[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 174 (Thursday, September 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46626-46630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21893]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 70-157; NRC-2009-0382]


Notice of Opportunity To Request a Hearing for License Renewal 
Application From the University of Texas at Austin and Order Imposing 
Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards 
Information (SUNSI) and Safeguards Information (SGI) for Contention 
Preparation

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of license renewal application and opportunity to 
request a hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DATES: A request for a hearing must be filed by November 9, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rafael L. Rodriguez, Project Manager, 
Fuel Manufacturing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and 
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop EBB-2-C40M, Washington, DC 
20555-0001, Telephone: (301) 492-3111; Fax number: (301) 492-3363; e-
mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1644777077737a38447972647f7163736c5678647538717960"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3260535453575e1c605d56405b55475748725c40511c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by 
letter dated December 13, 2007, an application from the University of 
Texas at Austin (UT or licensee) requesting renewal of its Special 
Nuclear Materials License No. SNM-180. License No. SNM-180 authorizes 
the licensee to receive title to, own, acquire, receive, possess, use, 
and transfer plutonium and uranium enriched up to 20% wt. The licensee 
will use the licensed material to supplement its training and 
instruction programs in the field of nuclear engineering. The licensed 
material will be used in the UT Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory 
located at the University's J.J. Pickle Research Campus (formerly known 
as the Balcones Research Center).
    An administrative review, documented in a letter to UT dated 
February 26, 2008, found the application acceptable to begin a formal 
technical review. If the NRC approves the application, SNM-180 will be 
renewed for a period of 10 years. However, before approving the 
proposed renewal, the NRC will need to make the findings required by 
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the NRC's 
regulations. These findings will be documented in a Safety Evaluation 
Report and an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact 
Statement.

II. Opportunity To Request a Hearing

    The NRC hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on an 
application to renew License No. SNM-180 for the University of Texas at 
Austin. Any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding 
and who desires to participate as a party, must file a request for a 
hearing and a specification of the contentions which the person seeks 
to have litigated in the hearing, in accordance with the NRC E-Filing 
rule, which the NRC promulgated on August 28, 2007 (72 FR 49139). All 
documents filed in NRC adjudicatory proceedings, including documents 
filed by interested governmental entities participating under 10 CFR 
2.315(c) and any motion or other document filed in the proceeding prior 
to the submission of a request for hearing or petition to intervene, 
must be filed in accordance with the E-Filing rule. The E-Filing rule 
requires participants to submit and serve documents over the Internet 
or, in some cases, to mail copies on electronic storage media. 
Participants may not submit paper copies of their filings unless they 
seek a waiver in accordance with the procedures described below.
    To comply with the procedural requirements of E-Filing, at least 
ten (10) days prior to the filing deadline, the petitioner/requestor 
must contact the Office of the Secretary by e-mail at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5018353122393e377e143f333b3524103e22337e373f26"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afe7caceddc6c1c881ebc0ccc4cadbefc1ddcc81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a>, or by calling (301) 415-1677, to request: (1) A 
digital ID certificate, which allows the participant (or its counsel or 
representative) to digitally sign documents and access the E-Submittal 
server for any proceeding in which it is participating; and/or (2) 
creation of an electronic docket for the proceeding (even in instances 
in which the petitioner/requestor (or its counsel or representative) 
already holds an NRC-issued digital ID certificate). Each petitioner/
requestor will need to download the Workplace Forms Viewer<SUP>TM</SUP> 
to access the Electronic Information Exchange (EIE), a component of the 
E-Filing system. The Workplace Forms Viewer<SUP>TM</SUP> is free and is 
available at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/install-viewer.html. Information about applying for a digital ID certificate is 
available on NRC's public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals/apply-certificates.html.
    Once a petitioner/requestor has obtained a digital ID certificate, 
had a docket created, and downloaded the EIE viewer, it can then submit 
a request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene. Submissions 
should be in Portable Document Format (PDF) in accordance with NRC 
guidance available on the NRC public Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html. A filing is considered complete at the 
time the filer submits its documents through EIE. To be timely, an 
electronic filing must be submitted to the EIE system no later than 
11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on the due date. Upon receipt of a 
transmission, the E-Filing system time-stamps the document and sends 
the submitter an e-mail notice confirming receipt of the document. The 
EIE system also distributes an e-mail notice that provides access to 
the document to the NRC Office of the General Counsel and any others 
who have advised the Office of the Secretary that they wish to 
participate in the proceeding, so that the filer need not serve the 
documents on those participants separately. Therefore, applicants and 
other participants (or their counsel or representative) must apply for 
and receive a digital ID

