Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, United States Enrichment Corp.; Notice of Approval of Request for Temporary Exemption

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Commission) is approving, upon publication of this notice, a request for a temporary exemption from the requirement to perform an emergency preparedness (EP) exercise every 2 years for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant operated by the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC). The temporary exemption is needed because USEC needs to concentrate available resources on prompt implementation of requirements in the Commission's Security Order issued June 17, 2002, and postponement of the EP exercise until after implementation of the Security Order requirements will provide a better indication of preparedness under the new requirements. USEC requested authorization to conduct the EP exercise on September 10, 2003, a delay of approximately 10 months from the currently scheduled exercise date of November 13, 2002. However, the Commission is requiring USEC to conduct the exercise no earlier than July 15, 2003, and no later than August 15, 2003. USEC will then return to the normal biennial schedule with the next exercise being conducted in September 2004. The NRC has prepared an environmental assessment with a Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on