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{{#Wiki_filter:29811 Proposed Rules                                                                                                Federal Register Vol. 84, No. 122 Tuesday, June 25, 2019 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
{{#Wiki_filter:This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
* Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
Proposed Rules Federal Register 29811 Vol. 84, No. 122 Tuesday, June 25, 2019 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10 CFR Part 150
* NRCs PDR: You may examine and contains notices to the public of the proposed         https://www.regulations.gov and search                purchase copies of public documents at issuance of rules and regulations. The                 for Docket ID NRC-2019-0114. Address                  the NRCs PDR, Room O1-F21, One purpose of these notices is to give interested         questions about NRC dockets in                        White Flint North, 11555 Rockville persons an opportunity to participate in the           Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges;                    Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
[NRC-2019-0114]
rule making prior to the adoption of the final telephone: 301-287-9127; email:
State of Vermont: NRC Staff Assessment of a Proposed Agreement Between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Vermont AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
rules.                                                                                                         B. Submitting Comments Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individuals listed                Please include Docket ID NRC-2019-NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                     in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                        0114 in your comment submission. The COMMISSION                                             CONTACT section of this document.                      NRC cautions you not to include For additional direction on obtaining              identifying or contact information that 10 CFR Part 150                                         information and submitting comments,                  you do not want to be publicly see Obtaining Information and                        disclosed in your comment submission.
ACTION: Proposed state agreement; request for comment.  
[NRC-2019-0114]                                         Submitting Comments in the                          The NRC will post all comment SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of                  submissions at https://
State of Vermont: NRC Staff this document.                                        www.regulations.gov as well as enter the Assessment of a Proposed Agreement Between the Nuclear Regulatory                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      comment submissions into ADAMS.
Commission and the State of Vermont                     Duncan White, Office of Nuclear                        The NRC does not routinely edit Material Safety and Safeguards,                        comment submissions to remove AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory                             telephone: 301-415-2598, email:                        identifying or contact information.
Commission.                                            Duncan.White@nrc.gov of the U.S.                        If you are requesting or aggregating ACTION: Proposed state agreement;                       Nuclear Regulatory Commission,                        comments from other persons for request for comment.                                   Washington, DC 20555-0001.                            submission to the NRC, then you should SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            inform those persons not to include


==SUMMARY==
==SUMMARY==
:   By letter dated April 11, 2019,                                                                     identifying or contact information that Governor Philip Scott of the State of                   I. Obtaining Information and                          they do not want to be publicly Vermont requested that the U.S. Nuclear                 Submitting Comments                                    disclosed in their comment submission.
: By {{letter dated|date=April 11, 2019|text=letter dated April 11, 2019}}, Governor Philip Scott of the State of Vermont requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) enter into an Agreement with the State of Vermont as authorized by Section 274b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA).
Regulatory Commission (NRC or                           A. Obtaining Information                              Your request should state that the NRC Commission) enter into an Agreement                                                                           does not routinely edit comment Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2019-with the State of Vermont as authorized                                                                       submissions to remove such information 0114 when contacting the NRC about by Section 274b. of the Atomic Energy                                                                         before making the comment the availability of information for this Act of 1954, as amended (AEA).                                                                                 submissions available to the public or action. You may obtain publicly-Under the proposed Agreement, the                                                                           entering the comment into ADAMS.
Under the proposed Agreement, the Commission would discontinue, and the State of Vermont would assume, regulatory authority over certain types of byproduct materials as defined in the AEA, source material, and special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.
available information related to this Commission would discontinue, and the action by any of the following methods:               II. Additional Information on State of Vermont would assume,
As required by Section 274e. of the AEA, the NRC is publishing the proposed Agreement for public comment. The NRC is also publishing the summary of a draft assessment by the NRC staff of the State of Vermonts regulatory program. Comments are requested on the proposed Agreement and its effect on public health and safety. Comments are also requested on the draft staff assessment, the adequacy of the State of Vermonts program, and the States program staff, as discussed in this document.
* Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to regulatory authority over certain types                                                                        Agreements Entered Under Section 274 https://www.regulations.gov and search                 of the AEA of byproduct materials as defined in the                for Docket ID NRC-2019-0114.
DATES: Submit comments by July 25, 2019. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received before this date.
AEA, source material, and special
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following method:
* NRCs Agencywide Documents                           Under the proposed Agreement, the nuclear material in quantities not                      Access and Management System                           NRC would discontinue its authority sufficient to form a critical mass.                    (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-                     over 36 licenses and would transfer its As required by Section 274e. of the                  available documents online in the                     regulatory authority over those licenses AEA, the NRC is publishing the                          ADAMS Public Documents collection at                   to the State of Vermont. The NRC proposed Agreement for public                          https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                       periodically reviews the performance of comment. The NRC is also publishing                    adams.html. To begin the search, select               the Agreement States to assure the summary of a draft assessment by                    ADAMS Public Documents and then                   compliance with the provisions of the NRC staff of the State of Vermonts                select Begin Web-based ADAMS                         Section 274.
* Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0114. Address questions about NRC dockets in Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287-9127; email:
regulatory program. Comments are                        Search. For problems with ADAMS,                       Section 274e. of the AEA requires that requested on the proposed Agreement                    please contact the NRCs Public                       the terms of the proposed Agreement be and its effect on public health and                    Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                 published in the Federal Register for safety. Comments are also requested on                  1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or                   public comment once each week for the draft staff assessment, the adequacy                by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The                 four consecutive weeks. This document of the State of Vermonts program, and                  final application for an AEA Section 274               is being published in fulfillment of that the States program staff, as discussed in              Agreement from the State of Vermont,                   requirement.
Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.
this document.
For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting comments, see Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS the draft assessment of the proposed                   III. Proposed Agreement With the State DATES: Submit comments by July 25,                      Vermont program, and additional                       of Vermont 2019. Comments received after this date                related correspondence between the will be considered if it is practical to do            NRC and the State for the regulation of               Background so, but the Commission is able to ensure                agreement materials are available in                     (a) Section 274b. of the AEA provides consideration only for comments                        ADAMS under Accession Nos.                             the mechanism for a State to assume received before this date.                              ML19107A432, ML19114A092,                             regulatory authority from the NRC over ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                      ML19115A214, ML19102A130 and                           certain radioactive materials and by the following method:                               ML19113A279.                                           activities that involve use of these VerDate Sep<11>2014  20:41 Jun 24, 2019  Jkt 247001  PO 00000  Frm 00001  Fmt 4702  Sfmt 4702  E:\FR\FM\25JNP1.SGM  25JNP1
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Duncan White, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-2598, email:
Duncan.White@nrc.gov of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2019-0114 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this action by any of the following methods:
* Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0114.
* NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
adams.html. To begin the search, select ADAMS Public Documents and then select Begin Web-based ADAMS Search. For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The final application for an AEA Section 274 Agreement from the State of Vermont, the draft assessment of the proposed Vermont program, and additional related correspondence between the NRC and the State for the regulation of agreement materials are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos.
ML19107A432, ML19114A092, ML19115A214, ML19102A130 and ML19113A279.
* NRCs PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRCs PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC-2019-0114 in your comment submission. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission.
The NRC will post all comment submissions at https://
www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS.
The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information.
If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission.
Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.
II. Additional Information on Agreements Entered Under Section 274 of the AEA Under the proposed Agreement, the NRC would discontinue its authority over 36 licenses and would transfer its regulatory authority over those licenses to the State of Vermont. The NRC periodically reviews the performance of the Agreement States to assure compliance with the provisions of Section 274.
Section 274e. of the AEA requires that the terms of the proposed Agreement be published in the Federal Register for public comment once each week for four consecutive weeks. This document is being published in fulfillment of that requirement.
III. Proposed Agreement With the State of Vermont


