01-6170. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

ACTION:

Notice of pending NRC action to submit an information collection request to OMB and solicitation of public comment.

SUMMARY:

The NRC is preparing a submittal to OMB for review of continued approval of information collections under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Information pertaining to the requirement to be submitted:

1. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 19, “Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers: Inspection and Investigations”.

2. Current OMB approval number: 3150-0044.

3. How often the collection is required: As necessary in order that adequate and timely reports of radiation exposure be made to individuals involved in NRC-licensed activities.

4. Who is required or asked to report: Licensees authorized to receive, possess, use, or transfer material licensed by the NRC.

5. The number of annual respondents: 6,000.

6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 43,037 reporting hours.

7. Abstract: Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 19, requires licensees to advise workers on an annual basis of any radiation exposure they may have received as a result of NRC-licensed activities or when certain conditions are met. These conditions apply during termination of the worker's employment, at the request of a worker, former worker, or when the worker's employer (the NRC licensee) must report radiation exposure information on the worker to the NRC. Part 19 also establishes requirements for instructions by licensees to individuals participating in licensed activities and options available to these individuals in connection with Commission inspections of licensees to ascertain compliance with the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, and regulations, orders and licenses thereunder regarding radiological working conditions.

The worker should be informed of the radiation dose he or she receives because: (a) That information is needed by both a new employer and the individual when the employee changes jobs in the nuclear industry; (b) the individual needs to know the radiation dose received as a result of an accident or incident (if this dose is in excess of the 10 CFR Part 20 limits) so that he or she can seek counseling about future work involving radiation, medical attention, or both, as desired; and (c) since long-term exposure to radiation may be an adverse health factor, the individual needs to know whether the accumulated dose is being controlled within NRC limits. The worker also needs to know about health risks from occupational exposure to radioactive materials or radiation, precautions or procedures to minimize exposure, worker responsibilities and options to report any licensee conditions which may lead to or cause a violation of Commission regulations, and individual radiation exposure reports which are available to him.

Submit, by May 14, 2001, comments that address the following questions:

1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC to properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical utility?

2. Is the burden estimate accurate?

3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected?

4. How can the burden of the information collection be minimized, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology?

A copy of the draft supporting statement may be viewed free of charge at the NRC Public Document Room located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Room O-1F23, Rockville, MD. OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC worldwide web site (http://www.nrc.gov/​NRC/​PUBLIC/​OMB/​index.html). The document will be available on the NRC home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice.

Comments and questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the NRC Clearance Officer, Brenda Jo. Shelton, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, T-6 E 6, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at [phone], or by Internet electronic mail at [e-mail].

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of March, 2001.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Brenda Jo Shelton,

NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.