[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 18428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8871]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Announcement of the NRC's Intent To Reduce the Scope of Work to
States Under Contract to the NRC To Perform Environmental Monitoring in
the Environs of Selected NRC Licensed Facilities
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of Opportunity for Public Comment.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) is issuing an
announcement of its intent to reduce the scope of work for contracts
with States which perform environmental monitoring in the environs of
selected NRC licensed facilities. The NRC is seeking comment from
interested parties regarding the proposed contract action discussed in
the announcement presented in the appendix to this document. The NRC
will consider comments received from interested parties in the final
evaluation of the proposed contract action.
DATES: Comment period expires May 26, 1995. 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.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Chief, Rules Review and
Directives Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555. Written comments may also be delivered to 11545 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 am to 4:15 pm, Federal workdays. Copies
of written comments received may be examined at the NRC Public Document
Room, 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen Klementowicz, (301) 415-1084.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Announcement of the NRC's intent to reduce
the scope of work to States under contract to the NRC to perform
environmental monitoring in the environs of selected NRC licensed
facilities appears in the appendix to this document.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of April 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Charles L. Miller,
Chief, Emergency Preparedness and Radiation Protection Branch, Division
of Technical Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Appendix--Announcement of the NRC's Intent to Reduce the Scope of Work
to States Under Contract to the NRC To Perform Environmental Monitoring
in the Environs of Selected NRC Licensed Facilities
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is soliciting comments on its
plan to reduce the scope of work for the Cooperative Agreement
program under which States are paid to conduct radiological
environmental monitoring in the environs of selected nuclear
facilities. The NRC plans to eliminate the scope of work in 1996 for
the part of the program under which States obtain and analyze
environmental samples. However, the NRC plans to continue the part
of the program under which States participate in the NRC's direct
radiation monitoring network. This reduction in the scope of work of
the program directly affects 27 States. The elimination of the
environmental monitoring portion of the program will not have an
impact on public health and safety and does not represent a
reduction in plant safety.
The State Cooperative Agreement Program was established in the
1970s to provide NRC assistance to State radiological health
programs, through the use of NRC-funded contracts, to perform
measurements of radioactive material released into the environment
from NRC-licensed facilities. The States issue an annual report to
the NRC of all analyses they perform with comparisons of similar
analyses performed by the respective nuclear facility. The NRC uses
this data as a supplemental tool in assessing the performance of
environmental monitoring programs conducted by nuclear power plants.
The contracts for environmental monitoring were intended as a means
to assist States with nuclear facilities to develop their own
environmental monitoring programs, but not to fully fund them.
NRC-licensed facilities are under strict NRC requirements to
monitor and control the release of radioactive materials to the air,
water and ground around their facilities. The NRC inspects and
reviews licensee conformance with the requirements on a routine
basis.
In addition to the environmental monitoring portion of the
program, which will cost $1 million for 1995, the NRC has a
provision in the contract, which will continue to remain, for the
States to participate in the NRC's direct radiation monitoring
network. The network provides continuous measurement of the ambient
radiation levels around selected nuclear facilities by using small
devices called thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). The cost of this
program for 1995 is $195,000.
The environmental monitoring portion of the program was
specifically chosen for elimination because of the excellent record
maintained by NRC-licensed facilities in controlling the release of
radiological effluents into the environment within regulatory
limits. In addition, the elimination of the data supplied by the
States will not adversely affect NRC's ability to effectively
monitor and regulate NRC licensees in this area.
The NRC recognizes the excellent service and cooperation the
States have provided under this program. However, the need to
constantly examine and adjust programs to ensure that public health
and safety is protected in the most cost-effective manner has
necessitated the reduction in this program.
[FR Doc. 95-8871 Filed 4-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