29812                    Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules materials. The radioactive materials,                  orderly transfer of regulatory authority              Agreement, (46 FR 7540, January 23, sometimes referred to as Agreement                    over affected licenses from the NRC to                1981, as amended by Policy Statements materials, are byproduct materials as                the State. In a letter dated April 11,                published at 46 FR 36969, July 16, 1981, defined in Sections 11e.(1), 11e.(2),                  2019, Governor Scott certified that the                and at 48 FR 33376, July 21, 1983) 11e.(3), and 11e.(4) of the AEA; source                State of Vermont has a program for the                (Policy Statement), and the Office of material as defined in Section 11z. of                 control of radiation hazards that is                  Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards the AEA; and special nuclear material as                adequate to protect public health and                  Procedure SA-700, Processing an defined in Section 11aa. of the AEA,                    safety within the State of Vermont for                 Agreement (available at https://
===Background===
restricted to quantities not sufficient to              the materials and activities specified in              scp.nrc.gov/procedures/sa700.pdf and form a critical mass.                                  the proposed Agreement, and that the                  https://scp.nrc.gov/procedures/sa700_
(a) Section 274b. of the AEA provides the mechanism for a State to assume regulatory authority from the NRC over certain radioactive materials and activities that involve use of these VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
The radioactive materials and                        State desires to assume regulatory                     hb.pdf). The Policy Statement has 28 activities (which together are usually                  responsibility for these materials and                criteria that serve as the basis for the referred to as the categories of                      activities (ADAMS Accession No.                        NRC staffs assessment of the State of materials) that the State of Vermont                  ML19116A227). After the effective date                Vermonts request for an Agreement.
requests authority over are:                            of the Agreement, licenses issued by the              The following section will reference the
: 1. The possession and use of                        NRC would continue in effect as State                  appropriate criteria numbers from the byproduct material as defined in                        of Vermont licenses until the licenses                Policy Statement that apply to each Section 11e.(1) of the Act;                            expire or are replaced by State-issued                section.
: 2. The possession and use of                        licenses.                                                (a) Organization and Personnel. The byproduct material as defined in                          (d) The draft staff assessment finds                NRC staff reviewed these areas under Section 11e.(3) of the Act;                            that the Vermont Department of Healths                Criteria 1, 2, 20, and 24 in the draft staff
: 3. The possession and use of                        Radioactive Materials Program is                      assessment. The State of Vermonts byproduct material as defined in                        adequate to protect public health and                  proposed Agreement materials program Section 11e.(4) of the Act;                            safety and is compatible with the NRCs                for the regulation of radioactive
: 4. The possession and use of source                  regulatory program for the regulation of              materials is called the Radioactive material; and                                          Agreement materials. However, the NRC                  Materials Program, and will be located
: 5. The possession and use of special                staff identified several sections of the              within the existing Office of nuclear material, in quantities not                    Vermont Radioactive Materials                          Radiological Health of the Vermont sufficient to form a critical mass.                    regulations that were either not                      Department of Health.
(b) The proposed Agreement contains                  compatible or needed additional                          The educational requirements for the articles that:                                          editorial changes. By letter dated May                Radioactive Materials Program staff are (i) Specify the materials and activities             10, 2019, the NRC staff described these                specified in the State of Vermonts over which authority is transferred;                    compatibility and editorial issues, and                personnel position descriptions and (ii) Specify the materials and                      requested that the Vermont Department                  meet the NRC criteria with respect to activities over which the Commission                    of Health reply within 60 days with a                  formal education or combined will retain regulatory authority;                      commitment to make the described                      education and experience requirements.
(iii) Continue the authority of the                  regulatory changes as soon as                          All current staff members hold a Commission to safeguard special                        practicable (ADAMS Accession No.                      Masters Degree in either environmental nuclear material, protect restricted data,              ML19102A160). The resolution of these                  science or radiologic and imaging and protect common defense and                          comments does not interfere with the                  sciences. All have training and work security;                                              NRC staffs processing of Vermonts                    experience in radiation protection.
(iv) Commit the State of Vermont and                Agreement State Application. On June                  Supervisory level staff have at least 20 the NRC to exchange information as                      6, 2019, the NRC received a letter from                years of working experience in radiation necessary to maintain coordinated and                  the Vermont Department of Health                      protection.
compatible programs;                                    committing to making these                               The State of Vermont performed an (v) Provide for the reciprocal                      compatibility and editorial changes                    analysis of the expected workload under recognition of licenses;                                (ADAMS Accession No. ML19161A133).                    the proposed Agreement. Based on the (vi) Provide for the suspension or                  Therefore, the State of Vermont has                    NRC staff review of the State of termination of the Agreement; and                      committed to adopting an adequate and                  Vermonts analysis, the State has an (vii) Specify the effective date of the              compatible set of radiation protection                adequate number of staff to regulate proposed Agreement.                                    regulations that apply to byproduct,                  radioactive materials under the terms of The Commission reserves the option                  source, and special nuclear materials in              the proposed Agreement. The State of to modify the terms of the proposed                    quantities not sufficient to form a                    Vermont will employ the equivalent of Agreement in response to comments, to                  critical mass.                                        1.25 full-time equivalent professional correct errors, and to make editorial                                                                          and technical staff to support the changes. The final text of the proposed                Summary of the Draft NRC Staff                        Radioactive Materials Program.
Agreement, with the effective date, will                Assessment of the State of Vermonts                      The State of Vermont has indicated be published after the Agreement is                    Program for the Regulation of                          that the Radioactive Materials Program approved by the Commission and                          Agreement Materials                                    has an adequate number of trained and signed by the NRC Chairman and the                        The NRC staff has examined the State                qualified staff in place. The State of khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS Governor of Vermont.                                    of Vermonts request for an Agreement                  Vermont has developed qualification (c) The regulatory program is                        with respect to the ability of the States            procedures for license reviewers and authorized by law under the Vermont                    radiation control program to regulate                  inspectors that are similar to the NRCs Statutes Annotated (VT. STAT. ANN.)                    Agreement materials. The examination                  procedures. The Radioactive Materials title 18, sections 1651 through 1657,                  was based on the Commissions Policy                  Program staff has accompanied the NRC which provides the Governor with the                    Statement, Criteria for Guidance of                  staff on inspections of NRC licensees in authority to enter into an Agreement                    States and NRC in Discontinuance of                    Vermont and participated in licensing with the Commission. The State of                      NRC Regulatory Authority and                          training at NRCs Region I with Division Vermont law contains provisions for the                Assumption Thereof by States Through                  of Nuclear Materials Safety staff. The VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:41 Jun 24, 2019   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00002  Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\25JNP1.SGM   25JNP1


Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules                                           29813 Radioactive Materials Program staff is                  committing to making these                            staff assessment. The State of Vermont also actively supplementing its                        compatibility and editorial changes.                   has adopted a schedule providing for experience through direct meetings,                     Therefore, the State of Vermont has                    the inspection of licensees as frequently discussions, and facility visits with the              committed to adopting an adequate and                  as, or more frequently than, the NRC licensees in the State of Vermont                   compatible set of radiation protection                inspection schedule used by the NRC.
29812 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules materials. The radioactive materials, sometimes referred to as Agreement materials, are byproduct materials as defined in Sections 11e.(1), 11e.(2),
and through self-study, in-house                        regulations that apply to byproduct                    The State of Vermonts Radioactive training, and formal training.                         materials, source material and special                 Materials Program has adopted Overall, the NRC staff concluded that                nuclear material in quantities not                     procedures for the conduct of the Radioactive Materials Program staff                sufficient to form a critical mass. The               inspections, reporting of inspection identified by the State of Vermont to                  NRC staff also verified that the State of              findings, and reporting inspection participate in the Agreement materials                 Vermont will not attempt to enforce                    results to the licensees. Additionally, program has sufficient knowledge and                   regulatory matters reserved to the                    the State of Vermont has also adopted experience in radiation protection, the                 Commission.                                            procedures for the enforcement of use of radioactive materials, the                          (c) Storage and Disposal. The NRC                  regulatory requirements.
11e.(3), and 11e.(4) of the AEA; source material as defined in Section 11z. of the AEA; and special nuclear material as defined in Section 11aa. of the AEA, restricted to quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.
standards for the evaluation of                         staff reviewed these areas under Criteria                (h) Regulatory Administration. The applications for licensing, and the                     8, 9a, and 11 in the draft staff                      NRC staff reviewed this area under techniques of inspecting licensed users                assessment. The State of Vermont has                  Criterion 23 in the draft staff of Agreement materials.                                adopted NRC compatible requirements                    assessment. The State of Vermont is (b) Legislation and Regulations. The                for the handling and storage of                        bound by requirements specified in its NRC staff reviewed these areas under                    radioactive material, including                        State law for rulemaking, issuing Criteria 1-15, 17, 19, and 21-28 in the                 regulations equivalent to the applicable              licenses, and taking enforcement draft staff assessment. The Vermont                     standards contained in 10 CFR part 20,                actions. The State of Vermont has also Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN.                     which address the general requirements                adopted administrative procedures to tit. 18, sections 1651 through 1657                     for waste disposal, and part 61, which                 assure fair and impartial treatment of provide the authority to enter into the                 addresses waste classification and form.              license applicants. The State of Vermont Agreement and establish the Vermont                    These regulations are applicable to all                law prescribes standards of ethical Department of Health as the lead agency                licensees covered under this proposed                  conduct for State employees.
The radioactive materials and activities (which together are usually referred to as the categories of materials) that the State of Vermont requests authority over are:
for the States Radioactive Materials                  Agreement.                                                (i) Cooperation with Other Agencies.
: 1. The possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(1) of the Act;
Program. The Department has the                           (d) Transportation of Radioactive                  The NRC staff reviewed this area under requisite authority to promulgate                      Material. The NRC staff reviewed this                  Criteria 25, 26, and 27 in the draft staff regulations under the Vermont Statutes                  area under Criteria 10 in the draft staff              assessment. The State of Vermont law Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 18,                     assessment. The State of Vermont has                  provides for the recognition of existing section 1653(b)(1) for protection against              adopted compatible regulations to the                  NRC and Agreement State licenses and radiation. The Vermont Statutes                        NRC regulations in 10 CFR part 71. Part                the State has a process in place for the Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 18,                     71 contains the requirements licensees                transition of active NRC licenses. Upon sections 1651 through 1657 also provide                must follow when preparing packages                    the effective date of the Agreement, all the Radioactive Materials Program the                   containing radioactive material for                    active NRC radioactive materials authority to issue licenses and orders;                transport. Part 71 also contains                      licenses issued to facilities in the State conduct inspections; and enforce                        requirements related to the licensing of               of Vermont will be recognized as compliance with regulations, license                    packaging for use in transporting                      Vermont Department of Health licenses.
: 2. The possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(3) of the Act;
conditions, and orders. The Vermont                    radioactive materials.                                    The State of Vermont also provides Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN.                        (e) Recordkeeping and Incident                      for timely renewal. This provision tit. 18, section 1654 requires licensees to             Reporting. The NRC staff reviewed this                affords the continuance of licenses for provide access to inspectors.                          area under Criteria 1 and 11 in the draft              which an application for renewal has The NRC staff verified that the State                staff assessment. The State of Vermont                been filed more than 30 days prior to of Vermont adopted by reference the                     has adopted compatible regulations to                 the date of expiration of the license.
: 3. The possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(4) of the Act;
relevant NRC regulations in parts 19, 20,              the sections of the NRC regulations that              NRC licenses transferred while in timely 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 61,            specify requirements for licensees to                  renewal are included under the 70, 71, and 150 of title 10 of the Code                keep records and to report incidents or                continuation provision.
: 4. The possession and use of source material; and
of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) into the               accidents involving the States regulated                The State of Vermont regulations, in Vermont Radioactive Materials Rule,                    Agreement materials.                                   Vermont Radioactive Materials Rule Chapter 6, Subchapter 5. During its                        (f) Evaluation of License Applications.             Chapter 6, Subchapter 5, provide review, the NRC staff identified several                The NRC staff reviewed this area under                 exemptions from the States sections of the final Vermont                          Criteria 1, 7, 8, 9a, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23,              requirements for the NRC and the U.S.
: 5. The possession and use of special nuclear material, in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.
Radioactive Materials regulations that                  and 25 in the draft staff assessment. The             Department of Energy contractors or are not compatible or need editorial                    State of Vermont has adopted                          subcontractors; the exemptions must be changes. By letter dated May 10, 2019,                  compatible regulations to the NRC                      authorized by law and determined not the NRC staff described these                          regulations that specify the                          to endanger life or property and to compatibility and editorial issues, and                 requirements to obtain a license to                    otherwise be in the public interest. The requested that the Vermont Department                  possess or use radioactive materials.                  proposed Agreement commits the State khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS of Health reply within 60 days with a                  The State of Vermont has also                          of Vermont to use its best efforts to commitment to make the described                        developed licensing procedures and                    cooperate with the NRC and the other regulatory changes as soon as                          adopted NRC licensing guides for                      Agreement States in the formulation of practicable. The resolution of these                    specific uses of radioactive material for              standards and regulatory programs for comments does not interfere with the                    use by the program staff when                          the protection against hazards of NRC staffs processing of Vermonts                    evaluating license applications.                      radiation, and to assure that the States Agreement State Application. On June                      (g) Inspections and Enforcement. The               program will continue to be compatible 6, 2019, the NRC staff received a letter                NRC staff reviewed these areas under                  with the Commissions program for the from the Vermont Department of Health                  Criteria 1, 16, 18, 19, and 23 in the draft            regulation of Agreement materials. The VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:41 Jun 24, 2019   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00003  Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\25JNP1.SGM   25JNP1
(b) The proposed Agreement contains articles that:
(i) Specify the materials and activities over which authority is transferred; (ii) Specify the materials and activities over which the Commission will retain regulatory authority; (iii) Continue the authority of the Commission to safeguard special nuclear material, protect restricted data, and protect common defense and security; (iv) Commit the State of Vermont and the NRC to exchange information as necessary to maintain coordinated and compatible programs; (v) Provide for the reciprocal recognition of licenses; (vi) Provide for the suspension or termination of the Agreement; and (vii) Specify the effective date of the proposed Agreement.
The Commission reserves the option to modify the terms of the proposed Agreement in response to comments, to correct errors, and to make editorial changes. The final text of the proposed Agreement, with the effective date, will be published after the Agreement is approved by the Commission and signed by the NRC Chairman and the Governor of Vermont.
(c) The regulatory program is authorized by law under the Vermont Statutes Annotated (VT. STAT. ANN.)
title 18, sections 1651 through 1657, which provides the Governor with the authority to enter into an Agreement with the Commission. The State of Vermont law contains provisions for the orderly transfer of regulatory authority over affected licenses from the NRC to the State. In a {{letter dated|date=April 11, 2019|text=letter dated April 11, 2019}}, Governor Scott certified that the State of Vermont has a program for the control of radiation hazards that is adequate to protect public health and safety within the State of Vermont for the materials and activities specified in the proposed Agreement, and that the State desires to assume regulatory responsibility for these materials and activities (ADAMS Accession No. ML19116A227). After the effective date of the Agreement, licenses issued by the NRC would continue in effect as State of Vermont licenses until the licenses expire or are replaced by State-issued licenses.
(d) The draft staff assessment finds that the Vermont Department of Healths Radioactive Materials Program is adequate to protect public health and safety and is compatible with the NRCs regulatory program for the regulation of Agreement materials. However, the NRC staff identified several sections of the Vermont Radioactive Materials regulations that were either not compatible or needed additional editorial changes. By {{letter dated|date=May 10, 2019|text=letter dated May 10, 2019}}, the NRC staff described these compatibility and editorial issues, and requested that the Vermont Department of Health reply within 60 days with a commitment to make the described regulatory changes as soon as practicable (ADAMS Accession No. ML19102A160). The resolution of these comments does not interfere with the NRC staffs processing of Vermonts Agreement State Application. On June 6, 2019, the NRC received a letter from the Vermont Department of Health committing to making these compatibility and editorial changes (ADAMS Accession No. ML19161A133).
Therefore, the State of Vermont has committed to adopting an adequate and compatible set of radiation protection regulations that apply to byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.
Summary of the Draft NRC Staff Assessment of the State of Vermonts Program for the Regulation of Agreement Materials The NRC staff has examined the State of Vermonts request for an Agreement with respect to the ability of the States radiation control program to regulate Agreement materials. The examination was based on the Commissions Policy Statement, Criteria for Guidance of States and NRC in Discontinuance of NRC Regulatory Authority and Assumption Thereof by States Through Agreement, (46 FR 7540, January 23, 1981, as amended by Policy Statements published at 46 FR 36969, July 16, 1981, and at 48 FR 33376, July 21, 1983)
(Policy Statement), and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Procedure SA-700, Processing an Agreement (available at https://
scp.nrc.gov/procedures/sa700.pdf and https://scp.nrc.gov/procedures/sa700_
hb.pdf). The Policy Statement has 28 criteria that serve as the basis for the NRC staffs assessment of the State of Vermonts request for an Agreement.
The following section will reference the appropriate criteria numbers from the Policy Statement that apply to each section.
(a) Organization and Personnel. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 1, 2, 20, and 24 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermonts proposed Agreement materials program for the regulation of radioactive materials is called the Radioactive Materials Program, and will be located within the existing Office of Radiological Health of the Vermont Department of Health.
The educational requirements for the Radioactive Materials Program staff are specified in the State of Vermonts personnel position descriptions and meet the NRC criteria with respect to formal education or combined education and experience requirements.
All current staff members hold a Masters Degree in either environmental science or radiologic and imaging sciences. All have training and work experience in radiation protection.
Supervisory level staff have at least 20 years of working experience in radiation protection.
The State of Vermont performed an analysis of the expected workload under the proposed Agreement. Based on the NRC staff review of the State of Vermonts analysis, the State has an adequate number of staff to regulate radioactive materials under the terms of the proposed Agreement. The State of Vermont will employ the equivalent of 1.25 full-time equivalent professional and technical staff to support the Radioactive Materials Program.
The State of Vermont has indicated that the Radioactive Materials Program has an adequate number of trained and qualified staff in place. The State of Vermont has developed qualification procedures for license reviewers and inspectors that are similar to the NRCs procedures. The Radioactive Materials Program staff has accompanied the NRC staff on inspections of NRC licensees in Vermont and participated in licensing training at NRCs Region I with Division of Nuclear Materials Safety staff. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS


29814                    Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules proposed Agreement specifies the                          For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.              of radiation and in assuring that State desirability of reciprocal recognition of              Andrea L. Kock,                                       and Commission programs for licenses, and commits the Commission                    Director, Division of Materials Safety,                protection against hazards of radiation and the State of Vermont to use their                  Security, State, and Tribal Programs, Office          will be coordinated and compatible; best efforts to accord such reciprocity.               of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.            and, The State of Vermont would be able to                     Note: The following appendix will not                  WHEREAS, The Commission and the recognize the licenses of other                        appear in the Code of Federal                          State of Vermont recognize the jurisdictions by general license.                      Regulations.                                          desirability of the reciprocal recognition of licenses, and of the granting of Staff Conclusion                                        APPENDIX A                                            limited exemptions from licensing of AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE                              those materials subject to this Section 274d. of the AEA provides                                                                          Agreement; and, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR that the Commission shall enter into an                                                                          WHEREAS, This Agreement is REGULATORY COMMISSION AND Agreement under Section 274b. with                                                                            entered into pursuant to the provisions THE STATE OF VERMONT FOR THE any State if:                                          DISCONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN                              of the Act; (a) The Governor of that State certifies                                                                      NOW, THEREFORE, It is hereby COMMISSION REGULATORY that the State has a program for the                                                                           agreed between the Commission and the AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY Governor of Vermont acting on behalf of control of radiation hazards adequate to                WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO the State as follows:
29813 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules Radioactive Materials Program staff is also actively supplementing its experience through direct meetings, discussions, and facility visits with the NRC licensees in the State of Vermont and through self-study, in-house training, and formal training.
protect the public health and safety with              SECTION 274 OF THE ATOMIC respect to the Agreement materials                      ENERGY ACT OF 1954, AS AMENDED                        ARTICLE I within the State, and that the State                      WHEREAS, The United States                            Subject to the exceptions provided in desires to assume regulatory                            Nuclear Regulatory Commission                          Articles II, IV, and V, the Commission responsibility for the Agreement                        (hereinafter referred to as the                      shall discontinue, as of the effective materials; and                                         Commission) is authorized under                      date of this Agreement, the regulatory (b) The Commission finds that the                   Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of                authority of the Commission in the State State program is in accordance with the                1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section                    under Chapters 6, 7 and 8, and Section requirements of Subsection 274o. and in                2011 et seq. (hereinafter referred to as              161 of the Act with respect to the the Act), to enter into agreements                following materials:
Overall, the NRC staff concluded that the Radioactive Materials Program staff identified by the State of Vermont to participate in the Agreement materials program has sufficient knowledge and experience in radiation protection, the use of radioactive materials, the standards for the evaluation of applications for licensing, and the techniques of inspecting licensed users of Agreement materials.
all other respects compatible with the with the Governor of the State of                        1. Byproduct material as defined in Commissions program for regulation of                                                                        Section 11e.(1) of the Act; such materials, and that the State                      Vermont (hereinafter referred to as the State) providing for discontinuance of                2. Byproduct material as defined in program is adequate to protect the                                                                            Section 11e.(3) of the Act; the regulatory authority of the public health and safety with respect to                                                                        3. Byproduct materials as defined in Commission within the State under the materials covered by the proposed                                                                          Section 11e.(4) of the Act; Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and Section 161 of Agreement.                                                                                                      4. Source materials; and the Act with respect to byproduct                        5. Special nuclear materials, in The NRC staff has reviewed the                       materials as defined in Sections 11e.(1),              quantities not sufficient to form a proposed Agreement, the certification of               (3), and (4) of the Act, source materials,            critical mass.
(b) Legislation and Regulations. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 1-15, 17, 19, and 21-28 in the draft staff assessment. The Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN.
Vermont Governor Scott, and the                        and special nuclear materials in supporting information provided by the                  quantities not sufficient to form a                   ARTICLE II Radioactive Materials Program of the                    critical mass; and,                                      This Agreement does not provide for Vermont Department of Health. Based                        WHEREAS, The Governor of the State                 the discontinuance of any authority, and upon this review, the NRC staff                         of Vermont is authorized under VT.                    the Commission shall retain authority concludes that the State of Vermont                    STAT. ANN. tit. 18, &sect; 1653 to enter into              and responsibility, with respect to:
tit. 18, sections 1651 through 1657 provide the authority to enter into the Agreement and establish the Vermont Department of Health as the lead agency for the States Radioactive Materials Program. The Department has the requisite authority to promulgate regulations under the Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 18, section 1653(b)(1) for protection against radiation. The Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 18, sections 1651 through 1657 also provide the Radioactive Materials Program the authority to issue licenses and orders; conduct inspections; and enforce compliance with regulations, license conditions, and orders. The Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN.
Radioactive Materials Program satisfies                this Agreement with the Commission;                      A. The regulation of byproduct the Section 274d. criteria as well as the               and,                                                  material as defined in Section 11e.(2) of criteria in the Commissions Policy                        WHEREAS, The Governor of the State                 the Act; of Vermont certified on April 11, 2019,                  B. The regulation of the land disposal Statement Criteria for Guidance of that the State has a program for the                   of byproduct, source, or special nuclear States and NRC in Discontinuance of control of radiation hazards adequate to               material received from other persons; NRC Regulatory Authority and                            protect the public health and safety with                C. The evaluation of radiation safety Assumption Thereof by States Through                    respect to the materials within the State              information on sealed sources or Agreement. The NRC staff also                        covered by this Agreement, and that the                devices containing byproduct, source, or concludes that the proposed State of                   State desires to assume regulatory                    special nuclear material and the Vermont program to regulate Agreement                  responsibility for such materials; and,                registration of the sealed sources or materials, as comprised of statutes,                       WHEREAS, The Commission found                      devices for distribution, as provided for regulations, procedures, and staffing, is              on [date] that the program of the State               in regulations or orders of the compatible with the Commissions                        of Vermont for the regulation of the                   Commission; program and is adequate to protect the                  materials covered by this Agreement is                  D. The regulation of the construction, public health and safety with respect to                compatible with the Commissions                      operation, and decommissioning of any khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS the materials covered by the proposed                  program for the regulation of such                    production or utilization facility or any Agreement. Therefore, the proposed                      materials and is adequate to protect the               uranium enrichment facility; Agreement meets the requirements of                     public health and safety; and,                          E. The regulation of the export from Section 274 of the AEA.                                   WHEREAS, The State of Vermont and                  or import into the United States of the Commission recognize the                           byproduct, source, or special nuclear Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day desirability and importance of                        material, or of any production or of June, 2019.
tit. 18, section 1654 requires licensees to provide access to inspectors.
cooperation between the Commission                    utilization facility; and the State in the formulation of                     F. The regulation of the disposal into standards for protection against hazards               the ocean or sea of byproduct, source, or VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:41 Jun 24, 2019   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00004  Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\25JNP1.SGM   25JNP1
The NRC staff verified that the State of Vermont adopted by reference the relevant NRC regulations in parts 19, 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 61, 70, 71, and 150 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) into the Vermont Radioactive Materials Rule, Chapter 6, Subchapter 5. During its review, the NRC staff identified several sections of the final Vermont Radioactive Materials regulations that are not compatible or need editorial changes. By {{letter dated|date=May 10, 2019|text=letter dated May 10, 2019}}, the NRC staff described these compatibility and editorial issues, and requested that the Vermont Department of Health reply within 60 days with a commitment to make the described regulatory changes as soon as practicable. The resolution of these comments does not interfere with the NRC staffs processing of Vermonts Agreement State Application. On June 6, 2019, the NRC staff received a letter from the Vermont Department of Health committing to making these compatibility and editorial changes.
Therefore, the State of Vermont has committed to adopting an adequate and compatible set of radiation protection regulations that apply to byproduct materials, source material and special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass. The NRC staff also verified that the State of Vermont will not attempt to enforce regulatory matters reserved to the Commission.
(c) Storage and Disposal. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 8, 9a, and 11 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted NRC compatible requirements for the handling and storage of radioactive material, including regulations equivalent to the applicable standards contained in 10 CFR part 20, which address the general requirements for waste disposal, and part 61, which addresses waste classification and form.
These regulations are applicable to all licensees covered under this proposed Agreement.
(d) Transportation of Radioactive Material. The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 10 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted compatible regulations to the NRC regulations in 10 CFR part 71. Part 71 contains the requirements licensees must follow when preparing packages containing radioactive material for transport. Part 71 also contains requirements related to the licensing of packaging for use in transporting radioactive materials.
(e) Recordkeeping and Incident Reporting. The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 1 and 11 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted compatible regulations to the sections of the NRC regulations that specify requirements for licensees to keep records and to report incidents or accidents involving the States regulated Agreement materials.
(f) Evaluation of License Applications.
The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 1, 7, 8, 9a, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23, and 25 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted compatible regulations to the NRC regulations that specify the requirements to obtain a license to possess or use radioactive materials.
The State of Vermont has also developed licensing procedures and adopted NRC licensing guides for specific uses of radioactive material for use by the program staff when evaluating license applications.
(g) Inspections and Enforcement. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 1, 16, 18, 19, and 23 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted a schedule providing for the inspection of licensees as frequently as, or more frequently than, the inspection schedule used by the NRC.
The State of Vermonts Radioactive Materials Program has adopted procedures for the conduct of inspections, reporting of inspection findings, and reporting inspection results to the licensees. Additionally, the State of Vermont has also adopted procedures for the enforcement of regulatory requirements.
(h) Regulatory Administration. The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criterion 23 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont is bound by requirements specified in its State law for rulemaking, issuing licenses, and taking enforcement actions. The State of Vermont has also adopted administrative procedures to assure fair and impartial treatment of license applicants. The State of Vermont law prescribes standards of ethical conduct for State employees.
(i) Cooperation with Other Agencies.
The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 25, 26, and 27 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont law provides for the recognition of existing NRC and Agreement State licenses and the State has a process in place for the transition of active NRC licenses. Upon the effective date of the Agreement, all active NRC radioactive materials licenses issued to facilities in the State of Vermont will be recognized as Vermont Department of Health licenses.
The State of Vermont also provides for timely renewal. This provision affords the continuance of licenses for which an application for renewal has been filed more than 30 days prior to the date of expiration of the license.
NRC licenses transferred while in timely renewal are included under the continuation provision.
The State of Vermont regulations, in Vermont Radioactive Materials Rule Chapter 6, Subchapter 5, provide exemptions from the States requirements for the NRC and the U.S.
Department of Energy contractors or subcontractors; the exemptions must be authorized by law and determined not to endanger life or property and to otherwise be in the public interest. The proposed Agreement commits the State of Vermont to use its best efforts to cooperate with the NRC and the other Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs for the protection against hazards of radiation, and to assure that the States program will continue to be compatible with the Commissions program for the regulation of Agreement materials. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS


Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules                                                 29815 special nuclear material waste as                       compatible with the program of the                     ARTICLE IX defined in regulations or orders of the                 Commission for the regulation of                         This Agreement shall become Commission;                                             materials covered by this Agreement.                  effective on [date], and shall remain in G. The regulation of the disposal of                   The State and the Commission agree                  effect unless and until such time as it is such other byproduct, source, or special               to keep each other informed of proposed                terminated pursuant to Article VIII.
29814 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules proposed Agreement specifies the desirability of reciprocal recognition of licenses, and commits the Commission and the State of Vermont to use their best efforts to accord such reciprocity.
nuclear material as the Commission                                                                               Done at [location] this [date] day of changes in their respective rules and determines by regulation or order                                                                             [month], 2019.
The State of Vermont would be able to recognize the licenses of other jurisdictions by general license.
regulations and to provide each other should, because of the hazards or                                                                                For the Nuclear Regulatory the opportunity for early and potential hazards thereof, not be so                                                                          Commission.
Staff Conclusion Section 274d. of the AEA provides that the Commission shall enter into an Agreement under Section 274b. with any State if:
substantive contribution to the proposed disposed without a license from the                                                                            lllllllllllllllllll changes.
(a) The Governor of that State certifies that the State has a program for the control of radiation hazards adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the Agreement materials within the State, and that the State desires to assume regulatory responsibility for the Agreement materials; and (b) The Commission finds that the State program is in accordance with the requirements of Subsection 274o. and in all other respects compatible with the Commissions program for regulation of such materials, and that the State program is adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials covered by the proposed Agreement.
Commission; and                                                                                               Kristine L. Svinicki, Chairman H. The regulation of activities not                     The State and the Commission agree Done at [location] this [date] day of exempt from Commission regulation as                    to keep each other informed of events,
The NRC staff has reviewed the proposed Agreement, the certification of Vermont Governor Scott, and the supporting information provided by the Radioactive Materials Program of the Vermont Department of Health. Based upon this review, the NRC staff concludes that the State of Vermont Radioactive Materials Program satisfies the Section 274d. criteria as well as the criteria in the Commissions Policy Statement Criteria for Guidance of States and NRC in Discontinuance of NRC Regulatory Authority and Assumption Thereof by States Through Agreement. The NRC staff also concludes that the proposed State of Vermont program to regulate Agreement materials, as comprised of statutes, regulations, procedures, and staffing, is compatible with the Commissions program and is adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials covered by the proposed Agreement. Therefore, the proposed Agreement meets the requirements of Section 274 of the AEA.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of June, 2019.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Andrea L. Kock, Director, Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
Note: The following appendix will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.
APPENDIX A AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THE STATE OF VERMONT FOR THE DISCONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN COMMISSION REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 274 OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT OF 1954, AS AMENDED WHEREAS, The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) is authorized under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2011 et seq. (hereinafter referred to as the Act), to enter into agreements with the Governor of the State of Vermont (hereinafter referred to as the State) providing for discontinuance of the regulatory authority of the Commission within the State under Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and Section 161 of the Act with respect to byproduct materials as defined in Sections 11e.(1),
(3), and (4) of the Act, source materials, and special nuclear materials in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass; and, WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Vermont is authorized under VT.
STAT. ANN. tit. 18, &sect; 1653 to enter into this Agreement with the Commission;
: and, WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Vermont certified on April 11, 2019, that the State has a program for the control of radiation hazards adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials within the State covered by this Agreement, and that the State desires to assume regulatory responsibility for such materials; and, WHEREAS, The Commission found on [date] that the program of the State of Vermont for the regulation of the materials covered by this Agreement is compatible with the Commissions program for the regulation of such materials and is adequate to protect the public health and safety; and, WHEREAS, The State of Vermont and the Commission recognize the desirability and importance of cooperation between the Commission and the State in the formulation of standards for protection against hazards of radiation and in assuring that State and Commission programs for protection against hazards of radiation will be coordinated and compatible;
: and, WHEREAS, The Commission and the State of Vermont recognize the desirability of the reciprocal recognition of licenses, and of the granting of limited exemptions from licensing of those materials subject to this Agreement; and, WHEREAS, This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Act; NOW, THEREFORE, It is hereby agreed between the Commission and the Governor of Vermont acting on behalf of the State as follows:
ARTICLE I Subject to the exceptions provided in Articles II, IV, and V, the Commission shall discontinue, as of the effective date of this Agreement, the regulatory authority of the Commission in the State under Chapters 6, 7 and 8, and Section 161 of the Act with respect to the following materials:
: 1. Byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(1) of the Act;
: 2. Byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(3) of the Act;
: 3. Byproduct materials as defined in Section 11e.(4) of the Act;
: 4. Source materials; and
: 5. Special nuclear materials, in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.
ARTICLE II This Agreement does not provide for the discontinuance of any authority, and the Commission shall retain authority and responsibility, with respect to:
A. The regulation of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(2) of the Act; B. The regulation of the land disposal of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material received from other persons; C. The evaluation of radiation safety information on sealed sources or devices containing byproduct, source, or special nuclear material and the registration of the sealed sources or devices for distribution, as provided for in regulations or orders of the Commission; D. The regulation of the construction, operation, and decommissioning of any production or utilization facility or any uranium enrichment facility; E. The regulation of the export from or import into the United States of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material, or of any production or utilization facility; F. The regulation of the disposal into the ocean or sea of byproduct, source, or VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
 
29815 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules special nuclear material waste as defined in regulations or orders of the Commission; G. The regulation of the disposal of such other byproduct, source, or special nuclear material as the Commission determines by regulation or order should, because of the hazards or potential hazards thereof, not be so disposed without a license from the Commission; and H. The regulation of activities not exempt from Commission regulation as stated in 10 CFR part 150.
ARTICLE III With the exception of those activities identified in Article II, paragraphs D.
through H., this Agreement may be amended, upon application by the State and approval by the Commission to include one or more of the additional activities specified in Article II, paragraphs A. through C., whereby the State may then exert regulatory authority and responsibility with respect to those activities.
ARTICLE IV Notwithstanding this Agreement, the Commission may from time to time by rule, regulation, or order, require that the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing source, byproduct, or special nuclear material shall not transfer possession or control of such product except pursuant to a license or an exemption for licensing issued by the Commission.
ARTICLE V This Agreement shall not affect the authority of the Commission under Subsection 161b. or 161i. of the Act to issue rules, regulations, or orders to promote the common defense and security, to protect restricted data, or to guard against the loss or diversion of special nuclear material.
ARTICLE VI The Commission will cooperate with the State and other Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs of the State and the Commission for protection against hazards of radiation and to assure that Commission and State programs for protection against the hazards of radiation will be coordinated and compatible. The State agrees to cooperate with the Commission and other Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs of the State and the Commission for protection against the hazards of radiation and to assure that the States program will continue to be compatible with the program of the Commission for the regulation of materials covered by this Agreement.
The State and the Commission agree to keep each other informed of proposed changes in their respective rules and regulations and to provide each other the opportunity for early and substantive contribution to the proposed changes.
The State and the Commission agree to keep each other informed of events, accidents, and licensee performance that may have generic implication or otherwise be of regulatory interest.
ARTICLE VII The Commission and the State agree that it is desirable to provide reciprocal recognition of licenses for the materials listed in Article I licensed by the other party or by any other Agreement State.
Accordingly, the Commission and the State agree to develop appropriate rules, regulations, and procedures by which reciprocity will be accorded.
ARTICLE VIII The Commission, upon its own initiative after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to the State or upon request of the Governor of Vermont, may terminate or suspend all or part of this Agreement and reassert the licensing and regulatory authority vested in it under the Act, if the Commission finds that (1) such termination or suspension is required to protect the public health and safety, or (2) the State has not complied with one or more of the requirements of Section 274 of the Act.
Pursuant to Section 274j. of the Act, the Commission may, after notifying the Governor, temporarily suspend all or part of this Agreement without notice or hearing if, in the judgment of the Commission, an emergency situation exists with respect to any material covered by this agreement creating danger which requires immediate action to protect the health or safety of persons either within or outside of the State and the State has failed to take steps necessary to contain or eliminate the cause of danger within a reasonable time after the situation arose. The Commission shall periodically review actions taken by the State under this Agreement to ensure compliance with Section 274 of the Act, which requires a State program to be adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials covered by this Agreement and to be compatible with the Commissions program.
ARTICLE IX This Agreement shall become effective on [date], and shall remain in effect unless and until such time as it is terminated pursuant to Article VIII.
Done at [location] this [date] day of
[month], 2019.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
lllllllllllllllllll Kristine L. Svinicki, Chairman Done at [location] this [date] day of
[month], 2019.
[month], 2019.
stated in 10 CFR part 150.                              accidents, and licensee performance                      For the State of Vermont.
For the State of Vermont.
that may have generic implication or ARTICLE III otherwise be of regulatory interest.                  lllllllllllllllllll With the exception of those activities                                                                      Philip B. Scott, Governor identified in Article II, paragraphs D.                ARTICLE VII                                            [FR Doc. 2019-13403 Filed 6-24-19; 8:45 am]
lllllllllllllllllll Philip B. Scott, Governor
through H., this Agreement may be                          The Commission and the State agree BILLING CODE 7590-01-P amended, upon application by the State that it is desirable to provide reciprocal and approval by the Commission to recognition of licenses for the materials include one or more of the additional                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION listed in Article I licensed by the other activities specified in Article II, party or by any other Agreement State.                Federal Aviation Administration paragraphs A. through C., whereby the Accordingly, the Commission and the State may then exert regulatory State agree to develop appropriate rules,              14 CFR Part 39 authority and responsibility with regulations, and procedures by which respect to those activities.                                                                                  [Docket No. FAA-2019-0440; Product reciprocity will be accorded.
[FR Doc. 2019-13403 Filed 6-24-19; 8:45 am]
ARTICLE IV                                                                                                    Identifier 2019-NM-032-AD]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39
ARTICLE VIII                                          RIN 2120-AA64 Notwithstanding this Agreement, the Commission may from time to time by                        The Commission, upon its own Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing rule, regulation, or order, require that                initiative after reasonable notice and Company Airplanes the manufacturer, processor, or                        opportunity for hearing to the State or producer of any equipment, device,                      upon request of the Governor of                        AGENCY: Federal Aviation commodity, or other product containing                  Vermont, may terminate or suspend all                  Administration (FAA), DOT.
[Docket No. FAA-2019-0440; Product Identifier 2019-NM-032-AD]
source, byproduct, or special nuclear                  or part of this Agreement and reassert                ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking material shall not transfer possession or              the licensing and regulatory authority                (NPRM).
RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
control of such product except pursuant                vested in it under the Act, if the to a license or an exemption for                        Commission finds that (1) such                       
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).  


