Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Core Laboratories, Houston, TX, 39808-39810 [E5-3630]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 131 / Monday, July 11, 2005 / Notices
19. Carmody, Gail A., U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service’s Response to NRC’s Letter ‘‘Request
for Comments Regarding Department of Air
Force’s Determination of No Effect,’’
February 25, 2004 (ML040690296).
20. Whitten, Jack E., NRC Letter to Air
Force, ‘‘Request for Additional Information
Regarding Eglin Air Force Base
Decommissioning Plan,’’ February 19, 2004
(ML040500864).
21. Whitten, Jack E., ‘‘NRC Inspection
Report 030–28641/04–001,’’ February 25,
2004 (ML040570122).
22. Abell, Capt. Clint E., Air Force
Memorandum to NRC, ‘‘Decommissioning
Plan for Test Area C–74L, Eglin AFB,
Florida,’’ October 27, 2004 (ML043410237).
23. Abell, Capt. Clint E., Air Force
Memorandum to NRC, ‘‘Response to NRC
Query of Decommissioning of Test Area C–
74L, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida,’’ January
13, 2005 (ML050320251).
24. Passetti, William A., Florida
Department of Health Letter to NRC,
‘‘Environmental Assessment for
Decommissioning of Test Area C–74L at
Eglin Air Force Base,’’ May 19, 2005
(ML051640567).
If you do not have access to ADAMS
or if there are problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, contact
the NRC Public Document Room (PDR)
reference staff at (800) 397–4209, (301)
415–4737 or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.
Documents may also be viewed
electronically on the public computers
located at the NRC’s PDR, O 1 F21, One
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR
reproduction contractor will copy
documents for a fee.
Dated at Arlington, Texas this 28th day of
June, 2005.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
D. Blair Spitzberg,
Chief, Fuel Cycle & Decommissioning Branch,
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region
IV.
[FR Doc. E5–3629 Filed 7–8–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030–30429]
Notice of Availability of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment for Core Laboratories,
Houston, TX
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
Jack
E. Whitten, Branch Chief, Nuclear
Materials Licensing Branch, Division of
Nuclear Materials Safety, Region RIV,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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611 Ryan Plaza Drive, Suite 400,
Arlington, TX 76011. Telephone: (817)
860–8197; fax number (817) 860–8263;
e-mail: jew1@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to
Material License No. 42–26928–01
issued to Core Laboratories, Inc., (dba
ProTechnics) to authorize the utilization
of cesium–137 in quantities in excess of
limits listed in 10 CFR 30.71 for well
logging activities at temporary job sites
where NRC maintains jurisdiction. The
NRC has prepared an Environmental
Assessment (EA) in support of this
action in accordance with the
requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. Based
on the EA, the NRC has determined that
a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) is appropriate. The amendment
will be issued following the publication
of this Notice.
II. Environmental Assessment
Background
Core Laboratories, Inc., (Core
Laboratories) is a well logging licensee
based in Houston, Texas, and conducts
tracer operations using radioactive
materials in oil and natural gas fields
worldwide. Core Laboratories is
licensed by both the NRC and
Agreement States (Louisiana, New
Mexico, and Texas) to conduct well
logging operations.
By letter dated July 14, 1997, Core
Laboratories requested that NRC grant
an amendment to allow the use of
radioactive collar markers containing
activities of byproduct material
exceeding the limits listed in 10 CFR
30.71. An EA was written and based on
the EA, the NRC concluded that a
finding of no significant impact (FONSI)
was appropriate. The EA and the FONSI
were published in the 67 Federal
Register (FR) 5320, February 5, 2002.
On March 9, 2002, Core Laboratories
was granted an amendment authorizing
an exemption to 10 CFR 30.71. This
amendment authorized Core
Laboratories to use pipe collar markers
containing iridium–192, scandium–46,
antimony–124, cobalt–60, and cesium–
137 with activities up to 50 micro curies
(µCi).