[[Page 46627]]

certificate before a hearing request/petition to intervene is filed so 
that they can obtain access to the document via the E-Filing system.
    A person filing electronically using the agency's adjudicatory e-
filing system may seek assistance through the ``Contact Us'' link 
located on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html or by calling the NRC Meta-System Help Desk, which is 
available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through 
Friday, excluding government holidays. The Meta-System Help Desk can be 
contacted by telephone at 1-866-672-7640 or by e-mail at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a4759424e24586f79657f78696f4a647869246d657c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cd1cfd4d8b2cef9eff3e9eefff9dcf2eeffb2fbf3ea">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Participants who believe that they have a good cause for not 
submitting documents electronically must, in accordance with 10 CFR 
2.302(g), file a motion with their initial paper filing requesting 
authorization to continue to submit documents in paper format. Such 
filings must be submitted by: (1) First class mail addressed to the 
Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemaking and 
Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, or expedited 
delivery service to the Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth Floor, One 
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 
Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. Participants filing a 
document in this manner are responsible for serving the document on all 
other participants. Filing is considered complete by first-class mail 
as of the time of deposit in the mail, or by courier, express mail, or 
expedited delivery service upon depositing the document with the 
provider of the service.
    Non-timely requests and/or petitions and contentions will not be 
entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding 
officer, or the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the petition 
and/or request should be granted and/or the contentions should be 
admitted based on a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 
2.309(c)(1)(i)-(viii).
    Documents submitted in adjudicatory proceedings will appear in 
NRC's electronic hearing docket which is available to the public at 
http://ehd.nrc.gov/EHD_Proceeding/home.asp, unless excluded pursuant 
to an order of the Commission, an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, or 
a Presiding Officer. Participants are requested not to include social 
security numbers in their filings. With respect to copyrighted works, 
except for limited excerpts that serve the purpose of the adjudicatory 
filings and would constitute a Fair Use application, participants are 
requested not to include copyrighted materials in their submission.
    The formal requirements for documents contained in 10 CFR 2.304(c)-
(e) must be met. If the NRC grants an electronic document exemption in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.302(g)(3)), then the requirements for paper 
documents, set forth in 10 CFR 2.304(b) must be met.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(b), a request for a hearing must be 
filed by November 9, 2009.
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR 
2.309, a request for a hearing must state:
    1. The name, address, and telephone number of the requester;
    2. The nature of the requester's right under the Act to be made a 
party to the proceeding;
    3. The nature and extent of the requester's property, financial or 
other interest in the proceeding;
    4. The possible effect of any decision or order that may be issued 
in the proceeding on the requester's interest; and
    5. The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing is 
timely in accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(b).
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f)(1), a request for hearing or 
petition for leave to intervene must set forth with particularity the 
contentions sought to be raised. For each contention, the request or 
petition must:
    1. Provide a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be 
raised or controverted;
    2. Provide a brief explanation of the basis for the contention;
    3. Demonstrate that the issue raised in the contention is within 
the scope of the proceeding;
    4. Demonstrate that the issue raised in the contention is material 
to the findings that the NRC must make to support the action that is 
involved in the proceeding;
    5. Provide a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert 
opinions which support the requester's/petitioner's position on the 
issue and on which the requester/petitioner intends to rely to support 
its position on the issue; and
    6. Provide sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute 
exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact.
    In addition, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f)(2), contentions 
must be based on documents or other information available at the time 
the petition is to be filed, such as the application or other 
supporting document filed by an applicant or licensee, or otherwise 
available to the petitioner. The requester/petitioner may amend those 
contentions or file new contentions if there are data or conclusions in 
the NRC documents that differ significantly from the data or 
conclusions in the applicant's documents. Otherwise, contentions may be 
amended or new contentions filed after the initial filing only with 
leave of the presiding officer.
    Requesters/petitioners should, when possible, consult with each 
other in preparing contentions and combine similar subject matter 
concerns into a joint contention, for which one of the co-sponsoring 
requesters/petitioners is designated the lead representative. Further, 
in accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f)(3), any requester/petitioner that 
wishes to adopt a contention proposed by another requester/petitioner 
must do so, in accordance with the E-Filing rule, within ten days of 
the date the contention is filed, and designate a representative who 
shall have the authority to act for the requester/petitioner.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(g), a request for hearing and/or 
petition for leave to intervene may also address the selection of the 
hearing procedures, taking into account the provisions of 10 CFR 2.310.

