Press Release-95-078, NRC Makes Changes to Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees
| ML003702894 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/21/1995 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
| To: | |
| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-95-078 | |
| Download: ML003702894 (2) | |
Text
No.
95-78 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel. 301/415-8200 (Wednesday, June 21, 1995)
Internet:OPA@NRC.GOV.
NRC MAKES CHANGES TO LICENSING, INSPECTION AND ANNUAL FEES The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is making changes to the licensing, inspection and annual fees it charges applicants and licensees.
The changes are necessary to implement the requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 which requires the NRC to recover approximately 100 percent of its budget authority (less appropriations from the Nuclear Waste Fund) for fiscal years 1991 through 1998 by assessing license and annual fees.
The Commission's budget authority for fiscal year 1995 is
$525.6 million, of which about $22 million has been appropriated from the Nuclear Waste Fund, leaving approximately $503.6 million to be recovered from fees.
This is about $9.4 million less than the total amount to be recovered for fiscal year 1994 and $15.3 million less than in fiscal year 1993.
The Commission also is amending its regulations to address concerns that have been raised about the fairness and equity of the fee recovery program and the administrative burden associated with it.
Fairness and equity concerns have arisen in relation to that part of the NRC's budget, approximately $56 million in fiscal year 1995, which covers activities necessary for the NRC to carry out its responsibilities but, in most instances, are not directly related to the regulation of those licensees and applicants that pay fees.
Activities in this category include, for example, the agency's international programs, statutory licensing and inspection fee exemptions for federal agencies, oversight of Agreement States and fee reductions for small entities in response to the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
These fairness and equity concerns will be addressed by allocating the approximately $56 million associated with them to the broadest base of licensees based on the amount of the NRC's budget for each class of licensees.
As a result of the reduced budget amount to be recovered for fiscal year 1995 and the changes being made in the regulations, the annual fees for a large majority of licensees will be reduced:
-- for power reactor licensees to $2,936,000 from $3,078,000 in fiscal year 1994;
-- for nonpower (research and test) reactor licensees to
$56,500 from $62,200;
-- for low-enriched uranium fuel fabrication facility licensees who manufacture fuel for nuclear power plants to
$1,261,000 from $1,485,000;
-- for radiography licensees to $13,900 from $19,200; and
-- for broad scope medical licensees to $23,200 from
$32,600.
The amendments to Parts 170 and 171 of the Commission's regulations will become effective on July 20.