...............
>A + 60 .............
provide adequate financial assurance
through an approved mechanism, but
will allow the NRC staff to further
evaluate whether the State of
Wyoming’s separate account provision
for financial assurance instruments it
holds is consistent with the NRC’s
requirement for a standby trust
agreement.
[FR Doc. 2014–19880 Filed 9–8–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 04009067; NRC–2014–0020]
Uranerz Energy Corporation
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Temporary exemption; issuance.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is issuing a
temporary exemption from certain NRC
financial assurance requirements to
Uranerz Energy Corporation, (Uranerz)
in response to its annual financial
assurance update for the Nichols Ranch
in-situ recovery (ISR) Project. Issuance
of this temporary exemption will not
remove the requirement for Uranerz to
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:39 Sep 08, 2014
Jkt 232001
Please refer to Docket ID
NRC–2014–0020 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of
information regarding this document.
You may access publicly-available
information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for Docket ID NRC–2014–0020. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Carol
Gallagher; telephone: 301–287–3422;
email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
technical questions, contact the
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
section of this
document.
• 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.
INFORMATION CONTACT
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 2014 / Notices
• 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron
C. Linton, Office of Federal and State
Materials and Environmental
Management Programs; U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington DC
20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–7777;
email: Ron.Linton@nrc.gov.
I. Background
Criterion 9 of part 40 of Title10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),
appendix A, and NRC materials license
SUA–1597, License Condition 9.5,
require Uranerz to submit to the NRC for
review and approval, an annual update
of the financial surety to cover thirdparty costs for decommissioning and
decontamination for the Nichols Ranch
ISR Project. The Nichols Ranch ISR
Project is located in Johnson and
Campbell Counties, Wyoming. Uranerz
submitted to the NRC its annual surety
update for 2013–2014 in submissions
dated December 9, 2013, and January
31, 2014 (ADAMS Accession Nos.
ML13353A634 and ML14041A337
respectively). The NRC’s staff reviewed
the annual financial surety updates and
found the values reasonable for the
required reclamation activities (ADAMS
Accession No. ML14203A358). Uranerz
maintains an approved financial
assurance instrument in favor of the
State of Wyoming; however, it does not
have a standby trust agreement (STA) in
place, as required by 10 CFR part 40,
appendix A, Criterion 9.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
II. Description of Action
As of December 17, 2012, the NRC’s
uranium milling licensees, which are
regulated, in part, under 10 CFR part 40,
appendix A, Criterion 9, are required to
have an STA in place. Criterion 9
provides that if a licensee does not use
a trust as its financial assurance
mechanism, then the licensee is
required to establish a standby trust
fund to receive funds in the event the
Commission or State regulatory Agency
exercises its right to collect the funds
provided for by surety or letter of credit.
The purpose of an STA is to provide a
separate account to hold
decommissioning funds in the event of
a default. Consistent with the provisions
of 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion
9(d), Uranerz has consolidated its NRC
financial assurance sureties with those
it is required to obtain by the State of
Wyoming, and the financial instrument
is held by the State of Wyoming.
Uranerz has not established an STA, nor
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:39 Sep 08, 2014
Jkt 232001
has it requested an exemption from the
requirement to do so.
Wyoming law requires that a separate
account be set up to receive forfeited
decommissioning funds, but does not
specifically require an STA. Section 35–
11–424(a) of the Code of Wyoming
states that ‘‘[a]ll forfeitures collected
under the provisions of this act shall be
deposited with the State treasurer in a
separate account for reclamation
purposes.’’ Under Wyoming Department
of Environmental Quality (WDEQ)
financial assurance requirements,
WDEQ holds permit bonds in a
fiduciary fund called an agency fund. If
a bond is forfeited, the forfeited funds
are moved to a special revenue account.
Although the Wyoming special revenue
account is not an STA, the special
revenue account serves a similar
purpose in that forfeited funds are not
deposited into the State treasury for
general fund use, but instead are set
aside in the special revenue account to
be used exclusively for reclamation (i.e.,
decommissioning) purposes.
