98-21167. Source Material; Domestic Licensing: Domestic Uranium and Thorium Recovery Activities; Meetings

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 153 (Monday, August 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42644-42645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21167]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Source Material; Domestic Licensing: Domestic Uranium and Thorium 
Recovery Activities; Meetings

AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of upcoming public meetings.

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    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting an evaluation 
of the entire regulatory framework used by the NRC staff to license and 
regulate domestic uranium and thorium recovery activities. 
Additionally, NRC has received a White Paper from the National Mining 
Association (NMA) setting forth NMA's views and recommendations on four 
uranium recovery issues: (1) NRC and non-Agreement State concurrent 
jurisdiction at uranium mill sites, (2) NRC jurisdiction of groundwater 
protection at uranium in-situ leach facilities, (3) NRC's policy on the 
disposal of non-11e(2) byproduct material at uranium mill tailings 
sites, and (4) NRC's policy on the processing of alternate feed 
material at uranium mills. Copies of the White Paper can be obtained 
through the NRC's public document room (PDR). The PDR can be contacted 
at [phone].
    In an effort to seek early public input in the process and public 
comments on the NMA recommendations, NRC has scheduled four public 
meetings in August of 1998 in states where uranium recovery activities 
are conducted. NRC staff intends to consider the information provided 
at these meetings in its development of recommendations on how best to 
proceed in the evaluation of the current uranium recovery regulatory 
framework and in its consideration of NMA's issues. In addition, NRC 
intends to use the meetings to provide scoping information for the 
Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement that will be 
issued in support of any rulemaking that could be undertaken.

[[Page 42645]]

    The meetings will be held in the following locations and at the 
following times:

August 24, 1998--Austin, TX, Homer Thornbury Judicial Bldg., 903 San 
Jucinto--Rm. 116, Austin, TX 9:00 a.m.
August 25, 1998, Albuquerque, NM, Federal Bldg.--Rm 4031, 517 Gold 
S.W., Albuquerque, NM, 9:00 a.m.
August 26, 1998, Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Basco 
Bldg., 777 West 1st St., Casper, WY, 9:00 a.m.
August 27, 1998, Denver, CO, Federal Office Bldg., 1961 Stout St., 
Conference Rm. 1083, Denver, CO, 9:00 a.m.

    NRC staff will make a short presentation at these meetings 
providing background on the purpose and issues identified to date. The 
primary purpose of these meetings is to obtain public comment. Anyone 
wishing to speak at any of these meetings should contact Anne Ramirez 
on [phone] or at e-mail [email protected] by August 14, 1998, to 
assure being scheduled. Other speakers will be accommodated as time 
permits.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Holonich, Chief, Uranium 
Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone [phone]; e-mail 
[e-mail].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 31st day of July 1998.
Joseph J. Holonich,
Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 98-21167 Filed 8-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P