[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69574-69575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32190]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Development of Guidelines for Voluntary Industry Initiatives and
Notice of Public Meeting With the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and
Members of the Public
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requests public
participation and input in the development of Guidelines for Voluntary
Industry initiatives. The NRC in a staff requirements memorandum (SRM)
dated May 27, 1999 (http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/COMMISSION/SRM/1999-
063srm.html) approved the use of voluntary industry initiatives as an
appropriate substitute for NRC regulatory action. The voluntary
initiatives may be used where the action to be taken is needed to meet
existing requirements, or for cases where a substantial increase in
overall protection can be achieved with costs of implementation
justifying the increased protection. The SRM was issued in response to
SECY-99-063, ``The Use by Industry of Voluntary Initiatives in the
Regulatory Process,'' dated March 2,1999 (http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/
COMMISSION/SECYS/1999-063scy.html).
DATES: December 21, 1999, from 8:30 am to 12:00 noon.
ADDRESSES: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852-2738, in Room 0-8-B-4.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 27, 1999, a stakeholders meeting
was held in Rosemont, Illinois, to obtain input from the industry, the
Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and the public for the development of a
regulatory framework to support the implementation of voluntary
industry initiatives. The NRC staff presented an outline of a process
for the development of guidelines in order to facilitate discussion.
The meeting emphasis was focused on nine areas, as specified in SECY-
99-063:
Definition and initiation of voluntary industry
initiatives,
Identification of staff and industry roles,
Tracking of licensee commitments,
Planning and resource allocation,
Fee management,
Developing inspection and monitoring guidelines,
Public participation,
Developing enforcement procedures, and
Schedule for finalizing guidelines/process.
The meeting summary is available through ADAMS.
Meeting Information
The NRC staff intends to conduct a follow-up meeting with
interested members of the industry, NEI, and the public, on Tuesday,
December 21, 1999, from 8:30 a.m -12:00 p.m., at the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission Headquarters. This meeting will solicit
additional information related to the development of guidelines to
allow the drafting of a regulatory framework that supports the
implementation of voluntary industry initiatives.
December 21, 1999--Agenda
Agenda: Preliminary agenda is as follows (a final agenda will be
available at the meeting):
8:30 a.m. Introduction
8:45-9:00 Overview of issues
9:00-11:30 Discussion of specific points, including:
1.NRC Regulatory Actions
a. Imposition of new regulatory requirements based upon current
regulations/compliance (design and licensing basis)
b. Emergent technical/regulatory issues
c. Safety significance
d. Regulatory scope--within and outside of current regulatory
requirements
2. NRC use of voluntary industry initiatives ``. . . as an
appropriate substitute for regulatory action.'' Industry initiatives
and guidelines:
a. Endorsed by NRC as acceptable means to meet the requirement of a
regulation
b. Endorsed by NRC as acceptable means for addressing an NRC issue
or concern
c. Not endorsed by NRC, but recognized as an acceptable means for
addressing an NRC issue or concern
d. Non-regulatory issues
e. Licensee commitments
f. Inspection and enforcement
3. NRC credits industry action in implementing voluntary industry
initiatives
4. NEI's input to process development
11:30-11:45 Wrap-up discussion
Location: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Headquarters, One
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, in
Room O-8-B-4.
Registration: No registration fee for meeting; however,
notification of attendance is requested so that adequate space, etc.,
for the meeting can be arranged. Persons interested in additional
information regarding, attending or participating in this meeting
should notify C. E. Carpenter, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, M/
S O-7-D-4, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, 20555-
0001, 301-415-2169, email cec@nrc.gov.
Solicitation of Comments from Stakeholders: The NRC staff is
soliciting additional stakeholder comments from interested parties on
both the technical and regulatory aspects related to the development of
guidelines to allow the drafting of a regulatory framework that
supports the implementation of voluntary industry initiatives. The
staff
[[Page 69575]]
requests that all such comments be forwarded to the below contact no
later than January 30, 2000, for consideration in the final proposal
that will be submitted for Commission approval by May 30, 2000.
Comments submitted after this date will be considered if it is
practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be given
except for comments received on or before this date.
To Submit Comments: Submit written comments to C. E. Carpenter,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, M/S O-7-D-4, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, 20555-0001, 301-415-2169, email
cec@nrc.gov. Written comments may also be delivered to 11545 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, Maryland, between 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal
workdays. Copies of written comments received may be examined at the
NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW (Lower Level), Washington,
DC.
Contact: C. E. Carpenter, 301-415-2169, email cec@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, MD this 3rd day of December, 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jack R. Strosnider,
Director, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-32190 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