The NRC has the discretion, under 10
CFR 40.14(a), to grant an exemption
from the requirements of a regulation in
10 CFR part 40 on its own initiative, if
the NRC determines the exemption is
authorized by law and will not endanger
life or property or the common defense
and security and is otherwise in the
public interest. The NRC has elected to
grant Uranerz an exemption to the STA
requirements in 10 CFR part 40,
appendix A, Criterion 9, until December
31, 2016, to allow the NRC to evaluate
whether the State of Wyoming’s
separate account requirements for
financial assurance instruments it holds
is consistent with the NRC’s STA
requirements.
53465
which funds could be deposited in the
event that the financial assurance
mechanism would need to be
liquidated. The regulations in 10 CFR
part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9(d),
allow for the financial or surety
arrangements to be consolidated within
a State’s similar financial assurance
instrument. The NRC has determined
that while the WDEQ does not require
an STA, the special revenue account
may serve a similar purpose in that
forfeited funds are not deposited into
the State treasury for general fund use,
but instead are set aside in the special
revenue account to be used exclusively
for site-specific reclamation
(decommissioning) purposes. Because
Uranerz remains obligated to establish
an adequate financial assurance
mechanism for its licensed sites, the
NRC has approved such a mechanism,
and the NRC has determined that
sufficient funds are available in the
event that the site needs to be
decommissioned. A temporary delay in
establishing an STA does not impact the
present availability and adequacy of the
actual financial assurance mechanism.
Therefore, the temporary exemption
being issued by the NRC herein presents
no undue risk to public health and
safety.
C. The Exemption Is Consistent With the
Common Defense and Security
The exemption does not involve or
implicate the common defense or
security. Therefore, the exemption has
no effect on the common defense and
security.
B. The Exemption Presents No Undue
Risk to Public Health and Safety
D. The Exemption Is in the Public
Interest
The exemption will enable the NRC
staff to further evaluate whether the
State of Wyoming’s separate account
provision for financial assurance
instruments it holds is consistent with
the NRC’s requirement for a standby
trust agreement. The evaluation will
allow the NRC to determine whether
Uranerz’s compliance with the state law
provision will sufficiently address the
NRC’s requirement as well, and
therefore provide clarity on the
implementation of the NRC’s regulation
in this instance. Therefore, granting the
exemption is in the public interest.
The exemption is related to the
financial surety. The requirement that
Uranerz provide adequate financial
assurance through an approved
mechanism (e.g., a surety bond,
irrevocable letter of credit) remains
unaffected by the exemption. Rather, the
exemption only pertains to the
establishment of a dedicated trust in
E. Environmental Considerations
The NRC staff has determined that
granting of an exemption from the
requirements of 10 CFR part 40,
appendix A, Criterion 9 belongs to a
category of regulatory actions that the
NRC, by regulation, has determined do
not individually or cumulatively have a
significant effect on the environment,
III. Discussion
A. Exemption Is Authorized by Law
The NRC staff concludes that the
exemption is authorized by law as 10
CFR 40.14(a) expressly allows for an
exemption to the requirements of the
regulation in 10 CFR part 40, appendix
A, Criterion 9, and the exemption is not
contrary to any provision of the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
53466
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 2014 / Notices
and as such do not require an
environmental assessment. The
exemption from the requirement to have
an STA in place is eligible for
categorical exclusion under 10 CFR
51.22(c)(25)(vi)(H), which provides that
exemptions from surety, insurance, or
indemnification requirements are
categorically excluded if the exemption
would not result in any significant
hazards consideration; change or
increase in the amount of any offsite
effluents; increase in individual or
cumulative public or occupational
radiation exposure; construction
impacts; or increase in the potential for
or consequence from radiological
accidents. The staff finds that the STA
exemption involves surety, insurance
and/or indemnity requirements and that
granting Uranerz this temporary
exemption from the requirement of
establishing a STA would not result in
any significant hazards or increases in
offsite effluents, radiation exposure,
construction impacts, or potential
radiological accidents. Therefore, an
environmental assessment is not
required.
