[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22977-22978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10862]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8698]
Plateau Resources Limited
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Final finding of no significant impact notice of opportunity
for hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to renew
NRC Source Material License SUA-1371 to authorize the licensee, Plateau
Resources Limited (PRL), to resume commercial milling operations at the
Shootaring Canyon uranium mill, located near Ticaboo, Utah. An
Environmental Assessment was performed by the NRC staff in accordance
with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the
Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
for the proposed licensing action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James R. Park, Uranium Recovery
Branch, Mail Stop TWFN 7-J9, Division of Waste Management, Office of
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone 301/415-6699.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Source Material License SUA-1371 was originally issued by NRC on
September 21, 1979, pursuant to Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations
(10 CFR), Part 40, ``Domestic Licensing of Source Material.'' This
license currently authorizes PRL to possess byproduct material in the
form of uranium waste tailings and other byproduct wastes which were
generated by its uranium recovery operations previously authorized
under SUA-1371. Under the current license, PRL is not authorized to
produce uranium concentrates. The tailings and wastes referred to above
were generated during the three months in 1982 in which the mill was
operated; the mill has been on standby status since that time. SUA-1371
was renewed for ``possession only'' status in 1986.
By amended license renewal application dated March 1, 1996, PRL
requested authorization to resume operations at the Shootaring Canyon
mill.
Summary of the Environmental Assessment
The NRC staff performed an appraisal of the environmental impacts
associated with the resumption of operations at the Shootaring Canyon
mill, in accordance with 10 CFR Part 51, Licensing and Regulatory
Policy Procedures for Environmental Protection. In conducting its
appraisal, the NRC staff considered the following: (1) Information
contained in previous environmental evaluations of the Shootaring
Canyon project; (2) information contained in PRL's license renewal
application; (3) information contained in PRL's license amendment
requests submitted subsequent to its renewal application, and NRC staff
approvals of such requests; (4) land use and environmental monitoring
reports; and (5) information derived from NRC staff site visits and
inspections of the Shootaring Canyon mill site and from communications
with PRL, the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ),
and the National Park Service. The results of the staff's appraisal are
documented in an Environmental Assessment. The radiation safety aspects
for the resumption of operations at the mill are discussed in a Safety
Evaluation Report.
The license renewal would authorize PRL to resume operating the
Shootaring Canyon mill, at a maximum production rate of 1,004,000
pounds of yellowcake per year, and to possess byproduct material in the
form of uranium waste tailings and other uranium byproduct wastes
generated by the milling operations authorized by the renewal license.
The actual resumption of operations will be conditional on (1) The
approval of a final design for the tailings impoundment liner by NRC
and the Utah DEQ and the installation of that liner, (2) PRL's
submittal of a technical evaluation of the existing cross-valley berm
and tailings dam, and (3) NRC's confirmation during a pre-operational
site inspection that standard operating procedures for operational and
non-operational activities are in place.
All conditions in the renewal license and commitments presented in
the licensee's license renewal application are subject to NRC
inspection. Violation of the license may result in enforcement action.
Conclusions
The NRC staff has reexamined actual and potential environmental
impacts associated with a resumption of yellowcake production at the
mill site, and has determined that renewal of the source material
license (1) Will be consistent with requirements of 10 CFR Part 40, (2)
will not be inimical to the public health and safety, and (3) will not
have long-term detrimental impacts on the environment. The following
statements support the FONSI and summarize the conclusions resulting
from the staff's environmental assessment:
1. An acceptable environmental sampling program will be in place to
monitor effluent releases and to detect if appropriate limits are
exceeded;
2. The licensee will implement an intensive, routine inspection
program of the mill process building, associated facilities, and
tailings retention impoundments, and conduct an annual ``as low as is
reasonable achievable'' (ALARA) audit program;
3. Standard operating procedures will be in place for all
operational process activities involving radioactive materials that are
handled, processed, or stored;
4. Mill tailings and process liquid effluents from the mill circuit
will be discharged to a multi-lined tailings impoundment, with a leak
detection system;
5. The licensee will implement an acceptable groundwater detection
monitoring program to ensure compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR
Part 40, Appendix A;
6. The licensee will conduct site decommissioning and reclamation
activities in accordance with NRC-approved plans; and
7. Because the staff has determined that there will be no
significant impacts associated with approval of the license renewal,
there can be no disproportionately high and adverse effects or impacts
on minority and low-income populations. Consequently, further
evaluation of `Environmental Justice' concerns, as outlined in
Executive Order 12898 and NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards Policy and Procedures Letter 1-50, Rev.1, is not warranted.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The proposed action is to renew NRC Source Material License SUA-
1371, for a resumption of operations at the Shootaring Canyon mill, as
requested by PRL. Therefore, the principal alternatives available to
NRC are to:
(1) Renew the license with such conditions as are considered
necessary or appropriate to protect public health and safety and the
environment; or
(2) Deny renewal of the license.
[[Page 22978]]
Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that there are no
significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action;
therefore, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts
need not be evaluated. Since the environmental impacts of the proposed
action and the no-action alternative (i.e., denial of the renewal) are
similar, there is no need to further evaluate alternatives to the
proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the
proposed renewal of NRC Source Material License SUA-1371. On the basis
of this assessment, the NRC staff has concluded that the environmental
impacts that may result from the proposed action would not be
significant, and therefore, preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement is not warranted.
The Environmental Assessment and other documents related to this
proposed action are available for public inspection and copying at the
NRC Public Document Room, in the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20555.
Notice of Opportunity for Hearing
The Commission hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on
an application for a licensing action falling within the scope of
Subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications in Materials
and Operator Licensing Proceedings,'' of the Commission's Rules of
Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings in 10 CFR Part 2 (54 FR
8269). Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any person whose interest may be
affected by this proceeding may file a request for a hearing. In
accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c), a request for a hearing must be filed
within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this Federal
Register notice. The request for a hearing must be filed with the
Office of the Secretary either:
(1) By delivery to the Docketing and Service Branch of the Office
of the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852; or
(2) By mail or telegram addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and
Service Branch.
Each request for a hearing must also be served, by delivering it
personally or by mail to:
(1) The applicant, Plateau Resources Limited, 877 North 8th West,
Riverton, Wyoming 82501;
(2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director of
Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
20852, or by mail addressed to the Executive Director for Operations,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part
2 of the Commission's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a
person other than an applicant must describe in detail:
(1) The interest of the requestor in the proceeding;
(2) How that interest may be affected by the results of the
proceeding, including the reasons why the requestor should be permitted
a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in
Sec. 2.1205(g);
(3) the requestor's areas of concern about the licensing activity
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
(4) The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing
is timely in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c).
Any hearing that is requested and granted will be held in
accordance with the Commission's ``Informal Hearing Procedures for
Adjudications in Materials and Operator Licensing Proceedings'' in 10
CFR Part 2,
Subpart L.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of April 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Charles L. Cain,
Acting Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management,
Office of Nuclear Material, Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 97-10862 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P