[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 167 (Monday, August 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52139-52140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21884]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Louisiana License LA-7396-L01]
Gulf Coast International Inspection, Inc.-- Houma, LA;
Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Notice
of Opportunity for a Hearing
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering authorizing Gulf
Coast International Inspection, Inc. (Gulf Coast) an exemption to use
pipeliners on lay barges in the Gulf of Mexico.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
Gulf Coast International Inspection Incorporated (Gulf Coast) is
licensed by the State of Louisiana to conduct industrial radiography
operations. They have requested, in their letter dated November 16,
1999, that the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) grant
them reciprocity and an exemption from 10 CFR 34.20 (a)(1) to use their
pipeliner type radiography cameras (pipeliners) for pipeline
radiography on lay barges in areas under exclusive federal jurisdiction
in the Gulf of Mexico. Pipeliners are older model radiography cameras
that do not meet the requirements of 10 CFR 34.20(a)(1) which requires
equipment used in industrial radiographic operations to meet the
requirements in ANSI N432-1980, ``Radiological Safety for the Design
and Construction of Apparatus for Gamma Radiography (ANSI N432-1980),''
(published as NBS Handbook 136, issued January 1981). Gulf Coast is
allowed to conduct similar operations in the State of Louisiana under
an exemption granted in license number LA-7396-L01.
Need for the Proposed Action
The exemption is needed so that Gulf Coast can carry out its
business of pipeline radiography on lay barges for the continuation of
pipeline operations in the oil and gas industry. Gulf Coast contends
that due to the design of the lay barges and the limited space that is
available, the pipeliner is the only device that will keep up with
production on a lay barge and provide a safe working environment for
their radiographers and surrounding barge personnel.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
There will be no significant environmental impact from the proposed
action due to the fact that no material is being released into the
environment and all of the material is wholly contained within the
radiography camera which is only used in a fully enclosed radiography
stall on a lay barge. During normal operation the radiation dose will
not be significantly greater than an approved radiography camera's
normal operating external radiation dose levels.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As required by Section 102(2)(E) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4322(2)(E)),
possible alternatives to the final action have been considered. The
only alternative is to deny the exemption. This option was not
considered practical because there would be no gain in protecting the
human environment. Denying the exemption request would force Gulf Coast
to revert to radiography cameras that are designed to meet ANSI N432-
1980, but these cameras are not practical for radiography operations on
a lay barge. These newer cameras would be similar to the pipeliners in
that their radioactive material is housed as a sealed source and there
would be no release of material to the environment. However, these
newer cameras have associated equipment, such as a drive cable and
guide tube, that would require additional space to perform radiography
on pipelines. This equipment becomes cumbersome and may get in the way
as the pipe is moved through the lay barge. In the newer devices, the
sealed source would have to be cranked out of the shielded position in
the camera housing through a guide tube to the exposure head location
where the radiograph takes place. This ``crank out'' action causes the
source to be unshielded while the source is cranked out to the exposure
head. This results in an increase in the ``restricted area'' boundary
causing a greater potential for non-radiography personnel on the lay
barge to become exposed to radiation.
Alternative Use of Resources
No alternative use of resources was considered due to the reasons
stated above.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The State of Louisiana was contacted by telephone on August 7, 2000
regarding this proposed action. The State of Louisiana is in agreement
with the proposed action and had no additional comments.
Identification of Sources Used
Letter from Gulf Coast International Inspection, Inc. to U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV, Re: Louisiana License No. LA-
7396-L01, dated November 16, 1999.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based on the above environmental assessment, the Commission has
concluded that environmental impacts that would be created by the
proposed action would not have a significant effect on the quality of
the human environment and does not warrant the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement. Accordingly, it has been determined
that a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate.
Gulf Coast's application is available for inspection and copying
for a fee in the Region IV Public Document Room, 611 Ryan Plaza Drive,
Suite 400, Arlington, TX 76011-8064. The documents may also be viewed
in the Agency-wide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
located on the NRC website at www.nrc.gov.
[[Page 52140]]
Opportunity for a Hearing
Any person whose interest may be affected by the issuance of this
action may file a request for a hearing. Any request for hearing must
be filed with the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington, DC 20555, within 30 days of the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register; be served on the NRC staff
(Executive Director for Operations, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852), and on the licensee (Gulf
Coast International Inspection, Inc., 227 Clendenning Road, Houma, LA
70363); and must comply with the requirements for requesting a hearing
set forth in the Commission's regulations, 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L,
``Information Hearing Procedures for Adjudications in Materials
Licensing Proceedings.''
These requirements, which the request must address in detail, are:
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);
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 hearing is
timely--that is, filed within 30 days of the date of this notice.
In addressing how the requestor's interest may be affected by the
proceeding, the request should describe the nature of the requestor's
right under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, to be made a
party to the proceeding; the nature and extent of the requestor's
property, financial, or other (i.e., health, safety) interest in the
proceeding; and the possible effect of any order that may be entered in
the proceeding upon the requestor's interest.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of August, 2000.
For the Nuclear Regualtory Commission.
John W.N. Hickey,
Chief, Material Safety and Inspection Branch, Division of Industrial
and Medical Nuclear Safety, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 00-21884 Filed 8-25-00; 8:45 am]
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