[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5494-5495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2805]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

NRC Enforcement Policy

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Opportunity for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is providing the 
public an opportunity to provide comments on the agency's Enforcement 
Policy (NUREG-1600, ``General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC 
Enforcement Actions''). This invitation is open to interested public 
interest groups, the regulated industry, states, and concerned 
citizens.

DATES: The comment period expires April 7, 1997. Comments received 
after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the 
Commission is able to assure consideration only for comments received 
on or before this date.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: David Meyer, Chief, Rules Review 
and Directives Branch, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: T6D59, U. 
S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Hand deliver 
comments to: 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:45 am 
and 4:15 pm, Federal workdays. Copies of comments received may be 
examined at the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, (Lower 
Level), Washington, DC. Copies of NUREG-1600 and NUREG-1525 may be 
purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government 
Printing Office, Mail Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328. Copies are 
also available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 
Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161. Copies are also available 
for inspection and copying for a fee in the NRC Public Document Room, 
2120 L Street, NW, (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lieberman, Director, Office of 
Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, 
(301) 415-2741.


[[Page 5495]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 30, 1995, (60 FR 34381) the 
Commission published a complete revision of the NRC's Enforcement 
Policy in the Federal Register. The changes to the Enforcement Policy 
resulted from the efforts of a review team established in 1994 to 
assess the NRC's enforcement program. The review team published its 
recommendations in NUREG-1525, ``Assessment of the NRC Enforcement 
Program,'' and the Commission made revisions to the Enforcement Policy 
after considering those recommendations. The revisions to the 
Enforcement Policy were intended to, among other things:
    <bullet> Emphasize the importance of identifying problems before 
events occur, and of taking prompt, comprehensive corrective action 
when problems are identified;
    <bullet> Direct agency attention at licensees with multiple 
enforcement actions in a relatively short period; and
    <bullet> Focus on current performance of licensees.
    The revisions to the Enforcement Policy were also intended to 
better focus the inspection and enforcement process on safety, provide 
greater incentives for strong self-monitoring and corrective action 
programs in the civil penalty assessment process, provide more 
predictability and consistency in the civil penalty assessment process, 
and to better convey clear regulatory messages.
    When the Commission published the revised Enforcement Policy in the 
Federal Register on June 30, 1995, it stated that it would provide the 
public an opportunity to comment on the revised Enforcement Policy 
after it had been in effect for about 18 months. This opportunity for 
public comment is being made in accordance with this commitment.

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 30th day of January, 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James Lieberman,
Director, Office of Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 97-2805 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P