The Federal Register

Use of Electronic Submissions in Agency Hearings

Fri, Dec 16 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to require the use of electronic submissions in all agency hearings, except for those conducted on a highlevel radioactive waste repository application (which are covered under a separate set of regulations). The amendments would require the electronic transmission of electronic documents in submissions made to the NRC's adjudicatory boards, and in serving copies of those submissions on all participants to the proceedings. Although exceptions to these requirements would be established to allow paper filings in limited circumstances, the NRC would maintain a strong preference for fully electronic filing and service. The proposed rule builds upon prior NRC rules and developments in the Federal courts regarding the use of electronic submissions. The Commission is also seeking comment on draft guidance on how to submit hearing documents to the NRC electronically.

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Fri, Dec 16 2005 11:00:00 GMT

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: Billing Instructions for NRC Cost Type Contracts.

2. Current OMB approval number: 31500109.

3. How often the collection is required: Monthly and on occasion.

4. Who is required or asked to report: NRC Contractors.

5. The number of annual respondents: 55.

6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: The total annual contractor burden for the Billing Instructions and License Fee Recovery Cost Summary for NRC cost type contracts is estimated to be 1,070 hours. Billing burden is 754 hours plus 316 hours for License Fee Recovery Cost burden.

7. Abstract: In administering its contracts, the NRC Division of Contracts provides Billing Instructions for its contra

Draft Interim Concentration Averaging Guidance for Waste Determinations

Fri, Dec 16 2005 11:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing draft interim guidance on concentration averaging for public comment. The NRC is currently in the process of preparing a Standard Review Plan (SRP) to provide guidance to NRC staff regarding reviews of waste determinations
[[Page 74847]]
submitted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The NRC staff held a public scoping meeting on the draft SRP on November 10, 2005, to obtain stakeholder input on the contents of the SRP. The draft SRP is expected to be released for public comment in 2006 and will include, among other things, guidance on evaluating concentration averaging in those cases that are specific to the types of waste and situations typically evaluated in waste determinations. Because several stakeholders are interested in obtaining NRC guidance on concentration averaging as soon as practicable, the NRC is issuing this draft interim guidance prior to completion and public release of the entire draft SRP. This draft interim guidanc