Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Proposed Extension of Deadline for Inventory of Special Nuclear Material, 30451-30452 [E6-8112]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2006 / Notices
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available at the NRC worldwide Web
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doc-comment/omb/. The
document will be available on the NRC
home page site for 60 days after the
signature date of this notice.
Comments and questions about the
information collection requirements
may be directed to the NRC Clearance
Officer, Brenda Jo. Shelton (T–5 F52),
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555–0001, by
telephone at 301–415–7233, or by
Internet electronic mail to
INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV.
Significant Impact (FONSI) is
appropriate and, therefore, an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will not be prepared.
II. Environmental Assessment
Background
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact.
The NFS facility in Erwin, Tennessee
is authorized, under License SNM–124
to manufacture high-enriched nuclear
reactor fuel. In addition, NFS is
authorized to blend highly enriched
uranium (HEU) with natural uranium
and manufacture low-enriched nuclear
reactor fuel. Currently, BPF is in a safeshutdown mode, in accordance with
Confirmatory Action Letter (CAL) No.
02–06–003 dated March 18, 2006.
Operations in BPF were shut down
without the usual material processing/
clean-out that is required to be
undertaken as part of a measured
physical inventory. NFS is currently in
the process of conducting an operational
readiness review (ORR) which must be
reviewed and approved by NRC before
operations are restarted. This is
expected to occur on or before June 20,
2006. After operations are authorized,
the BPF must be operated for a
minimum of two weeks to process the
material to a form suitable for a
measurable physical inventory. NFS
requests that the inventory reporting
date be extended until 45 days after the
completion of the ORR and the
processing/inventory process clean out
resumes, the date of which is not now
specifically known.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Review Scope
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd
day of May 2006.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Brenda Jo. Shelton,
NRC Clearance Officer, Office of Information
Services.
[FR Doc. E6–8113 Filed 5–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70–143]
Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.,
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for
Proposed Extension of Deadline for
Inventory of Special Nuclear Material
AGENCY:
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Kevin M. Ramsey, Project Manager, Fuel
Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel
Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Mail Stop T–8F42, Rockville, MD.
20555–0001, Telephone (301) 415–7887;
fax (301) 415–5955; e-mail kmr@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) staff is considering the issuance
of a license amendment to Materials
License SNM–124, to Nuclear Fuel
Services, Inc. (NFS) (the licensee), to
grant a one-time exemption from the
May 2006 inventory results for strategic
special nuclear material in the Blended
Low-Enriched Uranium Preparation
Facility (BPF). The NRC has prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) in
support of this amendment in
accordance with the requirements of 10
CFR part 51. Based on the EA, the NRC
has concluded that a Finding of No
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:12 May 25, 2006
Jkt 208001
The purpose of this EA is to assess the
environmental impacts of the proposed
license amendment. It does not approve
the request. This EA is limited to the
proposed exemption and any
cumulative impacts on existing plant
operations. The existing conditions and
operations for the Erwin facility were
evaluated by the NRC for environmental
impacts in a 1999 EA related to the
renewal of the NFS license (Ref. 1) and
a 2002 EA related to the first
amendment for the Blended LowEnriched Uranium (BLEU) Project (Ref.
2). The 2002 EA assessed the impact of
the entire BLEU Project, using
information available at that time. A
2003 EA (Ref. 3) and a 2004 EA (Ref. 4),
related to additional BLEU Project
amendments, confirmed the FONSI
issued in 2002. This assessment
presents information and analysis for
determining that the issuance of a
FONSI is appropriate and that an EIS
will not be prepared.
PO 00000
Frm 00087
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
30451
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to amend NRC
Materials License SNM–124 to grant a
one-time exemption from the physical
inventory deadline for strategic special
nuclear material in the BPF. The
exemption would authorize NFS to
submit the physical inventory results
after NRC has authorized the restart of
operations in the BPF and NFS has had
an opportunity to process the material
and complete the inventory. The
proposed action is limited to the
reporting deadline only. No change to
processing, packaging, or storage
operations is requested, and no
construction of new facilities is
requested.
Need for Proposed Action
The proposed action is being
requested because NFS had to secure
operations in the BPF to investigate an
upset condition. NFS has committed to
maintain the BPF in a safe-shutdown
mode until NRC authorizes restart of
operations. Regulations in 10 CFR
74.59(f)(1) require a physical inventory
of strategic special nuclear material
every six months. To comply with this
regulation, the material must be
processed into a form that can be
inventoried. Material in the BPF process
is not in a form that can be inventoried
and it cannot be processed into the
proper form until the restart of
operations is authorized.
Alternatives
The alternatives available to NRC are:
1. Approve the license amendment as
described; or
2. No action (i.e., deny the request).
Affected Environment
The affected environment for the
proposed action and the no action
alternative is the NFS site. The NFS
facility is located in Unicoi County,
Tennessee, about 32 km (20 mi)
southwest of Johnson City, Tennessee.
The facility is about 0.8 km (0.5 mi)
southwest of the Erwin city limits. The
affected environment is identical to the
affected environment assessed in the
2002 EA related to the first amendment
for the BLEU Project (Ref. 2). A full
description of the site and its
characteristics are given in the 2002 EA.
Additional information can be found in
the 1999 EA related to the renewal of
the NFS license (Ref. 1). The site
occupies about 28 hectares (70 acres).
The site is bounded to the northwest by
the CSX Corporation (CSX) railroad
property and the Nolichucky River, and
by Martin Creek to the northeast. The
plant elevation is about 9 m (30 ft)
E:\FR\FM\26MYN1.SGM
26MYN1
30452
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2006 / Notices
above the nearest point on the
Nolichucky River.
The area adjacent to the site consists
primarily of residential, industrial, and
commercial areas, with a limited
amount of farming to the northwest.
Privately owned residences are located
to the east and south of the facility.
Tract size is relatively large, leading to
a low housing density in the areas
adjacent to the facility. The CSX
railroad right-of-way is parallel to the
western boundary of the site. Industrial
development is located adjacent to the
railroad on the opposite side of the
right-of-way. The site is bounded by
Martin Creek to the north, with
privately owned, vacant property and
low-density residences.
Environmental Impacts of Proposed
Action and Alternatives
Proposed Action. The occupation and
public health impacts from the
proposed action are essentially the same
as those considered in the
environmental assessment for operation
of the BPF (Ref. 3). Maintaining the BPF
in a safe-shutdown mode will reduce
the emissions from normal operations
and reduce the risk of accidents.
However, the reductions would be so
small that the differences would be
negligible.
No Action. Denying this amendment
request would not result in any
significant difference in the
occupational and public health impacts.
If this amendment request is denied, the
licensee may be cited for failing to
submit a required report. However, the
material cannot be inventoried until it is
processed into an appropriate form. The
facility will continue to implement
NRC-approved radiation safety
procedures for storing and handling
radioactive materials. Thus, the impacts
under the ‘‘no action’’ alternative will
remain within acceptable regulatory
limits.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
2. Effluent Releases, Environmental
Monitoring, Water Resources, Geology,
Soils, Air Quality, Demography, Biota,
Cultural and Historic Resources
Proposed Action. The NRC staff has
determined that the approval of the
proposed amendment will not impact
effluent releases, environmental
monitoring, water resources, geology,
soils, air quality, demography, biota, or
cultural or historic resources at or near
the NFS site.
No Action. The NRC staff has
determined that denial of the proposed
amendment will not impact effluent
releases, environmental monitoring,
16:12 May 25, 2006
Jkt 208001
Conclusion
Based on its review, the NRC has
concluded that the environmental
impacts associated with the proposed
action are not significant and, therefore,
do not warrant denial of the proposed
license amendment. The NRC has
determined that the proposed action,
approval of the license amendment as
described, is the appropriate alternative
for selection. Based on an evaluation of
the environmental impacts of the
proposed license amendment, the NRC
has determined that the proper action is
to issue a FONSI.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
1. Occupational and Public Health
VerDate Aug<31>2005
water resources, geology, soils, air
quality, demography, biota, or cultural
or historic resources at or near the NFS
site.