III. Further Information

    Documents related to this action, including the application for 
renewal and other supporting documentation, are available 
electronically at the NRC's Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this site, you can access the 
NRC's Agency wide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), which 
provides text and image files of NRC's public documents. The ADAMS 
accession numbers for the documents related to this notice are:
    1. ML080240243: Non-Sensitive License Renewal Application for SNM-
180 (License No. SNM-180; Docket No. 70-157).
    2. ML080420575: Acceptance of the University of Texas-Austin's 
License Renewal Application and Notice of Timely Renewal Status (TAC 
L32659).
    3. ML092030534: Response to Request for Additional Information in 
Support of License Renewal Application for SNM-180.
    4. ML092030533: Revised Non-Sensitive License Renewal Application 
for SNM-180 (License No. SNM-180; Docket No. 70-157).
    If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in 
accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public 
Document Room (PDR)

[[Page 46628]]

Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737 or by e-mail to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc9c889ee29ea9bfa3b9beafa98ca2beafe2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a6a7e6814685f49554f48595f7a544859145d554c">[email protected]</span></a>.
    These documents may also be viewed electronically on the public 
computers located at the NRC's Public Document Room, O 1 F21, One White 
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR 
reproduction contractor will copy documents for a fee.

Order Imposing Procedures for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information (SUNSI) and Safeguards Information (SGI) for 
Contention Preparation

