U.S. Department of the Army; Jefferson Proving Ground, 30780-30782 [2019-13691]

Download as PDF 30780 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 124 / Thursday, June 27, 2019 / Notices 10. Abstract: The NRC has its own standards for categorizing small business size entities that are noted in section 2.810 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, ‘‘NRC size standards.’’ The agency’s standards differ from those used by the Small Business Administration (SBA) because it is difficult to align NRC licensees with SBA size standards and the Omnibus Budget Reconciliations Act of 1990 requirement for NRC to recover 90 percent of the annual budget through fees. Since the agency has not surveyed its materials licensees since 1993, the staff will conduct a survey to gather financial data to determine if a change to the size standards is needed. Without conducting a survey, the NRC staff does not have the data needed to determine the impact of shifting from the current nuclear industry-specific standards. The results of the analysis will be used to provide a recommendation to the Commission that is backed with sound empirical data. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of June 2019. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. David C. Cullison, NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2019–13659 Filed 6–26–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 40–8838; NRC–2019–0027] U.S. Department of the Army; Jefferson Proving Ground Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. AGENCY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for a proposed amendment of NRC source materials license SUB–1435 held by the U.S. Department of the Army (Army) for the Jefferson Proving Ground from ‘‘possession only for decommissioning’’ to ‘‘possession only.’’ The proposed amendment of the Army’s license would also include an exemption from the NRC’s decommissioning timeliness requirements in the regulations. The EA, ‘‘Final Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Amendment of Materials License SUB–1435, Jefferson Proving Ground, Southeastern Indiana jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:15 Jun 26, 2019 Jkt 247001 (Jefferson, Ripley, and Jennings Counties),’’ documents the NRC staff’s environmental review of the license amendment application. DATES: The final EA is available on June 27, 2019. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2019–0027 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods: • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC–2019–0027. Address questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Jennifer BorgesRoman; telephone: 301–287–9127; email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publiclyavailable documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301– 415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@ nrc.gov. The final EA is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML19169A022. • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Pineda, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards; telephone: 301–415–6789; email: Christine.Pineda@nrc.gov; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555–0001. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) was established in 1940 on 224 square kilometers (km2) [55,265 acres (ac)] in parts of Jefferson, Ripley, and Jennings counties in southeastern Indiana for the production and specification testing of conventional ammunition components. The site was used by the Army between 1941 and 1994 for munitions testing and, during that time, the Army also test-fired depleted uranium (DU) projectiles into the 8.4-square km2 [2,080-ac] DU Impact Area, which is located within the JPG installation. The PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DU test firings began on March 18, 1984 and concluded on May 2, 1994. The Army estimates that a high density of high-explosive unexploded ordnance is present in the DU Impact Area. The NRC is considering a request for an amendment to the Army’s source materials license SUB–1435. The license authorizes possession only by the Army of up to 80,000 kilograms (kg) [176,370 pounds (lb)] of DU metal, alloy, and/or other forms, kept onsite, for the purpose of decommissioning, in the restricted area known as the ‘‘Depleted Uranium Impact Area’’ (DU Impact Area) at the JPG site in southeastern Indiana. The NRC is considering a license amendment that would modify the license from ‘‘possession only for decommissioning’’ to ‘‘possession only’’ and an exemption from the NRC’s decommissioning timeliness requirements in title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 40.42(d). The need for this NRC licensing action is to ensure the safe possession of radioactive materials (in the form of DU). The Army needs to delay remediation of the DU Impact Area because remediation is prohibitively expensive and poses a risk of potential explosions due to the presence of a large amount of unexploded ordnance. In accordance with NRC’s regulations in 10 CFR part 51, ‘‘Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions,’’ that implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the NRC staff prepared a draft EA documenting its environmental review of the license amendment application (ADAMS Accession No. ML19008A310). On February 4, 2019, the NRC published a Notice of Availability of the EA for public review and comment (84 FR 1522), and the public comment period closed on March 6, 2019. Public comments are addressed in Appendix D in the final EA. The final EA is available for public inspection as indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. This notice is being published in accordance with the NEPA and the NRC’s regulations in 10 CFR part 51. II. Summary of Environmental Assessment Description of the Proposed Action The proposed action is for the NRC to (1) amend Condition 9 of materials license SUB–1435 to change the authorized use of licensed material from ‘‘possession only for decommissioning’’ to ‘‘possession only’’ for a 20-year term and (2) grant an exemption from the E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM 27JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 124 / Thursday, June 27, 2019 / Notices NRC’s decommissioning timeliness requirements in 10 CFR 40.42(d) for the term of the license. Under the proposed action and in accordance with current license conditions, the licensed DU material would remain onsite