Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment to Byproduct Materials License No. 37-30095-01, for Termination of the License and Unrestricted Release of MPI Research Incorporated's Facility in State College, PA, 9598-9600 [E8-3200]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
9598
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.
Competing applications completed and
received by NASA within fifteen (15)
days of the date of this published notice
will also be treated as objections to the
grant of the contemplated partially
exclusive license. Objections submitted
in response to this notice will not be
made available to the public for
inspection and, to the extent permitted
by law, will not be released under the
Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C.
552.
ADDRESSES: Objections relating to the
prospective license may be submitted to
Patent Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel,
Mail Code AL, 2101 NASA Parkway,
Houston, TX 77058, (281) 483–4871;
(281) 483–6936 [Facsimile].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt
G. Hammerle, Patent Attorney, Office of
Chief Counsel, Johnson Space Center,
Mail Code AL, 2101 NASA Parkway,
Houston, TX 77058, (281) 483–1001;
(281) 483–6936 [Facsimile]. Information
about other NASA inventions available
for licensing can be found online at
https://technology.nasa.gov/.
Dated: February 13, 2008.
Keith T. Sefton,
Deputy General Counsel, Administration and
Management.
[FR Doc. E8–3139 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510–13–P
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG
CONTROL POLICY
Paperwork Reduction Act; Notice of
Intent to Collect; Comment Request
Office of National Drug Control
Policy (ONDCP).
ACTION: ONDCP provides opportunity
for public comment concerning the
collection of information to identify
states that have adopted the new
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System (HCPCS) codes (Codes H0049
and H0050) for alcohol and drug
screening, and brief intervention (SBI).
AGENCY:
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
SUMMARY: This action proposes the
collection of drug control information
from state Medicaid directors.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Purpose
The purpose of this survey is to
identify states that have adopted HCPCS
codes H0049 and H0050 to permit
payment of SBI services from state
Medicaid programs. The information
will be used as performance indicators
in the Consolidated Federal Drug
Control Budget and will help inform
policy by providing a greater
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:34 Feb 20, 2008
Jkt 214001
understanding of the level of state
participation in the SBI concept.
Type of Collection: Survey of state
Medicaid directors.
Title of Information Collection:
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding
System Survey.
Frequency: Annually by fiscal year.
Affected Public: Instrumentalities of
state Medicaid directors.
Estimated Burden: Minimal since the
material resides with state Medicaid
directors.
Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230.
Telephone: 703–292–4908.
Purpose of Meeting: To provide
advice and recommendations to the
National Science Foundation (NSF), the
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) and the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) on issues
within the field of astronomy and
astrophysics that are of mutual interest
and concern to the agencies.
Agenda: To discuss the Committee’s
draft annual report due 15 March 2008.
II. Special Issues for Comment
Dated: February 15, 2008.
Susanne E. Bolton,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–3185 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
ONDCP especially invites comments
on: (a) Whether the proposed collection
is necessary for the proper performance
of ONDCP functions, including whether
the information has practical utility; (b)
ways to enhance information quality,
utility, and clarity; and, (c) ways to ease
the burden on respondents, including
the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments in
writing 60 days to Meridith DeFraites.
Facsimile and email are the more
reliable means of communication. Ms.
DeFraites facsimile number is (202)
395–5176, and her e-mail address is
mdefraites@ondcp.eop.gov. Mailing
address is Executive office of the
President, Office of National Drug
Control Policy, Washington, DC 20503.
For further information, contact Ms.
DeFraites at (202) 395–5276.
Signed at Washington DC, on February 15,
2008.
Daniel R. Petersen,
Assistant General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8–3227 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 03033359]
Notice of Availability of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment to Byproduct Materials
License No. 37–30095–01, for
Termination of the License and
Unrestricted Release of MPI Research
Incorporated’s Facility in State
College, PA
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Issuance of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment.
