[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 197 (Thursday, October 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 51980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25569]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 70-3101]


Consideration of an Exemption From Requirements of 10 CFR Part 70 
for PermaFix Environmental Services

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an Order pursuant to section 274f of the Atomic 
Energy Act that would exempt PermaFix Environmental Services (PermaFix) 
from certain NRC regulations. PermaFix requested this exemption in a 
letter dated July 23, 2001. The proposed exemption would allow 
PermaFix, under specified conditions, to possess waste containing 
special nuclear material (SNM), in greater mass quantities than 
specified in 10 CFR part 150, at PermaFix's mixed waste (i.e., waste 
containing both radioactive and hazardous constituents) treatment 
facilities located in Oak Ridge and Kingston, Tennessee, and 
Gainesville, Florida, without obtaining an NRC license pursuant to 10 
CFR part 70. NRC issued a similar Order to Envirocare of Utah, Inc. in 
May of 1999, and is considering issuing a similar Order to Waste 
Control Specialists, LLC. During the issuance of that Order, the 
Commission indicated that staff should consider similar requests from 
others prior to exploring rulemaking in this area (SRM-SECY-98-226).
    PerfmaFix is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Environment 
and Conservation, Division of Radiological Health and the Florida 
Department of Health, to treat and temporarily store low-level 
radioactive waste. PermaFix is also licensed by the Tennessee 
Department of Environment and Conservation and the Florida Department 
of Environmental Protection to treat hazardous waste. The hazardous 
waste activities at the site are not subject to the Order currently 
under consideration.
    Prior to the issuance of the Order, NRC will have made findings 
required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC's 
regulations. These findings will be documented in a Safety Evaluation 
Report and an Environmental Assessment.
    For Further Information Contact: Timothy E. Harris, Environmental 
and Performance Assessment Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office 
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone: (301) 415-6613. Fax.: 
(301) 415-5398.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of September 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas H. Essig,
Chief, Environmental and Performance Assessment Branch, Division of 
Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-25569 Filed 10-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P