NRC Fees

[Leo Bobek <bobek@WPI.EDU>]

To All Concerned:

The NRC has published in the Federal Register vol. 58, No. 187 / Wed, Sept
29, 1993 pp. 50859-50866, a proposed rule for "Restoration of the Generic
Exemption From Annual Fees for Nonprofit Educational Institutions".

The NRC has granted the petition for reconsideration of the FY 1993 final
rule on fees and proposes to exempt non-profit educational institutions
from annual fees.  However, the NRC is requesting more information
relating to the broad benefits of university reactors and university research
using byproduct materials to further substantiate the petition.

The NRC expects commenters to, in addition to other supporting
information, provide data on number of students and faculty involved
in classes or research using radioisotopes, the subject area involved, and
"the relation between education and research in the institution".  The NRC
is also interested in how the education or research is "externalized"
beyond the institution.

The NRC goes on to state "This... does not represent a final
Commission decision to reinstate the exemption...".

It is IMERATIVE that every educational institution affected by possible
fees send their comments to the NRC by the deadline of Oct. 29.

IF EVERY UNIVERSITY USING BYPRODUCT MATERIALS SENDS A LETTER TO THE NRC, IT
WILL MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT IN FAVOR OF RESTORING THE EXEMPTION.

Let's all make the effort to ensure hundreds of letters pour into the NRC
on this issue.

I also strongly suggest you obtain a copy of the Fed. Reg. notice since I
have only provided brief highlights.


Letters should be sent to:

Secretary, USNRC
Washington, DC 20555
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Best of Luck to All of Us,

L. Bobek,
Director WPI Reactor
Worcester, MA