AGENCY:
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory
Committee #13883; Notice of Meeting
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis Lawyer, Health Physicist,
Commercial and R&D Branch, Division
of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region I,
475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia,
Pennsylvania; telephone 610–337–5366;
fax number 610–337–5393; or by e-mail:
drl1@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463, as amended), the National Science
Foundation announces the following
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory
Committee (#13883) meeting:
Date and Time: March 10, 2008, 3
p.m.–5 p.m. EDT.
Place: Teleconference, National
Science Foundation, Room 1020,
Stafford I Building, 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA, 22230.
Type of Meeting: Open.
Contact Person: Dr. G. Wayne Van
Citters, Director, Division of
Astronomical Sciences, Suite 1045,
National Science Foundation, 4201
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to
Byproduct Materials License No. 37–
30095–01. This license is held by MPI
Research Inc. (the Licensee), for its MPI
Research Inc. facility located at 3048
and 3058 Research Drive in State
College, Pennsylvania (the Facility).
Issuance of the amendment would
authorize release of the Facility for
unrestricted use and termination of the
NRC license. The Licensee requested
this action in a letter dated November
15, 2007. The NRC has prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) in
BILLING CODE 3180–D2–P
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM
21FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
support of this proposed action in
accordance with the requirements of
Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Part 51 (10 CFR Part 51). Based
on the EA, the NRC has concluded that
a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) is appropriate with respect to
the proposed action. The amendment
will be issued to the Licensee following
the publication of this FONSI and EA in
the Federal Register.
II. Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would approve
the Licensee’s November 15, 2007,
license amendment request, resulting in
release of the Facility for unrestricted
use and the termination of its NRC
materials license. License No. 37–
30095–01 was issued on February 28,
1994, pursuant to 10 CFR Part 30, and
has been amended periodically since
that time. This license authorized the
Licensee to use unsealed byproduct
material for purposes of conducting
research and development activities on
laboratory bench tops and in hoods.
The Facility is comprised of two
buildings and consists of office space
and laboratories. The Facility is located
in a commercial area. Within the 30,000
square foot Facility, use of licensed
materials was confined to 2,410 square
feet.
During the summer of 2007, the
Licensee ceased licensed activities at
the Facility and initiated survey and
decontamination actions there. Based on
the Licensee’s historical knowledge of
the site and the conditions of the
Facility, the Licensee determined that
only routine decontamination activities,
in accordance with their NRC-approved,
operating radiation safety procedures,
were required. The Licensee was not
required to submit a decommissioning
plan to the NRC because worker cleanup
activities and procedures are consistent
with those approved for routine
operations. The Licensee conducted
surveys of the Facility and provided
information to the NRC to demonstrate
that it meets the criteria in Subpart E of
10 CFR Part 20 for unrestricted release
and for license termination.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Need for the Proposed Action
The Licensee has ceased conducting
licensed activities at the Facility, and
seeks the unrestricted use of its Facility
and the termination of its NRC materials
license. Termination of its license
would end the Licensee’s obligation to
pay annual license fees to the NRC.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:34 Feb 20, 2008
Jkt 214001
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
The historical review of licensed
activities conducted at the Facility
shows that such activities involved use
of the following radionuclide with halflives greater than 120 days: carbon-14.
Prior to performing the final status
survey, the Licensee conducted
decontamination activities, as
necessary, in the areas of the Facility
affected by this radionuclide.
A final status survey was conducted
in conjunction with the closeout of each
area within the Facility, and these
surveys were done during July through
October 2007. The final status survey
report was attached to the Licensee’s
amendment request dated November 15,
2007. The Licensee elected to
demonstrate compliance with the
radiological criteria for unrestricted
release as specified in 10 CFR 20.1402
by using the screening approach
described in NUREG–1757,
‘‘Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning
Guidance,’’ Volume 2. The Licensee
used the radionuclide-specific derived
concentration guideline levels (DCGLs),
developed there by the NRC, which
comply with the dose criterion in 10
CFR 20.1402. These DCGLs define the
maximum amount of residual
radioactivity on building surfaces,
equipment, and materials, that will
satisfy the NRC requirements in Subpart
E of 10 CFR part 20 for unrestricted
release. The Licensee’s final status
survey results were below these DCGLs
and are in compliance with the As Low
As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)
requirement of 10 CFR 20.1402. The
NRC thus finds that the Licensee’s final
status survey results are acceptable.