    A. This Order contains instructions regarding how potential parties 
to this proceeding may request access to documents containing sensitive 
unclassified information (including Sensitive Unclassified Non-
Safeguards Information (SUNSI) and Safeguards Information (SGI)). 
Requirements for access to SGI are primarily set forth in 10 CFR Parts 
2 and 73. The intent of this Order is to make those requirements more 
specific to this proceeding; however, nothing in this Order is intended 
to conflict with the SGI regulations.
    B. Within 10 days after publication of this notice of hearing and 
opportunity to petition for leave to intervene, any potential party as 
defined in 10 CFR 2.4 who believes access to SUNSI or SGI is necessary 
for a response to the notice may request access to SUNSI or SGI. A 
``potential party'' is any person who intends or may intend to 
participate as a party by demonstrating standing and filing an 
admissible contention under 10 CFR 2.309. Requests for access to SUNSI 
or SGI submitted later than 10 days after publication will not be 
considered absent a showing of good cause for the late filing, 
addressing why the request could not have been filed earlier.
    C. The requester shall submit a letter requesting permission to 
access SUNSI and/or SGI to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: 
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, and provide a copy to the 
Associate General Counsel for Hearings, Enforcement and Administration, 
Office of the General Counsel, Washington, DC 20555-0001. The expedited 
delivery or courier mail address for both offices is: U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. 
The e-mail address for the Office of the Secretary and the Office of 
the General Counsel are <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f577a7e6d767178315b707c747a6b5f716d7c31787069"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="afe7caceddc6c1c881ebc0ccc4cadbefc1ddcc81c8c0d9">[email protected]</span></a> and 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e61696d634f47426d4b405a4b5c007c4b5d415b5c4d4b6e405c4d00494158"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="733c34303e121a1f30161d0716015d2116001c06011016331d01105d141c05">[email protected]</span></a>, respectively.\1\ The request must 
include the following information:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ While a request for hearing or petition to intervene in this 
proceeding must comply with the filing requirements of the NRC's 
``E-Filing Rule,'' the initial request to access SUNSI and/or SGI 
under these procedures should be submitted as described in this 
paragraph.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) A description of the licensing action with a citation to this 
Federal Register notice of license renewal application and opportunity 
to request a hearing;
    (2) The name and address of the potential party and a description 
of the potential party's particularized interest that could be harmed 
by the action identified in C.1);
    (3) If the request is for SUNSI, the identity of the individual or 
entity requesting access to SUNSI and the requester's basis for the 
need for the information in order to meaningfully participate in this 
adjudicatory proceeding. In particular, the request must explain why 
publicly-available versions of the information requested would not be 
sufficient to provide the basis and specificity for a proffered 
contention;
    (4) If the request is for SGI, the identity of each individual who 
would have access to SGI if the request is granted, including the 
identity of any expert, consultant, or assistant who will aid the 
requester in evaluating the SGI. In addition, the request must contain 
the following information:
    (a) A statement that explains each individual's ``need to know'' 
the SGI, as required by 10 CFR 73.2 and 10 CFR 73.22(b)(1). Consistent 
with the definition of ``need to know'' as stated in 10 CFR 73.2, the 
statement must explain:
    (i) Specifically why the requestor believes that the information is 
necessary to enable the requestor to proffer and/or adjudicate a 
specific contention in this proceeding; \2\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Broad SGI requests under these procedures are unlikely to 
meet the standard for need to know; furthermore, staff redaction of 
information from requested documents before their release may be 
appropriate to comport with this requirement. These procedures do 
not authorize unrestricted disclosure or less scrutiny of a 
requester's need to know than ordinarily would be applied in 
connection with an already-admitted contention or non-adjudicatory 
access to SGI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (ii) The technical competence (demonstrable knowledge, skill, 
training or education) of the requester to effectively utilize the 
requested SGI to provide the basis and specificity for a proffered 
contention. The technical competence of a potential party or its 
counsel may be shown by reliance on a qualified expert, consultant, or 
assistant who satisfies these criteria.
    (b) A completed Form SF-85, ``Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive 
Positions'' for each individual who would have access to SGI. The 
completed Form SF-85 will be used by the Office of Administration to 
conduct the background check required for access to SGI, as required by 
10 CFR Part 2, Subpart G, and 10 CFR 73.22(b)(2), to determine the 
requestor's trustworthiness and reliability. For security reasons, Form 
SF-85 can only be submitted electronically through the electronic 
questionnaire for investigations processing (e-QIP) Web site, a secure 
Web site that is owned and operated by the Office of Personnel 
Management. To obtain online access to the form, the requester should 
contact the NRC's Office of Administration at 301-492-3524.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The requester will be asked to provide his or her full name, 
social security number, date and place of birth, telephone number, 
and e-mail address. After providing this information, the requester 
usually should be able to obtain access to the online form within 
one business day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) A completed Form FD-258 (fingerprint card), signed in original 
ink, and submitted in accordance with 10 CFR 73.57(d). Copies of Form 
FD-258 may be obtained by writing the Office of Information Services, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-001, by 
calling (301) 415-7232 or (301) 492-7311, or by e-mail to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#63250c110e104d3106100c16110006230d11004d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7b3d1409160855291e08140e09181e3b150918551c140d">[email protected]</span></a>. The fingerprint card will be used to satisfy 
the requirements of 10 CFR Part 2, 10 CFR 73.22(b)(1), and Section 149 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, which mandates that all 
persons with access to SGI must be fingerprinted for an FBI 
identification and criminal history records check;
    (d) A check or money order payable in the amount of $ 200.00 \4\ to 
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for each individual for whom the 
request for access has been submitted, and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ This fee is subject to change pursuant to the Office of 
Personnel Management's adjustable billing rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) If the requester or any individual who will have access to SGI 
believes they belong to one or more of the categories of individuals 
that are exempt from the criminal history records check and background 
check requirements, as stated in 10 CFR 73.59, the requestor should 
also provide a statement specifically stating which exemption the 
requestor is invoking, and explaining the requestor's basis for 
believing that the exemption is applicable. While processing the 
request, the Office of Administration, Personnel Security Branch, will 
make a final determination whether the stated exemption applies.