==SUMMARY==
==SUMMARY==
:   The FAA proposes to adopt a licensing issued by the Commission.                    termination or suspension is required to              new airworthiness directive (AD) for all protect the public health and safety, or              The Boeing Company Model 737-300, ARTICLE V                                                                                                      -400, and -500 series airplanes. This (2) the State has not complied with one This Agreement shall not affect the                  or more of the requirements of Section                proposed AD was prompted by fuel authority of the Commission under                      274 of the Act.                                        system reviews conducted by the Subsection 161b. or 161i. of the Act to                                                                        manufacturer. This proposed AD would issue rules, regulations, or orders to                    Pursuant to Section 274j. of the Act,              require applying sealant to the fasteners promote the common defense and                          the Commission may, after notifying the                in the fuel tanks, replacing wire bundle security, to protect restricted data, or to            Governor, temporarily suspend all or                  clamps external to the fuel tanks and guard against the loss or diversion of                  part of this Agreement without notice or              installing Teflon sleeving under the special nuclear material.                              hearing if, in the judgment of the                    clamps. The FAA is proposing this AD Commission, an emergency situation                    to address the unsafe condition on these ARTICLE VI                                              exists with respect to any material                    products.
: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-300,  
The Commission will cooperate with                    covered by this agreement creating                    DATES: The FAA must receive comments the State and other Agreement States in                danger which requires immediate action                on this proposed AD by August 9, 2019.
-400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This proposed AD would require applying sealant to the fasteners in the fuel tanks, replacing wire bundle clamps external to the fuel tanks and installing Teflon sleeving under the clamps. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
the formulation of standards and                        to protect the health or safety of persons ADDRESSES: You may send comments, regulatory programs of the State and the                either within or outside of the State and using the procedures found in 14 CFR Commission for protection against                      the State has failed to take steps 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following hazards of radiation and to assure that                necessary to contain or eliminate the                  methods:
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 9, 2019.
Commission and State programs for                      cause of danger within a reasonable
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to protection against the hazards of                      time after the situation arose. The                    http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS radiation will be coordinated and                      Commission shall periodically review                  instructions for submitting comments.
* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
compatible. The State agrees to                        actions taken by the State under this
* Fax: 202-493-2251.
* Fax: 202-493-2251.
cooperate with the Commission and                      Agreement to ensure compliance with
* Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
* Mail: U.S. Department of other Agreement States in the                          Section 274 of the Act, which requires                Transportation, Docket Operations, M-formulation of standards and regulatory                a State program to be adequate to                      30, West Building Ground Floor, Room programs of the State and the                          protect the public health and safety with              W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Commission for protection against the                  respect to the materials covered by this              Washington, DC 20590.
* Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS}}
hazards of radiation and to assure that                Agreement and to be compatible with
* Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail the States program will continue to be                the Commissions program.                              address above between 9 a.m. and 5 VerDate Sep<11>2014   20:41 Jun 24, 2019   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00005   Fmt 4702   Sfmt 4702   E:\FR\FM\25JNP1.SGM   25JNP1}}

Latest revision as of 01:45, 5 January 2025

Federal Register Notice: Proposed Agreement Between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Vermont
ML19176A006
Person / Time
Issue date: 06/25/2019
From: Duane White
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
To:
Shared Package
ML19136A090 List:
References
84FR29811, NRC-2019-0114
Download: ML19176A006 (5)


Text

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register 29811 Vol. 84, No. 122 Tuesday, June 25, 2019 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 10 CFR Part 150

[NRC-2019-0114]

State of Vermont: NRC Staff Assessment of a Proposed Agreement Between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Vermont AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Proposed state agreement; request for comment.

SUMMARY

By letter dated April 11, 2019, Governor Philip Scott of the State of Vermont requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) enter into an Agreement with the State of Vermont as authorized by Section 274b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA).

Under the proposed Agreement, the Commission would discontinue, and the State of Vermont would assume, regulatory authority over certain types of byproduct materials as defined in the AEA, source material, and special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.

As required by Section 274e. of the AEA, the NRC is publishing the proposed Agreement for public comment. The NRC is also publishing the summary of a draft assessment by the NRC staff of the State of Vermonts regulatory program. Comments are requested on the proposed Agreement and its effect on public health and safety. Comments are also requested on the draft staff assessment, the adequacy of the State of Vermonts program, and the States program staff, as discussed in this document.

DATES: Submit comments by July 25, 2019. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received before this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by the following method:

  • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0114. Address questions about NRC dockets in Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287-9127; email:

Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document.

For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting comments, see Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Duncan White, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, telephone: 301-415-2598, email:

Duncan.White@nrc.gov of the U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2019-0114 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this action by any of the following methods:

adams.html. To begin the search, select ADAMS Public Documents and then select Begin Web-based ADAMS Search. For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737, or by email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The final application for an AEA Section 274 Agreement from the State of Vermont, the draft assessment of the proposed Vermont program, and additional related correspondence between the NRC and the State for the regulation of agreement materials are available in ADAMS under Accession Nos.

ML19107A432, ML19114A092, ML19115A214, ML19102A130 and ML19113A279.

  • NRCs PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRCs PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC-2019-0114 in your comment submission. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission.

The NRC will post all comment submissions at https://

www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS.

The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information.

If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission.

Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS.

II. Additional Information on Agreements Entered Under Section 274 of the AEA Under the proposed Agreement, the NRC would discontinue its authority over 36 licenses and would transfer its regulatory authority over those licenses to the State of Vermont. The NRC periodically reviews the performance of the Agreement States to assure compliance with the provisions of Section 274.

Section 274e. of the AEA requires that the terms of the proposed Agreement be published in the Federal Register for public comment once each week for four consecutive weeks. This document is being published in fulfillment of that requirement.

III. Proposed Agreement With the State of Vermont

Background

(a) Section 274b. of the AEA provides the mechanism for a State to assume regulatory authority from the NRC over certain radioactive materials and activities that involve use of these VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS

29812 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules materials. The radioactive materials, sometimes referred to as Agreement materials, are byproduct materials as defined in Sections 11e.(1), 11e.(2),

11e.(3), and 11e.(4) of the AEA; source material as defined in Section 11z. of the AEA; and special nuclear material as defined in Section 11aa. of the AEA, restricted to quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.

The radioactive materials and activities (which together are usually referred to as the categories of materials) that the State of Vermont requests authority over are:

1. The possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(1) of the Act;
2. The possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(3) of the Act;
3. The possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(4) of the Act;
4. The possession and use of source material; and
5. The possession and use of special nuclear material, in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.

(b) The proposed Agreement contains articles that:

(i) Specify the materials and activities over which authority is transferred; (ii) Specify the materials and activities over which the Commission will retain regulatory authority; (iii) Continue the authority of the Commission to safeguard special nuclear material, protect restricted data, and protect common defense and security; (iv) Commit the State of Vermont and the NRC to exchange information as necessary to maintain coordinated and compatible programs; (v) Provide for the reciprocal recognition of licenses; (vi) Provide for the suspension or termination of the Agreement; and (vii) Specify the effective date of the proposed Agreement.

The Commission reserves the option to modify the terms of the proposed Agreement in response to comments, to correct errors, and to make editorial changes. The final text of the proposed Agreement, with the effective date, will be published after the Agreement is approved by the Commission and signed by the NRC Chairman and the Governor of Vermont.

(c) The regulatory program is authorized by law under the Vermont Statutes Annotated (VT. STAT. ANN.)

title 18, sections 1651 through 1657, which provides the Governor with the authority to enter into an Agreement with the Commission. The State of Vermont law contains provisions for the orderly transfer of regulatory authority over affected licenses from the NRC to the State. In a letter dated April 11, 2019, Governor Scott certified that the State of Vermont has a program for the control of radiation hazards that is adequate to protect public health and safety within the State of Vermont for the materials and activities specified in the proposed Agreement, and that the State desires to assume regulatory responsibility for these materials and activities (ADAMS Accession No. ML19116A227). After the effective date of the Agreement, licenses issued by the NRC would continue in effect as State of Vermont licenses until the licenses expire or are replaced by State-issued licenses.

(d) The draft staff assessment finds that the Vermont Department of Healths Radioactive Materials Program is adequate to protect public health and safety and is compatible with the NRCs regulatory program for the regulation of Agreement materials. However, the NRC staff identified several sections of the Vermont Radioactive Materials regulations that were either not compatible or needed additional editorial changes. By letter dated May 10, 2019, the NRC staff described these compatibility and editorial issues, and requested that the Vermont Department of Health reply within 60 days with a commitment to make the described regulatory changes as soon as practicable (ADAMS Accession No. ML19102A160). The resolution of these comments does not interfere with the NRC staffs processing of Vermonts Agreement State Application. On June 6, 2019, the NRC received a letter from the Vermont Department of Health committing to making these compatibility and editorial changes (ADAMS Accession No. ML19161A133).

Therefore, the State of Vermont has committed to adopting an adequate and compatible set of radiation protection regulations that apply to byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.

Summary of the Draft NRC Staff Assessment of the State of Vermonts Program for the Regulation of Agreement Materials The NRC staff has examined the State of Vermonts request for an Agreement with respect to the ability of the States radiation control program to regulate Agreement materials. The examination was based on the Commissions Policy Statement, Criteria for Guidance of States and NRC in Discontinuance of NRC Regulatory Authority and Assumption Thereof by States Through Agreement, (46 FR 7540, January 23, 1981, as amended by Policy Statements published at 46 FR 36969, July 16, 1981, and at 48 FR 33376, July 21, 1983)

(Policy Statement), and the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Procedure SA-700, Processing an Agreement (available at https://

scp.nrc.gov/procedures/sa700.pdf and https://scp.nrc.gov/procedures/sa700_

hb.pdf). The Policy Statement has 28 criteria that serve as the basis for the NRC staffs assessment of the State of Vermonts request for an Agreement.

The following section will reference the appropriate criteria numbers from the Policy Statement that apply to each section.

(a) Organization and Personnel. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 1, 2, 20, and 24 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermonts proposed Agreement materials program for the regulation of radioactive materials is called the Radioactive Materials Program, and will be located within the existing Office of Radiological Health of the Vermont Department of Health.

The educational requirements for the Radioactive Materials Program staff are specified in the State of Vermonts personnel position descriptions and meet the NRC criteria with respect to formal education or combined education and experience requirements.

All current staff members hold a Masters Degree in either environmental science or radiologic and imaging sciences. All have training and work experience in radiation protection.

Supervisory level staff have at least 20 years of working experience in radiation protection.

The State of Vermont performed an analysis of the expected workload under the proposed Agreement. Based on the NRC staff review of the State of Vermonts analysis, the State has an adequate number of staff to regulate radioactive materials under the terms of the proposed Agreement. The State of Vermont will employ the equivalent of 1.25 full-time equivalent professional and technical staff to support the Radioactive Materials Program.

The State of Vermont has indicated that the Radioactive Materials Program has an adequate number of trained and qualified staff in place. The State of Vermont has developed qualification procedures for license reviewers and inspectors that are similar to the NRCs procedures. The Radioactive Materials Program staff has accompanied the NRC staff on inspections of NRC licensees in Vermont and participated in licensing training at NRCs Region I with Division of Nuclear Materials Safety staff. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS

29813 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules Radioactive Materials Program staff is also actively supplementing its experience through direct meetings, discussions, and facility visits with the NRC licensees in the State of Vermont and through self-study, in-house training, and formal training.

Overall, the NRC staff concluded that the Radioactive Materials Program staff identified by the State of Vermont to participate in the Agreement materials program has sufficient knowledge and experience in radiation protection, the use of radioactive materials, the standards for the evaluation of applications for licensing, and the techniques of inspecting licensed users of Agreement materials.

(b) Legislation and Regulations. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 1-15, 17, 19, and 21-28 in the draft staff assessment. The Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN.

tit. 18, sections 1651 through 1657 provide the authority to enter into the Agreement and establish the Vermont Department of Health as the lead agency for the States Radioactive Materials Program. The Department has the requisite authority to promulgate regulations under the Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 18, section 1653(b)(1) for protection against radiation. The Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN. tit. 18, sections 1651 through 1657 also provide the Radioactive Materials Program the authority to issue licenses and orders; conduct inspections; and enforce compliance with regulations, license conditions, and orders. The Vermont Statutes Annotated, VT. STAT. ANN.

tit. 18, section 1654 requires licensees to provide access to inspectors.

The NRC staff verified that the State of Vermont adopted by reference the relevant NRC regulations in parts 19, 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 61, 70, 71, and 150 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) into the Vermont Radioactive Materials Rule, Chapter 6, Subchapter 5. During its review, the NRC staff identified several sections of the final Vermont Radioactive Materials regulations that are not compatible or need editorial changes. By letter dated May 10, 2019, the NRC staff described these compatibility and editorial issues, and requested that the Vermont Department of Health reply within 60 days with a commitment to make the described regulatory changes as soon as practicable. The resolution of these comments does not interfere with the NRC staffs processing of Vermonts Agreement State Application. On June 6, 2019, the NRC staff received a letter from the Vermont Department of Health committing to making these compatibility and editorial changes.

Therefore, the State of Vermont has committed to adopting an adequate and compatible set of radiation protection regulations that apply to byproduct materials, source material and special nuclear material in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass. The NRC staff also verified that the State of Vermont will not attempt to enforce regulatory matters reserved to the Commission.

(c) Storage and Disposal. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 8, 9a, and 11 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted NRC compatible requirements for the handling and storage of radioactive material, including regulations equivalent to the applicable standards contained in 10 CFR part 20, which address the general requirements for waste disposal, and part 61, which addresses waste classification and form.

These regulations are applicable to all licensees covered under this proposed Agreement.

(d) Transportation of Radioactive Material. The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 10 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted compatible regulations to the NRC regulations in 10 CFR part 71. Part 71 contains the requirements licensees must follow when preparing packages containing radioactive material for transport. Part 71 also contains requirements related to the licensing of packaging for use in transporting radioactive materials.

(e) Recordkeeping and Incident Reporting. The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 1 and 11 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted compatible regulations to the sections of the NRC regulations that specify requirements for licensees to keep records and to report incidents or accidents involving the States regulated Agreement materials.

(f) Evaluation of License Applications.

The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 1, 7, 8, 9a, 13, 14, 15, 20, 23, and 25 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted compatible regulations to the NRC regulations that specify the requirements to obtain a license to possess or use radioactive materials.

The State of Vermont has also developed licensing procedures and adopted NRC licensing guides for specific uses of radioactive material for use by the program staff when evaluating license applications.

(g) Inspections and Enforcement. The NRC staff reviewed these areas under Criteria 1, 16, 18, 19, and 23 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont has adopted a schedule providing for the inspection of licensees as frequently as, or more frequently than, the inspection schedule used by the NRC.

The State of Vermonts Radioactive Materials Program has adopted procedures for the conduct of inspections, reporting of inspection findings, and reporting inspection results to the licensees. Additionally, the State of Vermont has also adopted procedures for the enforcement of regulatory requirements.

(h) Regulatory Administration. The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criterion 23 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont is bound by requirements specified in its State law for rulemaking, issuing licenses, and taking enforcement actions. The State of Vermont has also adopted administrative procedures to assure fair and impartial treatment of license applicants. The State of Vermont law prescribes standards of ethical conduct for State employees.

(i) Cooperation with Other Agencies.

The NRC staff reviewed this area under Criteria 25, 26, and 27 in the draft staff assessment. The State of Vermont law provides for the recognition of existing NRC and Agreement State licenses and the State has a process in place for the transition of active NRC licenses. Upon the effective date of the Agreement, all active NRC radioactive materials licenses issued to facilities in the State of Vermont will be recognized as Vermont Department of Health licenses.

The State of Vermont also provides for timely renewal. This provision affords the continuance of licenses for which an application for renewal has been filed more than 30 days prior to the date of expiration of the license.

