Notices. Notice of availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

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BILLING CODE 7555-01-M NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 70-7004] USEC Inc.'s Proposed American Centrifuge Plant; Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(NRC)is issuing a Final Environmental Impact Statement

(FEIS)for the USEC Inc.

(USEC)license application, dated August 23, 2004, for the possession and use of source, byproduct and special nuclear materials at its proposed American Centrifuge Plant

(ACP)located near Piketon, Ohio. The scope of activities conducted under the license would include the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the ACP. Specifically, USEC proposes to use gas centrifuge technology to enrich the uranium-235 isotope found in natural uranium up to 10-weight percent. The enriched uranium would be used to manufacture nuclear fuel for commercial nuclear power reactors. The FEIS is being issued as part of NRC's decision-making process on whether to issue a license to USEC, pursuant to Title 10 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations parts 30, 40, and 70. Based on the evaluation in the FEIS, NRC environmental review staff have concluded that the proposed action will generally have small effects on the environment, though a few resource areas may experience moderate impacts. The FEIS reflects the final analysis of environmental impacts of USEC's proposal and it's alternatives including the consideration of public comments received by NRC. ADDRESSES: The FEIS may be accessed on the Internet at: *http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/* by selecting “NUREG-1834.” Additionally, NRC maintains an Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRC's public documents. The FEIS and its appendices may also be accessed through NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at *http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.* If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact NRC Public Document Room

(PDR)Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737 or by e-mail to *PDR@nrc.gov* . The FEIS is also available for inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, U.S. NRC's Headquarters Building, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Upon written request and to the extent supplies are available, a single copy of the FEIS can be obtained for a fee by writing to the Office of Information Services, Reproduction and Distribution Services Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; by electronic mail at *DISTRIBUTION@nrc.gov;* or by fax at

(301)415-2289. A selected group of documents associated with the USEC facility may also be obtained from the Internet on NRC's USEC Web page: *http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/usecfacility.html.* In addition, all comments of Federal, State and local agencies, Indian tribes or other interested persons will be made available for public inspection when received. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions related to the safety review or overall licensing of the USEC facility, please contact Mr. Francis S. Echols at

(301)415-6981. For environmental review questions, please contact Mr. Matthew Blevins at

(301)415-7684. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This FEIS was prepared in response to an application submitted by USEC dated August 23, 2004, for the possession and use of source, byproduct and special nuclear materials at its proposed ACP located near Piketon, Ohio. The FEIS for the proposed ACP was prepared by NRC staff and its contractor, ICF Consulting, Inc., in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA)and NRC's regulations for implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 51). The FEIS is being issued as part of NRC's decision-making process on whether to issue a license to USEC, pursuant to 10 CFR parts 30, 40, and 70. The scope of activities conducted under the license would include the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the ACP. Specifically, USEC proposes to use gas centrifuge technology to enrich the uranium-235 isotope found in natural uranium up to 10-weight percent. The enriched uranium would be used to manufacture nuclear fuel for commercial nuclear power reactors. USEC proposes to locate the ACP in leased portions of the U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE)reservation in Piketon, OH. This is the same site as DOE's Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The ACP would consist of refurbished existing facilities and newly constructed facilities, primarily located in the southwestern portion of the central DOE reservation. NRC staff published a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the proposed ACP and to conduct a scoping process, in the **Federal Register** on October 15, 2004 (69 FR 61268). NRC staff accepted comments through February 1, 2005, and subsequently issued a Scoping Summary Report in April 2005 (ADAMS Accession Number: ML050820008). On September 9, 2005, NRC announced a public meeting to solicit comments on the draft EIS. The public meeting was held on September 29, 2005, in Piketon, Ohio. NRC accepted public comments through October 24, 2005. The FEIS provides summaries of public comments on the draft EIS and responses. The FEIS describes the proposed action and alternatives to the proposed action, including the no-action alternative. NRC staff assesses the impacts of the proposed action and its alternatives on public and occupational health, air quality, water resources, waste management, geology and soils, noise, ecology resources, land use, transportation, historical and cultural resources, visual and scenic resources, socioeconomics, accidents and environmental justice. Additionally, the FEIS analyzes and compares the costs and benefits of the proposed action. Based on the evaluation in the FEIS, NRC environmental review staff has concluded that the proposed action would have small effects on the physical environment and human communities with the exception of:

(1)Short-term moderate impacts associated with increases in particulate matter released to the air during the construction phase;

(2)short-term moderate impacts related to increased traffic congestion during the construction phase;

(3)potential moderate impacts due to transportation accidents;

(4)potential moderate impacts from facility operation accidents;

(5)moderate impacts associated with a potential operating extension of the DOE depleted uranium tails conversion facility; and

(6)moderate employment impacts on the local communities associated with the construction and operation phases. After weighing the impacts, costs, and benefits of the proposed action and comparing alternatives, NRC staff, in accordance with 10 CFR part 51.91(d), set forth their final recommendation regarding the proposed action. NRC staff recommend that, unless safety issues mandate otherwise, the action called for is the approval of the proposed action (i.e., issue a license). NRC staff in the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards are currently completing the safety review for USEC's license application and is currently scheduled for completion in June 2006. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of May 2006. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Scott C. Flanders, Deputy Director, Environmental and Performance Assessment Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. E6-7364 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Meeting Notice In accordance with the purposes of sections 29 and 182b of the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 2039, 2232b), the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards

(ACRS)will hold a meeting on May 31—June 1, 2006, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The date of this meeting was previously published in the **Federal Register** on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 (70 FR 70638). Wednesday, May 31, 2006, Conference Room T-2B3, Two White Flint North, Rockville, Maryland *8:30 a.m.-8:35 a.m.: Opening Remarks by the ACRS Chairman* (Open)—The ACRS Chairman will make opening remarks regarding the conduct of the meeting. *8:35 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Draft Final Generic Letter, “Post-Fire Safe-Shutdown Circuit Analysis Spurious Actuations”* (Open)—The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and Nuclear Energy Institute regarding the draft final Generic Letter, “Post-Fire Safe-Shutdown Circuit Analysis Spurious Actuations.” *1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.: Draft Final Generic Letter 2006-xx, “Inaccessible or Underground Cable Failures that Disable Accident Mitigation Systems”* (Open)—The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding the draft final Generic Letter 2006-xx, “Inaccessible or Underground Cable Failures that Disable Accident Mitigation Systems.” *3:15 p.m.—4:15 p.m.: Interim Staff Guidance on Aging Management Program for Inaccessible Areas of Boiling Water Reactor