[[Page 46629]]

Alternatively, the requestor may contact the Office of Administration 
for an evaluation of their exemption status prior to submitting their 
request. Persons who are exempt from the background check are not 
required to complete the SF-85 or Form FD-258, however, all other 
requirements for access to SGI, including the need to know, are still 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
applicable.

    Note: Copies of documents and materials required by paragraphs 
C.4)(b), (c), and (d) of this Order must be sent to the following 
address: Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Personnel Security Branch, Mail Stop TWB-05-B32M, 
Washington, DC 20555-0012.
    These documents and materials should not be included with the 
request letter to the Office of the Secretary, but the request 
letter should state that the forms and fees have been submitted as 
required above.

    D. To avoid delays in processing requests for access to SGI, the 
requestor should review all submitted materials for completeness and 
accuracy (including legibility) before submitting them to the NRC. The 
NRC will return incomplete packages to the sender without processing.
    E. Based on an evaluation of the information submitted under 
paragraphs C.3) or C.4) above, as applicable, the NRC staff will 
determine within 10 days of receipt of the written access request 
whether:
    (1) There is a reasonable basis to believe the petitioner is likely 
to establish standing to participate in this NRC proceeding; and
    (2) The requestor has established a legitimate need for access to 
SUNSI or need to know the SGI requested.
    F. For requests for access to SUNSI, if the NRC staff determines 
that the requestor satisfies both (E.1) and (E.2) above, the NRC staff 
will notify the requestor in writing that access to SUNSI has been 
granted. The written notification will contain instructions on how the 
requestor may obtain copies of the requested documents, and any other 
conditions that may apply to access to those documents. These 
conditions may include, but not be limited to, the signing of a Non-
Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or Protective Order \5\ setting 
forth terms and conditions to prevent the unauthorized or inadvertent 
disclosure of SUNSI by each individual who will be granted access to 
SUNSI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure 
Affidavit or Agreement for SUNSI must be filed with the presiding 
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer 
has not yet been designated, within 30 days of the deadline for the 
receipt of the written access request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    G. For requests for access to SGI, if the NRC staff determines that 
the requestor has satisfied both (E.1) and (E.2) above, the Office of 
Administration will then determine, based upon completion of the 
background check, whether the proposed recipient is trustworthy and 
reliable, as required for access to SGI by 10 CFR 73.22(b). If the 
Office of Administration determines that the individual or individuals 
are trustworthy and reliable, the NRC will promptly notify the 
requestor in writing. The notification will provide the names of 
approved individuals as well as the conditions under which the SGI will 
be provided. Those conditions may include, but not be limited to, the 
signing of a Non-Disclosure Agreement or Affidavit, or Protective Order 
\6\ by each individual who will be granted access to SGI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Any motion for Protective Order or draft Non-Disclosure 
Affidavit or Agreement for SGI must be filed with the presiding 
officer or the Chief Administrative Judge if the presiding officer 
has not yet been designated, within 180 days of the deadline for the 
receipt of the written access request.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    H. Release and Storage of SGI. Prior to providing SGI to the 
requestor, the NRC staff will conduct (as necessary) an inspection to 
confirm that the recipient's information protection system is 
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of 10 CFR 73.22. Alternatively, 
recipients may opt to view SGI at an approved SGI storage location 
rather than establish their own SGI protection program to meet SGI 
protection requirements.
