10 CFR 150 - EXEMPTIONS AND CONTINUED REGULATORY AUTHORITY IN AGREEMENT STATES AND IN OFFSHORE WATERS UNDER SECTION 274

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to issue a RIS that clarifies those discrete sources of radium-226 under military control that are subject to NRC regulation pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), as interpreted in the policy statement issued by the NRC in the final rule, “Requirements for Expanded Definition of Byproduct Material” (72 FR 55864; October 1, 2007), (hereinafter referred to as the NARM Rule). The clarification defines with greater specificity the term “military operations” as it is used to delineate that naturally-occurring and accelerator-produced radioactive material (NARM) subject to NRC jurisdiction. The RIS also describes acceptable regulatory approaches to adequately implement NRC's regulatory requirements for contamination and items and equipment containing NARM, and outlines a general plan of implementation for use with the military services. The NRC is seeking comment from interested parties on the clarity and utility of the proposed RIS.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register (FR) on May 17, 2011 (76 FR 28336). The proposed rule announced the availability of a draft regulatory analysis for public comment. This document corrects the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) accession number that appeared in Section XI, “Regulatory Analysis.” The correct ADAMS accession number is ML102380243.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is proposing to amend its regulations by adding additional requirements for source material licensees who possess significant quantities of uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The proposed amendments would require such licensees to conduct integrated safety analyses (ISAs) similar to the ISAs performed by 10 CFR part 70 licensees; set possession limits for UF6 for determining licensing authority (NRC or Agreement States); add defined terms; add an additional evaluation criterion for applicants who submit an evaluation in lieu of an emergency plan; require the NRC to perform a backfit analysis under specified circumstances; and make administrative changes to the structure of the regulations. The proposed ISA requirements would not apply to facilities that are currently undergoing decommissioning under the current regulations. This rulemaking pertains to 10 CFR part 40 licensees and applicants who possess, or plan to possess, significant quantities of UF6. The current regulations do not contain ISA requirements for evaluating the consequences of facility accidents. The proposed amendment would require applicants and licensees who possess or plan to possess significant amounts of UF6 to conduct an ISA and submit an ISA summary to the NRC. The ISA, which evaluates and categorizes the consequences of accidents at NRC licensed facilities, would address both the radiological and chemical hazards from licensed material and hazardous chemicals produced in the processing of licensed material. Similar hazards that exist at other fuel cycle facilities are addressed by ISA requirements elsewhere in the regulations. The NRC is also proposing new guidance on the implementation of the additional regulatory requirements for licensees that would be authorized under this rulemaking.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is making available for comment preliminary proposed rule language concerning the NRC's proposed amendments to the material control and accounting (MC&A) regulations. These regulations apply to NRC licensees who are authorized to hold special nuclear material (SNM) and to certain licensees within the jurisdiction of the Agreement States that hold SNM and submit material status reports to the NRC. The goal of this rulemaking is to revise and consolidate the MC&A requirements. This Notice briefly summarizes the proposed amendments. After the Commission has reviewed and approved the proposed rule, it will be formally published for comment.