On February 23, 2004, Core
Laboratories requested an amendment to
increase the activity of radioactive
markers containing cesium–137 from
the 50 µCi, previously approved, with
activities up to 100 µCi. This 100 µCi
activity exceeds the quantities of
byproduct material listed for use as pipe
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Sfmt 4703
collar markers in oil and gas wells in 10
CFR 39.47, 10 CFR 30.71, and the
activities authorized in the March 9,
2002, license amendment to Core
Laboratories’ byproduct material
license. The NRC has reviewed the
licensee’s amendment request and has
developed this EA to assess the
environmental consequences of this
licensing action using the guidance
provided in NUREG–1748,
Environmental Review Guidance for
Licensing Actions Associated with
NMSS Programs.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to amend the
license and modify the previous
exemption by approving the licensee’s
request to use radioactive markers
containing 100 µCi cesium–137 for use
as pipe collar markers in oil and gas
wells. This proposed activity exceeds
the limits of radioactive markers
authorized in 10 CFR 39.47 and 10 CFR
30.71.
The radioactive markers Core
Laboratories requested authorization to
use in well logging activities are either
installed directly in the pipe collars or
are placed on the pipe collar threads
and secured between the pipe casing
joints and are not easily removed. Once
installed in a well bore, the pipe casing
and collars are cemented into place.
By letter dated July 14, 1997, Core
Laboratories in its correspondence to
NRC, describes the procedures it will
have in place involving the customer or
well owner/operator. These procedures
state, in part, that the customer or well
owner/operator must contact Core
Laboratories in the event the radioactive
pipe collar markers must be removed.
Core Laboratories will be available on
site to secure and take possession of the
collar markers upon their return to the
surface. Additionally, Core Laboratories
will provide the customer or well
owner/operator a copy of Attachment
XII–1 (Core Laboratories’ Radioactive
Collar Marker Utilization Log) as a
written record of the requirement to
notify Core Laboratories if markers
returned to the surface before a
specified date.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is necessary so
that Core Laboratories can efficiently
carry out its business of well logging in
the oil and gas industry. The need for
an increase in activity for cesium-137 is
due to the heavier density of the
materials being used in the well logging
application. The higher activity
radioactive markers will allow, when
logging certain oil and gas wells, for
more accurate pipe collar location
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 131 / Monday, July 11, 2005 / Notices
measurements for longer periods of
time. Radioactive markers with lower
activities may result in Core
Laboratories having to depend on less
accurate pipe collar location
measurements when logging oil and gas
wells, thereby providing less accurate
information to the well owner/operator.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
Core laboratories provided
calculations in its November 14, 1997,
and February 27, 2004, letters that
demonstrated that the 100 millirem in a
year or 2 millirem in any one hour
limits to a member of the public would
not be exceeded at any time while using
the pipe collar markers with increased
50 to 100 µCi activities.
There will be no significant
environmental impact realized from the
proposed action, due to no material
being released into the environment and
all of the material being wholly
contained within the pipe collars.
Additionally, the pipe collar markers
will be recovered by Core Laboratories
should the casing containing the collars
be removed from the well bores.
If the collar markers are returned to
the surface prior to having decayed to
exempt quantity levels specified on
Core Laboratories customer agreement,
the customer is required to contact Core
Laboratories to take possession of the
markers. These markers are then
removed from the equipment, placed
into a lead shield, and then placed into
a U.S. Department of Transportation 7A
transport container for shipment back to
Core Laboratories.
Upon return to the storage facility, the
markers are placed into waste storage to
await decay or shipment to an
authorized recipient for disposal when
quantities of waste justifies such a
shipment.
Environmental Impacts of the
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The only alternative to the proposed
action of increasing the activity of
radioactive markers containing cesium–
137 from 50 µCi to 100 µCi is to take no
action. The no-action alternative would
be to allow the licensee to maintain
radioactive marker activities currently
authorized in Core Laboratories’ NRC
license. Again, there will be no
significant environmental impact
realized from the proposed action or the
alternative to the proposed action, due
to no material being released into the
environment and all of the material
being wholly contained within the pipe
collars.
