NRC Proposes Interactive Electronic Rulemaking

[gj_vargo@ccmail.pnl.gov]

          No.  95-134                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          (Wednesday, November 2, 1995)
          
          NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ANNOUNCES PILOT PROGRAM
          ON ELECTRONIC RULEMAKING
          
          
          The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is introducing a pilot
          program to facilitate communication over the Internet on an 
          important safety issue - fire protection at nuclear power plants. 
          The program, called RuleNet, will enable the public to obtain 
          information from NRC, offer views and comments, and interact with 
          other participants before the rule on fire protection is 
          proposed.  RuleNet builds on earlier NRC efforts, such as the 
          electronic bulletin boards and the enhanced participatory 
          rulemaking, which focus on innovative ways to increase 
          communication between the agency and the public.
          
          The NRC will be employing procedures for RuleNet that have
          not previously been tried by any other federal agency.
          
          Under traditional rulemaking procedures, a proposed rule is
          usually published in advance to obtain public comments which are 
          then forwarded by mail directly to NRC.  This method is not 
          especially conducive to interested parties' working toward common 
          ground; rather, the agency reviews conflicting views and 
          approaches and decides on the best course of action.  Under 
          RuleNet, through sophisticated communications technology, 
          proposals and issues may be submitted, analyzed, and responded to 
          ahead of time -- allowing the public to assist in developing the 
          actual rule. RuleNet will also allow participants to "caucus,"
          by encouraging discussions among interested parties.
          
          The pilot will be implemented in phases.  In the first
          phase, all participants will discuss critical issues via the 
          Internet.  This will be followed by a 5-day period devoted to 
          caucuses, clarification, or identification of further issues to 
          be addressed.
          
          In the second phase, lasting 10-days, NRC will seek
          solutions to the issues posed in the first phase.  The public 
          will be provided an opportunity address the issues already 
          presented.  Afterward, NRC will analyze the issues and develop 
          more concrete proposals which will be posted electronically. 
          There will then be another opportunity for participants to either 
          caucus or react to proposals before a proposed rule is developed 
          and formal comments are submitted.
          
          To allow for meaningful participation in the pilot, the NRC
          is making relevant information on fire protection available to 
          potential participants in and observers of the RuleNet process. 
          Interested parties may access the basic fire protection document 
          from the network in searchable full text form.  NRC will also 
          continue to accept written comments on the proposed rule during 
          the formal comment period.
          
          The public can access the RuleNet world wide web site
          beginning November 20.  The site will be linked to NRC's home 
          page: http://www.nrc.gov or it may be accessed directly by 
          loading the following URL: http://nssc.llnl.gov/RuleNet. 
          Participant registration will be conducted from November 20 until 
          January 2.  At that time, the RuleNet pilot will commence and run 
          until February 9.