in the restricted area known as the DU Impact Area at JPG. In accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) established in 2000 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Air Force, the Army would continue to maintain institutional control and implement land use restrictions over an area of approximately 206-km2 [50,950ac], which includes the DU Impact Area. Under the terms of the MOA, the Army would remain responsible for remediation of all contamination resulting from Army activities, including the ultimate remediation and control of all DU in the NRC-licensed DU Impact Area. jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action In the EA, the NRC staff assessed the potential environmental impacts from the proposed license amendment and exemption to the following resource areas: Land use; geology and soils; water resources; ecological resources; climatology, meteorology, and air quality; environmental justice; and public and occupational health. The NRC staff also considered the cumulative impacts from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions when combined with the proposed action. All potential impacts from the proposed action were determined to be SMALL and not significant, as described in the EA. The NRC staff concluded that approval of the proposed action would not result in a significant increase in short-term or long-term radiological risk to public health or the environment. Furthermore, the NRC staff found that there would be no significant negative cumulative impact to any resource area from the proposed action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, and that a positive cumulative ecological impact would likely result from the continued management of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge over the proposed action’s 20-year duration. Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ‘‘noaction’’ alternative). Under the no-action alternative, the NRC would not grant the license amendment or exemption, and the Army would need to comply with VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:15 Jun 26, 2019 Jkt 247001 the terms of its current license, which authorizes possession only for decommissioning. Under this alternative, the Army would need to submit a decommissioning plan. Because remediation of the site would be complex, dangerous, and prohibitively expensive, the staff has assumed that decommissioning for restricted use would be necessary, similar to the Army’s previously submitted and withdrawn proposal for decommissioning and restricted release. The NRC staff concluded, therefore, that decommissioning activities for a 20-year duration would be restricted due to the presence of unexploded ordnance and, therefore, the potential impacts of the no-action alternative over a period of 20 years would be SMALL and similar or identical to the impacts of the proposed action. Discussion of Comments The NRC received seven comment submittals from individuals or organizations. Several commenters stated their wish to continue receiving notifications or updates but did not have substantive comments on the draft EA. Two commenters provided comments on the draft EA, as summarized below. One commenter recommended that the Army commit to indefinite environmental monitoring, and that this commitment be included in the final EA and FONSI. The NRC responded that the Army stated its intention to operate its monitoring program indefinitely and that the material currently in the DU Impact Area would remain in place and be subject to legally enforceable access controls and land use restrictions that the Army established in its MOA with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Air Force. Another commenter expressed concerns about potential future migration of DU from the JPG site and requested assurance that there will continue to be public access to the semiannual monitoring results, as well as an option for periodic public input regarding the site status. This commenter also asked that the NRC’s review of the license occur more frequently than every 20 years and requested that an action plan be developed to address any indication of increased DU migration. The NRC responded that, as is currently the practice, the results of semi-annual radiation monitoring will continue to be publicly available through the NRC’s ADAMS system or provided by the Army upon request. Regarding an option for periodic public input regarding the status of the site and PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30781 license review frequency, the NRC would re-evaluate the terms of the license at the time of any future licensing action, as appropriate. A future evaluation for license renewal or amendment, extension of the exemption, or a decommissioning action would be subject to the NEPA review process, which includes public participation and input. Regarding the development and notice of an action plan to address any indication of increased migration of DU, the Army’s environmental monitoring plan specifies action levels (DU concentrations in surface water, sediment, and groundwater) and procedures to be followed if action levels are exceeded in samples. The action levels are well below the NRC effluent limits in appendix B of 10 CFR part 20. III. Final Finding of No Significant Impact In accordance with the NEPA and 10 CFR part 51, the NRC staff has conducted an environmental review of a request for an amendment to NRC source materials license SUB–1435 that would change the authorized use of licensed material from ‘‘possession only for decommissioning’’ to ‘‘possession only’’ and for an exemption from the NRC’s decommissioning timeliness requirements in 10 CFR 40.42(d). Based on its environmental review of the proposed action, as documented in the final EA, the NRC staff has determined that granting the requested license amendment and exemption would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The staff has concluded that the proposed action complies with the NRC’s regulations in 10 CFR part 20, that all potential impacts from the proposed action would be SMALL, and that approval of the proposed action would not result in a significant increase in short-term or long-term radiological risk to public health or the environment. The staff also found that there would be no significant negative cumulative impacts and that a positive cumulative ecological impact would likely result from the continued management of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge over the proposed action’s 20-year duration. Therefore, the NRC staff has determined, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, that preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required for the proposed action and a FONSI is appropriate. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of June 2019. E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM 27JNN1 30782 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 124 / Thursday, June 27, 2019 / Notices For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Michael F. King, Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and Environmental Review, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2019–13691 Filed 6–26–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION [DFC–013] Submission for OMB Review, Comments Request U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, agencies are required to publish a Notice in the Federal Register notifying the public that the agency is creating a new information collection for OMB review and approval and requests public review and comment on the submission. Comments are being solicited on the need for the information; the accuracy of the burden estimate; the quality, practical utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize reporting the burden, including automated collected techniques and uses of other forms of technology. SUMMARY: DFC intends to begin use of these collections on October 1, 2019. Comments must be received by August 26, 2019. ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for copies of the subject information collections may be sent by any of the following methods: • Mail: Catherine F.I. Andrade, Agency Submitting Officer, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 1100 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20527. • Email: fedreg@opic.gov. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and agency form number or OMB form number for the referenced information collection(s). Electronic submissions must include the full agency form number(s) in the subject line to ensure proper routing (e.g., ‘‘DFC–013’’). Please note that all written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Agency Submitting Officer: Catherine Andrade, (202) 336–8768. jspears on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:15 Jun 26, 2019 Jkt 247001 The Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018, Public Law 115–254 creates the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) by bringing together the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Development Credit Authority (DCA) office of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Section 1465(a) of the Act tasks OPIC staff with assisting DFC in the transition. Section 1466(a)–(b) provides that all completed administrative actions and all pending proceedings shall continue through the transition to the DFC. Accordingly, OPIC is issuing this Paperwork Reduction Act notice and request for comments on behalf of the DFC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Summary Form Under Review Title of Collection: Loan Transaction and Qualifying Loan Schedule Reports. Type of Review: New collection. Agency Form Number: DFC–013. OMB Form Number: Not assigned. Frequency: Semi-annual. Affected Public: Financial Institutions. Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 300. Estimated Time per Respondent: 4 hours. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,400 hours. Abstract: Semi-annual reporting by partner financial institutions via the Loan Transaction and Qualifying Loan Schedule Reports will be required to monitor financial compliance with the business terms in loan and bond guarantees administered by the DFC’s Office of Development Credit and to analyze the guarantee portfolio and loans placed under guarantee coverage. The information collected in the reports may also play a role, when coupled with other methods and tools, in evaluating program effectiveness. Dated: June 24, 2019. Dev Jagadesan, Deputy General Counsel, Department of Legal Affairs. [FR Doc. 2019–13688 Filed 6–26–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3210–01–P POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. MC2019–157 and CP2019–175] New Postal Products Postal Regulatory Commission. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Commission’s consideration concerning negotiated service agreements. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps. DATES: Comments are due: July 1, 2019. ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission’s Filing Online system at https:// www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing alternatives. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202–789–6820. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Docketed Proceeding(s) I. Introduction The Commission gives notice that the Postal Service filed request(s) for the Commission to consider matters related to negotiated service agreement(s). The request(s) may propose the addition or removal of a negotiated service agreement from the market dominant or the competitive product list, or the modification of an existing product currently appearing on the market dominant or the competitive product list. Section II identifies the docket number(s) associated with each Postal Service request, the title of each Postal Service request, the request’s acceptance date, and the authority cited by the Postal Service for each request. For each request, the Commission appoints an officer of the Commission to represent the interests of the general public in the proceeding, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505 (Public Representative). Section II also establishes comment deadline(s) pertaining to each request. The public portions of the Postal Service’s request(s) can be accessed via the Commission’s website (https:// www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, can be accessed through compliance with the requirements of 39 CFR 3007.301.1 The Commission invites comments on whether the Postal Service’s request(s) in the captioned docket(s) are consistent with the policies of title 39. For request(s) that the Postal Service states concern market dominant product(s), 1 See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information, June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No. 4679). E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM 27JNN1

Agencies

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30780-30782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13691]


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

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 40-8838; NRC-2019-0027]


U.S. Department of the Army; Jefferson Proving Ground

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an 
environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact 
(FONSI) for a proposed amendment of NRC source materials license SUB-
1435 held by the U.S. Department of the Army (Army) for the Jefferson 
Proving Ground from ``possession only for decommissioning'' to 
``possession only.'' The proposed amendment of the Army's license would 
also include an exemption from the NRC's decommissioning timeliness 
requirements in the regulations. The EA, ``Final Environmental 
Assessment for the Proposed Amendment of Materials License SUB-1435, 
Jefferson Proving Ground, Southeastern Indiana (Jefferson, Ripley, and 
Jennings Counties),'' documents the NRC staff's environmental review of 
the license amendment application.

DATES: The final EA is available on June 27, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2019-0027 when contacting the 
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You 
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0027. Address 
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Jennifer Borges-Roman; 
telephone: 301-287-9127; email: [email protected]. For technical 
questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section of this document.
     NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System 
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the 
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS 
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public 
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or 
by email to [email protected]. The final EA is available in ADAMS 
under Accession No. ML19169A022.
     NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public 
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Pineda, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards; telephone: 301-415-6789; email: 
[email protected]; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) was established in 1940 on 224 
square kilometers (km\2\) [55,265 acres (ac)] in parts of Jefferson, 
Ripley, and Jennings counties in southeastern Indiana for the 
production and specification testing of conventional ammunition 
components. The site was used by the Army between 1941 and 1994 for 
munitions testing and, during that time, the Army also test-fired 
depleted uranium (DU) projectiles into the 8.4-square km\2\ [2,080-ac] 
DU Impact Area, which is located within the JPG installation. The DU 
test firings began on March 18, 1984 and concluded on May 2, 1994. The 
Army estimates that a high density of high-explosive unexploded 
ordnance is present in the DU Impact Area.
    The NRC is considering a request for an amendment to the Army's 
source materials license SUB-1435. The license authorizes possession 
only by the Army of up to 80,000 kilograms (kg) [176,370 pounds (lb)] 
of DU metal, alloy, and/or other forms, kept onsite, for the purpose of 
decommissioning, in the restricted area known as the ``Depleted Uranium 
Impact Area'' (DU Impact Area) at the JPG site in southeastern Indiana. 
The NRC is considering a license amendment that would modify the 
license from ``possession only for decommissioning'' to ``possession 
only'' and an exemption from the NRC's decommissioning timeliness 
requirements in title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 
40.42(d). The need for this NRC licensing action is to ensure the safe 
possession of radioactive materials (in the form of DU). The Army needs 
to delay remediation of the DU Impact Area because remediation is 
prohibitively expensive and poses a risk of potential explosions due to 
the presence of a large amount of unexploded ordnance.
    In accordance with NRC's regulations in 10 CFR part 51, 
``Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and 
Related Regulatory Functions,'' that implement the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), the NRC staff prepared a draft EA documenting its environmental 
review of the license amendment application (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML19008A310). On February 4, 2019, the NRC published a Notice of 
Availability of the EA for public review and comment (84 FR 1522), and 
the public comment period closed on March 6, 2019. Public comments are 
addressed in Appendix D in the final EA. The final EA is available for 
public inspection as indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 
This notice is being published in accordance with the NEPA and the 
NRC's regulations in 10 CFR part 51.

II. Summary of Environmental Assessment

Description of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is for the NRC to (1) amend Condition 9 of 
materials license SUB-1435 to change the authorized use of licensed 
material from ``possession only for decommissioning'' to ``possession 
only'' for a 20-year term and (2) grant an exemption from the

[[Page 30781]]

NRC's decommissioning timeliness requirements in 10 CFR 40.42(d) for 
the term of the license. Under the proposed action and in accordance 
with current license conditions, the licensed DU material would remain 
onsite in the restricted area known as the DU Impact Area at JPG. In 
accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) established in 2000 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Air Force, the 
Army would continue to maintain institutional control and implement 
land use restrictions over an area of approximately 206-km\2\ [50,950-
ac], which includes the DU Impact Area. Under the terms of the MOA, the 
Army would remain responsible for remediation of all contamination 
resulting from Army activities, including the ultimate remediation and 
control of all DU in the NRC-licensed DU Impact Area.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    In the EA, the NRC staff assessed the potential environmental 
impacts from the proposed license amendment and exemption to the 
following resource areas: Land use; geology and soils; water resources; 
ecological resources; climatology, meteorology, and air quality; 
environmental justice; and public and occupational health. The NRC 
staff also considered the cumulative impacts from past, present, and 
reasonably foreseeable future actions when combined with the proposed 
action.
    All potential impacts from the proposed action were determined to 
be SMALL and not significant, as described in the EA. The NRC staff 
concluded that approval of the proposed action would not result in a 
significant increase in short-term or long-term radiological risk to 
public health or the environment. Furthermore, the NRC staff found that 
there would be no significant negative cumulative impact to any 
resource area from the proposed action when added to other past, 
present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, and that a positive 
cumulative ecological impact would likely result from the continued 
management of the Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge over the proposed 
action's 20-year duration.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered 
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
Under the no-action alternative, the NRC would not grant the license 
amendment or exemption, and the Army would need to comply with the 
terms of its current license, which authorizes possession only for 
decommissioning. Under this alternative, the Army would need to submit 
a decommissioning plan. Because remediation of the site would be 
complex, dangerous, and prohibitively expensive, the staff has assumed 
that decommissioning for restricted use would be necessary, similar to 
the Army's previously submitted and withdrawn proposal for 
decommissioning and restricted release. The NRC staff concluded, 
therefore, that decommissioning activities for a 20-year duration would 
be restricted due to the presence of unexploded ordnance and, 
therefore, the potential impacts of the no-action alternative over a 
period of 20 years would be SMALL and similar or identical to the 
impacts of the proposed action.

Discussion of Comments

    The NRC received seven comment submittals from individuals or 
organizations. Several commenters stated their wish to continue 
receiving notifications or updates but did not have substantive 
comments on the draft EA. Two commenters provided comments on the draft 
EA, as summarized below.
    One commenter recommended that the Army commit to indefinite 
environmental monitoring, and that this commitment be included in the 
final EA and FONSI. The NRC responded that the Army stated its 
intention to operate its monitoring program indefinitely and that the 
material currently in the DU Impact Area would remain in place and be 
subject to legally enforceable access controls and land use 
restrictions that the Army established in its MOA with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service and U.S. Air Force.
    Another commenter expressed concerns about potential future 
migration of DU from the JPG site and requested assurance that there 
will continue to be public access to the semi-annual monitoring 
results, as well as an option for periodic public input regarding the 
site status. This commenter also asked that the NRC's review of the 
license occur more frequently than every 20 years and requested that an 
action plan be developed to address any indication of increased DU 
migration. The NRC responded that, as is currently the practice, the 
results of semi-annual radiation monitoring will continue to be 
publicly available through the NRC's ADAMS system or provided by the 
Army upon request. Regarding an option for periodic public input 
regarding the status of the site and license review frequency, the NRC 
would re-evaluate the terms of the license at the time of any future 
licensing action, as appropriate. A future evaluation for license 
renewal or amendment, extension of the exemption, or a decommissioning 
action would be subject to the NEPA review process, which includes 
public participation and input. Regarding the development and notice of 
an action plan to address any indication of increased migration of DU, 
the Army's environmental monitoring plan specifies action levels (DU 
concentrations in surface water, sediment, and groundwater) and 
procedures to be followed if action levels are exceeded in samples. The 
action levels are well below the NRC effluent limits in appendix B of 
10 CFR part 20.

III. Final Finding of No Significant Impact

    In accordance with the NEPA and 10 CFR part 51, the NRC staff has 
conducted an environmental review of a request for an amendment to NRC 
source materials license SUB-1435 that would change the authorized use 
of licensed material from ``possession only for decommissioning'' to 
``possession only'' and for an exemption from the NRC's decommissioning 
timeliness requirements in 10 CFR 40.42(d). Based on its environmental 
review of the proposed action, as documented in the final EA, the NRC 
staff has determined that granting the requested license amendment and 
exemption would not significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment. The staff has concluded that the proposed action complies 
with the NRC's regulations in 10 CFR part 20, that all potential 
impacts from the proposed action would be SMALL, and that approval of 
the proposed action would not result in a significant increase in 
short-term or long-term radiological risk to public health or the 
environment. The staff also found that there would be no significant 
negative cumulative impacts and that a positive cumulative ecological 
impact would likely result from the continued management of the Big 
Oaks National Wildlife Refuge over the proposed action's 20-year 
duration. Therefore, the NRC staff has determined, pursuant to 10 CFR 
51.31, that preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
required for the proposed action and a FONSI is appropriate.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of June 2019.


[[Page 30782]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Michael F. King,
Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and Environmental 
Review, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2019-13691 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

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