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[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21793-21796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10823]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Plan for Updating and Consolidating the Decommissioning Policy 
and Guidance of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Office Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, and Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Publication of plan and notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) 
intends to consolidate and update the policy and guidance for NMSS's 
decommissioning program. This endeavor is in response to the NMSS 
performance goals, in the NRC's Strategic Plan, of: (1) Making NRC 
activities and decisions more effective, efficient, and realistic; and 
(2) reducing unnecessary regulatory burden on stakeholders.

DATES: Comments on this plan should be submitted by June 15, 2001. The 
comments will be considered by NRC in the process of updating and 
consolidating the policy and guidance for NMSS's decommissioning 
program.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Jack D. Parrott, Project 
Scientist, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Mail Stop 
T-7F27, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. 
Hand-deliver comments to: 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, between 
7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays. Copies of comments received 
may be examined at the NRC Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Room O-1F21, Rockville, MD 20852. The NRC Public Document Room is open 
from 7:45 a.m.

[[Page 21794]]

to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack D. Parrott, Mail Stop T-7F27, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. 
Telephone: (301) 415-6700; Internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The initial scope of this effort covers all 
of the decommissioning policies and guidance that implement the NMSS 
decommissioning regulations. Three NUREG volumes have been identified 
for development which would update/consolidate all existing NMSS 
decommissioning guidance documents to the extent practicable. Also 
reviewed will be decommissioning technical assistance requests, 
decommissioning licensing conditions, and all decommissioning generic 
communications issued over the past several years. For the purposes of 
this project, the NMSS decommissioning policy and guidance documents 
will be grouped into the functional categories of: (1) The General 
Materials Decommissioning Process, (2) Characterization, Survey, and 
Determination of Radiological Criteria, and (3) Financial Assurance, 
Recordkeeping, and Timeliness. The three NUREG volumes will follow 
these functional categories. The documents that will be considered in 
this consolidation/updating project are identified in Table 1.

Table I.--Documents for Consideration in the Decommissioning 
Guidance Consolidation Project

Guidance Documents To Be Consolidated

NUREG-1727, ``NMSS Decommissioning Standard Review Plan,'' September 
2000
NUREG/BR-0241, ``NMSS Handbook for Decommissioning Fuels Cycle and 
Materials Licensees,'' March 1997
Information Notice 90-16, ``Compliance with New Decommissioning Rule,'' 
March 1990
``Draft Branch Technical Position on Site Characterization for 
Decommissioning,'' November 1994
NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 2000-09, ``Standard Review Plan for 
Licensee Requests to Extend the Time Periods Established for Initiation 
of Decommissioning Activities,'' June 2000
NRC Administrative Letter 96-05, Revision 1, ``Compliance with the Rule 
``T `Timeliness in Decommissioning of Material Facilities' '' July 1998
Information Notice 96-47, ``Record-keeping and Decommissioning 
Notifications for Disposals of Radioactive Waste by Land Burial 
Authorized under Former 10 CFR 20.304, 20.302, and Current 20.2002,'' 
August 1996
Information Notice 90-38, Supplement 1, ``License and Fee Requirements 
For Processing Financial Assurance Submittals for Decommissioning,'' 
November 1990
Information Notice 90-38, ``Requirements for Processing Financial 
Assurance Submittals for Decommissioning,'' May 1990
Information Notice 90-16, ``Compliance with New Decommissioning Rule,'' 
March 1990
Records Management Guide 93-03, ``Final Criteria for Determining That 
Records Should be Retained Permanently Because of Significant 
Historical Value,'' 1993
Records Management Guide 92-01, ``Plan for Decommissioning Records,'' 
1992

Other Documents for Reference/Consideration

NUREG-1575, ``Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation 
Manual (MARSSIM), Rev. 1,'' August 2000
NUREG/CR-5512, Volume 1, ``Residual Radioactive Contamination from 
Decommissioning: Technical Basis for Translating Contamination Levels 
to Annual Total Effective Dose Equivalent,'' October 1992
Draft NUREG/CR-5512, Volume 2, ``Residual Radioactive Contamination 
from Decommissioning: User's Manual,'' May 1999
Draft NUREG/CR-5512, Volume 3, ``Residual Radioactive Contamination 
From Decommissioning: Parameter Analysis,'' October 1999
Draft NUREG/CR-5512, Volume 4, ``Comparison of the Models and 
Assumptions used in the DandD 1.0, RESRAD 5.61, and RESRAD-Build 
Computer Codes with Respect to the Residential Farmer and Industrial 
Occupant Scenarios Provided in NUREG/CR-5512,'' October 1999
NUREG/CR-5621, ``Groundwater Models in Support of NUREG/CR-5512,'' 
December 1998
Draft NUREG-1549, ``Decision Methods for Dose Assessment to Comply with 
Radiological Criteria for License Termination,'' July 1998
NUREG/CR-6692, ``Probabilistic Modules for the RESRAD and RESRAD-Build 
Computer Codes,'' November 2000
Draft NUREG-1505, Rev. 1, ``A Nonparametric Statistical Methodology for 
the Design and Analysis of Final Status Decommissioning Surveys,'' June 
1998
NUREG-1506, ``Measurement Methods for Radiological Surveys in Support 
of New Decommissioning Criteria,'' August 1995
NUREG-1507, ``Minimum Detectable Concentrations with Typical Radiation 
Survey Instruments for Various Contaminants and Field Conditions,'' 
August 1995
Manual Chapter 2605, ``Decommissioning Procedures for Fuel Cycle and 
Materials Licensees,'' November 1996
Manual Chapter 2602, ``Decommissioning Inspection Program for Fuel 
Cycle Facilities and Materials Licensees,'' June 1997
Inspection Procedure 87104, ``Decommissioning Inspection Procedure for 
Materials Licensees,'' June 1997
Inspection Procedure 88104, ``Decommissioning Inspection Procedure for 
Fuel Cycle Facilities,'' June 1997
Inspection Procedure 83890, ``Closeout Inspection and Survey,'' March 
1994
Temporary Instruction 2800/026, ``Follow-up Inspection of Formerly 
Licensed Sites Identified as Potentially Contaminated'', July 2000

Background/Bases Documents

Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended
National Environmental Policy Act
10 CFR 20, Subpart E--Radiological Criteria for License Termination
10 CFR 30.35--Financial assurance and recordkeeping for decommissioning
10 CFR 30.36--Expiration and termination of licenses and 
decommissioning of sites and separate buildings or outdoor areas
10 CFR part 30, Appendix A--Criteria Relating to Use of Financial Tests 
and Parent Company Guarantees for Providing Reasonable Assurance of 
Funds for Decommissioning
10 CFR part 30, Appendix C--Criteria Relating to Use of Financial Tests 
and Self Guarantees for Providing Reasonable Assurance of Funds for 
Decommissioning
10 CFR part 30, Appendix D--Criteria Relating to Use of Financial Tests 
and Self-Guarantee for Providing Reasonable Assurance of Funds for 
Decommissioning by Commercial Companies That Have no Outstanding Rated 
Bonds
10 CFR part 30, Appendix E--Criteria Relating to Use of Financial Tests 
and Self-Guarantee For Providing Reasonable Assurance of Funds For 
Decommissioning by Nonprofit Colleges, Universities, and Hospitals

[[Page 21795]]

10 CFR 40.36--Financial assurance and recordkeeping for decommissioning
10 CFR 40.42--Expiration and termination of licenses and 
decommissioning of sites and separate buildings or outdoor areas
10 CFR 70.25--Financial assurance and recordkeeping for decommissioning
10 CFR 70.38--Expiration and termination of licenses and 
decommissioning of sites and separate buildings or outdoor areas
10 CFR 72.30--Financial assurance and recordkeeping for decommissioning
10 CFR 72.54--Expiration and termination of licenses and 
decommissioning of sites and separate buildings or outdoor areas
10 CFR 72.130--Criteria for decommissioning
62 FR 39058, ``Radiological Criteria for License Termination,'' July 
1997
53 FR 24018, ``General Requirements for Decommissioning Nuclear 
Facilities,'' June 1988
64 FR 68395, ``Supplemental Information on the Implementation of the 
Final Rule on Radiological Criteria for License Termination,'' December 
1999
63 FR 64132, ``Supplemental Information on the Implementation of the 
Final Rule on Radiological Criteria for License Termination,'' November 
1998
62 FR 39058, ``Radiological Criteria for License Termination,'' July 
1997
53 FR 24018, ``General Requirements for Decommissioning Nuclear 
Facilities,'' June 1988
61 FR 24669, ``Termination or Transfer of Licensed Activities: 
Recordkeeping Requirements,'' May 1996
60 FR 38235, ``Clarification of Decommissioning Funding Requirements,'' 
July 1995
59 FR 36026, ``Timeliness in Decommissioning of Materials Facilities,'' 
July 1994
58 FR 39628, ``Decommissioning Recordkeeping and License Termination: 
Documentation Additions,'' July 1993
53 FR 24018, ``General Requirements for Decommissioning Nuclear 
Facilities,'' June 1988
NUREG-1496, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement in Support of 
Rulemaking on Radiological Criteria for License Termination of NRC-
Licensed Nuclear Facilities,'' July 1997
NUREG-0586, ``Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement on 
Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities,'' August 1988
NUREG/CR-1754, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning 
Reference Non-Fuel-Cycle Nuclear Facilities,'' February 1981
NUREG/CR-1754, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning 
Reference Non-Fuel Cycle Nuclear Facilities,'' Addendum 1, October 1989
NUREG/CR-0129, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning a 
Reference Small Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Plant,'' February 1979
NUREG/CR-1266, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning a 
Reference Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant,'' October 1980
NUREG/CR-1757, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning a 
Reference Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Plant,'' October 1981
NUREG/CR-2210, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning a 
Reference Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation,'' January 1984
NUREG/CR-2241, ``Technology and Costs of Termination Surveys Associated 
with Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities,'' February 1982
NUREG/CR-3293, ``Technology, Safety and Costs of Decommissioning 
Reference Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Non Fuel Cycle Facilities Following 
Postulated Accidents,'' May 1985
NUREG/CR-6280, ``Technology, Safety, and Costs of Decommissioning a 
Reference Large Irradiator and Reference Sealed Sources,'' January 1996
NUREG/CR-6477, ``Revised Analyses of Decommissioning Reference Non-
Fuel-Cycle Facilities,'' July 1998
NUREG/CR-6656, ``Information on Hydrologic Conceptual Models, 
Parameters, Uncertainty Analysis, and Data Sources for Dose Assessments 
at Decommissioning Sites,'' November 1999