IV. Conclusions
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Accordingly, the NRC has determined
that, pursuant to 10 CFR 40.14(a), the
temporary exemption is authorized by
law, will not present an undue risk to
the public health and safety, is
consistent with the common defense
and security, and is in the public
interest. Therefore, the NRC hereby
grants Uranerz a temporary exemption
from the requirement in 10 CFR part 40,
appendix A, Criterion 9, to set up an
STA to receive funds in the event the
NRC or the State regulatory agency
exercises is right to collect the surety.
This exemption will expire on
December 31, 2016. At that time,
Uranerz will be required to ensure that
its financial assurance arrangement is in
compliance with the NRC’s STA
requirements.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day
of August 2014.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Andrew Persinko,
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. 2014–21413 Filed 9–8–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:39 Sep 08, 2014
Jkt 232001
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Upon Written Request Copies Available
From: Securities and Exchange
Commission, Office of FOIA Services,
Washington, DC 20549–2736.
Extension: Form 10–D, SEC File No. 270–
544, OMB Control No. 3235–0604.
Notice is hereby given that, pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Securities
and Exchange Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) is soliciting comments
on this collection of information
summarized below. The Commission
plans to submit this existing collection
of information to the Office of
Management and Budget for approval.
Form 10–D is a periodic report used
by asset-backed issuers to file
distribution and pool performance
information pursuant to Rule 13a–17 (17
CFR 240.13a–17) or Rule 15d–17 (17
CFR 240.15d–17) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (‘‘Exchange
Act’’)(15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). The form is
required to be filed within 15 days after
each required distribution date on the
asset-backed securities, as specified in
the governing documents for such
securities. The information provided by
Form 10–D is mandatory and all
information is made available to the
public upon request. Form 10–D takes
approximately 30 hours per response to
prepare and is filed by approximately
2,169 respondents. Each respondent
files an estimated 6 Form 10-Ds per year
for a total of 13,014 responses. We
estimate that 75% of the 30 hours per
response (22.5 hours) is prepared by the
company for a total annual reporting
burden of 292,815 hours (22.5 hours per
response × 13,014 responses).
Written comments are invited on: (a)
whether this proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden imposed by the collection
of information; (c) ways to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on respondents, including
through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology. Consideration will be given
to comments and suggestions submitted
in writing within 60 days of this
publication.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
PO 00000
Frm 00061
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid
control number.
Please direct your written comment to
Thomas Bayer, Director/Chief
Information Officer, Securities and
Exchange Commission, c/o Remi PavlikSimon, 100 F Street NE., Washington,
DC 20549 or send an email to:
PRA_Mailbox@sec.gov.
Dated: September 3, 2014.
Kevin M. O’Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–21366 Filed 9–8–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
[Investment Company Act Release No.
31240; 812–14320]
Garrison Capital, Inc., et al.; Notice of
Application
September 3, 2014.
Securities and Exchange
Commission (‘‘Commission’’).
ACTION: Notice of an application for an
order under section 6(c) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
‘‘Act’’) for an exemption from sections
18(a) and 61(a) of the Act.
AGENCY:
Garrison Capital Inc.
(‘‘Company’’), Garrison Capital SBIC LP
(‘‘Garrison SBIC’’), Garrison Capital
Advisers LLC (‘‘Garrison Adviser’’),
Garrison Capital SBIC Holdco Inc.
(‘‘Holdco’’) and Garrison Capital SBIC
General Partner LLC (‘‘General
Partner’’).
SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION: The
Company requests an order to permit it
to adhere to a modified asset coverage
requirement.
FILING DATES: The application was filed
June 6, 2014.
HEARING OR NOTIFICATION OF HEARING: An
order granting the application will be
issued unless the Commission orders a
hearing. Interested persons may request
a hearing by writing to the
Commission’s Secretary and serving
applicants with a copy of the request,
personally or by mail. Hearing requests
should be received by the Commission
by 5:30 p.m. on September 29, 2014 and
should be accompanied by proof of
service on the Applicants, in the form
of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a
certificate of service. Hearing requests
should state the nature of the writer’s
interest, the reason for the request, and
the issues contested. Persons who wish
to be notified of a hearing may request
notification by writing to the
Commission’s Secretary.
