[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-111]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. Part 110]


General and Specific Licenses Authorizing Exports of Nuclear 
Reactor Components, Substances, and Items Under Section 109b of the 
Atomic Energy Act to EURATOM; Order Suspending Licenses (Effective 
January 1, 1996)

I

    The licensees that are subject to this order are authorized by the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (``NRC'' or ``Commission'') through 
general and specific licenses granted under Section 109b of the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), and 10 C.F.R. Part 110 to export 
nuclear reactor components, substances, and items for nuclear end uses 
to EURATOM on the basis of assurances provided by EURATOM to the U.S. 
pursuant to Section 109b (``EURATOM assurances''). The expiration date 
of the EURATOM assurances underlying the NRC's general and specific 
license authorizations for exports of nuclear reactor components, 
substances, and items under Section 109b is tied to the expiration date 
of the current Agreement for Cooperation between the U.S. and EURATOM 
under Section 123 of the AEA.

II

    The EURATOM assurances will expire on December 31, 1995, the 
expiration date of the current Agreement for Cooperation between the 
U.S. and EURATOM. Although a new Section 123 Agreement for Cooperation 
has been approved by authorities on both sides,\1\ the U.S. has not 
received new Section 109b assurances from EURATOM. The NRC is 
prohibited from authorizing any exports of nuclear reactor components, 
substances, and items to a foreign nation under Section 109b in the 
absence of such assurances from the foreign nation.

    \1\ The new Agreement must sit before Congress for review for up 
to 90 days of continuous legislative session.
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III

    Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 109b, 161b, 161i, 183, and 186 of 
the AEA, and 10 C.F.R. Secs. 110.50(a) (1) and (2) and 110.52, from 
January 1, 1996 until such time that the U.S. receives the assurances 
required for exports of nuclear reactor components, substances, and 
items under Section 109b of the AEA from EURATOM or its individual 
member countries,\2\ NRC general and specific license authorizations 
under Section 109b and 10 C.F.R. Secs. 110.26 and 110.42(b) for exports 
of nuclear reactor components to EURATOM countries are suspended.\3\ 
This suspension order will expire by operation of law when the 
assurances required under Section 109b are received from EURATOM or its 
individual member countries. The NRC will publish notice of the receipt 
of these assurances in the Federal Register.

    \2\ The EURATOM Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, 
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, 
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. 
Licensees authorized under general or specific licenses to make 
Section 109b exports to Austria, Finland, Spain, or Sweden may 
continue direct exports to these countries because they have 
provided separate bilateral assurances to the U.S. that remain in 
effect.
    \3\ In accordance with 10 C.F.R. Sec. 110.52(c), the Commission 
finds that Licensees need not be afforded an opportunity to reply 
and be heard because this action is required by operation of law and 
the common defense and security.
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    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 28th day of December, 1995.

Carlton R. Stoiber,
Director, Office of International Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-111 Filed 1-3-96; 8:45 am]
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