Nuclear Regulatory Commission 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The NRC is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM) submitted by Mr. Eric Epstein on October 19, 2005. The petition, docketed as PRM- 50-81, requests that NRC codify criteria in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) \1\ 1986 Guidance Memorandum (GM) EV-2, ``Protective Actions for School Children,'' into NRC's emergency planning regulations. The petitioner believes that this action is necessary to provide preplanned emergency evacuation capabilities for children in Pennsylvania. The NRC is denying PRM-50-81 because it does not provide significant new information that was not previously considered in denying an earlier petition, PRM-50-79, submitted by Mr. Lawrence T. Christian, which requested that the Commission amend its emergency planning regulations to ensure that all day care centers and nursery schools in the vicinity of nuclear power facilities are properly protected in the event of a radiological emergency.

The NRC is preparing a submittal to OMB for review of continued approval of information collections under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Information pertaining to the requirement to be submitted: 1. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 25Access Authorization for Licensee Personnel. 2. Current OMB approval number: OMB No. 3150-0046. 3. How often the collection is required: On occasion. 4. Who is required or asked to report: NRC-regulated facilities and other organizations requiring access to NRC-classified information. 5. The number of annual respondents: 78. 6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 417 hours (371 hours for reporting and 46 hours for recordkeeping) or approximately .26 hours per response. 7. Abstract: NRC-regulated facilities and other organizations are required to provide information and maintain records to ensure that an adequate level of protection is provided NRC-classified information and material. Submit, by April 17, 2007, comments that address the following questions: 1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC to properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical utility? 2. Is the burden estimate accurate? 3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected? 4. How can the burden of the information collection be minimized, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology? A copy of the draft supporting statement may be viewed free of charge at the NRC Public Document Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Room O-1 F21, Rockville, MD 20852. OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC worldwide Web site: https:// www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc-comment/omb/. The document will be available on the NRC home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments and questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the NRC Clearance Officer, Margaret A. Janney (T-5 F52), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at 301-415-7245, or by Internet electronic mail to INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV.

The NRC has prepared a final Environmental Assessment (EA) of its evaluation of a request by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for license amendments to increase the maximum thermal power at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN) from 3458 megawatts-thermal (MWt) to 3952 MWt for Units 2 and 3 and from 3293 MWt to 3952 MWt for Unit 1. These represent power increases of approximately 15 percent for BFN Units 2 and 3 and 20 percent for BFN Unit 1. As stated in the NRC staff's position paper dated February 8, 1996, on the Boiling-Water Reactor (BWR) Extended Power Uprate (EPU) Program, the NRC staff would prepare an environmental impact statement if it believes a power uprate would have a significant impact on the human environment. The NRC staff did not identify any significant impact from the information provided in the licensee's EPU applications for BFN Units 1, 2, and 3 or from the NRC staff's independent review; therefore, as required by Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the NRC staff is issuing this EA and Finding of No Significant Impact. The NRC published a draft EA and finding of no significant impact on the proposed action for public comment in the Federal Register on November 6, 2006 (71 FR 65009). Two sets of comments were received as discussed below. The licensee provided a comment in a letter dated December 5, 2006 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML063390663). The comment clarified that upon increasing discharge temperatures, TVA would take action to ensure that the discharge temperature would not exceed the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit effluent limitations. The language in the EA has been modified in response to this comment. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service provided comments in a letter dated December 13, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML063610349). In the letter, a concern is expressed about any trend toward prolonged higher temperatures and poor water quality conditions in Wheeler Reservoir as a result of the proposed licensing action. The letter indicates that this concern is being addressed by the continuing monitoring programs and data collection implemented by TVA. The letter did not identify any impact on the EA conclusions based on this concern. Therefore, the EA was not modified due to this comment letter.

The NRC is preparing a submittal to OMB for review of continued approval of information collections under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Information pertaining to the requirement to be submitted: 1. The title of the information collection: NRC Form 136, ``Security Termination Statement'', NRC Form 237, ``Request for Access Authorization'', NRC Form 277, ``Request for Visit''. 2. Current OMB approval number: 3150-0049, NRC Form 136, 3150-0050, NRC Form 237, 3150-0051, NRC Form 277. 3. How often the collection is required: On occasion. 4. Who is required or asked to report: NRC Form 136, any employee of 68 licensees and 7 contractors, who have been granted an NRC access authorization; NRC Form 237, any employee of approximately 68 licensees and 7 contractors who will require access authorization. NRC Form 277, any employee of 2 current NRC contractors who holds an NRC access authorization, and needs to make a visit to NRC, other contractors/ licensees or government agencies in which access to classified information will be involved or unescorted area access is desired. 5. The number of annual respondents: NRC Form 136: 75. NRC Form 237: 75. NRC Form 277: 2. 6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: NRC Form 136: 23. NRC Form 237: 84. NRC Form 277: 1. 7. Abstract: The NRC Form 136 affects the employees of licensees and contractors who have been granted an NRC access authorization. When access authorization is no longer needed, the completion of the form apprizes the respondents of their continuing security responsibilities. The NRC Form 237 is completed by licensees, NRC contractors or individuals who require an NRC access authorization. The NRC Form 277 affects the employees of contractors who have been granted an NRC access authorization and require verification of that access authorization and need-to-know in conjunction with a visit to NRC or another facility. Submit, by April 9, 2007, comments that address the following questions: 1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC to properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical utility? 2. Is the burden estimate accurate? 3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected? 4. How can the burden of the information collection be minimized, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology? A copy of the draft supporting statement may be viewed free of charge at the NRC Public Document Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Room O-1 F21, Rockville, MD 20852. OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC worldwide Web site: https:// www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc-comment/omb/. The document will be available on the NRC home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments and questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the NRC Clearance Officer, Margaret A. Janney (T-5 F52), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at 301-415-7245, or by Internet electronic mail to INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV.