Reimbursement for Costs of Remedial Action at Active Uranium and Thorium Processing Sites

AGENCY:

Office of Environmental Management, Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Final rule; Technical and administrative amendments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Energy (DOE) adopts several technical and administrative amendments to its procedural regulations governing the reimbursement of remedial action costs at active uranium and thorium processing sites. Since it was enacted in 1992, the original legislation authorizing the program has been amended four times to increase the amounts authorized for reimbursement and to make technical changes. Today's regulatory amendments reflect the legislative amendments and make other technical corrections that have been identified since the original rule was issued. None of the amendments raise substantive issues or represent changes in policy.

DATES:

This rule will be effective July 3, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David E. Mathes, Office of Environmental Management, EM-30, U.S. Department of Energy, Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290. Telephone: (301) 903-7222. Internet: david.mathes@em.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Discussion

The Secretary of Energy has approved today's technical and administrative regulatory amendments in order to conform 10 CFR part 765 to legislative amendments to Title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (sections 1001-1004 of Pub. L. 102-486) and the need to make other corrections to the original rule published on May 23, 1994 (59 FR 26714). Congress has amended the original legislation four times since it was enacted on October 24, 1992. In 1996, Public Law 104-259 amended Title X to increase the authorized reimbursement amounts for uranium and thorium licensees from $270 million and $40 million to $350 million and $65 million, respectively, for an aggregate authorized reimbursement amount of $415 million; and to increase the maximum amount that may be reimbursed to uranium licensees per dry short ton of Federal-related byproduct material from $5.50 to $6.25. In 1998, Public Law 105-388 further amended Title X to increase the authorized reimbursement amount for the thorium licensee from $65 million to $140 million, for an aggregate authorized reimbursement amount to uranium and thorium licensees of $490 million. In 2000, Public Law 106-317 amended Title X to change the date for determining the availability of excess funds for reimbursement to uranium licensees from July 31, 2005, to December 31, 2008; to change the date after which work must be completed in accordance with an approved plan for subsequent remedial action to be eligible for reimbursement from December 31, 2002, to December 31, 2007; and to eliminate the requirement for the Department to place certain reimbursement funds in escrow. In 2002, Public Law 107-222 amended Title X to increase the authorized reimbursement amount for the thorium licensee from $140 million to $365 million, for an aggregate authorized reimbursement amount to uranium and thorium licensees of $715 million.

Part 765 is amended in several places to reflect these statutory provisions. Other technical corrections to the original rule are discussed in the following paragraphs.

Section 765.21(e) is revised to provide a licensee with an additional opportunity to provide reasonable documentation, as specified in § 765.20, for claims or portions of claims that DOE has denied during the claim year. The revised rule now gives a licensee 45 days after DOE issues a written decision to deny the claim, in which to provide the documentation for DOE reconsideration of the claim. If a licensee chooses not to submit the documentation, the licensee still has the right to file a formal appeal to the DOE's claim denial in accordance with § 765.22. If a licensee chooses to submit the documentation, DOE will consider whether the documentation results in the DOE's reversal of its initial decision to deny the claim and will inform the licensee of the DOE's subsequent decision. A licensee may also appeal that decision in accordance with § 765.22. By providing this additional opportunity to a licensee, DOE believes that both DOE and the licensee may save time and money by minimizing the number of appeals.

Section 765.23 is amended to indicate the new address for obtaining copies of the DOE status report on the reimbursement program.

Section 765.30(b) presents the procedure for submitting a plan for subsequent remedial action. The original rule indicated that licensees may submit this plan any time after January 1, 2000, but no later than December 31, 2001. Because Congress changed the date after which work must be completed in accordance with an approved plan for subsequent remedial action to be eligible for reimbursement from December 31, 2002, to December 31, 2007, this final rule correspondingly changes the dates for submitting a plan to DOE to any time after January 1, 2005, but no later than December 31, 2006.

Section 765.30(d) outlines the process for resubmitting a revised plan for subsequent remedial action if the original plan is rejected by DOE. The original rule indicated that a licensee may continue to submit revised plans for subsequent remedial action until DOE approves a plan, or September 30, 2002, whichever occurs first. This final rule changes the September 30, 2002, deadline to September 30, 2007, to correspond with the new statutory deadline for making reimbursements in accordance with a subsequent plan for remedial action.

Section 765.30(e) presents the procedures for determining the maximum amounts for which licensees may be eligible for reimbursement for work performed as described in their plans for subsequent remedial action submitted to and approved by DOE. The original rule indicated that a licensee is eligible for the lesser of two amounts: (1) The total cost of remedial action multiplied by the Federal reimbursement ratio; or (2) $5.50, as adjusted for inflation, multiplied by the number of Federal-related dry short tons of byproduct material. As drafted, the original rule could have been construed to apply the per dry short ton limit to both uranium and thorium licensees. Since Title X (42 U.S.C. § 2296a(b)(2)(A)) limits the applicability of the per dry short ton limit to uranium licensees, this final rule amends § 765.30(e)(2) to clarify that the per dry short ton limit only applies to uranium licensees.

