Agencies and Commissions March 13, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requesting comment on a draft list of prioritized low-level radioactive waste (LLW) tasks based upon the assessment updates to the strategic assessment (now called a programmatic assessment) performed in 2007. The objective of this updated assessment remains the same as the 2007 assessment; that is, to identify and prioritize tasks that the NRC staff can undertake to ensure a stable, reliable, and adaptable regulatory framework for effective LLW management, while also considering future needs and changes that may occur in the nation's commercial LLW management system. In 2014, through public meetings, webinars, and Federal Register notices, the NRC staff solicited public comment on what changes, if any, should be made to the current LLW program's regulatory framework, as well as specific actions that the staff might undertake to facilitate such changes. The NRC staff considered the comments received, performed an assessment of the comments, and developed a draft list of prioritized LLW tasks.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received a license amendment application from the Department of the Air Force (the licensee) for approval of a proposed decommissioning plan for remediation of a former magnesium-thorium disposal trench at the Little Mountain Text Annex, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. License 42-23539-01AF authorizes the licensee to possess and use radioactive materials at various locations throughout the U.S. The NRC is currently conducting a detailed technical review of the draft decommissioning plan. If the decommissioning plan is approved by the NRC, the licensee would be authorized to remediate the former disposal trench in accordance with the instructions provided in the decommissioning plan.

This action adds a service to the Procurement List that will be provided by a nonprofit agency employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the benefit payments regulation for valuation dates in April 2015 and interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for valuation dates in the second quarter of 2015. The interest assumptions are used for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by the pension insurance system administered by PBGC.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announces that on April 2, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC) will hold a public meeting at the CFTC's Washington, DC, headquarters. The MRAC will discuss issues related to: (1) Current risk management techniques employed by Derivatives Clearing Organizations (DCOs) to ensure that the appropriate measures are in place to address the potential default of a significant clearing member; and the (2) evolving structure of the derivatives markets, particularly with respect to Swap Execution Facilities (SEFs).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft regulatory guide (DG), DG-1299, ``Regulatory Guidance on the Alternate Pressurized Thermal Shock Rule'' and accompanying draft NUREG-2163, ``Technical Basis for Regulatory Guidance on the Alternate Pressurized Thermal Shock Rule.'' The DG provides new guidance for a method that the NRC considers acceptable to permit use of the alternate fracture toughness requirements for protection against pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events for pressurized water reactor (PWR) reactor pressure vessels (RPVs). The draft NUREG provides the technical basis for DG-1299.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing concerning the addition of Priority Mail Contract 115 to the competitive product list. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The President's Management Advisory Board (PMAB), a Federal Advisory Committee established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), will hold a public meeting on Friday, March 27, 2015.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announces a meeting of the Aeronautics Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Committee reports to the NAC. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the aeronautics community and other persons, research and technical information relevant to program planning.