APPLICANTS:
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53464-53466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21413]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 04009067; NRC-2014-0020]
Uranerz Energy Corporation
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Temporary exemption; issuance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a
temporary exemption from certain NRC financial assurance requirements
to Uranerz Energy Corporation, (Uranerz) in response to its annual
financial assurance update for the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery (ISR)
Project. Issuance of this temporary exemption will not remove the
requirement for Uranerz to provide adequate financial assurance through
an approved mechanism, but will allow the NRC staff to further evaluate
whether the State of Wyoming's separate account provision for financial
assurance instruments it holds is consistent with the NRC's requirement
for a standby trust agreement.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2014-0020 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may access publicly-available information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2014-0020. 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 document.
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.
[[Page 53465]]
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron C. Linton, Office of Federal and
State Materials and Environmental Management Programs; U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-
7777; email: Ron.Linton@nrc.gov.
I. Background
Criterion 9 of part 40 of Title10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR), appendix A, and NRC materials license SUA-1597,
License Condition 9.5, require Uranerz to submit to the NRC for review
and approval, an annual update of the financial surety to cover third-
party costs for decommissioning and decontamination for the Nichols
Ranch ISR Project. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is located in Johnson
and Campbell Counties, Wyoming. Uranerz submitted to the NRC its annual
surety update for 2013-2014 in submissions dated December 9, 2013, and
January 31, 2014 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML13353A634 and ML14041A337
respectively). The NRC's staff reviewed the annual financial surety
updates and found the values reasonable for the required reclamation
activities (ADAMS Accession No. ML14203A358). Uranerz maintains an
approved financial assurance instrument in favor of the State of
Wyoming; however, it does not have a standby trust agreement (STA) in
place, as required by 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9.
II. Description of Action
As of December 17, 2012, the NRC's uranium milling licensees, which
are regulated, in part, under 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9,
are required to have an STA in place. Criterion 9 provides that if a
licensee does not use a trust as its financial assurance mechanism,
then the licensee is required to establish a standby trust fund to
receive funds in the event the Commission or State regulatory Agency
exercises its right to collect the funds provided for by surety or
letter of credit. The purpose of an STA is to provide a separate
account to hold decommissioning funds in the event of a default.
Consistent with the provisions of 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion
9(d), Uranerz has consolidated its NRC financial assurance sureties
with those it is required to obtain by the State of Wyoming, and the
financial instrument is held by the State of Wyoming. Uranerz has not
established an STA, nor has it requested an exemption from the
requirement to do so.
Wyoming law requires that a separate account be set up to receive
forfeited decommissioning funds, but does not specifically require an
STA. Section 35-11-424(a) of the Code of Wyoming states that ``[a]ll
forfeitures collected under the provisions of this act shall be
deposited with the State treasurer in a separate account for
reclamation purposes.'' Under Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality (WDEQ) financial assurance requirements, WDEQ holds permit
bonds in a fiduciary fund called an agency fund. If a bond is
forfeited, the forfeited funds are moved to a special revenue account.
Although the Wyoming special revenue account is not an STA, the special
revenue account serves a similar purpose in that forfeited funds are
not deposited into the State treasury for general fund use, but instead
are set aside in the special revenue account to be used exclusively for
reclamation (i.e., decommissioning) purposes.
The NRC has the discretion, under 10 CFR 40.14(a), to grant an
exemption from the requirements of a regulation in 10 CFR part 40 on
its own initiative, if the NRC determines the exemption is authorized
by law and will not endanger life or property or the common defense and
security and is otherwise in the public interest. The NRC has elected
to grant Uranerz an exemption to the STA requirements in 10 CFR part
40, appendix A, Criterion 9, until December 31, 2016, to allow the NRC
to evaluate whether the State of Wyoming's separate account
requirements for financial assurance instruments it holds is consistent
with the NRC's STA requirements.
