[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 10, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 10CFR7.1]

[Page 190-191]
 
                            TITLE 10--ENERGY
 
                CHAPTER I--NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
 
PART 7--ADVISORY COMMITTEES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 7.1  Policy.

    The regulations in this part define the policies and procedures to 
be followed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the establishment, 
utilization, and termination of advisory committees. In general, it is 
the policy of the Commission that--
    (a) Except where there is express legal authority to the contrary, 
the function of NRC advisory committees shall be advisory only.
    (b) Each NRC advisory committee shall function in compliance with 
the Federal Advisory Commitee Act and this part.
    (c) The number of NRC advisory committees shall be kept to the 
minimum necessary, and the number of members of each NRC advisory 
committee shall be limited to the fewest necessary to accomplish 
committee objectives.
    (d) An NRC advisory committee shall be established only when 
establishment of the committee is required by law or when the Commission 
determines that the committee is essential to the conduct of NRC 
business. In making such a determination, the Commission shall consider 
whether committee deliberations will result in a significant 
contribution to the creation, amendment, or elimination of regulations, 
guidelines, or rules affecting NRC business; whether the information to 
be obtained is available through another source within the Federal 
Government; whether the committee will make recommendations resulting in 
significant improvements in service or reductions in cost; or whether 
the committee's recommendations will provide an important additional 
perspective or viewpoint relating to NRC's mission.
    (e) Except where otherwise required by law, an NRC advisory 
committee shall be terminated whenever the stated objectives of the 
committee have been accomplished, the subject matter or work of the 
committee has become obsolete, the committee's main functions have been 
assumed by another entity within the Federal Government, or the cost of 
operating the committee has become excessive in relation to the benefits 
accruing to the Federal Government from its activities.
    (f) NRC advisory committees shall be balanced in their membership in 
terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be 
performed.

[[Page 191]]

    (g) The Congress shall be kept informed of the number, purpose, 
membership, activities, and cost of NRC advisory committees.
    (h) NRC advisory committee meetings shall be open to the public, 
except where closure is determined to be justified under Sec. 7.15.