On March 9, 2002, Core Laboratories
was granted an amendment authorizing
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an exemption to 10 CFR 30.71 to use
pipe collar markers containing iridium–
192, scandium–46, antimony–124,
cobalt–60, and cesium–137 with
activities up to 50 µCi. An EA was
published in the 67 FR 55320, February
5, 2002, and based on the EA the NRC
concluded that environmental impacts
that would be created by the proposed
action would not have a significant
effect on the quality of the environment
and did not warrant the preparation of
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS). Accordingly, it was determined
that a FONSI was appropriate.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
Since the proposed action occurs
downhole in the well bore and results
in a permanent installation, the NRC has
concluded that there is no potential to
affect threatened or endangered species
or historic resources. Therefore, no
further consultation is required under
Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act. Likewise, NRC staff has determined
that the proposed action is not the type
of activity that has potential to cause
effects on historic properties. Therefore,
no further consultation is required
under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
The NRC staff provided letters to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and Agreement States of Louisiana,
Texas, and New Mexico for their review
and comments, in accordance with
NUREG–1748, Section 3.3. The
Agreement States that were contacted
provided no comments. By letter dated
March 3, 2005, the EPA responded and
recommended that the NRC, as a
condition of approving the license
amendment, have Core Laboratories
provide notice to the Federal or State
natural resource agency of which wells
have the radioactive collar installed.
The NRC staff took this comment into
consideration and determined that Core
Laboratories already provides
notification to agreement states via
reciprocity before performing well
logging activities in the respective
agreement states.
Conclusion
Based in its review, the NRC staff has
concluded that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action and the preparation
of an EIS is not warranted. The staff has
determined that the proposed action,
approval of the license amendment
request to increase the activity of
radioactive markers containing cesium–
137 from the 50 µCi, to100 µCi, is the
appropriate alternative for selection.
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39809
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has concluded that the
proposed action complies with 10 CFR
Part 20. Exposure to a member of the
public would be less than the limits
specified in 10 CFR 20.1302. The
licensee provided calculations that
demonstrated that the 100 millirem in a
year or 2 millirem in any one hour
could not be exceeded when normal
restricted boundaries were established.
The NRC staff prepared this EA in
support of the proposed action to amend
the license. On the basis of this EA, the
NRC has concluded that there are no
significant environmental impacts and
the license amendment does not warrant
the preparation of an EIS. Accordingly,
it has been determined that a FONSI is
appropriate.
IV. Further Information
Documents related to this action,
including the application for
amendment and supporting
documentation, are available
electronically at the NRC’s Electronic
Reading Room at https://www.nrc.gov/
reading-rm/adams.html. From this site,
you can access the NRC’s Agencywide
Document Access and Management
System (ADAMS), which provides text
and image files of NRC’s public
documents. The ADAMS accession
numbers for the documents related to
this notice are listed below. If you do
not have access to ADAMS or if there
are problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, contact
the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
Reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–
415–4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.
These documents may also be viewed
electronically on the public computers
located at the NRC’s PDR, O 1 F21, One
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR
reproduction contractor will copy
documents for a fee.
1. NRC, ‘‘Environmental Review Guidance
for Licensing Actions Associated with NMSS
Programs,’’ NUREG–1748, August 2003.
(ML032540811).
2. NRC, ‘‘Consolidated NMSS
Decommissioning Guidance,’’ NUREG–1757,
Volume 1, September 2003 (ML032530410).
3. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Texas Bureau of Radiation
Control License No. L03835, Amendment No.
41, expiration date August 31, 2005
(ML051510390).
4. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality License No. LA–6678L01, Amendment No. 17, expiration date
October 31, 2004 (ML051510385).
5. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories New Mexico Radiation Control
Bureau License No. WL264–26, expiration
date February 28, 2007 (ML051510393).
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 131 / Monday, July 11, 2005 / Notices
6. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Letter to NRC, February 23, 2004
(ML040580736).
7. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Letter to NRC, July 14, 1997
(ML003724357).
8. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Letter to NRC, November 14,
1997 (ML003724675).
9. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Letter to NRC, February 4, 1998
(ML003724694).
10. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Letter to NRC, January 20, 1998
(ML003724684).
11. ProTechnics Division of Core
Laboratories Letter to NRC, February 27, 2004
(ML040580735).
