Text

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov

Web Site: www.nrc.gov

April 25, 2002

NRC AMENDS RULE ON DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is revising its regulations concerning procedures used to

collect outstanding debts.

The revisions will make it easier for the NRC to collect outstanding debts, including the referral

of any eligible debt over 180 days delinquent to the Department of the Treasury for collection. The

final rule amends Part 15 of the Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations to ensure conformity with

the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 and the amended procedures of the Federal Claims

Collection Standards issued by the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Justice.

Under current practices, NRC sends three progressively stronger demands for payment to a

delinquent debtor at 30-day intervals. Under the final rule, NRC will make two written demands and a

telephone call to the debtor before pursuing administrative remedies, which can include revocation of

the license for which fees are owed.

A proposed rule on this subject was published in the Federal Register on October 5. No

comments were received.

The final rule becomes effective 30 days after the date of publication in the Federal

Register, which is expected shortly.

ML021190751