Certification Renewal and Amendment Processes

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending the regulations governing the U.S. Enrichment Corporation's (USEC or the Corporation) gaseous diffusion plants to modify the certification renewal and amendment processes. The amendments are intended to improve these processes so that they are more effective and efficient. The final rule modifies the process for certificate renewals, establishes a process for certificate amendments comparable to the process currently used to amend a fuel cycle license, revises the appeal process for amendments, eliminates the ``significant'' designation for amendments, simplifies the criteria for persons who are eligible to file a petition for review of an amendment action, removes references to the initial application because the initial certificates have been issued, and lengthens the time periods associated with filing a petition for review.