[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51968-51969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Procedures for Meetings
Background
This notice describes procedures to be followed with respect to
meetings conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's)
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. These procedures are set forth so that they may
be incorporated by reference in future notices for individual meetings.
The ACRS is a statutory group established by Congress to review and
report on applications for the licensing of nuclear power reactor
facilities and on certain other nuclear safety matters. The Committee's
reports become a part of the public record.
The ACRS meetings are conducted in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act; they are normally open to the public and
provide opportunities for oral or written statements from members of
the public to be considered as part of the Committee's information
gathering process. ACRS reviews do not normally encompass matters
pertaining to environmental impacts other than those related to
radiological safety.
The ACRS meetings are not adjudicatory hearings such as those
conducted by the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel as part
of the Commission's licensing process.
General Rules Regarding ACRS Meetings
An agenda is published in the Federal Register for each full
Committee meeting. There may be a need to make changes to the agenda to
facilitate the conduct of the meeting. The Chairman of the Committee is
empowered to conduct the meeting in a manner that, in his/her judgment,
will facilitate the orderly conduct of business, including making
provisions to continue the discussion of matters not completed on the
scheduled day on another meeting day. Persons planning to attend the
meeting may contact the Chief of the Nuclear Reactors Branch, ACRS,
prior to the meeting to be advised of any changes to the agenda that
may have occurred. This individual can be contacted (telephone: 301/
415-7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time.
The following requirements shall apply to public participation in
ACRS full Committee meetings:
(a) Persons wishing to submit written comments regarding the agenda
items
[[Page 51969]]
may do so by sending a readily reproducible copy addressed to the Chief
of the Nuclear Reactors Branch specified in the Federal Register
Notice, care of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Comments should be
limited to items being considered by the Committee. Comments should be
in the possession of the Chief of the Nuclear Reactors Branch at least
five days prior to a meeting to allow time for reproduction and
distribution.
Written comments may also be submitted by providing a readily
reproducible copy to the Designated Federal Official at the beginning
of the meeting.
(b) Persons desiring to make oral statements at the meeting should
make a request to do so to the Designated Federal Official. If
possible, the request should be made five days before the meeting,
identifying the topics to be discussed and the amount of time needed
for presentation so that orderly arrangements can be made. The
Committee will hear oral statements on topics being reviewed at an
appropriate time during the meeting as scheduled by the Chairman.
(c) Information regarding topics to be discussed, changes to the
agenda, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, and the
time allotted to present oral statements can be obtained by contacting
the Chief of the Nuclear Reactors Branch, ACRS, (telephone: 301/415-
7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Eastern Time.
(d) During the presentations and discussions at ACRS meetings,
questions may be asked only by ACRS members, ACRS consultants and
staff, and the NRC staff.
(e) The use of still, motion picture, and television cameras will
be permitted at the discretion of the Chairman and subject to the
condition that the physical installation and presence of such equipment
will not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. The Designated
Federal Official will have to be notified prior to the meeting and will
authorize the installation or use of such equipment after consultation
with the Chairman. The use of such equipment will be restricted as is
necessary to protect proprietary or privileged information that may be
in documents, folders, etc., in the meeting room. Electronic recordings
will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are
open to the public.
(f) A transcript is kept for certain open portions of the meeting
and will be available in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street,
NW, Washington, DC 20555, for use within one week following the
meeting. A copy of the certified minutes of the meeting will be
available at the same location on or before three months following the
meeting. Copies may be obtained upon payment of appropriate
reproduction charges.
ACRS meeting agenda, meeting transcripts, and letter reports are
available for downloading or viewing on the internet at http://
www.nrc.gov/ACRSACNW.
(g) Video teleconferencing service is available for observing open
sessions of ACRS meetings. Those wishing to use this service for
observing ACRS meetings should contact Mr. Theron Brown, ACRS Audio
Visual Technician, (301-415-8066) between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Eastern Time at least 10 days before the meeting to ensure the
availability of this service. Individuals or organizations requesting
this service will be responsible for telephone line charges and for
providing the equipment and facilities that they use to establish the
video teleconferencing link. The availability of video teleconferencing
services is not guaranteed.
ACRS Subcommittee Meetings
ACRS Subcommittee meetings will also be conducted in accordance
with the above procedures, as appropriate. When Subcommittee meetings
are held at locations other than at NRC facilities, reproduction
facilities may not be available at a reasonable cost. Accordingly, 25
additional copies of the materials to be used during the meeting should
be provided for distribution at such meetings.
Special Provisions When Proprietary Sessions Are To Be Held
If it is necessary to hold closed sessions for the purpose of
discussing matters involving proprietary information, persons with
agreements permitting access to such information may attend those
portions of the ACRS meetings where this material is being discussed
upon confirmation that such agreements are effective and related to the
material being discussed.
The Designated Federal Official should be informed of such an
agreement at least five working days prior to the meeting so that it
can be confirmed, and a determination can be made regarding the
applicability of the agreement to the material that will be discussed
during the meeting. The minimum information provided should include
information regarding the date of the agreement, the scope of material
included in the agreement, the project or projects involved, and the
names and titles of the persons signing the agreement. Additional
information may be requested to identify the specific agreement
involved. A copy of the executed agreement should be provided to the
Designated Federal Official prior to the beginning of the meeting for
admittance to the closed session.
Dated: September 23, 1998.
Andrew L. Bates,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-25994 Filed 9-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