12. Federal Register Volume 67, Number
24, pages 5320–5321
13. NRC letter to Roger Mulder, State of
Texas, January 7, 2005 (ML050130550).
14. NRC letter to Derrith Watchman-Moore,
State of New Mexico, January 7, 2005
(ML050130548).
15. NRC letter to Michael Henry, State of
Louisiana, January 7, 2005 (ML050130549).
16. NRC letter to Robert Smith, EPA,
January 7, 2005 (ML050130547).
17. NRC letter to Bruce Kobelski, EPA,
January 7, 2005 (ML050130545).
18. EPA letter to Mark Satorius, NRC,
March 3, 2005 (ML050690294).
Dated at Arlington, Texas, this 27th day of
June, 2005.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jack E. Whitten,
Chief, Nuclear Materials Licensing Branch,
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region
IV.
[FR Doc. E5–3630 Filed 7–8–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET
Acquisition Advisory Panel;
Notification of Upcoming Meetings of
the Acquisition Advisory Panel
Office of Management and
Budget, Executive Office of the
President.
ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory
Committee meetings.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Office of Management
and Budget announces two meetings of
the Acquisition Advisory Panel (AAP or
‘‘Panel’’) established in accordance with
the Services Acquisition Reform Act of
2003.
DATES: There are two meetings
announced in this Federal Register
Notice. A public meeting of the Panel
will be held on July 27, 2005, beginning
at 9 a.m. Pacific Time and ending no
later than 5 p.m. A second public
meeting of the Panel will be held on
August 18, 2005, beginning at 9 a.m.
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Eastern Time and ending no later than
5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The July 27, 2005 meeting
will be held at the Hyatt Regency Long
Beach, Conference Room Beacon B, 200
South Pine Avenue, Long Beach, CA
90802. The August 18, 2005 meeting
will be held at the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Basement
auditorium, 801 17th Street NW.,
Washington DC 20434. The public is
asked to pre-register one week in
advance for each meetings due to
security and/or seating limitations (see
below for information on preregistration).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Members of the public wishing further
information concerning these meetings
or the Acquisition Advisory Panel itself,
or to pre-register for either meeting,
should contact Ms. Laura Auletta,
Designated Federal Officer (DFO), at:
laura.auletta@gsa.gov, phone/voice mail
(202) 208–7279, or mail at: General
Services Administration, 1800 F Street,
NW., Room 4006, Washington, DC
20405. Members of the public wishing
to reserve speaking time must contact
Ms. Anne Terry, AAP Staff Analyst, in
writing at: anne.terry@gsa.gov, by FAX
at 202–501–3341, or mail at the address
given above for the DFO, no later than
one week prior to the meeting at which
they wish to speak.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(a) Background: The purpose of the
Panel is to provide independent advice
and recommendations to the Office of
Federal Procurement Policy and
Congress pursuant to Section 1423 of
the Services Acquisition Reform Act of
2003. The Panel’s statutory charter is to
review Federal contracting laws,
regulations, and governmentwide
policies, including the use of
commercial practices, performancebased contracting, performance of
acquisition functions across agency
lines of responsibility, and
governmentwide contracts. Interested
parties are invited to attend the
meetings. Opportunity for public
comments will be provided at both
meetings. Additional time for oral
public comments is expected at future
public meetings to be announced in the
Federal Register.
July 27, 2005 Meeting—The working
groups, established at previous public
meetings of the AAP (see https://
www.acqnet.gov/aap for a list of
working groups), will report any
significant updates during this meeting,
which may include any follow-up
recommendations for additional
working groups or other issues to be
examined. The Panel also expects to
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hear from additional invited speakers
from the public and private sectors who
will address issues related to the Panel’s
statutory charter, including commercial
practices and performance-based
contracting. In addition to working
group reports and invited speakers, the
Panel welcomes oral public comments
at this meeting and has reserved an
estimated one hour for this purpose.
Members of the public wishing to
address the Panel during either meeting
must contact Ms. Anne Terry, in
writing, as soon as possible to reserve
time (see contact information above).
August 18, 2005 Meeting—In addition
to working group reports on any
significant updates, the Panel plans to
hear invited speakers on a variety of
topics related to the Panel’s statutory
charter including a discussion group on
commercial practices that will cover the
use of Time and Material contracting.
The Panel also welcomes oral public
comments at this meeting and is
reserving an estimated one hour for this
purpose. Members of the public wishing
to address the Panel during either
meeting must contact Ms. Anne Terry,
in writing, as soon as possible to reserve
time (see FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
above).
(b) Availability of Materials for the
Meetings: Please see the Acquisition
Advisory Panel Web site for any
available materials, including draft
agendas, for these meetings (https://
www.acqnet.gov/aap). Questions/issues
of particular interest to the Panel are
also available to the public on this Web
site on its front page, including
‘‘Questions for Government Buying
Agencies,’’ ‘‘Questions for Contractors
that Sell Commercial Goods or Services
to the Government,’’ and an issue raised
by one Panel member regarding the
rules of interpretation and performance
of contracts and liabilities of the parties
entitled ‘‘Proposal for Public
Comment.’’ The Panel asks that the
public address any of these questions/
issues when presenting either oral
public comments or written statements
to the Panel. The public may also obtain
copies of Initial Working Group Reports
presented at the March 30, 2005 public
meeting at the Panel’s Web site under
‘‘Meeting Materials’’ at this Web site.
(c) Procedures for Providing Public
Comments: It is the policy of the
Acquisition Advisory Panel to accept
written public comments of any length,
and to accommodate oral public
comments whenever possible. To
facilitate Panel discussions at its
meetings, the Panel may not accept oral
comments at all meetings. The Panel
Staff expects that public statements
presented at Panel meetings will be
E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39808-39810]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3630]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030-30429]
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Core Laboratories,
Houston, TX
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack E. Whitten, Branch Chief, Nuclear
Materials Licensing Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety,
Region RIV, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 611 Ryan Plaza Drive,
Suite 400, Arlington, TX 76011. Telephone: (817) 860-8197; fax number
(817) 860-8263; e-mail: jew1@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to Material License No. 42-26928-01
issued to Core Laboratories, Inc., (dba ProTechnics) to authorize the
utilization of cesium-137 in quantities in excess of limits listed in
10 CFR 30.71 for well logging activities at temporary job sites where
NRC maintains jurisdiction. The NRC has prepared an Environmental
Assessment (EA) in support of this action in accordance with the
requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. Based on the EA, the NRC has determined
that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate. The
amendment will be issued following the publication of this Notice.
II. Environmental Assessment
Background
Core Laboratories, Inc., (Core Laboratories) is a well logging
licensee based in Houston, Texas, and conducts tracer operations using
radioactive materials in oil and natural gas fields worldwide. Core
Laboratories is licensed by both the NRC and Agreement States
(Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas) to conduct well logging operations.
By letter dated July 14, 1997, Core Laboratories requested that NRC
grant an amendment to allow the use of radioactive collar markers
containing activities of byproduct material exceeding the limits listed
in 10 CFR 30.71. An EA was written and based on the EA, the NRC
concluded that a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) was
appropriate. The EA and the FONSI were published in the 67 Federal
Register (FR) 5320, February 5, 2002. On March 9, 2002, Core
Laboratories was granted an amendment authorizing an exemption to 10
CFR 30.71. This amendment authorized Core Laboratories to use pipe
collar markers containing iridium-192, scandium-46, antimony-124,
cobalt-60, and cesium-137 with activities up to 50 micro curies
([mu]Ci).
On February 23, 2004, Core Laboratories requested an amendment to
increase the activity of radioactive markers containing cesium-137 from
the 50 [mu]Ci, previously approved, with activities up to 100 [mu]Ci.
This 100 [mu]Ci activity exceeds the quantities of byproduct material
listed for use as pipe collar markers in oil and gas wells in 10 CFR
39.47, 10 CFR 30.71, and the activities authorized in the March 9,
2002, license amendment to Core Laboratories' byproduct material
license. The NRC has reviewed the licensee's amendment request and has
developed this EA to assess the environmental consequences of this
licensing action using the guidance provided in NUREG-1748,
Environmental Review Guidance for Licensing Actions Associated with
NMSS Programs.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to amend the license and modify the previous
exemption by approving the licensee's request to use radioactive
markers containing 100 [mu]Ci cesium-137 for use as pipe collar markers
in oil and gas wells. This proposed activity exceeds the limits of
radioactive markers authorized in 10 CFR 39.47 and 10 CFR 30.71.