(BWR)Mark I Containment Drywell Shell* (Open)—The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding the proposed Interim Staff Guidance on Aging Management Program for Inaccessible Areas of BWR Mark I Containment Drywell Shell. *4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Preparation of ACRS Reports* (Open)—The Committee will discuss proposed ACRS reports on matters considered during this meeting. Thursday, June 1, 2006, Conference Room T-2B3, Two White Flint North, Rockville, Maryland *8:30 a.m.-8:35 a.m.: Opening Remarks by the ACRS Chairman* (Open)—The ACRS Chairman will make opening remarks regarding the conduct of the meeting. *8:35 a.m.-11 a.m.: Overview of New Reactor Licensing Activities* (Open)—The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding staff's activities associated with the licensing of new reactors; early site permits; and combined license applications, as well as the related schedule and milestones. *11:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: Subcommittee Report* (Open)—The Committee will hear a report by and hold discussions with the cognizant Chairman of the ACRS Subcommittee on Plant License Renewal regarding interim review of the license renewal application for the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant. *12:45 p.m.-1:15 p.m.: Status Report on the Quality Assessment of Selected NRC Research Projects* (Open)—The Committee will hear a report by and hold discussions with the cognizant Panel Chairman regarding the status of the quality assessment of selected NRC research projects. *1:15 p.m.-2 p.m.: Future ACRS Activities/Report of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee* (Open)—The Committee will discuss the recommendations of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee regarding items proposed for consideration by the full Committee during future meetings. Also, it will hear a report of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee on matters related to the conduct of ACRS business, including anticipated workload and member assignments. *2 p.m.-2:15 p.m.: Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and Recommendations* (Open)—The Committee will discuss the responses from the NRC Executive Director for Operations to comments and recommendations included in recent ACRS reports and letters. *2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Preparation of ACRS Reports* (Open)—The Committee will discuss proposed ACRS reports. Procedures for the conduct of and participation in ACRS meetings were published in the **Federal Register** on September 29, 2005 (70 FR 56936). In accordance with those procedures, oral or written views may be presented by members of the public, including representatives of the nuclear industry. Electronic recordings will be permitted only during the open portions of the meeting. Persons desiring to make oral statements should notify the Cognizant ACRS staff named below five days before the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to allow necessary time during the meeting for such statements. Use of still, motion picture, and television cameras during the meeting may be limited to selected portions of the meeting as determined by the Chairman. Information regarding the time to be set aside for this purpose may be obtained by contacting the Cognizant ACRS staff prior to the meeting. In view of the possibility that the schedule for ACRS meetings may be adjusted by the Chairman as necessary to facilitate the conduct of the meeting, persons planning to attend should check with the Cognizant ACRS staff if such rescheduling would result in major inconvenience. Further information regarding topics to be discussed, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, as well as the Chairman's ruling on requests for the opportunity to present oral statements and the time allotted therefor can be obtained by contacting Mr. Sam Duraiswamy, Cognizant ACRS staff (301-415-7364), between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., ET. ACRS meeting agenda, meeting transcripts, and letter reports are available through the NRC Public Document Room at *pdr@nrc.gov,* or by calling the PDR at 1-800-397-4209, or from the Publicly Available Records System

(PARS)component of NRC's document system (ADAMS) which is accessible from the NRC Web site at *http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html* or *http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/* (ACRS & ACNW Mtg schedules/agendas). Videoteleconferencing service is available for observing open sessions of ACRS meetings. Those wishing to use this service for observing ACRS meetings should contact Mr. Theron Brown, ACRS Audio Visual Technician (301-415-8066), between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., ET, at least 10 days before the meeting to ensure the availability of this service. Individuals or organizations requesting this service will be responsible for telephone line charges and for providing the equipment and facilities that they use to establish the videoteleconferencing link. The availability of videoteleconferencing services is not guaranteed. Dated: May 9, 2006. Andrew L. Bates, Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E6-7348 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Subcommittee Meeting on Planning and Procedures; Notice of Meeting The ACRS Subcommittee on Planning and Procedures will hold a meeting on May 30 2006, Room T-2B1, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The entire meeting will be open to public attendance, with the exception of a portion that may be closed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b( c)(2) and

(6)to discuss organizational and personnel matters that relate solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of the ACRS, and information the release of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The agenda for the subject meeting shall be as follows: *Tuesday, May 30, 2006, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.* The Subcommittee will discuss proposed ACRS activities and related matters. The Subcommittee will gather information, analyze relevant issues and facts, and formulate proposed positions and actions, as appropriate, for deliberation by the full Committee. Members of the public desiring to provide oral statements and/or written comments should notify the Designated Federal Official, Mr. Sam Duraiswamy (telephone: 301-415-7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m.

