§ 9.107 - Public announcement of Commission meetings.

§ 9.107 Public announcement of Commission meetings.

(a) In the case of each meeting, the Secretary shall make public announcement, at least one week before the meeting, of the time, place, and subject matter of the meeting, whether it is to be open or closed to the public, and the name and phone number of the official designated by the Commission to respond to requests for information about the meeting. Such announcement shall be made unless a majority of the members of the Commission determines by a recorded vote that Commission business requires that such meeting be called at an earlier date, in which case the Secretary shall make public announcement of the time, place and subject matter of such meeting, and whether open or closed to the public, at the earliest practical time.

(b) The time or place of a meeting may be changed following the public announcement required by paragraph (a) of this section only if the Secretary publicly announces such changes at the earliest practicable time. The subject matter of as meeting, or the determination of the Commission to open or close a meeting, or portion of a meeting, to the public, may be changed following the public announcement required by this subsection only if:

(1) A majority of the entire membership of the Commission determines by a recorded vote that Commission business so requires and that no earlier announcement of the change was possible, and

(2) the Secretary publicly announces such change and the vote of each member upon such change at the earliest practicable time.

(c) Immediately following each public announcement required by this section, notice of the time, place, and subject matter of a meeting, whether the meeting is open or closed, any change in one of the preceding, and the name and phone number of the official designated by the Commission to respond to requests for information about the meeting, shall also be submitted for publication in the Federal Register.

(d) The public announcement required by paragraph (a) of this section shall consist of the Secretary:

(1) Publicly posting a copy of the document at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov and, to the extent appropriate under the circumstances;

(2) Mailing a copy to all persons whose names are on a mailing list maintained for this purpose;

(3) Submitting a copy for possible publication to at least two newspapers of general circulation in the Washington, DC metropolitan area;

(4) Any other means which the Secretary believes will serve to further inform any persons who might be interested.

(e) Action under the second sentence of paragraph (a) or (b) of this section shall be taken only when the Commission finds that the public interest in prompt Commission action or the need to protect the common defense or security or to protect the public health or safety overrides the public interest in having full prior notice of Commission meetings.

[42 FR 12877, Mar. 7, 1977, as amended at 53 FR 43420, Oct. 27, 1988; 64 FR 48951, Sept. 9, 1999]