Home > Electronic Reading Room > Document Collections > Generic Communications > Regulatory Issue Summaries > 2001 > 01-024 - Status of Receipt of NRC Mail Following the Closing of the Brentwood Postal Facility

Status of Receipt of NRC Mail Following the Closing of the Brentwood Postal Facility

December 6, 2001

• Addresses
• Intent
• Background Information
• Summary of Issue
• Backfit Discussion
• Federal Register Notification
• Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Addresses

All NRC licensees.

Intent

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this regulatory issue summary (RIS) to provide individuals and organizations outside of the NRC with information that will assist them in determining the method they should use to submit documents to the NRC. The agency is providing this information because of continuing delays by the US Postal Service (USPS) in delivering agency mail due to inspection and investigation processes associated with the potential presence of anthrax in mail handling facilities.

Background Information

On October 18, 2001, the Brentwood Postal Facility located in Northeast Washington, DC, was closed because anthrax was detected. This facility received the majority of official mail sent to Federal agencies. On October 18, the USPS impounded all mail at that facility as well as all mail that was subsequently received. The USPS arranged to sanitize all First Class mail before distributing it to Federal agencies.

Summary of Issue

At NRC Headquarters, in Rockville, Maryland, 80 percent of the agency's mail was processed through the Brentwood Postal Facility. Since October 18, the NRC has received a very small amount of First Class mail with Zip Code 20555. On Monday, November 19, the USPS began delivery of First Class mail that had been irradiated.

This RIS informs licensees of the continuing delay that the NRC is experiencing in receiving its mail and indicates that licensees may want to consider alternative options for submitting documents to the NRC. Some options may include using private vendors, such as Federal Express and the United Parcel Service. Also, those licensees that have been approved to submit documents electronically and have been issued digital certificates are encouraged to send submittals in electronic form. All licensees and others who make submittals in accordance with 10 CFR Part 50 and who have not yet been issued digital certificates can obtain a digital certificate by selecting the EIE link at www.nrc.gov.

Backfit Discussion

This RIS requires no action or written response. Any action on the part of addressees regarding measures to expedite delivery of documents to the NRC is strictly voluntary. Consequently, the staff did not perform a backfit analysis.

Federal Register Notification

The staff did not publish a notice of opportunity for public comment in the Federal Register because this RIS is informational.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

This RIS does not request any information collection.

If there are any questions about this matter, please call or e-mail the technical contact listed below.

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Monday, February 19, 2007