Based on its review, the staff has
determined that the affected
environment and any environmental
impacts associated with the proposed
action are bounded by the impacts
evaluated by the ‘‘Generic
Environmental Impact Statement in
Support of Rulemaking on Radiological
Criteria for License Termination of NRCLicensed Nuclear Facilities’’ (NUREG–
1496) Volumes 1–3 (ML042310492,
ML042320379, and ML042330385). The
Licensee also considered and
appropriately accounted for the dose
contribution from previous site releases
including the impact of residual
radioactivity at previously-released site
locations of use. The staff finds there
were no significant environmental
impacts from the use of radioactive
material at the Facility. The NRC staff
reviewed the docket file records and the
final status survey report to identify any
non-radiological hazards that may have
PO 00000
Frm 00084
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
9599
impacted the environment surrounding
the Facility. No such hazards or impacts
to the environment were identified. The
NRC has identified no other radiological
or non-radiological activities in the area
that could result in cumulative
environmental impacts.
The NRC staff finds that the proposed
release of the Facility for unrestricted
use and the termination of the NRC
materials license is in compliance with
10 CFR 20.1402. Based on its review,
the staff considered the impact of the
residual radioactivity at the Facility and
concluded that the proposed action will
not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment.
Environmental Impacts of the
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Due to the largely administrative
nature of the proposed action, its
environmental impacts are small.
Therefore, the only alternative the staff
considered is the no-action alternative,
under which the staff would leave
things as they are by simply denying the
amendment request. This no-action
alternative is not feasible because it
conflicts with 10 CFR 30.36(d),
requiring that decommissioning of
byproduct material facilities be
completed and approved by the NRC
after licensed activities cease. The
NRC’s analysis of the Licensee’s final
status survey data confirmed that the
Facility meets the requirements of 10
CFR 20.1402 for unrestricted release and
for license termination. Additionally,
denying the amendment request would
result in no change in current
environmental impacts. The
environmental impacts of the proposed
action and the no-action alternative are
therefore similar, and the no-action
alternative is accordingly not further
considered.
Conclusion
The NRC staff has concluded that the
proposed action is consistent with the
NRC’s unrestricted release criteria
specified in 10 CFR 20.1402. Because
the proposed action will not
significantly impact the quality of the
human environment, the NRC staff
concludes that the proposed action is
the preferred alternative.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
NRC provided a draft of this
Environmental Assessment to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection
for review on January 25, 2008. On
January 29, 2008, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection responded by
electronic mail. The Commonwealth
E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM
21FEN1
9600
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 35 / Thursday, February 21, 2008 / Notices
agreed with the conclusions of the EA,
and otherwise had no comments.
The NRC staff has determined that the
proposed action is of a procedural
nature, and will not affect listed species
or critical habitat. Therefore, no further
consultation is required under Section 7
of the Endangered Species Act. The
NRC staff has also determined that the
proposed action is not the type of
activity that has the potential to cause
effects on historic properties. Therefore,
no further consultation is required
under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared this EA in
support of the proposed action. On the
basis of this EA, the NRC finds that
there are no significant environmental
impacts from the proposed action, and
that preparation of an environmental
impact statement is not warranted.
Accordingly, the NRC has determined
that a Finding of No Significant Impact
is appropriate.
IV. Further Information
Documents related to this action,
including the application for license
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 documents related to
this action are listed below, along with
their ADAMS accession numbers.
1. NUREG–1757, ‘‘Consolidated
NMSS Decommissioning Guidance;’’
2. Title 10 Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 20, Subpart E,
‘‘Radiological Criteria for License
Termination;’’
3. Title 10, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 51, ‘‘Environmental
Protection Regulations for Domestic
Licensing and Related Regulatory
Functions;’’
4. NUREG–1496, ‘‘Generic
Environmental Impact Statement in
Support of Rulemaking on Radiological
Criteria for License Termination of NRCLicensed Nuclear Facilities;’’
5. MPI Research Inc. Termination
Request dated November 15, 2007
[ML073370821].
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 1–800–397–4209, 301–
415–4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.
These documents may also be viewed
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:34 Feb 20, 2008
Jkt 214001
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.
will be issued to the Licensee following
the publication of this FONSI and EA in
the Federal Register.
Dated at Region I, 475 Allendale Road this
13th day of February 2008.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James P. Dwyer,
Chief, Commercial and R&D Branch, Division
of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region I.
[FR Doc. E8–3200 Filed 2–20–08; 8:45 am]
The proposed action would approve
the Licensee’s March 27, 2007, license
amendment request, resulting in release
of the Facility for unrestricted use.
License No. 37–30924–01 was issued on
September 8, 2004, pursuant to 10 CFR
part 30, and has been amended
periodically since that time. This
license authorized the Licensee to use
byproduct material in any form for
purposes of conducting research and
development activities as defined in 10
CFR 30.4.
The Facility contains 4,000 square
feet of office space and laboratories.
Within the Facility, use of licensed
materials was confined to the Biology
lab and adjacent lab corridor.
In July 2004, the Licensee ceased
licensed activities, initiated a survey
and began decontamination of the
Facility. Based on the Licensee’s
historical knowledge of the site and the
conditions of the Facility, the Licensee
determined that only routine
decontamination activities, in
accordance with their NRC-approved,
operating radiation safety procedures,
were required. The Licensee was not
required to submit a decommissioning
plan to the NRC because worker cleanup
activities and procedures are consistent
with those approved for routine
operations. The Licensee conducted
surveys of the Facility and provided
information to the NRC to demonstrate
that it meets the criteria in Subpart E of
10 CFR part 20 for unrestricted release.
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030–36603]
Notice of Availability of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment to Byproduct Materials
License No. 37–30924–01, for the
Unrestricted Release of the Tetralogic
Pharmaceutical Facility in Malvern, PA
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Issuance of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment.
AGENCY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Farrah Gaskins, Health Physicist,
Commercial and R&D Branch, Division
of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region I,
475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia,
Pennsylvania 19406; telephone (610)
337–5143; fax number (610) 337–5269;
or by e-mail: fcg@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to
Byproduct Materials License No. 37–
30924–01. This license is held by
TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals (the
Licensee), for its facility located at 365
Phoenixville Pike in Malvern,
Pennsylvania (the Facility). Issuance of
the amendment would authorize release
of the Facility for unrestricted use. The
Licensee requested this action in a letter
dated March 27, 2007. The NRC has
prepared an Environmental Assessment
(EA) in support of this proposed action
in accordance with the requirements of
Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), Part 51 (10 CFR part 51). Based
on the EA, the NRC has concluded that
a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) is appropriate with respect to
the proposed action. The amendment
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
II. Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
Need for the Proposed Action
The Licensee has ceased conducting
licensed activities at the Facility, and
seeks the unrestricted use of its Facility.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
The historical review of licensed
activities conducted at the Facility
shows that such activities involved use
of the following radionuclides with halflives greater than 120 days: Hydrogen3. Prior to performing the final status
survey, the Licensee conducted
decontamination activities, as
necessary, in the areas of the Facility
affected by these radionuclides.