Licensing Documents To Be Considered

Post License Termination Rule decommissioning technical assistance 
requests
Post License Termination Rule license amendments
Site specific decommissioning Environmental Assessments/Environmental 
Impact Statements
Site specific decommissioning Safety Evaluation Reports
Results of decommissioning financial assurance reviews
Site specific submittals of Form NRC-314, ``Certificate of Disposition 
of Materials''

Other Documents for Possible Reference

Other agencies' documents--e.g., U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Council on 
Environmental Quality
Consensus standards--American Nuclear Society, American Society of 
Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Testing and Materials, 
Health Physics Society
International guidance--International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear 
Energy Agency

    The implementation of the consolidation and updating of the 
decommissioning policy and guidance documents will be conducted using 
the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) techniques established for the 
NRC's materials licensing policy and guidance consolidation and 
updating efforts (NUREG-1556 series). The BPR approach will be used to 
both develop the product, and manage the review and concurrence 
process, using self-managed teams consisting of NRC headquarters and 
regional resources. The goal is to produce consolidated NMSS 
decommissioning guidance that allows the NRC staff to evaluate 
information submitted by licensees in a timely, efficient, and 
consistent manner that protects public health and safety.
    The development of each NUREG volume will follow a standardized BPR 
team model to facilitate overall project management. Teams will consist 
of a team leader and three or four team members, representing 
headquarters and regional staff, and possibly Agreement State 
participation.
    The goal is to commence the first NUREG volume project in the June/
July 2001 time frame, the second NUREG volume in the January 2002 time 
frame, and the third NUREG volume in the June/July 2002 time frame. The 
BPR model uses a one year schedule that contains two periods of 
document production for each volume. The first phase of document 
production lasts five months during which the teams work together at 
NRC headquarters during much of this time to focus their efforts on the 
guidance document, and to take advantage of the facilitation services 
provided by the NRC's Regulatory Product Development Center. At the end 
of the first phase a draft NUREG volume is produced which is released 
to the public for review and to solicit public input. After a 90-day 
comment period, the teams reconvene periodically over approximately 
four months to consider public input and revise the document. The NUREG 
volume is then published in final.
    The overall project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 
fiscal year 2003 with the publication of the final version of the third 
NUREG volume. The end result will be a streamlined multi-volume NUREG 
grouped into the decommissioning functional categories described above, 
with the goal of

[[Page 21796]]

making decommissioning activities licensed by NRC more effective and 
efficient while reducing unnecessary regulatory burden on stakeholders. 
Further ease of use will be realized by making this a web-based 
document. Note also that the BPR model establishes a 3-year review 
cycle for updating the guidance.
    The updated, consolidated guidance will be provided to all users, 
both NRC and licensee, in hardcopy and/or electronic media. Since each 
group will have access to the same guidance, the expected results are 
more complete license documents that will expedite the approval process 
for both applicants and reviewers. As a result, the resource 
expenditure for this project will serve to improve the overall 
decommissioning process. Successful completion of this project is an 
integral component of the effort to meet NMSS' performance goals in the 
NRC's Strategic Plan. This will be done by developing decommissioning 
guidance that ensures that NRC's decommissioning activities and 
decisions are more effective, efficient, and realistic; and that they 
reduce unnecessary regulatory burden on stakeholders through, for 
example, the application of risk insights and performance-based 
methods, and the use of a consistent decommissioning regulatory basis.
    Public Meeting: NRC will conduct a public meeting in the auditorium 
of the NRC's headquarters office, Two White Flint North, 11545 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, on June 1, 2001, to discuss this plan 
for updating and consolidating the decommissioning policy and guidance 
of the NRC's Office Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards with 
interested members of the public. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. 
to 2 p.m. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to ask 
questions of NRC staff and make comments related to the plan. The 
meeting will be transcribed. For more information on the public 
meeting, please contact Jack D. Parrott, Project Scientist, Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Mail Stop T-7F27, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; 301-415-6700; 
Internet: [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 20th day of April, 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Larry W. Camper,
Chief, Decommissioning Branch Division of Waste Management, Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-10823 Filed 4-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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