NRC Fees

[Leo Bobek <bobek@WPI.EDU>]

Good Morning.  For those of you at universities not associated with
university research reactors (URRs), you may have not received the news
that the NRC will shortly publish in the Federal Register (FR) their decision
to grant the petition of reconsideration of the Annual Fee Rule drafted by
Cornell University.  As before, the FR notice will request public comment
on a generic exemption for non-profit educational institutions.  To ensure
the generic exemption is put in place, IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU WATCH FOR THE
FR NOTICE AND RESPOND TO THE REQUEST FOR COMMENTS. 

Although not included in the NRC announcement that was sent to all URRs
yesterday afternoon, it is my understanding that the November 17 deadline
for submission of individual exemption requests will be extended until
final action is taken on the generic exemption.

On a final note, the NRC decision to reconsider the fees was the result,
in part, of an organized effort by the 37 URRs throughout the country. 
This e-mail forum is an excellent way gathering support and producing a
coalition of universities using radioisotopes to ensure this fee situation
is corrected and does not occur again.  Specifically, future Congressional
action may be necessary to eliminate the possibility of future lawsuits
which would again cause the NRC to impose fees on universities.

If any of you have questions, I will try answer them as expeditiously
as possible through e-mail. 

Sincerely,

Leo M. Bobek,
Director 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Reactor
<bobek@wpi.edu>