[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 3 (Friday, January 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 612-613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-232]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8502]
COGEMA Mining Incorporated
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
amend NRC Source Material License SUA-1341 to authorize the licensee,
COGEMA Mining Incorporated (COGEMA) to conduct surface (land and
structures) decommissioning according to the submitted plan.
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in
support of its review of COGEMA's license amendment request, 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: Ms. Elaine Brummett, Fuel Cycle
Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Mail Stop T8-A33, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone 301/
415-6606.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The COGEMA Irigaray and Christensen Ranch In Situ Leach facilities
are licensed by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under
Source Materials License SUA-1341 to possess byproduct material in the
form of uranium waste as well as other radioactive wastes generated by
past uranium processing operations.
Summary of the Environmental Assessment
The NRC staff performed an appraisal of the environmental impacts
associated with the surface decommissioning plan, in accordance with 10
CFR Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic
Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions. The license amendment would
authorize COGEMA to decontaminate structures (such as buildings) and
equipment, remove contaminated soil and equipment for disposal, and
restore the land according to the procedures and criteria present in
the submitted plan. Ground water restoration has been addressed in a
previous licensing action. The technical
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aspects of the surface decommissioning plan are discussed separately in
a Technical Evaluation Report (TER) that will accompany the agency's
final licensing action.
The results of the staff's appraisal of potential environmental
impacts are documented in an EA placed in the docket file. Based on its
review, the NRC staff has concluded that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Conclusions
The NRC staff has examined actual and potential impacts associated
with the decommissioning plan, and has determined that the requested
amendment of Source Material License SUA-1341, authorizing
implementation of the surface decommissioning plan, will: (1) be
consistent with requirements of 10 CFR part 40, Appendix A; (2) not be
inimical to the public health and safety; and (3) not have long-term
detrimental impacts on the environment. The following statements
summarize the conclusions resulting from the staff's environmental
assessment, and support the FONSI:
1. An acceptable environmental and effluent monitoring program is
in place to monitor effluent releases and to detect if applicable
regulatory limits are exceeded. Radiological effluents resulting from
decommissioning activities are expected to remain below the regulatory
limits.
2. Present and potential health risks to the public and risks of
environmental damage from the proposed decommissioning were assessed.
Given the remote location, limited activities requested, small area of
impact, and past activities on the site, the staff determined that the
risk factors for health and environmental hazards are insignificant.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The proposed action is to amend NRC Source Material License SUA-
1341, for decommissioning of surface structures (buildings, well heads,
piping) and land by removing the residual byproduct material to meet
regulatory criteria and NRC recommended levels. The principal
alternatives available to NRC are to:
1. Approve the license amendment request as submitted; or
2. Amend the license with such additional conditions as are
considered necessary or appropriate to protect public health and safety
and the environment; or
3. Deny the amendment request.
Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that the environmental
impacts associated with the proposed action do not warrant either the
limiting of COGEMA's plans necessary for license termination (all
uranium recovery operations have ceased) or the denial of the license
amendment. Additionally, in the TER prepared for this action, the staff
has reviewed the licensee's proposed action with respect to the
criteria for decommissioning, specified in 10 CFR 40.42 and Part 40,
Appendix A, and has no basis for denial of the proposed action.
Therefore, the staff considers that Alternative 1 is the appropriate
alternative for selection.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared an EA for the proposed renewal of NRC
Source Material License SUA-1341. 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 EA and other documents related to this proposed action are
available for public inspection and copying at the NRC Public Document
Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.
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 10
CFR Part 2, Subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications
in Materials and Operators Licensing Proceedings,'' of the Commission's
Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings and Issuance of
Orders. 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(d), 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 Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff 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 20555-0001, Attention:
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff.
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(f), each request for a hearing
must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail to:
(1) The applicant, COGEMA Mining Incorporated, P.O. Box 730, Mills,
WY 82644;
(2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the General Counsel, One White
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, or
(3) By mail addressed to the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
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(h);
(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(d).
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 26th day of December, 2001.
For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Melvyn Leach,
Chief, Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 02-232 Filed 1-3-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P