III. Discussion
A. Exemption Is Authorized by Law
The NRC staff concludes that the exemption is authorized by law as
10 CFR 40.14(a) expressly allows for an exemption to the requirements
of the regulation in 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9, and the
exemption is not contrary to any provision of the Atomic Energy Act of
1954, as amended.
B. The Exemption Presents No Undue Risk to Public Health and Safety
The exemption is related to the financial surety. The requirement
that Uranerz provide adequate financial assurance through an approved
mechanism (e.g., a surety bond, irrevocable letter of credit) remains
unaffected by the exemption. Rather, the exemption only pertains to the
establishment of a dedicated trust in which funds could be deposited in
the event that the financial assurance mechanism would need to be
liquidated. The regulations in 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion
9(d), allow for the financial or surety arrangements to be consolidated
within a State's similar financial assurance instrument. The NRC has
determined that while the WDEQ does not require an STA, the special
revenue account may serve a similar purpose in that forfeited funds are
not deposited into the State treasury for general fund use, but instead
are set aside in the special revenue account to be used exclusively for
site-specific reclamation (decommissioning) purposes. Because Uranerz
remains obligated to establish an adequate financial assurance
mechanism for its licensed sites, the NRC has approved such a
mechanism, and the NRC has determined that sufficient funds are
available in the event that the site needs to be decommissioned. A
temporary delay in establishing an STA does not impact the present
availability and adequacy of the actual financial assurance mechanism.
Therefore, the temporary exemption being issued by the NRC herein
presents no undue risk to public health and safety.
C. The Exemption Is Consistent With the Common Defense and Security
The exemption does not involve or implicate the common defense or
security. Therefore, the exemption has no effect on the common defense
and security.
D. The Exemption Is in the Public Interest
The exemption will enable the NRC staff to further evaluate whether
the State of Wyoming's separate account provision for financial
assurance instruments it holds is consistent with the NRC's requirement
for a standby trust agreement. The evaluation will allow the NRC to
determine whether Uranerz's compliance with the state law provision
will sufficiently address the NRC's requirement as well, and therefore
provide clarity on the implementation of the NRC's regulation in this
instance. Therefore, granting the exemption is in the public interest.
E. Environmental Considerations
The NRC staff has determined that granting of an exemption from the
requirements of 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9 belongs to a
category of regulatory actions that the NRC, by regulation, has
determined do not individually or cumulatively have a significant
effect on the environment,
[[Page 53466]]
and as such do not require an environmental assessment. The exemption
from the requirement to have an STA in place is eligible for
categorical exclusion under 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25)(vi)(H), which provides
that exemptions from surety, insurance, or indemnification requirements
are categorically excluded if the exemption would not result in any
significant hazards consideration; change or increase in the amount of
any offsite effluents; increase in individual or cumulative public or
occupational radiation exposure; construction impacts; or increase in
the potential for or consequence from radiological accidents. The staff
finds that the STA exemption involves surety, insurance and/or
indemnity requirements and that granting Uranerz this temporary
exemption from the requirement of establishing a STA would not result
in any significant hazards or increases in offsite effluents, radiation
exposure, construction impacts, or potential radiological accidents.
Therefore, an environmental assessment is not required.
IV. Conclusions
Accordingly, the NRC has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR
40.14(a), the temporary exemption is authorized by law, will not
present an undue risk to the public health and safety, is consistent
with the common defense and security, and is in the public interest.
Therefore, the NRC hereby grants Uranerz a temporary exemption from the
requirement in 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9, to set up an
STA to receive funds in the event the NRC or the State regulatory
agency exercises is right to collect the surety. This exemption will
expire on December 31, 2016. At that time, Uranerz will be required to
ensure that its financial assurance arrangement is in compliance with
the NRC's STA requirements.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of August 2014.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Andrew Persinko,
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. 2014-21413 Filed 9-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P