Secretary, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Attn: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Re: My comments to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the Proposed Rule to Amend Regulations for the Protection of Safeguards Information (RIN 3150-AH57)

Dear Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff,

I strongly urge that this proposed rule be withdrawn or else drastically revised.

The NRC's proposed rule to amend its regulations for the protection of Safeguards Information (SGI) (RIN 3150-AH57) will unduly and perhaps illegally broaden the scope of security information that would be restricted from public access. These new regulations would severely compromise the public’s ability to hold the nuclear industry and its government regulators accountable for their management of nuclear facilities and materials.

The proposed regulations go beyond the "minimum restrictions needed to protect the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security," as required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the law that established the SGI category.

Rather than applying the "minimum restrictions needed," the Commission here has expanded the category of SGI to include virtually anything it wants--including such things as engineering and safety analyses, emergency planning procedures, inspections, reports, or any other information the NRC considers a possible security threat.

The Commission appears to be removing virtually all limiting qualifications to its regulations regarding SGI, improperly and dangerously restricting the public’s access to important information about the competency of the nuclear industry and the NRC.

Thank you for entering my comments into the official record of this proceeding.

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