In accordance with § 765.30(b), because licensees' plans for subsequent remedial action are now due no later than December 31, 2006, this final rule amends § 765.30(e)(2) to clarify that the potential additional reimbursement for which a licensee may be entitled will be adjusted after the approval of claims for work performed through December 31, 2007, to account for the actual approved costs of work performed through 2007.

As originally prescribed, § 765.31(a) outlined the procedures for designating specific amounts on deposit in the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund established at the United States Department of the Treasury for reimbursement of costs incurred in accordance with an approved plan for subsequent remedial action. The purpose of this paragraph was to implement the original requirement of § 1001(b)(1)(B)(ii) of Pub. L. 102-486 that funds be placed in escrow not later than December 31, 2002, in accordance with an approved plan for subsequent remedial action. Because Pub. L. 106-317 amended the original legislation by striking the requirement to place funds in escrow, this final rule removes this paragraph and renumbers the subsequent paragraphs in this section.

II. Procedural Requirements

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866

Today's regulatory action has been determined not to be “a significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866, “Regulatory Planning and Review” (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993). Accordingly, this action was not subject to review under that Executive Order by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

B. Review Under Executive Order 12988

With respect to the review of existing regulations and the promulgation of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, “Civil Justice Reform,” (61 FR 4729, February 7, 1996) imposes on Executive agencies the general duty to adhere to the following requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write regulations to minimize litigation; and (3) provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct rather than a general standard and promote simplification and burden reduction. With regard to the review required by section 3(a), section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 specifically requires that Executive agencies make every reasonable effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly specifies any effect on existing Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for affected conduct while promoting simplification and burden reduction; (4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately defines key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues affecting clarity and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued by the Attorney General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires Executive agencies to review regulations in light of applicable standards in section 3(a) and section 3(b) to determine whether they are met or it is unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has completed the required review and determined that, to the extent permitted by law, this final rule meets the relevant standards of Executive Order 12988.

C. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis for any rule that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the agency certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. There is no legal requirement to propose today's rule for public comment, and therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to this rulemaking proceeding.

D. Review Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

No new collection of information or recordkeeping requirements is imposed by this final rule. Accordingly, no clearance by OMB is required under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

E. Review Under Executive Order 13132

Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 4, 1999) imposes certain requirements on agencies formulating and implementing policies or regulations that preempt State law or that have federalism implications. Agencies are required to examine the constitutional and statutory authority supporting any action that would limit the policymaking discretion of the States and carefully assess the necessity for such actions. DOE has examined today's rule and has determined that it does not preempt State law and does not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. No further action is required by Executive Order 13132.

F. Review Under the National Environmental Policy Act

Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500—1508), DOE has established guidelines for compliance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). This rule makes technical corrections to procedures for the reimbursement of eligible remedial action costs incurred by licensees at active uranium and thorium processing sites. Implementation of this rule will not affect the legally required cleanup of the sites or result in any other environmental impacts. The Department has therefore determined that this rule is covered under the Categorical Exclusion found at paragraph A6 of Appendix A to subpart D, 10 CFR part 1021, which applies to the establishment of procedural rulemakings such as procedures for the review and approval of applications for grants and cooperative agreements. Accordingly, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

G. Review Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4) requires each Federal agency to assess the effects of Federal regulations on States, local, and tribal governments and the private sector. DOE has determined that today's regulatory action does not impose a Federal mandate on State, local, or tribal governments or on the private sector.

H. Congressional Notification

As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress promulgation of the rule prior to its effective date. The report will state that it has been determined that the rule is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(3).

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 765

• Radioactive materials
• Reclamation
• Reporting and record keeping requirements
• Uranium

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 765 of chapter III of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as set forth below.

PART 765—REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS OF REMEDIAL ACTION AT ACTIVE URANIUM AND THORIUM PROCESSING SITES

1. The authority citation for part 765 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2296a et seq.

2. In the table below, for each section indicated in the left column remove the language indicated in the middle column and add in its place the language indicated in the right column.

3. In §765.3, the definitions are amended by revising the introductory text and paragraph (2) of Maximum reimbursement amount or maximum reimbursement ceiling and Plan for subsequent remedial action to read as follows:

4. In §765.21, paragraph (e) is revised to read as follows:

5. In § 765.30, paragraph (e)(2) is revised to read as follows:

6. Section 765.31 is amended by removing paragraph (a) and redesignating paragraphs (b) through (d) as paragraphs (a) through (c).