[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 188 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24073]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 29, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Petitions Filed Under 10 CFR 2.206; Improved Reviewing Procedures
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Petitions Under 10 CFR 2.206; Implementation of Improved
Reviewing Procedures.
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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has improved the primary
mechanism available to the public for raising potential safety issues
involving NRC-licensed facilities under the provisions of 10 CFR 2.206.
The Sec. 2.206 petition process, contained in Part 2 of NRC's
regulations, provides members of the public with the means to request
evaluation and resolution of potential health and safety issues
associated with facilities that have been licensed by the NRC.
Consistent with current efforts to enhance public participation in the
decisionmaking process, the Commission undertook a review of the
Sec. 2.206 process to make it more effective, understandable, and as
credible as possible.
As a result, the NRC has adopted procedures to increase meaningful
participation of the petitioner in the Sec. 2.206 process and to
improve communications between the NRC and the petitioners. In addition
to being kept informed of the status of the petition and being provided
with a copy of the licensee's response to the petition, petitioners
will be given an opportunity to participate in NRC-licensee meetings on
the petition.
There will also be a provision for offering an informal public
hearing at an open meeting on petitions with present new information
on, or a new approach to evaluating, a significant safety issue. This
provision and the associated criteria will be applicable also to
petitions that allege violations of NRC requirements. The informal
public hearings will be transcribed. If warranted, the NRC will take
action to resolve a public health or safety problem before resolution
of the Sec. 2.206 petition.
A formal Director's Decision, signed by the director of the
appropriate program office, will continue to set forth results of staff
reviews governing Sec. 2.206 petitions. However, for qualifying
petitions, the director now will have the additional benefit of
information elicited from the informal public hearing.
A new Management Directive and Handbook 8.11 have been prepared to
ensure agency-wide implementation of the improved Sec. 2.206 petition
process.
A pamphlet describing the new practice and procedures has been
prepared for public information. Copies of the pamphlet may be obtained
from the Government Printing Office, telephone (202) 512-2249.
To further enhance meaningful participation by the petitioners and
the public in the Sec. 2.206 petition process, an electronic bulletin
board system (BBS) has been established to provide information on the
status of all pending petitions. The status of each pending petition
will be updated monthly. The BBS can be accessed directly by a toll
free number, (800) 303-9672, at modem speeds up to 9600 Baud with
communication parameters set at 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit,
full duplex, and ANSI terminal emulation. Select the ``Subsystem/
Databases'' option from the ``NRC Main Menu'' and then the ``Public
Petitions'' option. The BBS can also be accessed from the FedWorld by
using Internet and Telnet access: fedworld.gov (192.239.92.3); FTP site
access: ftp.fedworld.gov (192.239.92.205); and World Wide Web (Home
Page): www.fedworld.gov (this is the URL). If assistance is needed,
contact the Public Petitions BBS Operator, Tom Dunning, by calling
(301) 504-1189, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mohan Thadani, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301) 504-1430.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of September 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James L Milhoan,
Acting Executive Director for Operations.
[FR Doc. 94-24073 Filed 9-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