On May 11, 2006, the NRC staff
contacted the Deputy Director of the
Division of Radiological Health in the
Tennessee Department of Environment
and Conservation (TDEC) concerning
this EA. On May 12, 2006, the Deputy
Director responded that TDEC reviewed
the draft EA and had no comments (Ref.
6).
The NRC staff has determined that the
proposed action will not affect listed
species or critical habitat. Therefore, no
consultation is required under section 7
of the Endangered Species Act.
Likewise, the NRC staff has determined
that the proposed action is not the type
of activity that has the potential to cause
effects on historic properties. Therefore,
no consultation is required under
section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
References
1. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
‘‘Environmental Assessment for Renewal of
Special Nuclear Material License No. SNM–
124,’’ January 1999, ADAMS No.
ML031150418.
2. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
‘‘Environmental Assessment for Proposed
License Amendments to Special Nuclear
Material License No. SNM–124 Regarding
Downblending and Oxide Conversion of
Surplus High-Enriched Uranium,’’ June 2002,
ADAMS No. ML021790068.
3. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
‘‘Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for the BLEU
Preparation Facility,’’ September 2003,
ADAMS No. ML032390428.
4. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
‘‘Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for the Oxide
Conversion Building and the Effluent
Processing Building at the BLEU Complex,’’
June 2004, ADAMS No. ML041470176.
5. Nuclear Fuel Services, ‘‘Request for OneTime Exemption,’’ April 13, 2006, ADAMS
No. ML061150255.
PO 00000
Frm 00088
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
6. D. Shults, Tennessee Division of
Radiological Health, e-mail to K. Ramsey,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ‘‘EA
for NFS Exemption,’’ May 12, 2006, ADAMS
No. ML061350156.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact:
Pursuant to 10 CFR part 51, the NRC
staff has considered the environmental
consequences of amending NRC
Materials License SNM–124 to grant a
one-time exemption from the physical
inventory deadline for strategic special
nuclear material in the BPF. On the
basis of this EA, the NRC has concluded
that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed amendment and has
determined not to prepare an EIS for the
proposed amendment.
IV. Further Information
The documents referenced in this
notice may be made available to
interested parties pursuant to a
protective order and subject to
applicable security requirements upon a
showing that the party has an interest
that may be affected by the proposed
action.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd
day of May 2006.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gary S. Janosko,
Chief, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division
of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. E6–8112 Filed 5–25–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
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Committee on Africa (TACA); Request
for Nominations
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of the charter
and request for nominations.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: On March 27, 2006, the
United States Trade Representative
(USTR) renewed the charter of the Trade
Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA),
for a four-year term to expire on March
27, 2010. The TACA advises the USTR
on trade and development policy
matters with respect to the countries of
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Committee.
DATES: In order to receive full
consideration, nominations for current
vacancies should be received not later
than June 25, 2006. Nominations will be
accepted after June 25 until the
E:\FR\FM\26MYN1.SGM
26MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30451-30452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8112]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70-143]
Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Environmental Assessment and Finding
of No Significant Impact for Proposed Extension of Deadline for
Inventory of Special Nuclear Material
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin M. Ramsey, Project Manager, Fuel
Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards,
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T-8F42, Rockville, MD. 20555-0001,
Telephone (301) 415-7887; fax (301) 415-5955; e-mail kmr@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to Materials License SNM-124, to
Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS) (the licensee), to grant a one-time
exemption from the May 2006 inventory results for strategic special
nuclear material in the Blended Low-Enriched Uranium Preparation
Facility (BPF). The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA)
in support of this amendment in accordance with the requirements of 10
CFR part 51. Based on the EA, the NRC has concluded that a Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate and, therefore, an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will not be prepared.
