Department of Energy September 7, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Savannah River Site. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of this meeting be announced in the Federal Register.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of this information collection requirement. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission received no comments in response to an earlier Federal Register notice of June 23, 2011 (76 FR 36909) and has made this notation in its submission to OMB.

DOE proposes to amend its regulation concerning unclassified assistance to foreign atomic energy activities. This regulation provides that persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States who engage directly or indirectly in the production of special nuclear material outside the United States must be authorized to do so by the Secretary of Energy (Secretary). The proposed revisions update and clarify several provisions in the current regulation, and identify information applicants are required to submit in support of applications for an authorization under this part. The revisions are intended to reduce uncertainties for industry users concerning which foreign nuclear-related activities by U.S. persons are ``generally authorized'' under the regulation and which activities require a ``specific authorization'' from the Secretary. In this regard, one proposed organizational change is the listing of countries and territories for which a general authorization for foreign atomic energy activities is available. This proposed change contrasts with the current regulation, which lists those countries for which a specific authorization to conduct such activities is required. Unclassified nuclear activities are generally authorized with respect to these listed countries if they do not involve ``sensitive nuclear technology'' as defined in the regulation. Conversely, the proposed revised regulation specifically identifies those assistance activities and technologies under DOE's jurisdiction, the export of which requires a specific authorization from the Secretary. Additionally, DOE is proposing to add regulations to address ``deemed exports.'' Companies seeking to employ foreign nationals in positions involving a proposed transfer of technology are provided information on the documentation required to be submitted to request specific authorization for those transfers. Finally, DOE proposes to update its regulations in this area to reflect terminological and other changes in nuclear technology since the last major update in 1986. Finally, points of contact references have been updated to reflect the current DOE organizational structure.