(ET)five days prior to the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Electronic recordings will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are open to the public. Further information regarding this meeting can be obtained by contacting the Designated Federal Official between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (ET). Persons planning to attend this meeting are urged to contact the above named individual at least two working days prior to the meeting to be advised of any potential changes in the agenda. Dated: May 8, 2006. Michael R. Snodderly, Acting Branch Chief, ACRS/ACNW. [FR Doc. E6-7349 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION Required Interest Rate Assumption for Determining Variable-Rate Premium for Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Multiemployer Plan Valuations Following Mass Withdrawal AGENCY: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. ACTION: Notice of interest rates and assumptions. SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of the interest rates and assumptions to be used under certain Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation regulations. These rates and assumptions are published elsewhere (or can be derived from rates published elsewhere), but are collected and published in this notice for the convenience of the public. Interest rates are also published on the PBGC's Web site *http://www.pbgc.gov* . DATES: The required interest rate for determining the variable-rate premium under part 4006 applies to premium payment years beginning in May 2006. The interest assumptions for performing multiemployer plan valuations following mass withdrawal under part 4281 apply to valuation dates occurring in June 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine B. Klion, Attorney, Legislative and Regulatory Department, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 1200 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005, 202-326-4024. (TTY/TDD users may call the Federal relay service toll-free at 1-800-877-8339 and ask to be connected to 202-326-4024.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Variable-Rate Premiums Section 4006(a)(3)(E)(iii)(II) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and § 4006.4(b)(1) of the PBGC's regulation on Premium Rates (29 CFR part 4006) prescribe use of an assumed interest rate (the “required interest rate”) in determining a single-employer plan's variable-rate premium. The required interest rate is the “applicable percentage” (currently 85 percent) of the annual yield on 30-year Treasury securities for the month preceding the beginning of the plan year for which premiums are being paid (the “premium payment year”). The required interest rate to be used in determining variable-rate premiums for premium payment years beginning in May 2006 is 4.30 percent ( *i.e.* , 85 percent of the 5.06 percent Treasury Securities Rate for April 2006). The Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 (“PFEA”)—under which the required interest rate is 85 percent of the annual rate of interest determined by the Secretary of the Treasury on amounts invested conservatively in long-term investment grade corporate bonds for the month preceding the beginning of the plan year for which premiums are being paid—applies only for premium payment years beginning in 2004 or 2005. Congress is considering legislation that would extend the PFEA rate for one more year. If legislation that changes the rules for determining the required interest rate for plan years beginning in May 2006 is adopted, the PBGC will promptly publish a **Federal Register** notice with the new rate. The following table lists the required interest rates to be used in determining variable-rate premiums for premium payment years beginning between June 2005 and May 2006. For premium payment years beginning in: The required interest rate is: June 2005 4.60 July 2005 4.47 August 2005 4.56 September 2005 4.61 October 2005 4.62 November 2005 4.83 December 2005 4.91 January 2006 3.95 February 2006 3.90 March 2006 3.89 April 2006 4.02 May 2006 4.30 Multiemployer Plan Valuations Following Mass Withdrawal The PBGC's regulation on Duties of Plan Sponsor Following Mass Withdrawal (29 CFR part 4281) prescribes the use of interest assumptions under the PBGC's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans (29 CFR part 4044). The interest assumptions applicable to valuation dates in June 2006 under part 4044 are contained in an amendment to part 4044 published elsewhere in today's **Federal Register** . Tables showing the assumptions applicable to prior periods are codified in appendix B to 29 CFR part 4044. Issued in Washington, DC, on this 9th day of May 2006. Vincent K. Snowbarger, Deputy Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. [FR Doc. E6-7314 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7708-01-P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Sunshine Act Meeting Federal Register *Citation of Previous Announcement:* [71 FR 27014, May 9, 2006]. STATUS: Closed meeting. PLACE: 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC. DATE AND TIME OF PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED MEETING: Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 1 p.m. *Change in the Meeting:* Additional items. The following items will also be considered during the 1 p.m. Closed Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2006: Litigation matters; regulatory matters involving financial institutions; other matters related to enforcement proceedings; and an adjudicatory matter. Commissioner Glassman, as duty officer, determined that no earlier notice thereof was possible. At times, changes in Commission priorities require alterations in the scheduling of meeting items. For further information and to ascertain what, if any, matters have been added, deleted or postponed, please contact the Office of the Secretary at

(202)551-5400. Dated: May 10, 2006. J. Lynn Taylor, Assistant Secretary. [FR Doc. 06-4585 Filed 5-11-06; 3:55 pm]

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