<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-08-24-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>3150-AD65</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>199510</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>3150</CODE>
            <NAME>Nuclear Regulatory Commission</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>NRC</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Radiological Criteria for Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The proposed rule would amend the Commission's regulations to codify the basic principles and radiological criteria that would allow decommissioned lands and structures to be released for unrestricted public use. In the final rule entitled, "General Requirements for Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities" (June 27, 1988; 53 FR 24018), the need and urgency for guidance with respect to residual contamination criteria were expressed. At that time, it was anticipated that an interagency working group organized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would develop necessary Federal guidance. However, in the absence of significant progress by the interagency working group, the Commission has directed that the NRC expedite rulemaking because the requirements, once final, will provide licensees with an incentive to complete site decommissioning. ^PThe proposed rule would establish basic radiological criteria for release of lands and structures. Measurables, in the form of surface and volume radioactive concentrations and site radioactivity inventory values, would be provided in supporting regulatory guidance. These combined activities should benefit the public, industry, and the NRC, providing a risk-based framework upon which decommissioning activities and license terminations can be accomplished. The framework will ensure adequate protection of public health and safety and identify residual radioactivity criteria upon which licensees can confidently develop reasonable and responsible decommissioning plans.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>10 CFR 020</CFR>
            <CFR>10 CFR 030</CFR>
            <CFR>10 CFR 040</CFR>
            <CFR>10 CFR 050</CFR>
            <CFR>10 CFR 051</CFR>
            <CFR>10 CFR 070</CFR>
            <CFR>10 CFR 072</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 2201</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>42 USC 5841</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <RPLAN_INFO>
            <STMT_OF_NEED><![CDATA[The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend 10 CFR 20 of its regulations to provide specific radiological criteria for the decommissioning of soils and structures. The proposed criteria would apply to the decommissioning of all facilities licensed under 10 CFR Parts 30, 40, 50, 60, 61, 70, and 72, as well as other facilities subject to the Commission's jurisdiction under the Atomic Energy Act and the Energy Reorganization Act. The NRC would apply these criteria in determining the adequacy of remediation of residual radioactivity resulting from the possession or use of source, byproduct, and special nuclear material. The proposed rule is intended to provide a clear and consistent regulatory basis for determining the extent to which lands and structures must be remediated before a site can be considered decommissioned. ^PThe NRC has developed the basis for the residual contamination levels in light of changes in basic radiation protection standards, improvements in remediation and radiation detection technologies, decommissioning experience obtained during the past 15 years, and comments received from public workshops held as part of this rulemaking effort. This rulemaking has been closely coordinated with the EPA from both a policy standpoint and for the technical underpinnings. The EPA was a key participant in the rulemaking workshops conducted for the rulemaking. EPA is preparing a parallel rulemaking. In addition, under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NRC and EPA, EPA will make a determination that the NRC rulemaking provides a sufficient level of protection for public health and safety and for the environment. This coordination will minimize the expenditure of Federal resources, provide a consistent regulatory approach for all facilities, and avoid a duplication of effort or overlapping regulations.]]></STMT_OF_NEED>
            <LEGAL_BASIS><![CDATA[This proposed rule is being developed under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.]]></LEGAL_BASIS>
            <ALTERNATIVES><![CDATA[The NRC presently allows decommissioning on a site-specific basis using existing guidance. The NRC could continue to allow decommissioning to proceed on a case-by-case basis. However, the NRC believes that codifying radiological criteria for decommissioning would provide a more effective method of and a broadly understood set of standards to be used in protecting public health and the environment at decommissioned sites.]]></ALTERNATIVES>
            <COSTS_AND_BENEFITS><![CDATA[The proposed rule would establish a clear and consistent regulatory basis for determining the extent to which lands and structures must be remediated before a site can be decommissioned. The Commission believes that inclusion of criteria in the regulations will result in more efficient and consistent licensing actions related to the numerous and frequently complex site decontamination and decommissioning activities anticipated in the future. Therefore, the proposed rule would use NRC and licensee resources more efficiently, be applied consistently to all types of licenses, create a predictable basis for decommissioning planning, and eliminate the protracted delays in decommissioning because licensees wait for generic regulatory criteria before proceeding with decommissioning of their facilities. The proposed rule would, for the most part, codify existing regulatory practice. It is not expected to result in any significant additional cost to the industry, the government, or the public. In fact, efficiencies produced by codifying and stabilizing regulatory practice in this area should result in an overall reduction in costs associated with decommissioning nuclear facilities. It is not possible to quantify the extent of these cost reductions at this time.]]></COSTS_AND_BENEFITS>
            <RISKS><![CDATA[This rulemaking would ensure that decommissioning will be carried out without undue impact on public and occupational health and safety and the environment. The proposed rule ensures a stable framework to accomplish decommissioning and achieves a stable level of costs for risks averted. The proposed amendments enhance the existing regulatory framework by providing a clear and consistent regulatory basis for determining the extent to which lands and structures must be remediated before a site can be decommissioned. The Commission believes that inclusion of radiological criteria in the regulations will result in more efficient and consistent licensing actions related to the numerous and frequently complex site decontamination and decommissioning activities anticipated in the future and reduce the risk to public health and the environment.]]></RISKS>
        </RPLAN_INFO>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>08/22/1994</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>59 FR 43200</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/20/1994</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/00/1996</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>Yes</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Businesses</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Governmental Jurisdictions</SMALL_ENTITY>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>Organizations</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Local</GOVT_LEVEL>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>State</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <PRINT_PAPER>NA</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>Not Collected</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Charleen</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Raddatz</LAST_NAME>
                <MIDDLE_NAME>T.</MIDDLE_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>3150</CODE>
                    <NAME>Nuclear Regulatory Commission</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>NRC</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>301 415-6215</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20555</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
        <REINVENT_GOVT>No</REINVENT_GOVT>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
