ML20236W794
| ML20236W794 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/09/1998 |
| From: | Turdici J NRC OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER |
| To: | Bangart R, Beecher W, Bell H NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA), NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP), NRC OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (OIG) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20014B037 | List:
|
| References | |
| FRN-62FR16046, FRN-63FR16046, RULE-PR-140, RULE-PR-170, RULE-PR-171, RULE-PR-2 AF83-1-030, AF83-1-30, NUDOCS 9808060216 | |
| Download: ML20236W794 (5) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES f
B NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION PoR i [
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April 9, 1998 MEMORANDUM TO:
Those on the Attach ist l
FROM:
James Turdici, Directo J
l Division of Accounting - d Fi ance i
Office of the Chief Finan icer
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING - 100 PERCENT FEE RECOVERY - FY 1998 On April 1,1998, a proposed rule that would establish the fees necessary to recover approximately 100 percent of NRC's FY 1998 budget was published in the Federal Register.
The amount of the FY 1998 budget to be recovered from fees is $454.8 million, which is $7.5 million less than the fee recovery amount for FY 1997. We estimate that approximately $94.6 l
million will be recovered in FY 1998 from fees assessed under 10 CFR Part 170 and other
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receipts compared to $95.2 million in FY 1997. The remaining $360.2 million in FY 1998 would be recovered through the 10 CFR Part 171 annual fees. The total amount to be recovered through annual fees in FY 1998 is approximately $6.4 million less than in FY 1997.
In addition to the decrease in the total amount to be recovered through annual fees and the slight reduction in the estimated amount to be recovered in 10 CFR Part 170 fees, the number of licensees paying annual fees in FY 1998 has decreased compared to FY 1997. For example, Commonwealth Edison has notified the NRC that the Zion Station Units 1 and 2 ceased operations on February 13,1998. In addition, both the Haddam Neck Plant and the Maine Yankee Plant ceased operations during FY 1997 and therefore are not subject to the FY 1998 annual fees. This is equivalent to a reduction of 2.5 power reactors subject to the FY 1998 annual fees compared to FY 1997 As a result of these changes, the prcposed FY 1998 annual fees would increase slightly, by 0.1 percent, compared to the FY 1997 actual (prior to rounding) annual fees. Because this is a slight increase, after rounding the proposed FY 1998 annual fees for many fee categories are the same as the final FY 1997 annual fees.
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. The FY 1997 annual fees and the proposed FY 1998 annual fees for representative classes of licensees are as follows:
FY 1997 FY 1998 Class of Licen :::
Annual Fee Prooosed Annual Fee Power Reactors
$2,978,000
$2,980,000 Nonpower Reactors 57,300 57,300 High Enriched Uranium Fuel 2,606,000 2,607,000 Facility Low Enriched Uranium Fuel 1,279,000-1,280,000 Facility UF. Conversion Facility 648,000 649,000 Uranium Mills 61,800 61,800 Typical Matenals Licenses
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1 Radiographer 14,100 14,100 Well Loggers 8,200 8,200 Gauge Users 1,700 -
1,700 Broad Scope Medical 23,500 23,500 C
The specdic changes to Parts 170 and 171 would:
1.
Part 170 (a)
Revise the two professional hourly rates in $170.20 which will be used to determine the 10 CFR Part 170 fees assessed by the NRC. The proposed hourly rate for the reactor program is $124 per hour compared to $131 per hour in FY 1997, and the proposed hourly rate for the materials program is $121 per hour compared to $125 per hour in FY 1997; _
(b)
Adjust the $170.31 licensing (application and amendment) " flat' fees for materials licenses to reflect the costs of providing the licensing services; (c)
- Revise the fees in $$170.21 and 170.31 that relate to the export and import of radioactive material to reflect the costs of providing the licensing services; j
(d)
Revise $170.12(g) to include full cost recovery for resident inspectors and to recover costs incurred up to 30 days after issuance of the inspection report; (e)
Revise $170.12(h) to include credit cards as an additional method of payment for small dollar amounts, and to provide additional information pn electronic payments; and b
1
, (f)
Implement a procedural change whereby fees would be assessed under
%Q170.21 and 170.31 for activities, such as application reviews and inspections, performed during compensated overtime. The compensated overtime hours would be billed at the normal hourly rate.
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2.