II. Environmental Assessment
Background
The NFS facility in Erwin, Tennessee is authorized, under License
SNM-124 to manufacture high-enriched nuclear reactor fuel. In addition,
NFS is authorized to blend highly enriched uranium (HEU) with natural
uranium and manufacture low-enriched nuclear reactor fuel. Currently,
BPF is in a safe-shutdown mode, in accordance with Confirmatory Action
Letter (CAL) No. 02-06-003 dated March 18, 2006. Operations in BPF were
shut down without the usual material processing/clean-out that is
required to be undertaken as part of a measured physical inventory. NFS
is currently in the process of conducting an operational readiness
review (ORR) which must be reviewed and approved by NRC before
operations are restarted. This is expected to occur on or before June
20, 2006. After operations are authorized, the BPF must be operated for
a minimum of two weeks to process the material to a form suitable for a
measurable physical inventory. NFS requests that the inventory
reporting date be extended until 45 days after the completion of the
ORR and the processing/inventory process clean out resumes, the date of
which is not now specifically known.
Review Scope
The purpose of this EA is to assess the environmental impacts of
the proposed license amendment. It does not approve the request. This
EA is limited to the proposed exemption and any cumulative impacts on
existing plant operations. The existing conditions and operations for
the Erwin facility were evaluated by the NRC for environmental impacts
in a 1999 EA related to the renewal of the NFS license (Ref. 1) and a
2002 EA related to the first amendment for the Blended Low-Enriched
Uranium (BLEU) Project (Ref. 2). The 2002 EA assessed the impact of the
entire BLEU Project, using information available at that time. A 2003
EA (Ref. 3) and a 2004 EA (Ref. 4), related to additional BLEU Project
amendments, confirmed the FONSI issued in 2002. This assessment
presents information and analysis for determining that the issuance of
a FONSI is appropriate and that an EIS will not be prepared.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to amend NRC Materials License SNM-124 to
grant a one-time exemption from the physical inventory deadline for
strategic special nuclear material in the BPF. The exemption would
authorize NFS to submit the physical inventory results after NRC has
authorized the restart of operations in the BPF and NFS has had an
opportunity to process the material and complete the inventory. The
proposed action is limited to the reporting deadline only. No change to
processing, packaging, or storage operations is requested, and no
construction of new facilities is requested.
Need for Proposed Action
The proposed action is being requested because NFS had to secure
operations in the BPF to investigate an upset condition. NFS has
committed to maintain the BPF in a safe-shutdown mode until NRC
authorizes restart of operations. Regulations in 10 CFR 74.59(f)(1)
require a physical inventory of strategic special nuclear material
every six months. To comply with this regulation, the material must be
processed into a form that can be inventoried. Material in the BPF
process is not in a form that can be inventoried and it cannot be
processed into the proper form until the restart of operations is
authorized.
Alternatives
The alternatives available to NRC are:
1. Approve the license amendment as described; or
2. No action (i.e., deny the request).
Affected Environment
The affected environment for the proposed action and the no action
alternative is the NFS site. The NFS facility is located in Unicoi
County, Tennessee, about 32 km (20 mi) southwest of Johnson City,
Tennessee. The facility is about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) southwest of the Erwin
city limits. The affected environment is identical to the affected
environment assessed in the 2002 EA related to the first amendment for
the BLEU Project (Ref. 2). A full description of the site and its
characteristics are given in the 2002 EA. Additional information can be
found in the 1999 EA related to the renewal of the NFS license (Ref.
1). The site occupies about 28 hectares (70 acres). The site is bounded
to the northwest by the CSX Corporation (CSX) railroad property and the
Nolichucky River, and by Martin Creek to the northeast. The plant
elevation is about 9 m (30 ft)
[[Page 30452]]
above the nearest point on the Nolichucky River.
The area adjacent to the site consists primarily of residential,
industrial, and commercial areas, with a limited amount of farming to
the northwest. Privately owned residences are located to the east and
south of the facility. Tract size is relatively large, leading to a low
housing density in the areas adjacent to the facility. The CSX railroad
right-of-way is parallel to the western boundary of the site.
Industrial development is located adjacent to the railroad on the
opposite side of the right-of-way. The site is bounded by Martin Creek
to the north, with privately owned, vacant property and low-density
residences.
