[Federal Register: September 29, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 188)]
[Notices]
[Page 56019-56020]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29se03-137]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030-29288]
Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact Related to the License Renewal Request of the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of
Radiation Protection, for the Quehanna Site in Karthaus, Pennsylvania
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of availability Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact.
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[[Page 56020]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Kottan, Project Manager,
Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials
Safety, Region I, 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
19406, telephone (610) 337-5214, fax (610) 337-5269 and/or e-mail jjk@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
amending Byproduct Materials License Number 37-17860-02 issued to the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of
Radiation Protection (PADEP, BRP) to authorize the decommissioning of
the Quehanna Facility located at 115 Reactor Road, Karthaus, Clearfield
County, Pennsylvania. In support of this action, the NRC staff has
prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the
requirements of 10 CFR part 51.
In a letter dated February 26, 2003, PADEP, BRP submitted a request
to renew Byproduct Materials License Number 37-17860-02, including
submittal of a revised decommissioning plan (DP), to obtain
authorization to decommission the Quehanna Facility. In subsequent
letters dated June 4, 2003, and June 18, 2003, PADEP, BRP provided
responses to an NRC request for additional information regarding the
DP. The request, currently before the NRC, involves removing the hot
cell complex and embedded drain lines at the facility and
decontaminating the remaining portions of the facility to meet the
unrestricted release criteria.
Based upon the EA, the NRC has concluded that a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate.
II. Summary of EA
An EA has been performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of
PADEP, BRP's request for NRC's approval for PADEP, and BRP to
decommission the Quehanna Facility. In accordance with the conditions
currently described in its license, the licensee has been performing
remediation of residual radioactivity from internal building equipment
and components. The radioactive contamination at PADEP, BRP's Karthaus,
Pennsylvania site consists of building and equipment surfaces
contaminated with strontium-90 (Sr-90) from licensed operations that
occurred from the late 1950s until 1967.
The hot cell complex at this facility will be removed in order to
expose the basement below for decontamination and embedded and buried
drain lines will be removed. The remaining structures will be
decontaminated as necessary to meet the unrestricted release criteria,
and left in place. PADEP, BRP plans to use dismantlement and
deconstruction techniques, such as cutting and drilling in taking the
hot cells down. Coring and drilling equipment, back hoes, and mobile
cranes will be used to remove/dismantle and to size reduce concrete or
concrete masonry unit (CMU) structures. Steel reinforcement bars will
be torch-cut, sheared, or saw-cut as required for dismantlement,
leveling, or size reduction purposes. Radioactive waste generated as a
result of decommissioning activities will be transported offsite by
truck for disposal. PADEP, BRP estimates that approximately 300 cubic
yards of radioactive waste will leave the site over the duration of the
decommissioning project. The duration of the proposed action will be
approximately 1.5 years.
The licensee's February 26, 2003, license renewal request was
noticed in the Federal Register on August 4, 2003 (68 FR 45859). This
Federal Register notice also provided an opportunity for a hearing on
this licensing action.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
Pursuant to 10 CFR part 51, NRC has prepared the EA, summarized
above. On the basis of the EA, the NRC has concluded that this
licensing action would not have any significant effect on the quality
of the human environment, and, therefore, an environmental impact
statement is not required. NRC believes that the approval of the
license renewal will not cause any significant impacts on the human
environment and is protective of human health. The NRC staff has
concluded that exposures to workers will be low and well within the
limits specified in 10 CFR part 20. Decommissioning activities as
proposed by the renewal will result in a reduction of radioactive
material at the PADEP, BRP site in Karthaus, which will reduce the long
term potential for release of radiological contamination to the
environment. No radiologically contaminated effluents are expected
during hot cell dismantlement and deconstruction and decontamination
activities. No radiation exposure to any member of the public is
expected, and public exposure will therefore also be less than the
applicable public exposure limits of 10 CFR part 20.
IV. Further Information
The EA and the documents related to this proposed action, including
the application for the license amendment and supporting documentation,
are available for inspection at NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room at
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html (Accession Number:
ML030800038). These documents are also available for inspection and
copying for a fee at the Region I Office, 475 Allendale Road, King of
Prussia, Pennsylvania, 19406.
Dated at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, this 17th day of
September, 2003.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ronald R. Bellamy,
Chief, Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch, Division of Nuclear
Materials Safety, Region I.
[FR Doc. 03-24475 Filed 9-26-03; 8:45 am]
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