Radiation protection standards: Meeting postponed,

[Federal Register: July 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 145)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 41050]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29jy99-16]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

10 CFR Part 20

Release of Solid Materials at Licensed Facilities: Postponement of Public Meeting Currently Scheduled for August 4-5, 1999, in Chicago, Illinois

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of postponement of public meeting scheduled for Chicago, Illinois, on August 4-5, 1999.

SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering a rulemaking that would set specific requirements on releases of solid materials in order to establish a regulatory framework more consistent with existing NRC requirements on air and liquid releases. The NRC previously announced its intent to conduct a public meeting on August 4 and 5 in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss those issues, however that meeting is being postponed to allow additional time for participants to familiarize themselves with the issues involved.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chip Cameron; e-mail fxc@nrc.gov, telephone: (301) 415-1642; Office of the General Counsel, USNRC, Washington DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC previously announced in a Federal Register Document (FRD) dated June 30, 1999 (64 FR 35090), that it is considering a rulemaking that would set specific requirements for release of solid materials. That notice also indicated that NRC is supplementing its standard rulemaking process by conducting enhanced public participatory activities including facilitated public meetings, before the start of any formal rulemaking process, to solicit early and active public input on major issues associated with release of solid materials, including whether the NRC should proceed with such a rulemaking. The FRD noted that four public meetings were planned from August through November 1999, in Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Washington, DC.

The first public meeting planned was to be held in Chicago, Illinois, on August 4 and 5, 1999. However the NRC has decided to postpone the Chicago meeting and reschedule it. The postponed meeting will still be held in Chicago on a date to be announced soon. We decided to postpone this meeting because several stakeholder groups indicated that the short time frame between publication of the June 30, 1999, FRD and the August 4-5 meeting did not allow for adequate preparation and participation. Since NRC is looking for substantive reactions and discussions based on the June 30 FRD, it was felt that postponing the first of the four workshops to a later date would allow all stakeholders to adequately prepare for the discussions and obtain the participation of their key leaders knowledgeable about these issues.

The enhanced participatory rulemaking process will begin with the San Francisco meeting on September 15-16, 1999. As noted in the June 30 FRD, the meeting in San Francisco will take place at the Radisson Miyako Hotel, 1625 Post St., San Francisco, California. As also noted in the June 30 FRD, the meetings in Atlanta and Washington DC will take place as scheduled on October 5-6, 1999, and November 1-2, 1999, respectively.

The NRC regrets any inconvenience this postponement may cause those that planned to attend the Chicago meeting. However, we believe that a balance of stakeholders familiar with the issues and alternatives associated with potential release of solid materials is critical to conducting a comprehensive discussion.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of July, 1999. Donald A. Cool, Director, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety.

[FR Doc. 99-19366Filed7-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P