Part 171 (a)
Adjust all annual fees upward by about 0.1 percent. The proposed change is consistent with the NRC's intention stated in the FY 1995 final rule, that beginning in FY 1996, annual fees would be stabilized by adjusting the prior year annual fees by the percent change (plus or minus) in the NRC budget authority taking into consideration the estimated collections from 10 CFR Part 170 fees and the number of licensees paying fees; and
-(b)
Revise $171.19 to include credit cards as an additional method of payme'nt for small dollar amounts and to provide additional information on electronic payments.
In addition to the amendment to Parts,170 and 171, conforming amendments to 10 CFR Parts 2 and 140 to include additional payment options for civil penalties and indemnity fees were also proposed.
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We also announced in the Federal Register Notice that NRC plans to reexamine the current annual fee exemption policy for licensees in decommissioning or holding possession only
' licenses and the annual fee policy for reactors' storage of spent fuel. Any changes to the current fee policies will be included in the FY 1999 fee rulemaking. One purpose of the study is to assure consistent fee treatment for both wet storage (i.e., spent fuel pool) and dry storage (i.e., independent spent fuel storage installations, or ISFSis) of spent fuel. The Commission has previously determined that both stcrage options are considered safe and acceptable forms of storage for spent fuel. Under current fee regulations, Part 50 licensees in decommissioning who store spent fuel in the spent fuel pool are not assessed an annual fee, but licensees who store spent fuel in an ISFSI under Part 72 are assessed an annual fee. This policy will be l
reviewed as part of the overall study of the issues related to annual fees for licensees in decommissioning.
Please note that we plan to discontinue mailing the final rule to all licensees. In addition to publication in the Federal Register, the final rule will be available on the internet at http /ruleforum.llnl. gov, and copies of the final rule will be mailed upon request.
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We reco nmend that you provide this information to those members of your staff most likely to i
come in contact with licensees (e g., project managers, section leaders, and inspectors).
-4 April 9, 1998 Copies of the proposed rule are being provided to all branch chiefs and above in the headquarters program offices as well as the regional offices as part of the standard distribution process for rulemaking. In addition, a copy of the proposed rule has been mailed to all NRC licensees.
If you or your staff have questions concerning implementation of the proposed rule, please l
contact Glenda Jackson on 301-415-6057.
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Distribution:
OCFO/LFARB/DAF RF OCFO/LFARB RF (DAF-8-000)
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DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\98ANNFEE.WPD (79 seceive a copy of this deammsut, im4cmar he du bes:
- C" = Cary wishaw anachmem/encianwr
- E" = Copy wub "~' enclosure "N" = No copy.
OFFICE OCF0/DAF/LFARB C-OCF0/DAF/LFARB c-OCF0/0/DAF I
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DBDand M JTurdici b DATE Y/i/98 b98 h/9/98 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY j7
Addressees-Memorandum Dated April 9,1998 Office Directors and Regionaf Administrators
SUBJECT:
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING - 100 PERCENT FEE RECOVERY - FY 1998 Mail Stoo Richard L. Bangart, Director, OSP O-3 H2O William M. Beecher, Director, OPA O-2 A13 Hubert T. Bell, Director, OlG T-5 D28 Paul E. Bird Director, OHR T-3 A2 Guy P. Caputo, Director 01.
O-3 F1 John F. Cordes, Director, OCAA O-15 B18
- 8. Paul Cotter, Jr., Chairman, ASLBP T-3 F23 Karen D. Cyr, OGC O-15 B18 Anthony J. Galante, CIO O-16 C1 Edward L. Halman, Director, ADM T-7 DS9 John C. Hoyle, SECY O-16 G15 Ashok C. Thadani, DEDO O-16 C1 Thomas S. Kress, Chairman, ACRS T-2 E26
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Irene P. Little, Director, SBCR T-2 F18 James Lieberman, Director, OE O-7 H5 Samuel J. Collins, Director, NRR O-5 E7 Malcom R. Knapp, Acting Director, RES T-10 F12 Patricia G. Norry, DEDM _
O-16 E15 Carl J. Paperiello, Director, NMSS T-8 A23 PaulW. Pomeroy, Chairman, ACNW T-2 E26 Dennis K. Rathbun, Director, OCA O-17 A3 Thomas T. Martin, Director, AEOD T-4 D18 Carlton R. Stoiber, Director, OlP O-16 C1 Leonard J. Callan, EDO O-16 E15 Hugh L. Thompson, DEDR O-16 E15 Hubert J. Miller, Regional Administrator, Region i RGN-1 Luis A. Reyes, Regional Administrator, Region ll RGN-ll Arthur B. Beach, Regional Administrator, Region ill RGN-Ill Ellis W. Merschoff, Regional Administrator, Region IV RGN-IV i
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