    I. Filing of Contentions. Any contentions in these proceedings that 
are based upon the information received as a result of the request made 
for SUNSI or SGI must be filed by the requestor no later than 25 days 
after receipt of (or access to) that information. However, if more than 
25 days remain between the petitioner's receipt of (or access to) the 
information and the deadline for filing all other contentions (as 
established in the notice of hearing or opportunity for hearing), the 
petitioner may file its SUNSI or SGI contentions by that later 
deadline.
J. Review of Denials of Access
    (1) If the request for access to SUNSI or SGI is denied by the NRC 
staff either after a determination on standing and need to know, or 
after a determination on trustworthiness and reliability, the NRC staff 
shall immediately notify the requestor in writing, briefly stating the 
reason or reasons for the denial.
    (2) Before the Office of Administration makes an adverse 
determination regarding the proposed recipient(s) trustworthiness and 
reliability for access to SGI, the Office of Administration, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.705(c)(3)(iii), must provide the proposed 
recipient(s) any records that were considered in the trustworthiness 
and reliability determination, including those required to be provided 
under 10 CFR 73.57(e)(1), so that the proposed recipient is provided an 
opportunity to correct or explain information.
    (3) The requester may challenge the NRC staff's adverse 
determination with respect to access to SUNSI by filing a challenge 
within 5 days of receipt of that determination with: (a) The presiding 
officer designated in this proceeding; (b) if no presiding officer has 
been appointed, the Chief Administrative Judge, or if he or she is 
unavailable, another administrative judge, or an administrative law 
judge with jurisdiction pursuant to 10 CFR 2.318(a); or (c) if another 
officer has been designated to rule on information access issues, with 
that officer.
    (4) The requester may challenge the NRC staff's or Office of 
Administration's adverse determination with respect to access to SGI by 
filing a request for review in accordance with 10 CFR 2.705(c)(3)(iv). 
Further appeals of decisions under this paragraph must be made pursuant 
to 10 CFR 2.311.
    K. Review of Grants of Access. A party other than the requester may 
challenge an NRC staff determination granting access to SUNSI or SGI 
whose release would harm that party's interest independent of the 
proceeding. Such a challenge must be filed with the Chief 
Administrative Judge within 5 days of the notification by the NRC staff 
of its grant of access.
    If challenges to the NRC staff determinations are filed, these 
procedures give way to the normal process for litigating disputes 
concerning access to information. The availability of interlocutory 
review by the Commission of orders ruling on such NRC staff 
determinations (whether granting or denying access) is governed by 10 
CFR 2.311.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ As of October 15, 2007, the NRC's final ``E-Filing Rule'' 
became effective. See Use of Electronic Submissions in Agency 
Hearings (72 FR 49139; August 28, 2007). Requesters should note that 
the filing requirements of that rule apply to appeals of NRC staff 
determinations (because they must be served on a presiding officer 
or the Commission, as applicable), but not to the initial SUNSI/SGI 
requests submitted to the NRC staff under these procedures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    L. The Commission expects that the NRC staff and presiding officers 
(and any other reviewing officers) will consider and resolve requests 
for access to SUNSI or SGI, and motions for protective orders, in a 
timely fashion in order to minimize any unnecessary delays in 
identifying those petitioners

[[Page 46630]]

who have standing and who have propounded contentions meeting the 
specificity and basis requirements in 10 CFR Part 2. Attachment 1 to 
this Order summarizes the general target schedule for processing and 
resolving requests under these procedures.
    It is so ordered.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of September, 2009.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Annette L. Vietti-Cook,
Secretary of the Commission.

