81 FR 15755 - Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 57 (March 24, 2016)

On December 7, 2015, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a framework of cooperation between them in radiological emergency response planning and preparedness matters. The MOU ensures that the agencies' mutual efforts will be directed toward more effective preparedness plans, and related response measures at and in the vicinity of utilization facilities.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15755-15756]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06669]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2016-0042]


Memorandum of Understanding Between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal 
Emergency Management Agency

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Memorandum of understanding; issuance.

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SUMMARY: On December 7, 2015, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) entered into a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) that establishes a framework of cooperation between 
them in radiological emergency response planning and preparedness 
matters. The MOU ensures that the agencies' mutual efforts will be 
directed toward more effective preparedness plans, and related response 
measures at and in the vicinity of utilization facilities.

DATES: The MOU was effective December 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2016-0042 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2016-0042. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and 
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, 
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The 
MOU is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML15344A371.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Kinard, Office of Nuclear 
Security and Incident Response, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-287-3768, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the FEMA initiative to amend 
parts 350-354 of title 44 of the Code of

[[Page 15756]]

Federal Regulations (CFR), the FEMA/NRC Steering Committee for 
Emergency Planning determined that the three existing MOUs between the 
two agencies on radiological emergency preparedness and response should 
be consolidated into one MOU, resulting in a streamlined, updated 
agreement reflecting the current process used by the agencies to 
coordinate their activities. The original MOUs were as follows: (1) 
``Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for Incident Response'' 
(45 FR 82715; December 16, 1980); (2) Memorandum of Understanding for 
Assistance and Support Between the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission--relating to Executive Order 
12657 (December 1, 1991) (ADAMS Accession No. ML16077A212); and (3) 
Memorandum of Understanding Between NRC and FEMA Relating to 
Radiological Emergency Planning and Preparedness (located at Appendix A 
to 44 CFR part 353) (58 FR 47997; September 14, 1993).
    Consolidating the MOUs results in the following revisions: 
establishes a concise listing of legal authorities; enhances the 
description of the disaster-initiated review process; eliminates 
superfluous language on emergency response by referring to existing 
documentation such as the National Preparedness System and the Nuclear/
Radiological Incident Annex; confirms that nothing in the MOU is 
intended to conflict with current law or regulations or the directives 
of DHS/FEMA or the NRC, or restrict the authority of either party to 
act as provided by statute or regulation; includes the interface 
process between the NRC and FEMA concerning decommissioning plants and 
the NRC-approved effective date when FEMA Radiological Emergency 
Preparedness Program services will no longer be needed; and, for 
consistency with new wording, FEMA intends to include in 44 CFR part 
350 the current term ``deficiency'' with ``Level 1 Finding.''

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day of March, 2016.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stephanie M. Coffin,
Acting Director, Division of Preparedness and Response, Office of 
Nuclear Security and Incident Response.
[FR Doc. 2016-06669 Filed 3-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P