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###### Nuclear Regulatory Commission

# AGENCY:

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

# ACTION:

Notice of availability and request for comments. 

# SUMMARY:

The NRC is announcing the availability of, and requesting comments on, draft NUREG-1556, Volume 17, “Consolidated Guidance about Materials Licenses: Program-Specific Guidance about Special Nuclear Material of Less Than Critical Mass Licenses,” dated March 2000. 

The NRC is using Business Process Redesign techniques to redesign its materials licensing process, as described in NUREG-1539, “Methodology and Findings of the NRC's Materials Licensing Process Redesign.” A critical element of the new process is consolidating and updating numerous guidance documents into a NUREG-series of reports. This draft NUREG report is the 17th guidance document developed to support an improved materials licensing process. 

This guidance is intended for use by applicants, licensees, and the NRC staff, and will also be available to Agreement States. This document combines and updates the guidance found in Regulatory Guide 10.3, “Guide for the Preparation of Applications for Special Nuclear Material Licenses of Less Than Critical Mass Quantities.” This draft report takes a more risk-informed, performance-based approach to licensing quantities of special nuclear material of less than critical mass, and reduces the information (amount and level of detail) needed to support an application to use this material. This document is strictly for public comment and is not for use in preparing or reviewing licenses until it is published in final form. It is being distributed for comment to encourage public participation in its development. 

# DATES:

The comment period ends July 25, 2000. Comments received after that time will be considered if practicable. 

# ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments to: Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Hand-deliver comments to 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Federal workdays. Comments may also be submitted through the Internet by addressing electronic mail to dlm1@nrc.gov. 

                        Those considering public comment may request a free single copy of draft NUREG-1556, Volume 17, by writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Mrs. Carrie Brown, Mail Stop TWFN 9-C-24, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Alternatively, submit requests through the Internet by                               ( print page 24515)                            addressing electronic mail to cxb@nrc.gov. A copy of draft NUREG-1556, Volume 17, is also available for inspection and/or copying for a fee in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555-0001.                     

The Presidential Memorandum dated June 1, 1998, entitled, “Plain Language in Government Writing,” directed that the Federal government's writing be in plain language. The NRC requests comments on this licensing guidance NUREG specifically with respect to the clarity and effectiveness of the language used. Comments should be sent to the address listed above. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mrs. Carrie Brown, TWFN 9-F-24, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301) 415-8092; electronic mail address: cxb@nrc.gov. 

## Electronic Access 

                        Draft NUREG-1556, Vol. 17 is available electronically by visiting the NRC's Home Page (                        *http://www.nrc.gov/​nrc/​nucmat.html*).                     

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of April, 2000. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Anthony N. Tse,

Acting Chief, Rulemaking and Guidance Branch, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS. 

[FR Doc. 00-10391 Filed 4-25-00; 8:45 am] 

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