The Licensee conducted a final status
survey on January 31, 2007. This survey
covered the Biology lab, the adjacent lab
corridor, and adjacent areas. The final
status survey report was attached to the
Licensee’s amendment request dated
E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM
21FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 35 (Thursday, February 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9598-9600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3200]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 03033359]
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for License Amendment to Byproduct Materials
License No. 37-30095-01, for Termination of the License and
Unrestricted Release of MPI Research Incorporated's Facility in State
College, PA
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License Amendment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Lawyer, Health Physicist,
Commercial and R&D Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region
I, 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; telephone 610-
337-5366; fax number 610-337-5393; or by e-mail: drl1@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to Byproduct Materials License No. 37-
30095-01. This license is held by MPI Research Inc. (the Licensee), for
its MPI Research Inc. facility located at 3048 and 3058 Research Drive
in State College, Pennsylvania (the Facility). Issuance of the
amendment would authorize release of the Facility for unrestricted use
and termination of the NRC license. The Licensee requested this action
in a letter dated November 15, 2007. The NRC has prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) in
[[Page 9599]]
support of this proposed action in accordance with the requirements of
Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 51 (10 CFR Part 51).
Based on the EA, the NRC has concluded that a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) is appropriate with respect to the proposed action. The
amendment will be issued to the Licensee following the publication of
this FONSI and EA in the Federal Register.
II. Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would approve the Licensee's November 15, 2007,
license amendment request, resulting in release of the Facility for
unrestricted use and the termination of its NRC materials license.
License No. 37-30095-01 was issued on February 28, 1994, pursuant to 10
CFR Part 30, and has been amended periodically since that time. This
license authorized the Licensee to use unsealed byproduct material for
purposes of conducting research and development activities on
laboratory bench tops and in hoods.
The Facility is comprised of two buildings and consists of office
space and laboratories. The Facility is located in a commercial area.
Within the 30,000 square foot Facility, use of licensed materials was
confined to 2,410 square feet.
During the summer of 2007, the Licensee ceased licensed activities
at the Facility and initiated survey and decontamination actions there.
Based on the Licensee's historical knowledge of the site and the
conditions of the Facility, the Licensee determined that only routine
decontamination activities, in accordance with their NRC-approved,
operating radiation safety procedures, were required. The Licensee was
not required to submit a decommissioning plan to the NRC because worker
cleanup activities and procedures are consistent with those approved
for routine operations. The Licensee conducted surveys of the Facility
and provided information to the NRC to demonstrate that it meets the
criteria in Subpart E of 10 CFR Part 20 for unrestricted release and
for license termination.
Need for the Proposed Action
The Licensee has ceased conducting licensed activities at the
Facility, and seeks the unrestricted use of its Facility and the
termination of its NRC materials license. Termination of its license
would end the Licensee's obligation to pay annual license fees to the
NRC.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The historical review of licensed activities conducted at the
Facility shows that such activities involved use of the following
radionuclide with half-lives greater than 120 days: carbon-14. Prior to
performing the final status survey, the Licensee conducted
decontamination activities, as necessary, in the areas of the Facility
affected by this radionuclide.
A final status survey was conducted in conjunction with the
closeout of each area within the Facility, and these surveys were done
during July through October 2007. The final status survey report was
attached to the Licensee's amendment request dated November 15, 2007.
The Licensee elected to demonstrate compliance with the radiological
criteria for unrestricted release as specified in 10 CFR 20.1402 by
using the screening approach described in NUREG-1757, ``Consolidated
NMSS Decommissioning Guidance,'' Volume 2. The Licensee used the
radionuclide-specific derived concentration guideline levels (DCGLs),
developed there by the NRC, which comply with the dose criterion in 10
CFR 20.1402. These DCGLs define the maximum amount of residual
radioactivity on building surfaces, equipment, and materials, that will
satisfy the NRC requirements in Subpart E of 10 CFR part 20 for
unrestricted release. The Licensee's final status survey results were
below these DCGLs and are in compliance with the As Low As Reasonably
Achievable (ALARA) requirement of 10 CFR 20.1402. The NRC thus finds
that the Licensee's final status survey results are acceptable.