The radioactive markers Core Laboratories requested authorization
to use in well logging activities are either installed directly in the
pipe collars or are placed on the pipe collar threads and secured
between the pipe casing joints and are not easily removed. Once
installed in a well bore, the pipe casing and collars are cemented into
place.
By letter dated July 14, 1997, Core Laboratories in its
correspondence to NRC, describes the procedures it will have in place
involving the customer or well owner/operator. These procedures state,
in part, that the customer or well owner/operator must contact Core
Laboratories in the event the radioactive pipe collar markers must be
removed. Core Laboratories will be available on site to secure and take
possession of the collar markers upon their return to the surface.
Additionally, Core Laboratories will provide the customer or well
owner/operator a copy of Attachment XII-1 (Core Laboratories'
Radioactive Collar Marker Utilization Log) as a written record of the
requirement to notify Core Laboratories if markers returned to the
surface before a specified date.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is necessary so that Core Laboratories can
efficiently carry out its business of well logging in the oil and gas
industry. The need for an increase in activity for cesium-137 is due to
the heavier density of the materials being used in the well logging
application. The higher activity radioactive markers will allow, when
logging certain oil and gas wells, for more accurate pipe collar
location
[[Page 39809]]
measurements for longer periods of time. Radioactive markers with lower
activities may result in Core Laboratories having to depend on less
accurate pipe collar location measurements when logging oil and gas
wells, thereby providing less accurate information to the well owner/
operator.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
Core laboratories provided calculations in its November 14, 1997,
and February 27, 2004, letters that demonstrated that the 100 millirem
in a year or 2 millirem in any one hour limits to a member of the
public would not be exceeded at any time while using the pipe collar
markers with increased 50 to 100 [mu]Ci activities.
There will be no significant environmental impact realized from the
proposed action, due to no material being released into the environment
and all of the material being wholly contained within the pipe collars.
Additionally, the pipe collar markers will be recovered by Core
Laboratories should the casing containing the collars be removed from
the well bores.
If the collar markers are returned to the surface prior to having
decayed to exempt quantity levels specified on Core Laboratories
customer agreement, the customer is required to contact Core
Laboratories to take possession of the markers. These markers are then
removed from the equipment, placed into a lead shield, and then placed
into a U.S. Department of Transportation 7A transport container for
shipment back to Core Laboratories.
Upon return to the storage facility, the markers are placed into
waste storage to await decay or shipment to an authorized recipient for
disposal when quantities of waste justifies such a shipment.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The only alternative to the proposed action of increasing the
activity of radioactive markers containing cesium-137 from 50 [mu]Ci to
100 [mu]Ci is to take no action. The no-action alternative would be to
allow the licensee to maintain radioactive marker activities currently
authorized in Core Laboratories' NRC license. Again, there will be no
significant environmental impact realized from the proposed action or
the alternative to the proposed action, due to no material being
released into the environment and all of the material being wholly
contained within the pipe collars.
On March 9, 2002, Core Laboratories was granted an amendment
authorizing an exemption to 10 CFR 30.71 to use pipe collar markers
containing iridium-192, scandium-46, antimony-124, cobalt-60, and
cesium-137 with activities up to 50 [mu]Ci. An EA was published in the
67 FR 55320, February 5, 2002, and based on the EA the NRC concluded
that environmental impacts that would be created by the proposed action
would not have a significant effect on the quality of the environment
and did not warrant the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS). Accordingly, it was determined that a FONSI was
appropriate.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
Since the proposed action occurs downhole in the well bore and
results in a permanent installation, the NRC has concluded that there
is no potential to affect threatened or endangered species or historic
resources. Therefore, no further consultation is required under Section
7 of the Endangered Species Act. Likewise, NRC staff has determined
that the proposed action is not the type of activity that has potential
to cause effects on historic properties. Therefore, no further
consultation is required under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
The NRC staff provided letters to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and Agreement States of Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico
for their review and comments, in accordance with NUREG-1748, Section
3.3. The Agreement States that were contacted provided no comments. By
letter dated March 3, 2005, the EPA responded and recommended that the
NRC, as a condition of approving the license amendment, have Core
Laboratories provide notice to the Federal or State natural resource
agency of which wells have the radioactive collar installed. The NRC
staff took this comment into consideration and determined that Core
Laboratories already provides notification to agreement states via
reciprocity before performing well logging activities in the respective
agreement states.