   Attachment 1--General Target Schedule for Processing and Resolving
Requests for Access to Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards Information
       (SUNSI) and Safeguards Information (SGI) in This Proceeding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Day                             Event/activity
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0......................  Publication of Federal Register notice of
                          hearing and opportunity to petition for leave
                          to intervene, including order with
                          instructions for access requests.
10.....................  Deadline for submitting requests for access to
                          Sensitive Unclassified Non-Safeguards
                          Information (SUNSI) and/or Safeguards
                          Information (SGI) with information: supporting
                          the standing of a potential party identified
                          by name and address; describing the need for
                          the information in order for the potential
                          party to participate meaningfully in an
                          adjudicatory proceeding; demonstrating that
                          access should be granted (e.g., showing
                          technical competence for access to SGI); and,
                          for SGI, including application fee for
                          fingerprint/background check.
20.....................  Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff
                          informs the requester of the staff's
                          determination whether the request for access
                          provides a reasonable basis to believe
                          standing can be established and shows (1) need
                          for SUNSI or (2) need to know for SGI. (For
                          SUNSI, NRC staff also informs any party to the
                          proceeding whose interest independent of the
                          proceeding would be harmed by the release of
                          the information.) If NRC staff makes the
                          finding of need for SUNSI and likelihood of
                          standing, NRC staff begins document processing
                          (preparation of redactions or review of
                          redacted documents). If NRC staff makes the
                          finding of need to know for SGI and likelihood
                          of standing, NRC staff begins background check
                          (including fingerprinting for a criminal
                          history records check), information processing
                          (preparation of redactions or review of
                          redacted documents), and readiness
                          inspections.
25.....................  If NRC staff finds no ``need,'' no ``need to
                          know,'' or no likelihood of standing, the
                          deadline for petitioner/requester to file a
                          motion seeking a ruling to reverse the NRC
                          staff's denial of access; NRC staff files copy
                          of access determination with the presiding
                          officer (or Chief Administrative Judge or
                          other designated officer, as appropriate). If
                          NRC staff finds ``need'' for SUNSI, the
                          deadline for any party to the proceeding whose
                          interest independent of the proceeding would
                          be harmed by the release of the information to
                          file a motion seeking a ruling to reverse the
                          NRC staff's grant of access.
30.....................  Deadline for NRC staff reply to motions to
                          reverse NRC staff determination(s).
40.....................  (Receipt +30) If NRC staff finds standing and
                          need for SUNSI, deadline for NRC staff to
                          complete information processing and file
                          motion for Protective Order and draft Non-
                          Disclosure Affidavit. Deadline for applicant/
                          licensee to file Non-Disclosure Agreement for
                          SUNSI.
60.....................  Deadline for submitting petition for
                          intervention containing: (i) Demonstration of
                          standing; (ii) all contentions whose
                          formulation does not require access to SUNSI
                          and/or SGI (+25 Answers to petition for
                          intervention; +7 petitioner/requestor reply).
190....................  (Receipt +180) If NRC staff finds standing,
                          need to know for SGI, and trustworthiness and
                          reliability, deadline for NRC staff to file
                          motion for Protective Order and draft Non-
                          disclosure Affidavit (or to make a
                          determination that the proposed recipient of
                          SGI is not trustworthy or reliable). Note:
                          Before the Office of Administration makes an
                          adverse determination regarding access to SGI,
                          the proposed recipient must be provided an
                          opportunity to correct or explain information.
205....................  Deadline for petitioner to seek reversal of a
                          final adverse NRC staff determination either
                          before the presiding officer or another
                          designated officer.
A......................  If access granted: Issuance of presiding
                          officer or other designated officer decision
                          on motion for protective order for access to
                          sensitive information (including schedule for
                          providing access and submission of
                          contentions) or decision reversing a final
                          adverse determination by the NRC staff.
A + 3..................  Deadline for filing executed Non-Disclosure
                          Affidavits. Access provided to SUNSI and/or
                          SGI consistent with decision issuing the
                          protective order.
A + 28.................  Deadline for submission of contentions whose
                          development depends upon access to SUNSI and/
                          or SGI. However, if more than 25 days remain
                          between the petitioner's receipt of (or access
                          to) the information and the deadline for
                          filing all other contentions (as established
                          in the notice of hearing or opportunity for
                          hearing), the petitioner may file its SUNSI or
                          SGI contentions by that later deadline.
A + 53.................  (Contention receipt +25) Answers to contentions
                          whose development depends upon access to SUNSI
                          and/or SGI.
A + 60.................  (Answer receipt +7) Petitioner/Intervenor reply
                          to answers.
>A + 60................  Decision on contention admission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. E9-21893 Filed 9-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>