Current NRC regulations require licensees to inform state governments of certain shipments of spent nuclear fuel and other nuclear wastes that pass through or across state boundaries.
These advance notification requirements were established in 1982. The agency initiated rule-making to include tribal governments in this requirement, but that process was deferred following the 2001 terrorist attacks.
As per the proposed rule, published in the Federal Register, to receive the advance notifications, tribal governments will need to declare that they would like to receive the information and certify that they will protect any safeguards information contained in the notifications.
If a tribe opts to receive advance notifications, it would be obligated to protect the schedule and itineraries of the shipments to comply with NRC regulations on the protection of safeguards information.
