REGULATIONS AND AMENDMENTS PUT INTO EFFECT - FY 1994

List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks; Additions - Part 72

On October 5, 1993 (58 FR 51762), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

to amend its list of approved spent fuel storage casks to add one spent fuel storage cask (TN24 cask) to the list of approved casks. This amendment, effective November 4, 1993, allows

holders of power reactor operating licenses to store spent fuel in this approved cask under a

general license.

Whistleblower Protection for Employees of NRC-Licensed Activities - Parts 19, 30, 40, 50,

60, 61, 70, 72, and 150

On October 8, 1993 (58 FR 52406), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

regarding the protection of employees who provide information to the NRC or their employers

concerning safety issues. These amendments, effective , conform NRC regulations to the

new nuclear whistle blower protection provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, which was

enacted on October 24, 1992.

Export and Import of Nuclear Equipment and Material; Export of High-Enriched Uranium

- Part 110

On October 28, 1993 (58 FR 57962), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations pertaining to the export and import of nuclear equipment and material to implement

section 903 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. These amendments, effective November 29,

1993, augments NRC regulations to include the criteria for the export of high-enriched uranium

specified in the Energy Policy Act.

NRC Region III Telephone Number and Address Change - Parts 1, 20, 30, 40, 70, 73

On December 6, 1993 (58 FR 64110), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations, effective December 13, 1993, to change the address and telephone numbers of the

NRC Region III office. 

Standards for Protection Against Radiation; Removal of Expired Material - Parts 2, 19, 20,

30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 50, 61, 70, and 72

On December 22, 1993 (58 FR 67657), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations that makes a number of minor conforming amendments to the NRC's standards for

protection against radiation. These amendments, effective January 1, 1994, are necessary to

remove the text of the superseded standards and to conform references in the text of the

NRC's regulations to the Commission's decision to require mandatory implementation of the

revised standards on January 1, 1994.

Self-Guarantee as an Additional Financial Assurance Mechanism - Parts 30, 40, 50, 70, 72

On December 29, 1993 (58 FR 68726), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations for decommissioning licensed facilities to allow certain non-electric utility licensees

to use self-guarantee as a means of financial assurance. These amendments, effective
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January 28, 1994, also grant a petition for rulemaking (PRM-30-59) from General Electric

Company and Westinghouse 

Standards for Protection Against Radiation; NRC Operations Center Telephone Number -

Part 20

On December 30, 1993 (58 FR 69219), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations, effective immediately, which corrects the inadvertent omission of the telephone

number for the NRC Operations Center when the revised standards were issued.

Modifications to Fitness-For-Duty Program Requirements - Part 26

On January 5, 1994 (59 FR 502), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

governing fitness-for-duty programs that are applicable to licensees who are authorized to

construct or operate nuclear power reactors and to licensees authorized to possess, use, or

transport formula quantities of strategic special nuclear material. This amendment, effective

January 1, 1994, permits licensees to reduce the random testing rate for all persons covered by

the fitness-for-duty regulations to an annual rate equal to 50 percent.

Fingerprint Cards: Change in User Fee - Part 73

On January 6, 1994 (59 FR 661), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations to

reflect an administrative change in the procedure for notifying licensees of changes in the user

fee charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for processing fingerprint cards as part of

the criminal history checks that nuclear power reactor licensees are required to perform for

those individuals granted unescorted access to an operating nuclear power facility or access to

Safeguards Information. This amendment, effective February 7, 1994, also informs licensees

of the new user fee adopted by the FBI effective January 3, 1994.

Minor Clarifying Amendments - Parts 1, 21, 30, 32, 50

On February 7, 1994 (59 FR 5519), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations, effective immediately, to correct a number of minor typographical errors in the

NRC's regulations.

Renewal of Licenses and Requalification Requirements for Licensed Operators - Part 55

On February 9, 1994 (59 FR 5934), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations, effective March 11, 1994, to delete the requirement that each licensed operator at

power, test, and research reactors pass a comprehensive requalification written examination

and an operating test conducted by the NRC during the term of the operator's 6-year license as

a prerequisite for license renewal.

Notification of Spent Fuel Management and Funding Plans by Licensees of Prematurely

Shut Down Power Reactors - Part 50

On March 4, 1994 (59 FR 10267), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations,

effective April 4, 1994, to clarify the timing of notification to the NRC of spent fuel management
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and funding plans by licensees of those nuclear power reactors that have been shut down

before the expected end of their operating lives.

