NRC extends public comment period

[Stephen McGuire <SAM2@nrc.gov>]

The NRC has extended the public comment period on a
proposed rule it published on January 31, 1996 (61 Federal
Register 3334) until March 31, 1996.  The rule, if adopted,
would require licensees to notify the NRC no later than 24
hours after learning of any intentional--or suspected
intentional--diversion of radioactive material from its intended
or authorized use.

The rule would add the following requirement to Part 20:

# 20.2205  Reports of unauthorized use of licensed
radioactive material.

	"(a) The licensee shall notify the NRC Operations
Center by telephone as soon as practical but not later than
24 hours after discovering that --

"(1) licensed radioactive material was used for a purpose not
authorized by the applicable NRC license or regulations; and


"(2) such use listed in (1) above causes, or has the potential
to cause an exposure to an individual, regardless of whether
or not it exceeds the regulatory exposure limit as identified
in 10 CFR 20.2202; and

"(3) such use listed in (1) above was intentional or the
licensee receives information that the use was allegedly
intentional.

	"(b) The licensee shall notify the NRC Operations
Center by telephone as soon as practical but not later than
48 hours after discovering that provisions (a)(1) and (a)(2)
have occurred and the licensee cannot rule out that the use
was intentional."

	Comments may be submitted via email to
MLT1@NRC.GOV or may be mailed to:  Secretary, U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, Attention: Docketing and Service Branch.  The
deadline is March 31.