01-6980. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

U. S. 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:

NRC Form 327, “Special Nuclear Material (SNM) and Source Material (SM) Physical Inventory Summary Report”.

NUREG/BR-0096, “Instructions and Guidance for Completing Physical Inventory Summary Reports”.

2. Current OMB approval number: 3150-0139.

3. How often the collection is required: The frequency of reporting corresponds to the frequency of required inventories, which depends essentially on the strategic significance of the SNM covered by the particular license. Certain licensees possessing strategic SNM are required to report inventories every 2 months. Licensees possessing SNM of moderate strategic significance must report every 6 months. Licensees possessing SNM of low strategic significance must report annually.

4. Who is required or asked to report: Fuel facility licensees possessing special nuclear material.

5. The number of annual respondents: 10.

6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 98 hours (an average of approximately 4.25 hours per response for 23 responses).

7. Abstract: NRC Form 327 is submitted by fuel facility licensees to account for special nuclear material. The data is used by NRC to assess licensee material control and accounting programs and to confirm the absence of (or detect the occurrence of) special nuclear material theft or diversion. NUREG/BR-0096 provides specific guidance and instructions for completing the form in accordance with the requirements appropriate for a particular licensee.

Submit, by May 21, 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, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Room O-1F23, Rockville, MD 20852. OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC worldwide website: 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 14th day of March, 2001.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Brenda Jo. Shelton,

NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.