Environmental Impacts of Proposed Action and Alternatives
1. Occupational and Public Health
Proposed Action. The occupation and public health impacts from the
proposed action are essentially the same as those considered in the
environmental assessment for operation of the BPF (Ref. 3). Maintaining
the BPF in a safe-shutdown mode will reduce the emissions from normal
operations and reduce the risk of accidents. However, the reductions
would be so small that the differences would be negligible.
No Action. Denying this amendment request would not result in any
significant difference in the occupational and public health impacts.
If this amendment request is denied, the licensee may be cited for
failing to submit a required report. However, the material cannot be
inventoried until it is processed into an appropriate form. The
facility will continue to implement NRC-approved radiation safety
procedures for storing and handling radioactive materials. Thus, the
impacts under the ``no action'' alternative will remain within
acceptable regulatory limits.
2. Effluent Releases, Environmental Monitoring, Water Resources,
Geology, Soils, Air Quality, Demography, Biota, Cultural and Historic
Resources
Proposed Action. The NRC staff has determined that the approval of
the proposed amendment will not impact effluent releases, environmental
monitoring, water resources, geology, soils, air quality, demography,
biota, or cultural or historic resources at or near the NFS site.
No Action. The NRC staff has determined that denial of the proposed
amendment will not impact effluent releases, environmental monitoring,
water resources, geology, soils, air quality, demography, biota, or
cultural or historic resources at or near the NFS site.
Conclusion
Based on its review, the NRC has concluded that the environmental
impacts associated with the proposed action are not significant and,
therefore, do not warrant denial of the proposed license amendment. The
NRC has determined that the proposed action, approval of the license
amendment as described, is the appropriate alternative for selection.
Based on an evaluation of the environmental impacts of the proposed
license amendment, the NRC has determined that the proper action is to
issue a FONSI.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
On May 11, 2006, the NRC staff contacted the Deputy Director of the
Division of Radiological Health in the Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation (TDEC) concerning this EA. On May 12,
2006, the Deputy Director responded that TDEC reviewed the draft EA and
had no comments (Ref. 6).
The NRC staff has determined that the proposed action will not
affect listed species or critical habitat. Therefore, no consultation
is required under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Likewise,
the NRC staff has determined that the proposed action is not the type
of activity that has the potential to cause effects on historic
properties. Therefore, no consultation is required under section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act.
References
1. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ``Environmental
Assessment for Renewal of Special Nuclear Material License No. SNM-
124,'' January 1999, ADAMS No. ML031150418.
2. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ``Environmental
Assessment for Proposed License Amendments to Special Nuclear
Material License No. SNM-124 Regarding Downblending and Oxide
Conversion of Surplus High-Enriched Uranium,'' June 2002, ADAMS No.
ML021790068.
3. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ``Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the BLEU
Preparation Facility,'' September 2003, ADAMS No. ML032390428.
4. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ``Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Oxide
Conversion Building and the Effluent Processing Building at the BLEU
Complex,'' June 2004, ADAMS No. ML041470176.
5. Nuclear Fuel Services, ``Request for One-Time Exemption,''
April 13, 2006, ADAMS No. ML061150255.
6. D. Shults, Tennessee Division of Radiological Health, e-mail
to K. Ramsey, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ``EA for NFS
Exemption,'' May 12, 2006, ADAMS No. ML061350156.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact:
Pursuant to 10 CFR part 51, the NRC staff has considered the
environmental consequences of amending NRC Materials License SNM-124 to
grant a one-time exemption from the physical inventory deadline for
strategic special nuclear material in the BPF. On the basis of this EA,
the NRC has concluded that there are no significant environmental
impacts associated with the proposed amendment and has determined not
to prepare an EIS for the proposed amendment.
IV. Further Information
The documents referenced in this notice may be made available to
interested parties pursuant to a protective order and subject to
applicable security requirements upon a showing that the party has an
interest that may be affected by the proposed action.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of May 2006.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gary S. Janosko,
Chief, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. E6-8112 Filed 5-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
