Document ID: FEMA-2008-0022-0018
Agency: fema
Document Type: Notice
Title: Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants; NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1/Rev. 1 Supplement 4 and FEMA Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Manual
Posted Date: 2009-06-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27557-27558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13609]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2008-0022]

Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency 
Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants; 
NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1/Rev. 1 Supplement 4 and FEMA Radiological 
Emergency Preparedness Program Manual

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending 
the comment period for two documents: The proposed Supplement 4 
(Supplement 4) to ``Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of

[[Page 27558]]

Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of 
Nuclear Power Plants,'' NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1/Rev. 1 (NUREG-0654), and 
the proposed Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program Manual (the 
REPP Manual). The original comment period was scheduled to conclude on 
August 3, 2009. FEMA is extending the period until October 19, 2009.

DATES: This notice is effective June 3, 2009. Comments must be received 
by October 19, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The proposed Supplement 4 and the proposed REPP Manual are 
available online at http://www.regulations.gov. You may also view hard 
copies of these documents at the Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20472. You may submit comments on the proposed Supplement 4 and the 
proposed REPP Manual, identified by Docket ID FEMA-2008-0022, by one of 
the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include ``Docket ID FEMA-2008-0022'' 
in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: 703-483-2999.
    Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulation & Policy Team, Office of 
Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket ID. Also, because FEMA is collecting comments on two 
documents in this docket, please also identify the document to which 
your comment applies. Regardless of the method used for submitting 
comments or material, all submissions will be posted, without change, 
to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and 
will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, 
submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to read the 
Privacy Act notice that is available on the Privacy and Use Notice link 
on the Administration Navigation Bar of http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and search for Docket ID ``FEMA-2008-0022.'' 
Submitted comments may also be inspected at FEMA, Office of Chief 
Counsel, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Fiore, Deputy Chief, 
Radiological Emergency Preparedness Branch, Technological Hazards 
Division, National Preparedness Directorate, craig.fiore@dhs.gov, (703) 
605-4218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) is extending the comment period for two documents: the proposed 
Supplement 4 (Supplement 4) to ``Criteria for Preparation and 
Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness in 
Support of Nuclear Power Plants,'' NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1/Rev. 1 (NUREG-
0654), and the proposed Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program 
Manual (the REPP Manual).
    NUREG-0654 is a joint document issued by the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) and FEMA that contains the Evaluation Criteria against 
which FEMA and the NRC measure the emergency preparedness plans of 
Nuclear Power Plant owners and operators and the State, local, and 
Tribal jurisdictions in which they sit. The REPP Manual provides 
additional implementation guidance for State, local, and Tribal 
jurisdictions.
    Supplement 4 revises and provides additional offsite requirements 
for emergency preparedness programs at the Nation's nuclear power 
plants, as well as requirements for backup means for alert and 
notification, and coordination between licensees and offsite 
responders. The REPP Manual consolidates all of the FEMA Radiological 
Emergency Preparedness Program's many operative guidance and policy 
documents into one location, and provides additional guidance on the 
proposed changes in Supplement 4.
    FEMA published a notice of availability for these two documents on 
May 18, 2009, at 74 FR 23198. The original comment period was scheduled 
to conclude on August 3, 2009. In response to public comments, FEMA and 
the NRC have jointly determined to extend the comment period until 
October 19, 2009. Since the May 18 publication of the notice of 
availability, FEMA has received several comments requesting that the 
period be extended beyond the original 75 day period. These requests 
have suggested a range of more appropriate comment periods, lasting 
from 150 to 180 days. Various organizations cited the voluminous 
material put forth by the agencies for comment. Because the proposed 
regulatory amendments and guidance documents cover many significant 
legal, regulatory and policy matters that may require a time consuming 
review by licensees and their offsite counterparts, FEMA and the NRC 
have determined that it is in the interest of all parties to extend the 
comment period.
    Authorities: FEMA proposes to issue the new REPP Manual, and FEMA 
and the NRC propose to issue Supplement 4 to NUREG-0654 under the 
authority of: Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978; Presidential Directive 
of Dec. 7, 1979; Executive Order 12148 ``Federal Emergency 
Management''; section 201 of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 
5131, as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Pub. L. 93-288); Homeland 
Security Act of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 101 et seq., as amended by the Post 
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (Pub. L. 109-295); NRC 
Authorization Acts of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-295) and 1982-1983 (Pub. L. 97-
415); Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.; 
Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.; Energy 
Policy Act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. 15801 note; Homeland Security 
Presidential Directive 5: Management of Domestic Incidents; and 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8: National Preparedness; 10 
CFR part 50; 10 CFR part 50, Appendix E; 44 CFR part 350.

    Dated: June 4, 2009.
W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-13609 Filed 6-9-09; 8:45 am]
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