NRC licenses transferred while in timely renewal are included under the continuation provision.

The State of Vermont regulations, in Vermont Radioactive Materials Rule Chapter 6, Subchapter 5, provide exemptions from the States requirements for the NRC and the U.S.

Department of Energy contractors or subcontractors; the exemptions must be authorized by law and determined not to endanger life or property and to otherwise be in the public interest. The proposed Agreement commits the State of Vermont to use its best efforts to cooperate with the NRC and the other Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs for the protection against hazards of radiation, and to assure that the States program will continue to be compatible with the Commissions program for the regulation of Agreement materials. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS

29814 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules proposed Agreement specifies the desirability of reciprocal recognition of licenses, and commits the Commission and the State of Vermont to use their best efforts to accord such reciprocity.

The State of Vermont would be able to recognize the licenses of other jurisdictions by general license.

Staff Conclusion Section 274d. of the AEA provides that the Commission shall enter into an Agreement under Section 274b. with any State if:

(a) The Governor of that State certifies that the State has a program for the control of radiation hazards adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the Agreement materials within the State, and that the State desires to assume regulatory responsibility for the Agreement materials; and (b) The Commission finds that the State program is in accordance with the requirements of Subsection 274o. and in all other respects compatible with the Commissions program for regulation of such materials, and that the State program is adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials covered by the proposed Agreement.

The NRC staff has reviewed the proposed Agreement, the certification of Vermont Governor Scott, and the supporting information provided by the Radioactive Materials Program of the Vermont Department of Health. Based upon this review, the NRC staff concludes that the State of Vermont Radioactive Materials Program satisfies the Section 274d. criteria as well as the criteria in the Commissions Policy Statement Criteria for Guidance of States and NRC in Discontinuance of NRC Regulatory Authority and Assumption Thereof by States Through Agreement. The NRC staff also concludes that the proposed State of Vermont program to regulate Agreement materials, as comprised of statutes, regulations, procedures, and staffing, is compatible with the Commissions program and is adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials covered by the proposed Agreement. Therefore, the proposed Agreement meets the requirements of Section 274 of the AEA.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of June, 2019.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Andrea L. Kock, Director, Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.

Note: The following appendix will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

APPENDIX A AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND THE STATE OF VERMONT FOR THE DISCONTINUANCE OF CERTAIN COMMISSION REGULATORY AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY WITHIN THE STATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 274 OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT OF 1954, AS AMENDED WHEREAS, The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) is authorized under Section 274 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2011 et seq. (hereinafter referred to as the Act), to enter into agreements with the Governor of the State of Vermont (hereinafter referred to as the State) providing for discontinuance of the regulatory authority of the Commission within the State under Chapters 6, 7, and 8, and Section 161 of the Act with respect to byproduct materials as defined in Sections 11e.(1),

(3), and (4) of the Act, source materials, and special nuclear materials in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass; and, WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Vermont is authorized under VT.

STAT. ANN. tit. 18, § 1653 to enter into this Agreement with the Commission;

and, WHEREAS, The Governor of the State of Vermont certified on April 11, 2019, that the State has a program for the control of radiation hazards adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials within the State covered by this Agreement, and that the State desires to assume regulatory responsibility for such materials; and, WHEREAS, The Commission found on [date] that the program of the State of Vermont for the regulation of the materials covered by this Agreement is compatible with the Commissions program for the regulation of such materials and is adequate to protect the public health and safety; and, WHEREAS, The State of Vermont and the Commission recognize the desirability and importance of cooperation between the Commission and the State in the formulation of standards for protection against hazards of radiation and in assuring that State and Commission programs for protection against hazards of radiation will be coordinated and compatible;
and, WHEREAS, The Commission and the State of Vermont recognize the desirability of the reciprocal recognition of licenses, and of the granting of limited exemptions from licensing of those materials subject to this Agreement; and, WHEREAS, This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Act; NOW, THEREFORE, It is hereby agreed between the Commission and the Governor of Vermont acting on behalf of the State as follows:

ARTICLE I Subject to the exceptions provided in Articles II, IV, and V, the Commission shall discontinue, as of the effective date of this Agreement, the regulatory authority of the Commission in the State under Chapters 6, 7 and 8, and Section 161 of the Act with respect to the following materials:

1. Byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(1) of the Act;
2. Byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(3) of the Act;
3. Byproduct materials as defined in Section 11e.(4) of the Act;
4. Source materials; and
5. Special nuclear materials, in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass.

ARTICLE II This Agreement does not provide for the discontinuance of any authority, and the Commission shall retain authority and responsibility, with respect to:

A. The regulation of byproduct material as defined in Section 11e.(2) of the Act; B. The regulation of the land disposal of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material received from other persons; C. The evaluation of radiation safety information on sealed sources or devices containing byproduct, source, or special nuclear material and the registration of the sealed sources or devices for distribution, as provided for in regulations or orders of the Commission; D. The regulation of the construction, operation, and decommissioning of any production or utilization facility or any uranium enrichment facility; E. The regulation of the export from or import into the United States of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material, or of any production or utilization facility; F. The regulation of the disposal into the ocean or sea of byproduct, source, or VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS

29815 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2019 / Proposed Rules special nuclear material waste as defined in regulations or orders of the Commission; G. The regulation of the disposal of such other byproduct, source, or special nuclear material as the Commission determines by regulation or order should, because of the hazards or potential hazards thereof, not be so disposed without a license from the Commission; and H. The regulation of activities not exempt from Commission regulation as stated in 10 CFR part 150.

ARTICLE III With the exception of those activities identified in Article II, paragraphs D.

through H., this Agreement may be amended, upon application by the State and approval by the Commission to include one or more of the additional activities specified in Article II, paragraphs A. through C., whereby the State may then exert regulatory authority and responsibility with respect to those activities.

ARTICLE IV Notwithstanding this Agreement, the Commission may from time to time by rule, regulation, or order, require that the manufacturer, processor, or producer of any equipment, device, commodity, or other product containing source, byproduct, or special nuclear material shall not transfer possession or control of such product except pursuant to a license or an exemption for licensing issued by the Commission.

ARTICLE V This Agreement shall not affect the authority of the Commission under Subsection 161b. or 161i. of the Act to issue rules, regulations, or orders to promote the common defense and security, to protect restricted data, or to guard against the loss or diversion of special nuclear material.

ARTICLE VI The Commission will cooperate with the State and other Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs of the State and the Commission for protection against hazards of radiation and to assure that Commission and State programs for protection against the hazards of radiation will be coordinated and compatible. The State agrees to cooperate with the Commission and other Agreement States in the formulation of standards and regulatory programs of the State and the Commission for protection against the hazards of radiation and to assure that the States program will continue to be compatible with the program of the Commission for the regulation of materials covered by this Agreement.

The State and the Commission agree to keep each other informed of proposed changes in their respective rules and regulations and to provide each other the opportunity for early and substantive contribution to the proposed changes.

The State and the Commission agree to keep each other informed of events, accidents, and licensee performance that may have generic implication or otherwise be of regulatory interest.

ARTICLE VII The Commission and the State agree that it is desirable to provide reciprocal recognition of licenses for the materials listed in Article I licensed by the other party or by any other Agreement State.

Accordingly, the Commission and the State agree to develop appropriate rules, regulations, and procedures by which reciprocity will be accorded.

ARTICLE VIII The Commission, upon its own initiative after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to the State or upon request of the Governor of Vermont, may terminate or suspend all or part of this Agreement and reassert the licensing and regulatory authority vested in it under the Act, if the Commission finds that (1) such termination or suspension is required to protect the public health and safety, or (2) the State has not complied with one or more of the requirements of Section 274 of the Act.

Pursuant to Section 274j. of the Act, the Commission may, after notifying the Governor, temporarily suspend all or part of this Agreement without notice or hearing if, in the judgment of the Commission, an emergency situation exists with respect to any material covered by this agreement creating danger which requires immediate action to protect the health or safety of persons either within or outside of the State and the State has failed to take steps necessary to contain or eliminate the cause of danger within a reasonable time after the situation arose. The Commission shall periodically review actions taken by the State under this Agreement to ensure compliance with Section 274 of the Act, which requires a State program to be adequate to protect the public health and safety with respect to the materials covered by this Agreement and to be compatible with the Commissions program.

ARTICLE IX This Agreement shall become effective on [date], and shall remain in effect unless and until such time as it is terminated pursuant to Article VIII.

Done at [location] this [date] day of

[month], 2019.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

lllllllllllllllllll Kristine L. Svinicki, Chairman Done at [location] this [date] day of

[month], 2019.

For the State of Vermont.

lllllllllllllllllll Philip B. Scott, Governor

[FR Doc. 2019-13403 Filed 6-24-19; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590-01-P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0440; Product Identifier 2019-NM-032-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64 Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-300,

-400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This proposed AD would require applying sealant to the fasteners in the fuel tanks, replacing wire bundle clamps external to the fuel tanks and installing Teflon sleeving under the clamps. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 9, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

  • Fax: 202-493-2251.
  • Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
  • Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:41 Jun 24, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\\FR\\FM\\25JNP1.SGM 25JNP1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS