Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment No. 61 for Rio Algom Mining LLC, Ambrosia Lake, NM-SUA-1473, 63518-63519 [2010-25996]

Download as PDF 63518 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 199 / Friday, October 15, 2010 / Notices the potential to build capacity for instrument development in academic settings and to create new products with wide scientific and commercial impact. The MRI program is seeking OMB approval to administer a comprehensive survey of all MRI awardees to better understand outcomes from the program. Expected Respondents The respondents will be current and former MRI awardees all based at academic and non-profit organizations. Quantitative procedures will be fielded using Web-based modes. Up to 3,600 MRI awardees (respondents) will be contacted to request their participation in the survey. As needed, each MRI awardee will be contacted with reminders to complete the survey no more than twice during the survey’s duration under this generic clearance. Technology will be heavily utilized to limit the burden on respondents. Use of the Information The purpose of this survey of MRI awardees is to better understand outcomes of NSF MRI-related investments. The data will be used internally to inform NSF as it considers future improvements to the MRI program, and to gain a better understanding regarding the program’s impact on associated research and education activities. Findings may be presented externally in technical papers at conferences, published in the proceedings of conferences, or in journals. Burden on the Public Number of Respondents: 3600. Number of Minutes per Response: 30. Overall Burden Request (in hours): 1800. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas McLaughlin, Project Manager, Materials Decommissioning Branch, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone: (301) 415–5869; fax number: (301) 415– 5369; e-mail: Thomas.McLaughlin@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issuance of a license amendment to Source Materials License SUA–1473 issued to Rio Algom Mining LLC (Rio Algom, or the Licensee) to authorize an alternate onsite disposal cell location for disposal of byproduct material at its Ambrosia Lake Mill Facility, in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for this proposed action 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 with respect to the proposed action. The amendment will be issued following the publication of this Notice. The Licensee previously has addressed, and the NRC has approved, the remaining site-wide reclamation plan elements through separate licensing actions, including the original reclamation plan for Tailings Ponds 1, 2, and 3 Disposal Cells (approved in September 1990), mill demolition, relocation of lined evaporation pond sediments, soil decommissioning plan, and groundwater remediation. The expansion of Tailings Pond Disposal Cell 2 was approved by License Amendment No. 58. The current licensing action is to provide an alternate on-site disposal area for placing byproduct material such as mill building debris and windblown impacted soil. primarily of mill building debris and windblown impacted soils, in the former ore-storage area west of the existing mill office, and stabilizing the materials in accordance with NRC standards in 10 CFR part 40. The cover over the disposal area would consist of a radon/infiltration barrier, overlain by a frost protection layer and rock erosion protection layers. Following approval by NRC of successful remediation of the area pursuant to the Reclamation Plan, the construction will be completed and the site eventually will be transferred to DOE. The staff, in coordination with the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED), has prepared the EA in support of the proposed license amendment. The EA evaluates the construction of an alternate on-site disposal cell and is limited to the construction impacts as all other impacts (long-term and indirect) were previously evaluated in the Tailings Pond 2 expansion EA completed in November 2007, in connection with License Amendment No. 58. The potential direct impacts from construction activities primarily would be dust generation due to excavating material to form the channel, noise generated by construction equipment, and water surface runoff. The staff has determined that these potential direct impacts would be sufficiently mitigated, and the potential impacts at the tailings cell area would be small as the area is already disturbed from site reclamation activities. Three alternatives to the proposed action were considered and rejected, including: no action, increasing the capacity of disposal area #2, or selecting another disposal area at the facility. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION II. Environmental Assessment Summary II. Finding of No Significant Impact Based on the analysis contained in this EA, the staff concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts from the proposed action, and that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted. Accordingly, the NRC determined that a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate. [Docket No.: 40–8905; NRC–2010–0326] The purpose of the proposed amendment is to authorize an alternate on-site disposal cell location at the Licensee’s Ambrosia Lake Mill Facility, in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. By letter dated April 26, 2010, Rio Algom submitted a request to the NRC for approval of an alternate on-site disposal cell location for disposal of byproduct material. Rio Algom proposes placing byproduct materials, consisting III. 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 Dated: October 12, 2010. Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation. [FR Doc. 2010–26020 Filed 10–14–10; 8:45 am] mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 7555–01–P Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment No. 61 for Rio Algom Mining LLC, Ambrosia Lake, NM— SUA–1473 Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:01 Oct 14, 2010 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM 15OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 199 / Friday, October 15, 2010 / Notices documents. The ADAMS accession numbers for the documents related to this notice are: the Licensee’s license amendment request and environmental evaluation dated April 26, 2010 (ADAMS ML101190534); the October 1, 2010, EA for License Amendment No. 61 (the alternate on-site disposal cell location) (ADAMS ML102220253); Approval for License Amendment No. 58 (ADAMS ML073050328); and the November 2007, EA for Tailings Pond 2 (ADAMS ML072670278). 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.resource@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, Maryland, 20852. The PDR reproduction contractor will copy documents for a fee. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of October, 2010. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Keith I. McConnell, Deputy Director, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs. [FR Doc. 2010–25996 Filed 10–14–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2009–0435] Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Public Meeting for the Proposed License Renewal for Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. in Erwin, TN Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact; Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed renewal of NRC special nuclear material license SNM–124 (License SNM–124) that authorizes operations at the Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS) fuel fabrication facility in mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:01 Oct 14, 2010 Jkt 223001 Erwin, Tennessee. On June 30, 2009, NFS submitted to the NRC an application in which NFS requested renewal of License SNM–124 for a 40year period. The Draft EA and Draft FONSI are being issued for public review and comment based on the NRC staff determination that (1) the NFS proposed action to renew License SNM–124 for 40 years is without precedent, because, if granted, this would be the first 40-year license renewal for a Category I nuclear fuel fabrication facility, and (2) the preparation of a Draft EA and Draft FONSI will further the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The NRC staff’s environmental review of the proposed 40-year license renewal is documented in the Draft EA, which was prepared following NRC regulations at title 10 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 51 that implement NEPA, and in accordance with NRC staff guidance in NUREG– 1748, ‘‘Environmental Review Guidance for Licensing Actions Associated with NMSS Programs.’’ In the Draft EA, the NRC staff identifies and evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the proposed renewal of License SNM–124 and any reasonable alternatives. Based on the Draft EA, the NRC staff has made a preliminary determination that renewal of License SNM–124 for a 40year period will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and that a finding of no significant impact should therefore be made. By this notice, the NRC staff is requesting public comment on the Draft FONSI and on the supporting Draft EA. The NRC staff will hold a public meeting on October 26, 2010, to accept oral and written public comments on the Draft FONSI and Draft EA. The meeting will take place at the Erwin Town Hall in Erwin, Tennessee. For one hour prior to the public meeting, the NRC staff will be available to informally discuss the proposed action and answer questions in an ‘‘open house’’ format. The public meeting will officially begin at 6 p.m. The meeting will include (1) NRC staff presentations summarizing the NRC’s roles and responsibilities with respect to the proposed license renewal and also the contents of the Draft EA that supports the Draft FONSI, and (2) an opportunity for interested government agencies, Tribal governments, organizations, and individuals to provide oral or written comments on the Draft EA and Draft FONSI. The public meeting will be transcribed by a court reporter, and the PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 63519 meeting transcript will be made publicly available at a later date. Persons wishing to provide oral comments at the public meeting may register in advance by contacting Ms. Tarsha Moon at (800) 368–5642, ext. 6745, no later than October 22, 2010. Those who wish to present oral comments may also register at the meeting. Individual oral comments may have to be limited by the time available, depending upon the number of persons who register. Written comments can also be provided at the meeting, and should be given to an NRC staff person at the registration desk at the meeting entrance. If special equipment or accommodations are needed to attend or present information at the public meeting, the need should be brought to the attention of Ms. Tarsha Moon at (800) 368–5642, ext. 6745, no later than October 22, 2010, to provide NRC staff with adequate notice to determine whether the request can be accommodated. Please note that comments do not have to be provided at the public meeting and may be submitted at any time during the comment period, as described in the DATES section of this notice. Any interested party may submit comments on the Draft EA and Draft FONSI for consideration by NRC staff. Comments may be submitted by any of the methods described in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. DATES: The public comment period on the Draft FONSI and the Draft EA begins on the date of publication of this notice and ends on November 13, 2010. To ensure consideration, comments on the Draft FONSI and Draft EA must be received or postmarked by November 13, 2010. The NRC staff will consider comments received or postmarked after that date to the extent practical. The NRC will conduct a public meeting in Erwin, Tennessee. The meeting date, time, and location are listed below: Meeting Date: October 26, 2010. Meeting Location: Erwin Town Hall, 211 North Main, Avenue, Erwin, Tennessee 37650. Informal Open House Session: 5–6 p.m. Public Comment Meeting: 6–9 p.m. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any one of the following methods. Please include Docket ID NRC–2009– 0435 in the subject line of your comments. Electronic Mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail to the following address: NuclearFuel_DraftEA@nrc.gov. Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search E:\FR\FM\15OCN1.SGM 15OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 199 (Friday, October 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63518-63519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-25996]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No.: 40-8905; NRC-2010-0326]


Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for License Amendment No. 61 for Rio Algom Mining 
LLC, Ambrosia Lake, NM--SUA-1473

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas McLaughlin, Project Manager, 
Materials Decommissioning Branch, Division of Waste Management and 
Environmental Protection, Office of Federal and State Materials and 
Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555. Telephone: (301) 415-5869; fax number: (301) 415-
5369; e-mail: Thomas.McLaughlin@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issuance 
of a license amendment to Source Materials License SUA-1473 issued to 
Rio Algom Mining LLC (Rio Algom, or the Licensee) to authorize an 
alternate on-site disposal cell location for disposal of byproduct 
material at its Ambrosia Lake Mill Facility, in Ambrosia Lake, New 
Mexico. The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for this 
proposed action 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 with respect to the proposed action. The 
amendment will be issued following the publication of this Notice.
    The Licensee previously has addressed, and the NRC has approved, 
the remaining site-wide reclamation plan elements through separate 
licensing actions, including the original reclamation plan for Tailings 
Ponds 1, 2, and 3 Disposal Cells (approved in September 1990), mill 
demolition, relocation of lined evaporation pond sediments, soil 
decommissioning plan, and groundwater remediation. The expansion of 
Tailings Pond Disposal Cell 2 was approved by License Amendment No. 58. 
The current licensing action is to provide an alternate on-site 
disposal area for placing byproduct material such as mill building 
debris and windblown impacted soil.

II. Environmental Assessment Summary

    The purpose of the proposed amendment is to authorize an alternate 
on-site disposal cell location at the Licensee's Ambrosia Lake Mill 
Facility, in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. By letter dated April 26, 2010, 
Rio Algom submitted a request to the NRC for approval of an alternate 
on-site disposal cell location for disposal of byproduct material.
    Rio Algom proposes placing byproduct materials, consisting 
primarily of mill building debris and windblown impacted soils, in the 
former ore-storage area west of the existing mill office, and 
stabilizing the materials in accordance with NRC standards in 10 CFR 
part 40. The cover over the disposal area would consist of a radon/
infiltration barrier, overlain by a frost protection layer and rock 
erosion protection layers. Following approval by NRC of successful 
remediation of the area pursuant to the Reclamation Plan, the 
construction will be completed and the site eventually will be 
transferred to DOE.
    The staff, in coordination with the New Mexico Environmental 
Department (NMED), has prepared the EA in support of the proposed 
license amendment. The EA evaluates the construction of an alternate 
on-site disposal cell and is limited to the construction impacts as all 
other impacts (long-term and indirect) were previously evaluated in the 
Tailings Pond 2 expansion EA completed in November 2007, in connection 
with License Amendment No. 58.
    The potential direct impacts from construction activities primarily 
would be dust generation due to excavating material to form the 
channel, noise generated by construction equipment, and water surface 
runoff. The staff has determined that these potential direct impacts 
would be sufficiently mitigated, and the potential impacts at the 
tailings cell area would be small as the area is already disturbed from 
site reclamation activities.
    Three alternatives to the proposed action were considered and 
rejected, including: no action, increasing the capacity of disposal 
area 2, or selecting another disposal area at the facility.

II. Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based on the analysis contained in this EA, the staff concluded 
that there are no significant environmental impacts from the proposed 
action, and that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement 
is not warranted. Accordingly, the NRC determined that a Finding of No 
Significant Impact is appropriate.

III. 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

[[Page 63519]]

documents. The ADAMS accession numbers for the documents related to 
this notice are: the Licensee's license amendment request and 
environmental evaluation dated April 26, 2010 (ADAMS ML101190534); the 
October 1, 2010, EA for License Amendment No. 61 (the alternate on-site 
disposal cell location) (ADAMS ML102220253); Approval for License 
Amendment No. 58 (ADAMS ML073050328); and the November 2007, EA for 
Tailings Pond 2 (ADAMS ML072670278). 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.resource@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, Maryland, 20852. The PDR reproduction 
contractor will copy documents for a fee.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of October, 2010.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Keith I. McConnell,
Deputy Director, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing 
Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, 
Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-25996 Filed 10-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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