Production and utilization facilities; domestic licensing: Nuclear power reactors Conforming amendments; withdrawn,
[Federal Register: December 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 231)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66498-66499]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02de98-30]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
10 CFR Part 60
RIN 3150-AC03
Elimination of Inconsistencies Between NRC Regulations and EPA High-Level Waste Standards
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule: Withdrawal.
SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking that would have eliminated several inconsistencies with the generic Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards to be developed for the disposal of High-Level Waste (HLW) in deep geologic repositories. Because the NRC is developing site-specific disposal regulations for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, consistent with the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EnPA), the proposed rule is being withdrawn.
ADDRESSES: The Commission paper, the staff requirement memoranda (SRM), and associated documents are available for public inspection, and copying for a fee, at the NRC Public Document Room located at 2120 L Street NW. (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20012-7082, telephone: (202) 512-2249.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim McCartin, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone (301) 415-6681, e-mail tjm3@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On June 19, 1986 (51 FR 22288), the NRC published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register that would have eliminated several inconsistencies with the EPA standards to be developed for the disposal of HLW in deep geologic repositories. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) directs NRC to issue criteria for the licensing of HLW geologic repositories. Section 121(c) of this Act states that the criteria for the licensing of HLW geologic repositories must be consistent with these standards. The proposed rule was necessary to eliminate several inconsistencies with the EPA standards, thus fulfilling the statutory requirement. However, since then, Congress passed the EnPA, which requires EPA to issue radiation standards for the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, based on and consistent with the findings and recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Under EnPA, NRC is also required to develop site-specific disposal regulations that would apply solely to the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain. NAS published its findings and recommendations in 1995.
The NRC staff has considered and is implementing a strategy for developing site-specific disposal regulations that would apply solely to the proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, and is deferring the updating of 10 CFR Part 60 generic requirements to a later date. These site-specific regulations will be issued consistent with EnPA, which also requires the Environmental Protection Agency to issue radiation standards for a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, based on and consistent with the 1995 findings and recommendations of the NAS.
The NRC staff's strategy for developing the site-specific disposal
[[Page 66499]]
regulations for Yucca Mountain can be found in a Commission paper, designated SECY-97-300, dated December 24, 1997. This strategy was approved by the SRM dated March 6, 1998. Because the NRC is developing site-specific disposal regulations for Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the proposed rulemaking is being withdrawn.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of November, 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. John C. Hoyle, Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 98-32109Filed12-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
