ML19274E851
| ML19274E851 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Shoreham File:Long Island Lighting Company icon.png |
| Issue date: | 02/01/1978 |
| From: | Ingram F NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19274E849 | List: |
| References | |
| PR-78-021, NUDOCS 7904280153 | |
| Download: ML19274E851 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES t
p
- yj NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5
I
%..'.' [. [
t, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS l
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
[
No.
78-21 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Frank Ingram (Mailed - February 1, 1978)
Tel.
301/492-7715 NRC TO PERMIT CAMFRA COVERAGE OF ITS LICENSING llEARINGS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has decided that, on a trial basis, it will permit cameras to be used by news media in covering proceedings before Atomic Sa fety and Licens-ing Boards and Atomic Safety and Licensii.g Appeal Boards.
The NRC is one of the first Federal agencies to permit such camera coverage.
The cameras may be used provided they do not req ui re additional lighting beyond that required for the conduct of the hearing and are stationed at a fixed position in the O
hearing room throughout the proceeding.
In the past the NRC has permitted ca.ncras to be used only before and af ter hearings and during recesses.
A number of television stations and newspapers have requested the Com-mission to change that policy and permit camera coverage of the hearing sessions.
In a policy statement, the Commission noted that it df(
will continue to be the practice of the hearing and appeal W
boards to use Federal or state court rooms when these facil-itics are availabic and in such cases the policy of those courts in regard to the use of cameras will be observed.
Ilowe ve r, it is expected that a substantial number of NRC hearings will be open to cameras.
The Commission plans to reascess its policy in about six months a fter i ts licensing and appeal boards have had su f fi cient experience wi th camera coverage to determine whether it can be carried out without disruption of the proceeding or unacceptable distraction to the participants.
7s y90490 M
POLICY STATEMENTS
~
in this order.
' cates that the program is expected 43 FR 28058 Commissioner Kennedy notes that to be fully operational by the end of Puhtahed 6/28/78 he would prefer the use of the term February 1978 and that six of the
" defer" to " terminate" in items (1) highest priority (Category A) generic DCME5flC tlCEH5E APPLICAflONe and (2) above.
tasks are currently scheduled for com-o p,, y,,,;,,,,,, 3,,,,,,,,,, g n e g,,,,
The Commission will shortly publish pletion in fiscal year 1978. One of the a statement of the reasons underiytng Category A tasks was' completed in De-
- his decision. This statement will in.
cember 1977.
The '!uclear Regulatory Cornmis-clude the separate views of Commis-Interested persons may review the sion's (NRC's) regulations in 10 CFR s.oner Kennedy on the above men report at the NRC's Public Document 2.102 permit applicants to confer in.
tioned matter.
Room.1717 II Street NW., Washing.
formally wittr the NRC technical staff It is so ordered.
ton.
D.C.
The report, designated durms reviews of domestic license or NUREG-0410. may be purchased from permit applications. These meetings the National Techmcal Information have served as an essential means for Service. Springfield. Va. 22161, at the exchange of technical Information
$14.50 a copy on or about January 17 and uews necessary for the technical 43 FR 1565 1978.
review of applications. For several Pubbshed 1/10/78 years other parties or potential parties to domestic licensmg proceedings, as PROGR AM FOR RESOLUTION OF GENERIC well as members of the general public, t$5UE5 RELATED TO NUCLEAR PowEn have, upon request. been permitted to PLANT 5 43 FR 4294 attend applicant-NRC technical staff Published 2/1/78 rneetings as observers. However, the Report to Congress Commission's regulations do not re-u Notice is hereby given that in accor.
CAMERA COVERAGE OF HEAtlNGS BEFORE ttend s ch int rma e i gs dance with the reporting requirements ATOMIC 5AFETY AND t!CIN5fNG BOARD 5 f [e of Section 210 of the Energy Reorganj.