Restoration of the Generic Exemption From Annual Fees for Nonprofit Educational

Institutions - Part 171

On March 17, 1994 (59 FR 12539), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations,

effective April 18, 1994, to reinstate the annual fee exemption for nonprofit educational

institutions.

NRC Operations Center Commercial Telephone Number Change - Parts 20, 21, 30, 35, 40,

50, 70, 72, 73

On March 25, 1994 (59 FR 14085), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations,

effective May 31, 1994, to change the NRC Operations Center commercial telephone and

facsimile number.

Emergency Planning and Preparedness Exercise Requirements for Nuclear Power Plants

- Part 50

On March 25, 1994 (59 FR 14087), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

in order to update the Commission's emergency planning exercise requirements for nuclear

power plants and clarify ambiguities that have surfaced in the implementation of the regulations. 

These amendments, effective June 23, 1994, also make the NRC regulations consistent with

FEMA regulations.

REGULATIONS AND AMENDMENTS PROPOSED

Annual Physical Fitness Performance Testing for tactical Response Team Members,

Armed Response Personnel, and Guards at Category I Licensees - Part 73

On October 6, 1993 (58 FR 52035), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

that would require Tactical Response Team members, armed response personnel, and guards

at fuel cycle facilities possessing formula quantities of strategic special nuclear material to

participate in a continuing physical fitness program and pass an annual performance test. 

Uranium Mill Tailings Regulations; Conforming NRC Requirements to EPA Standards -

Part 40

On November 3, 1993 (58 FR 58657), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations that would govern the disposal of uranium mill tailings. These amendments would

clarify the existing regulations by ensuring timely emplacement of the final radon barrier and by

requiring appropriate verification of the radon flux through that barrier.
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Protection Against Malevolent Use of Vehicles at Nuclear Power Plants - Part 73

On November 4, 1993 (58 FR 58804), the NRC published an amendment to its physical

protection regulations for operating nuclear power reactors that would modify the design basis

threat for radiological sabotage to include use of a land vehicle by adversaries for transporting

personnel, hand-carried equipment, and/or explosives. 

Codes and Standards for Nuclear Power Plants; Subsection IWE and Subsection IWL -

Part 50

On January 7, 1994 (59 FR 979), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

that would incorporate by reference the 1992 Addenda of Subsection IWE, and Subsection IWL

of Section XI, Division 1, of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure

Vessel Code with specification modifications and a limitation.

Radiation Protection Requirements; Amended Definitions and Criteria - Parts 19, 20

On February 3, 1994 (59 FR 5132), the NRC published an amendment to its regulations

that would delete the definition of "Controlled area" to make it clear that any area to which

access is restricted for the purpose of radiological protection is a restricted area as defined in

the regulations, revise the definition of "Occupational dose" to delete reference to the

"Restricted area," revise the definition of unrestricted area to be consistent with the deletion of

controlled area, revise the provision entitled "Instruction to Workers," so that radiation

protection training will be provided to all persons with the potential to be occupationally exposed

and restore a provision to provide that whenever licensees are required to report exposures of

individual members of the public to the NRC, then those individuals are to receive copies of the

report.

Certification of Gaseous Diffusion Plants - Parts 19, 20, 21, 26, 51, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 95

On February 11, 1994 (59 FR 6792), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations that would add a new 10 CFR Part 76. These regulations would protect the public

health and safety from radiological hazards and would provide for the common defense and

security, including adequate safeguards, in all uranium enrichment activities of the United

States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) in its operation of the two gaseous diffusion plants that

USEC is leasing from the Department of Energy.

Licenses for Radiography and Radiation Safety Requirements for Radiographic

Operations - Parts 34, 150

On February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9429), the NRC published an amendment to its

regulations that would include additional safety requirements to enhance the level of protection

of radiographers and the public, and would clarify the regulations so that licensees may have a

better understanding of what is expected in radiographic operations.
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ADVANCE NOTICES OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

Rulemakings to Grant Standard Design Certification for Evolutionary Light Water

Reactor Designs (Part 52)

On November 3, 1993 (58 FR 58664), an advance notice of proposed rulemaking was

published inviting public recommendations on issues pertaining to the form and content of rules

that will certify evolutionary light water reactor designs.

Disposal of Radioactive Material by Release into Sanitary Sewer Systems - Part 20

On February 25, 1994 (59 FR 9146), an advance notice of proposed rulemaking was

published inviting public comment to determine whether an amendment is necessary governing

the release of radionuclides from licensed nuclear facilities to sanitary sewer systems.