Conclusion
Based in its review, the NRC staff has concluded that there are no
significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action
and the preparation of an EIS is not warranted. The staff has
determined that the proposed action, approval of the license amendment
request to increase the activity of radioactive markers containing
cesium-137 from the 50 [mu]Ci, to100 [mu]Ci, is the appropriate
alternative for selection.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has concluded that the proposed action complies with
10 CFR Part 20. Exposure to a member of the public would be less than
the limits specified in 10 CFR 20.1302. The licensee provided
calculations that demonstrated that the 100 millirem in a year or 2
millirem in any one hour could not be exceeded when normal restricted
boundaries were established. The NRC staff prepared this EA in support
of the proposed action to amend the license. On the basis of this EA,
the NRC has concluded that there are no significant environmental
impacts and the license amendment does not warrant the preparation of
an EIS. Accordingly, it has been determined that a FONSI is
appropriate.
IV. Further Information
Documents related to this action, including the application for
amendment and supporting documentation, are available electronically at
the NRC's Electronic Reading Room at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
adams.html. From this site, you can access the NRC's Agencywide
Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and
image files of NRC's public documents. The ADAMS accession numbers for
the documents related to this notice are listed below. If you do not
have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC's Public Document Room
(PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to
pdr@nrc.gov.
These documents may also be viewed electronically on the public
computers located at the NRC's PDR, O 1 F21, One White Flint North,
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR reproduction
contractor will copy documents for a fee.
1. NRC, ``Environmental Review Guidance for Licensing Actions
Associated with NMSS Programs,'' NUREG-1748, August 2003.
(ML032540811).
2. NRC, ``Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance,'' NUREG-
1757, Volume 1, September 2003 (ML032530410).
3. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Texas Bureau of
Radiation Control License No. L03835, Amendment No. 41, expiration
date August 31, 2005 (ML051510390).
4. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality License No. LA-6678-L01,
Amendment No. 17, expiration date October 31, 2004 (ML051510385).
5. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories New Mexico
Radiation Control Bureau License No. WL264-26, expiration date
February 28, 2007 (ML051510393).
[[Page 39810]]
6. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Letter to NRC,
February 23, 2004 (ML040580736).
7. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Letter to NRC, July
14, 1997 (ML003724357).
8. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Letter to NRC,
November 14, 1997 (ML003724675).
9. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Letter to NRC,
February 4, 1998 (ML003724694).
10. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Letter to NRC,
January 20, 1998 (ML003724684).
11. ProTechnics Division of Core Laboratories Letter to NRC,
February 27, 2004 (ML040580735).
12. Federal Register Volume 67, Number 24, pages 5320-5321
13. NRC letter to Roger Mulder, State of Texas, January 7, 2005
(ML050130550).
14. NRC letter to Derrith Watchman-Moore, State of New Mexico,
January 7, 2005 (ML050130548).
15. NRC letter to Michael Henry, State of Louisiana, January 7,
2005 (ML050130549).
16. NRC letter to Robert Smith, EPA, January 7, 2005
(ML050130547).
17. NRC letter to Bruce Kobelski, EPA, January 7, 2005
(ML050130545).
18. EPA letter to Mark Satorius, NRC, March 3, 2005
(ML050690294).
Dated at Arlington, Texas, this 27th day of June, 2005.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jack E. Whitten,
Chief, Nuclear Materials Licensing Branch, Division of Nuclear
Materials Safety, Region IV.
[FR Doc. E5-3630 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
