Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Idaho Spent Fuel Facility; Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption From Certain Regulatory Requirements of 10 CFR Part 20, 27571-27572 [E9-13577]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / Notices Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC 20506, at 202/682–5570. BILLING CODE 7537–01–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Proposal Review; Notice of Meetings erowe on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 463, as amended), the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces its intent to hold proposal review meetings throughout the year. The purpose of these meetings is to provide advice and recommendations concerning proposals submitted to the NSF for financial support. The agenda for each of these meetings is to review and evaluate proposals as part of the selection process for awards. The review and evaluation may also include assessment of the progress of awarded proposals. The majority of these meetings will take place at NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22230. These meetings will be closed to the public. The proposals being reviewed include information of a proprietary or confidential nature, including technical information; financial data, such as salaries; and personal information concerning individuals associated with the proposals. These matters are exempt under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), (4) and (6) of the Government in the Sunshine Act. NSF will continue to review the agenda and merits of each meeting for overall compliance of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. These closed proposal review meetings will not be announced on an individual basis in the Federal Register. NSF intends to publish a notice similar to this on a quarterly basis. For an advance listing of the closed proposal review meetings that include the names of the proposal review panel and the time, date, place, and any information on changes, corrections, or cancellations, please visit the NSF Web site: https://www.nsf.gov/events/ advisory.jsp. This information may also be requested by telephoning 703/292– 8180. Dated: June 5, 2009. Susanne Bolton, Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. E9–13560 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:18 Jun 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 license transfer and conforming amendment. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Dated: June 4, 2009. Kathy Plowitz-Worden, Panel Coordinator, Office of Guidelines and Panel Operations. [FR Doc. E9–13512 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am] [ DOCKET NO. 72–25; NRC–2009–0076] Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Idaho Spent Fuel Facility; Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption From Certain Regulatory Requirements of 10 CFR Part 20 AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Issuance of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shana Helton, Senior Project Manager, Licensing Branch, Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 492–3284; fax number: (301) 492–3348; e-mail: shana.helton@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2301, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption to the United States Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office (DOE or applicant), from the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1501(c). Section 20.1501(c) requires that dosimeter processors hold current personnel dosimetry accreditation from the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Exemption from this requirement of 10 CFR 20.1501(c) would allow DOE to use the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program (DOELAP) process for personnel dosimetry at Idaho Spent Fuel (ISF) facility independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI), located at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in Butte County, Idaho. Pursuant to 10 CFR part 72, DOE submitted an application, including a Safety Analysis Report (SAR), by letter dated May 30, 2008, as supplemented, seeking NRC approval of the direct transfer of Special Nuclear Materials License No. 2512 (SNM–2512) for the ISF facility, currently held by Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation (FWENC). The applicant is also seeking NRC approval of a conforming license amendment, which would reflect the proposed transfer. NRC staff is currently performing a review of the requested PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 27571 Environmental Assessment (EA) Identification of Proposed Action: As part of its request for a transfer of SNM– 2512, DOE, on June 9, 2008, requested an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1501(c)(1), which states in part that ‘‘All personnel dosimeters * * * that require processing * * * must be processed and evaluated by a dosimetry processor * * * (1) Holding current personnel dosimetry accreditation from the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.’’ Specifically, the applicant proposes allowing the DOELAP as an approved alternative. The NRC’s authority to grant an exemption to its 10 CFR Part 20 radiation protection requirements is set forth in 10 CFR 20.2301. Need for the Proposed Action: The applicant will receive control of SNM– 2512 from FWENC, as described in its application and SAR, subject to approval of the pending license transfer application. The applicant is implementing programs and procedures necessary to operate the as-yet-to-beconstructed ISFSI and seeks to have those programs make efficient use of resources. One of the programs developed by DOE is the capability to monitor personnel occupational radioactive dose for routine and nonroutine activities at the ISF facility. Personnel dosimetry requires processing by a qualified processing facility. DOE’s preferred processing organization, which is accredited by DOELAP, currently processes dosimetry for the Fort St. Vrain ISFSI (docket no. 72–9) and the Three Mile Island ISFSI (docket no. 72–20), also under license to DOE. According to DOE’s exemption request, DOELAP is deemed equivalent to NVLAP accreditation for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with 10 CFR 20.1501(c). Use of the NVLAP process at the ISF facility would place a burden upon DOE without any attendant health or safety benefit. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: The staff has examined both the NVLAP and DOELAP processing and standards. Both the NVLAP and DOELAP have similar requirements in that they incorporate similar test categories (type of radiation and energy levels), tolerance levels, bias, and performance criteria. The NRC staff concludes that the DOELAP process is an acceptable alternative to the NVLAP process required by 10 CFR 20.1501(c) for the ISF facility. E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1 erowe on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 27572 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / Notices NUREG–1773, ‘‘Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Idaho Spent Fuel Facility at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in Butte County, Idaho’’ (January 2004), considered the potential environmental impacts of licensing (including construction, operation, and decommissioning) this facility. The proposed exemption, substituting the DOELAP accreditation process for the NVLAP accreditation process, would not change the potential environmental effects assessed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) described in NUREG–1773. Use of the DOELAP accreditation process by DOE at the ISF facility is an action that is administrative and procedural in nature. The NRC concludes that there are no environmental impacts associated with the approval of the proposed action. Furthermore, in accordance with 10 CFR 20.2301, the NRC staff concludes that the use of the DOELAP accreditation process at the ISF facility would not result in any undue hazard to life or property. Alternative to the Proposed Action: Since there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts are not evaluated. The alternative to the proposed action would be to deny approval of the 10 CFR 20.1501(c) exemption and, therefore, not allow use of the DOELAP. This alternative would have no significant environmental impact as well. Agencies and Persons Consulted: The staff discussed this exemption request with Ms. Susan Burke, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Coordinator for the State of Idaho, INL Oversight Program, on May 19, 2009. The State official had no comments regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. 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, 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 consultation is required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Conclusion: The staff has reviewed the exemption request submitted by DOE. Allowing the use of DOELAP as an alternative to NVLAP would have no significant impact on the environment. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:18 Jun 09, 2009 Jkt 217001 Finding of No Significant Impact The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR Part 51. Based upon the foregoing EA, the NRC finds that the proposed action of granting an exemption from 10 CFR 20.1501(c) so that DOE may use the DOELAP, rather than the NVLAP, as required by existing regulations, will not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. The NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption. Accordingly, it has been determined that a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate. For further details with respect to the application, see the application dated May 30, 2008, and the request for the exemption dated June 9, 2008, available for public inspection at the Commission’s Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records are accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management Systems (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, https:// www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. The ADAMS Accession numbers for the application and exemption request are ML081630246 and ML081750395, respectively. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1–800–397–4209, or 301–415–4737 or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 2nd day of June 2009. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Shana Helton, Senior Project Manager, Licensing Branch, Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transport, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. E9–13577 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am] [Docket Nos. 52–012–COL and 52–013– COL; ASLBP No. 09–885–08–COL–BD01] Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel; In the Matter of South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company (South Texas Project Units 3 and 4); Notice and Order (Regarding Oral Argument) June 04, 2009. Before the Licensing Board: Michael M. Gibson, Chairman; Gary S. Arnold; Randall J. Charbeneau. Oral argument will be heard on standing and contention admissibility issues presented with regard to a hearing request received in this proceeding, which involves the application of South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company for a combined operating license of its planned construction and operation of two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors it has designated as Units 3 and 4. The participants are advised of the following information regarding the schedule for the initial prehearing conference in this proceeding: Date: Tuesday, June 23—Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Starting Time: 9 a.m. Central Time (CT). Location: Bay City Civic Center, Main Hall Room 100, 201 7th St., Bay City, TX 77414. Currently, the Board anticipates that this conference should last no more than two days. The Board will issue a separate order in the near future providing more information on issues it wishes the participants to address during the conference as well as details on a site visit. It is so ordered. Rockville, Maryland. June 04, 2009. For the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. Michael M. Gibson, Chairman. [FR Doc. E9–13574 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BILLING CODE 7590–01–P PO 00000 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2009–0142] State of New Jersey: NRC Staff Assessment of a Proposed Agreement Between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of New Jersey AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10JNN1.SGM 10JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27571-27572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13577]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[ DOCKET NO. 72-25; NRC-2009-0076]


Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Idaho Spent Fuel 
Facility; Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption From Certain 
Regulatory Requirements of 10 CFR Part 20

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Issuance of an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shana Helton, Senior Project Manager, 
Licensing Branch, Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation, 
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC), Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone: (301) 492-
3284; fax number: (301) 492-3348; e-mail: shana.helton@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2301, the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption to 
the United States Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office (DOE or 
applicant), from the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1501(c). Section 
20.1501(c) requires that dosimeter processors hold current personnel 
dosimetry accreditation from the National Voluntary Laboratory 
Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. Exemption from this requirement of 10 CFR 20.1501(c) 
would allow DOE to use the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program 
(DOELAP) process for personnel dosimetry at Idaho Spent Fuel (ISF) 
facility independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI), located 
at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory in Butte 
County, Idaho.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR part 72, DOE submitted an application, including 
a Safety Analysis Report (SAR), by letter dated May 30, 2008, as 
supplemented, seeking NRC approval of the direct transfer of Special 
Nuclear Materials License No. 2512 (SNM-2512) for the ISF facility, 
currently held by Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation (FWENC). The 
applicant is also seeking NRC approval of a conforming license 
amendment, which would reflect the proposed transfer. NRC staff is 
currently performing a review of the requested license transfer and 
conforming amendment.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

    Identification of Proposed Action: As part of its request for a 
transfer of SNM-2512, DOE, on June 9, 2008, requested an exemption from 
the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1501(c)(1), which states in part that 
``All personnel dosimeters * * * that require processing * * * must be 
processed and evaluated by a dosimetry processor * * * (1) Holding 
current personnel dosimetry accreditation from the National Voluntary 
Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology.'' Specifically, the applicant proposes 
allowing the DOELAP as an approved alternative. The NRC's authority to 
grant an exemption to its 10 CFR Part 20 radiation protection 
requirements is set forth in 10 CFR 20.2301.
    Need for the Proposed Action: The applicant will receive control of 
SNM-2512 from FWENC, as described in its application and SAR, subject 
to approval of the pending license transfer application. The applicant 
is implementing programs and procedures necessary to operate the as-
yet-to-be-constructed ISFSI and seeks to have those programs make 
efficient use of resources. One of the programs developed by DOE is the 
capability to monitor personnel occupational radioactive dose for 
routine and non-routine activities at the ISF facility. Personnel 
dosimetry requires processing by a qualified processing facility. DOE's 
preferred processing organization, which is accredited by DOELAP, 
currently processes dosimetry for the Fort St. Vrain ISFSI (docket no. 
72-9) and the Three Mile Island ISFSI (docket no. 72-20), also under 
license to DOE. According to DOE's exemption request, DOELAP is deemed 
equivalent to NVLAP accreditation for the purpose of demonstrating 
compliance with 10 CFR 20.1501(c). Use of the NVLAP process at the ISF 
facility would place a burden upon DOE without any attendant health or 
safety benefit.
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: The staff has 
examined both the NVLAP and DOELAP processing and standards. Both the 
NVLAP and DOELAP have similar requirements in that they incorporate 
similar test categories (type of radiation and energy levels), 
tolerance levels, bias, and performance criteria. The NRC staff 
concludes that the DOELAP process is an acceptable alternative to the 
NVLAP process required by 10 CFR 20.1501(c) for the ISF facility.

[[Page 27572]]

    NUREG-1773, ``Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Idaho 
Spent Fuel Facility at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental 
Laboratory in Butte County, Idaho'' (January 2004), considered the 
potential environmental impacts of licensing (including construction, 
operation, and decommissioning) this facility. The proposed exemption, 
substituting the DOELAP accreditation process for the NVLAP 
accreditation process, would not change the potential environmental 
effects assessed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 
described in NUREG-1773. Use of the DOELAP accreditation process by DOE 
at the ISF facility is an action that is administrative and procedural 
in nature. The NRC concludes that there are no environmental impacts 
associated with the approval of the proposed action. Furthermore, in 
accordance with 10 CFR 20.2301, the NRC staff concludes that the use of 
the DOELAP accreditation process at the ISF facility would not result 
in any undue hazard to life or property.
    Alternative to the Proposed Action: Since there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts are not 
evaluated. The alternative to the proposed action would be to deny 
approval of the 10 CFR 20.1501(c) exemption and, therefore, not allow 
use of the DOELAP. This alternative would have no significant 
environmental impact as well.
    Agencies and Persons Consulted: The staff discussed this exemption 
request with Ms. Susan Burke, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) 
Coordinator for the State of Idaho, INL Oversight Program, on May 19, 
2009. The State official had no comments regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. 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, 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 consultation is required 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
    Conclusion: The staff has reviewed the exemption request submitted 
by DOE. Allowing the use of DOELAP as an alternative to NVLAP would 
have no significant impact on the environment.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed 
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR Part 51. Based 
upon the foregoing EA, the NRC finds that the proposed action of 
granting an exemption from 10 CFR 20.1501(c) so that DOE may use the 
DOELAP, rather than the NVLAP, as required by existing regulations, 
will not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. The 
NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for 
the proposed exemption. Accordingly, it has been determined that a 
Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate.
    For further details with respect to the application, see the 
application dated May 30, 2008, and the request for the exemption dated 
June 9, 2008, available for public inspection at the Commission's 
Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public 
File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland. Publicly available records are accessible electronically from 
the Agencywide Documents Access and Management Systems (ADAMS) Public 
Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. The ADAMS Accession numbers for the 
application and exemption request are ML081630246 and ML081750395, 
respectively. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter 
problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the 
NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, or 301-415-4737 
or by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 2nd day of June 2009.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Shana Helton,
Senior Project Manager, Licensing Branch, Division of Spent Fuel 
Storage and Transport, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. E9-13577 Filed 6-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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