Based on its review, the staff has determined that the affected
environment and any environmental impacts associated with the proposed
action are bounded by the impacts evaluated by the ``Generic
Environmental Impact Statement in Support of Rulemaking on Radiological
Criteria for License Termination of NRC-Licensed Nuclear Facilities''
(NUREG-1496) Volumes 1-3 (ML042310492, ML042320379, and ML042330385).
The Licensee also considered and appropriately accounted for the dose
contribution from previous site releases including the impact of
residual radioactivity at previously-released site locations of use.
The staff finds there were no significant environmental impacts from
the use of radioactive material at the Facility. The NRC staff reviewed
the docket file records and the final status survey report to identify
any non-radiological hazards that may have impacted the environment
surrounding the Facility. No such hazards or impacts to the environment
were identified. The NRC has identified no other radiological or non-
radiological activities in the area that could result in cumulative
environmental impacts.
The NRC staff finds that the proposed release of the Facility for
unrestricted use and the termination of the NRC materials license is in
compliance with 10 CFR 20.1402. Based on its review, the staff
considered the impact of the residual radioactivity at the Facility and
concluded that the proposed action will not have a significant effect
on the quality of the human environment.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Due to the largely administrative nature of the proposed action,
its environmental impacts are small. Therefore, the only alternative
the staff considered is the no-action alternative, under which the
staff would leave things as they are by simply denying the amendment
request. This no-action alternative is not feasible because it
conflicts with 10 CFR 30.36(d), requiring that decommissioning of
byproduct material facilities be completed and approved by the NRC
after licensed activities cease. The NRC's analysis of the Licensee's
final status survey data confirmed that the Facility meets the
requirements of 10 CFR 20.1402 for unrestricted release and for license
termination. Additionally, denying the amendment request would result
in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental
impacts of the proposed action and the no-action alternative are
therefore similar, and the no-action alternative is accordingly not
further considered.
Conclusion
The NRC staff has concluded that the proposed action is consistent
with the NRC's unrestricted release criteria specified in 10 CFR
20.1402. Because the proposed action will not significantly impact the
quality of the human environment, the NRC staff concludes that the
proposed action is the preferred alternative.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
NRC provided a draft of this Environmental Assessment to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for
review on January 25, 2008. On January 29, 2008, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection responded by
electronic mail. The Commonwealth
[[Page 9600]]
agreed with the conclusions of the EA, and otherwise had no comments.
The NRC staff has determined that the proposed action is of a
procedural nature, and will not affect listed species or critical
habitat. Therefore, no further consultation is required under Section 7
of the Endangered Species Act. The NRC staff has also determined that
the proposed action is not the type of activity that has the potential
to cause effects on historic properties. Therefore, no further
consultation is required under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared this EA in support of the proposed
action. On the basis of this EA, the NRC finds that there are no
significant environmental impacts from the proposed action, and that
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not warranted.
Accordingly, the NRC has determined that a Finding of No Significant
Impact is appropriate.
IV. Further Information
Documents related to this action, including the application for
license 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 documents
related to this action are listed below, along with their ADAMS
accession numbers.
1. NUREG-1757, ``Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance;''
2. Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20, Subpart E,
``Radiological Criteria for License Termination;''
3. Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 51, ``Environmental
Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory
Functions;''
4. NUREG-1496, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement in Support
of Rulemaking on Radiological Criteria for License Termination of NRC-
Licensed Nuclear Facilities;''
5. MPI Research Inc. Termination Request dated November 15, 2007
[ML073370821].
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 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.
Dated at Region I, 475 Allendale Road this 13th day of February
2008.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James P. Dwyer,
Chief, Commercial and R&D Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety,
Region I.
[FR Doc. E8-3200 Filed 2-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