AND ATOMIC SAFETY AND tlCEN51NG fo zation Act of 1974, as amended, the APPEAL COARDS regard has never been formally articu-
.Juclear Regulatory Commission has lated. This statement is intended to o,,,,,i 3,,,,,,,,,,,, p, y
published and issued a report to Con-provide such articulation. It is also gress entitled "NRC Procram for the The Nuclear Regulatory Commission noted that this matter is related to the Resolution of Generic Issues Related has considered requests from televi-provision for increased public partici-to Nuclear Power Plants." The release sion stations and newspapers to permit pation which was approved by the date is Anuary 1.1978.
the use of cameras during proceedings Commission durmg its consideration The Energy Reorganization Act of before Atomic Safety and Licensing of NUREG 0292 (Denton Report).
1974 m as amended by Pub. L.95-209 Boards and Atomic Safety and Licens-As a general matter, the Commission on December 12, 1977. to Include a ing Appeal Boards. In the past the and staff try to involve concerned citi.
new section 210 as follows:
NRC has permitted cameras to be used zens in any Commission activity in Untsotvam SartTv Issers Ptme only before and after adjudicatory ses-which they have expressed an interest.
sfons and during recesses. The Com-All meetings conducted by the NRC Src. 210. The Co nmission shall develop a mission has decided that, on a trial technical staff as part of its review of ating to n c[
basis, it will permit the use of televi-a particular domestic license or permit o ur i ds ety su s r sion and still cameras by accredited application (including an application ar reactors and shall take such action as news media under certain conditions, for an amendment to a license or may be necessary to imp;emerit corrective meuures with respect to such issues. Such Cameras may be used by news media permit) will be open to attendance by plan shall be submatted to the Congress on during hearings and related public all parties or petitioners for leave to or before January 1.1978 and progress re.
proceedings before Atomic Safety and intervene in the case. These meetings ports shall be meluded in the annual report Licensing Boards and Atomic Safety are intended by the NRC technical of the CommisMon thereaf ter.
and Licensing Appeal Boards provided staff to facilitate an exchange of infor-In October 1976. the Commission di.
they do not require additional lighting mation between the applicant and the rected the NRC staff to develop the beyond that required for the conduct staff. It is expected that the NRC generic issues program descr bed in of the proceeding and are stationed at technical staff and the applicant will the report, and development ar 1 im, a fixed position within the hearing actively participate in the meeting.
plementation of the program has pro.
Toom throughout 'he course of the Others may attend as observers. Like-ceeded over the past year. The NRC proceeding. It wil. _ontinue to be the wise, when meetmgs are scheduled be-program, as deseloped by the staff, is practice of the hearing and appeal tween the staff and other parties or considerably broader than the "Unre, boards to use Federal or State court petitioners. applicants would be per-solvad Safety Issues Plan" required by rooms when these facilities are avail.
mitted to attend only as observers.
sect on 210. It includes plans for the able and in such cases the policy of The general policy of open meetings tesolution of generic environmental those courts in regard to the use of described above wil. admit of only a issues, for the development of im.
cameras will be observed.
few exceptions., which must be ap-psovements in the reactor licensing The Commission phns to reassess proved by the Director of the relevant process, and for consideration of less this policy in about six months after division. For eumple some persons conservative design criteria or operat.
Its hearing and appaal boards have may not be permitted to attend meet-ing limitations in areas where present had sufficient experience with camera ings where classified or proprietary in.
requirements may be unnecessarily re-c verage to determine whether it can formation (includmg sensitive safe strictive or costly.
be carried out vithout disruption to guards information) ts to be discussed The NRC program described in the the proceeding or unacceptat,le dis-The NRC staff will prepare a written report provides for the identification traction to the participants.
summary of the unclassified and non-of generic issues, the assignment of proprietary portions of such meetmgs and forward the summary to interest-priorities the deselopment of detailed ed persons unable to attend so that Task Action Plans, projections of they will be informed of ahat tran-dollar and manpower costs, continuous spired at the meeting.. !! owes er, at-high level management oversight of tendance will not be limited solely be.
task progress, and public dissemina*
cause preliminary opimons, recom-tion of information related to the mendations. or advice will be offered tasks as they progress. The resci t in-PS.15 September 1.1978