Nuclear Regulatory Commission June 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) 2013-05, ``NRC Position on the Relationship Between General Design Criteria and Technical Specification Operability.'' This RIS clarifies the NRC staff's position on the relationship between the general design criteria (GDC) for nuclear power plants and technical specification operability. In addition, the RIS clarifies the process for addressing any structure, system, or component nonconforming condition with GDC as incorporated into a plant's current licensing basis.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing interim staff guidance for implementation of the final rule, Distribution of Source Material to Exempt Persons and to General Licensees and Revision of General License and Exemptions (Distribution of Source Material Rule). The Distribution of Source Material Rule amended the NRC's regulations to require that the initial distribution of source material to exempt persons or to general licensees be explicitly authorized by a specific license. The Distribution of Source Material Rule also modified the existing possession and use requirements of the general license for small quantities of source material and revised, clarified, or deleted certain source material exemptions from licensing.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is revising its licensing guidance for applications for sealed source and device evaluation and registration. The NRC is requesting public comment on draft NUREG-1556, Volume 3, Revision 2, ``Consolidated Guidance about Materials Licenses: Applications for Sealed Source and Device Evaluation and Registration.'' The document has been updated from the previous revision to include safety culture, security of radioactive materials, protection of sensitive information, and changes in regulatory policies and practices. This document is intended for use by applicants, licensees, and the NRC staff and will also be available to Agreement States.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a revision to Regulatory Guide (RG) 2.3, ``Quality Verification for Plate-Type Uranium-Aluminum Fuel Elements for Use in Research and Test Reactors.'' This guide describes a method that the staff of the NRC considers acceptable for complying with the Commission's regulations concerning establishing and executing a quality assurance program for verifying the quality of plate-type uranium-aluminum fuel elements used in research and test reactors (RTRs).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking additional input from the public, licensees, Agreement States, non- Agreement States, and other stakeholders on a potential rulemaking to address prompt remediation of residual radioactivity during the operational phase of licensed material sites and nuclear reactors. The NRC has not initiated a rulemaking, but is gathering information and seeking stakeholder input on this subject for developing a technical basis document. To aid in this process, the NRC is requesting comments on the issues discussed in Section III, ``Specific Questions,'' in the Supplementary Information section of this document, as well as comments on the draft Regulatory Basis (ML13109A281). Additionally, the NRC will hold a public Webinar to facilitate the public's and other stakeholders' understanding of these issues and the submission of comments.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) invites public comment about our intention to request the OMB's approval for renewal of an existing information collection that is summarized below. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register 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 Forms 366, 366A, and 366B, ``Licensee Event Report.'' 2. Current OMB approval number: 3150-0104. 3. How often the collection is required: As needed per Section 50.73 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Licensee event report system.'' The total number of reports is estimated to be 350 per year. 4. Who is required or asked to report: The holder of an operating license under 10 CFR Part 50 or a combined license under 10 CFR Part 52 (after the Commission has made the finding under Sec. 52.103(g)). 5. The number of annual respondents: 104. 6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 28,000 hours. 7. Abstract: Part of the NRC's function is to license and regulate the operation of commercial nuclear power plants to ensure protection of public health and safety and the environment in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (the Act) as amended. In order for the NRC to carry out these responsibilities, licensees must report significant events in accordance with 10 CFR 50.73, so that the NRC can evaluate the events to determine what actions, if any, are warranted to ensure protection of public health and safety or the environment. Section 50.73 requires reporting on NRC Forms 366, 366A, and 366B. Submit, by August 2, 2013, 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? The public may examine and have copied for a fee publicly available documents, including the draft supporting statement, at the NRC's Public Document Room, Room O-1F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. The OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC's Web site: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/ doc-comment/omb/. The document will be available on the NRC's home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments submitted in writing or in electronic form will be made available for public inspection. Because your comments will not be edited to remove any identifying or contact information, the NRC cautions you against including any information in your submission that you do not want to be publicly disclosed. Comments submitted should reference Docket No. NRC- 2013-0087. You may submit your comments by any of the following methods: Electronic comments: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. NRC-2013-0087. Mail comments to the NRC Clearance Officer, Tremaine Donnell (T-5 F53), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the NRC Clearance Officer, Tremaine Donnell (T-5 F53), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at 301-415-6258, or by email to INFOCOLLECTS.Resource@NRC.GOV.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting an assessment, and is seeking stakeholder views, on issues relating to foreign ownership, control, or domination (FOCD) of commercial nuclear power plants. The results and conclusions of this assessment, including any recommendations on any proposed modifications to guidance or practice on FOCD that may be warranted, will be provided in a voting paper for Commission review and approval.