[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53236-53237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22495]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-326]
University of California, Irvine, Nuclear Research Reactor;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of no Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-
116, issued to University of California, Irvine (the licensee) for
operation of their research reactor.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would allow renewal of the license for 20 years
for the University of California, Irvine Nuclear Reactor Facility
(UCINRF). The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for amendment dated October 18, 1999, as amended on April
24, and June 2, 2000. The licensee submitted an
[[Page 53237]]
Environmental Report for license renewal.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow continued operation of the
UCINRF in order to continue education, training, research and
development using neutrons and radioisotopes for experimental purposes
beyond the current term of the license.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action
The research reactor is on the campus of the University of
California, Irvine in Rowland Hall. Rowland Hall has research and
teaching laboratories, lecture halls, classrooms, offices and
workshops. It is surrounded by similar facilities in the immediate
area.
The UCINRF is authorized by a NRC license to operate at steady-
state thermal power levels up to a maximum of 250 kilowatts (KW). The
reactor can also be operated in a pulse mode with reactivity addition
of up to $3 in a short period from power levels of 1 KW or less. The
construction permit was issued on May 5, 1969, and the operating
license was issued on November 24, 1969. The reactor has operated less
than 218 effective full-power days over the approximate 30-year license
period as indicted in SAR Section 1.3.2. Facility modifications have
been minor as, outlined in the SAR Section 1.4. The licensee has not
indicated any plans to significantly change the design or the level of
usage. Since initial operation, the gaseous Argon-41 radiological
release has been conservatively estimated to be less than 5.9 x 10
\9\ becquerels per year (0.160 curies per year). Average concentrations
of Argon-41 were conservatively estimated by the licensee as 2.4 x 10
-9 microcuries/milliliter. This concentration is well below
the 10 CFR 20 Appendix B Table 2 limit of 1.0 x 10 -8
microcuries/milliliter. Since 1992, the facility has had no
radiological liquid or solid radiological releases. Material has been
stored as required. Releases of radioactive material have been
transferred and disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the
licensee's byproduct license. Any necessary releases will be similarly
treated. Currently, there are no plans to change any operating or
radiological release practices or characteristics of the reactor during
the license renewal period.
The NRC concludes that conditions are not expected to change and
that the radiological effects of the continued operation will continue
to be minimal. The radiological exposures for facility operations have
been within regulatory limits and should continue to remain so.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
any effluents that may be released offsite and there is no significant
increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action.
As for potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does
not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-radiological
effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, no
significant non-radiological environmental impacts and associated with
the proposed action.
In addition, the environmental impact associated with operation of
research reactors has been generically evaluated by the staff and is
discussed in the attached generic evaluation. This evaluation concludes
that no significant environmental impact is associated with the
operation of research reactors licensed to operate at power levels up
to and including 2 megawatts thermal. We have determined that this
generic evaluation is applicable to operation of the UCINRF and that
there are no special or unique features that would preclude reliance on
the generic evaluation.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The alternative to the proposed action for the research reactor
facility is to deny the application. If the NRC denied license renewal,
UCINRF operations would stop and decommissioning would be required
with, likely, a small impact on the environment. The environmental
impacts of the proposed action and alternative are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the safety analysis and evaluation for
construction permit issuance and operating license issued in 1969.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
On July 25, 2000, the staff consulted with the California
Department of Health Official, Steve Hsu, regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action. The State officials had no comment.
Finding of no Significant Impact
On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined
not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed
action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated October 18, 1999, as amended on April 24, and
June 2, 2000. A hard copy is available for public inspection at the
NRC's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20555. Publicly available records will also be
accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library component on
the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of August 2000.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ledyard B. Marsh,
Chief, Events Assessment, Generic Communications, and Non-Power
Reactors Branch, Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-22495 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
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