80 FR 20017 - University of Michigan's Ford Nuclear Reactor Facility
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 71 (April 14, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 71 (April 14, 2015)
| Page Range | 20017-20018 | |
| FR Document | 2015-08576 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 20017-20018] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-08576] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-134; NRC-2015-0090] University of Michigan's Ford Nuclear Reactor Facility AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: License termination; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is noticing the termination of Facility Operating License No. R-28 for the Ford Nuclear Reactor (FNR). The NRC has terminated the license of the decommissioned FNR at the University of Michigan (UM or the licensee) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has released the site for unrestricted use. DATES: Notice of termination of Facility Operating License No. R-28 given on April 14, 2015. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0090 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 Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0090. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; email: Carol.Gallagher@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 publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then 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 ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. 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: Theodore Smith, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6721; email: Theodore.Smith@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FNR was operated by the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project (MMPP) at the UM as a memorial to students and alumni of the UM who served in World War II, including the 588 who died in the war. The MMPP's purpose has been to encourage and support research on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and its social implications. The FNR was used by students, faculty and staff of the UM and other institutions and entities for research, experiments, and education classes. The FNR operations provided major assistance to a wide variety of research and educational programs, including neutron irradiation services, neutron beam port experimental facilities, classes in reactor operations, reactor related laboratory work, neutron activation analysis, isotope preparation, radiochemical preparation, gamma irradiation services, neutron radiography, testing services, and training programs. The licensee ceased operation of the facility in July 2003, and the fuel was subsequently removed in December 2003. The FNR underwent decommissioning activities from 2006 until 2012, followed by Final Status Surveys (FSS) in the winter of 2012 to assess the final radiological status of the facility. The licensee submitted a proposed Decommissioning Plan (DP) on June 23, 2004 (ADAMS Package No. ML041810586) which was revised on January 10, 2006 (ADAMS Package No. ML060180411). The NRC approved the revised UM DP by Amendment No. 50 to License R-28, dated June 26, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061220260). As required by the FNR DP, the UM submitted a Final Status Survey Plan (FSSP), in letters dated April 8, 2011, July 12, 2011, January 20, 2012, June 1, 2012, July 13, 2012, and September 17, 2012 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML11119A004, ML11199A009, ML12025A125, ML12157A266, ML12199A018, and ML12264A562, respectively). Additional site characterization information for the FNR was provided on February 14, 2012, and September 18, 2012 (ADAMS Package No. ML120950629 and ADAMS Accession No. ML12264A064). By letter dated October 25, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12293A302), the NRC reviewed the FSSP and determined that after a change to one paragraph, it was acceptable and consistent with the guidance in NUREG- 1757, ``Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance'' (ADAMS Accession No. ML063000243), and NUREG-1575, ``Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual'' (MARSSIM) (ADAMS Accession No. ML082470583). The UM provided the modified FSSP with the revised paragraph on November 2, 2012 (ADAMS Accession No. ML12312A130). The modification required an additional final status survey for three special areas of the FNR. The UM provided a final status survey report (FSSR) which included information on the three special FSS [[Page 20018]] areas in a letter dated July 11, 2013 (ADAMS Package ML13205A152), followed by a corrected background count rate for the FSSR on August 19, 2013 (ADAMS Accession No. ML13235A009). In a letter dated February 26, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14063A207), the UM confirmed that FNR systems and components had been transferred to the UM Broad Scope license No. 21-00215-04 by Amendment No. 102, in accordance with the approved DP, and requested termination of the FNR license. The Amendment No. 102 transfer was approved by the NRC, with a correction, on February 19, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14055A189). On June 23, 2014, NRC inspectors confirmed that site conditions were acceptable for license termination (ADAMS Accession No. ML14197A232). Additionally, NRC staff has reviewed the FNR FSSR. The FNR FSSR states that the criteria for termination set forth in FNR's license (R-28), and as established in its DP and FSSP have been satisfied. The FSSR indicates that all but one of the individual radiological measurement determinations made throughout the facility for surface contamination (both total and removable) were found to be less than the criteria established in the DP, which is acceptable in accordance with the MARSSIM statistical methodology. Similarly, sample results from soil, and sediments were found to be less than the volumetric radionuclide concentration criteria established in the DP. Additionally, all the radioactive wastes have been removed from the facility. For these reasons, the NRC staff has determined that the survey results in the report comply with the criteria in the NRC approved DP and the release criteria in subpart E of part 20 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR). On August 9 through 11, 2011 the NRC conducted an on-site inspection of the decommissioning activities at the FNR. The NRC inspector evaluated decommissioning performance and conducted independent radiation surveys and soil sampling, with soil sample evaluation of the NRC samples by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). The inspection was an examination of UM's licensed activities as they relate to radiation safety and to compliance with the Commission's regulations and the license conditions, including the DP and FSSP. The inspection consisted of observations by the inspectors, interviews with personnel, and a review of procedures and records and acquisition of split samples. As a result of this inspection, a Notice of Violation was issued to the UM for failing to independently monitor or audit either decommissioning operations or the quality assurance program annually as required (ADAMS Accession No. ML11299A076). This violation has been resolved by the UM reinitiating audits and quality assurance reviews as part of semi-annual Decommissioning Review Committee meetings, as documented in an October 10, 2012 NRC inspection report. (ADAMS Accession No. ML12284A282). The final report from ORAU of the results of the soil sample analysis was provided to the NRC on August 23, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML112420852). One of the soil samples exceeded the FNR DP's soil derived concentration guideline level for Cobalt-60, which was addressed by the UM subsequently remediating all the soil from the cavity area, and resampling as part of the final status survey. At the request of NRC staff, on January 16, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15020A725), UM provided the results of eight additional soil samples, taken to a depth of thirteen feet, in the area where stockpiled soils were reused to refill the excavation in the former storage ports area of the FNR. All samples were below minimum detectable activity and well below the soil derived concentration guideline levels, which demonstrates that the reused stockpiled soils are acceptable for unrestricted release. Additionally, three split samples were sent to ORAU for laboratory analysis (ADAMS Accession No. ML15030A311). The results contained in the analytical report are consistent with UM's report. Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(b)(6), the NRC staff has concluded that the UM FNR in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been decommissioned in accordance with the approved DP and that the FSSR and associated documentation demonstrates that the facilities and site may be released in accordance with the criteria for license termination in 10 CFR part 20, subpart E. Further, on the basis of the decommissioning activities carried out by the UM, the NRC's review of the licensee's FSSR, the results of the NRC inspections conducted at the reactor facility, and the results of confirmatory lab analyses, the NRC has concluded that the decommissioning process is complete and the facilities and sites may be released for unrestricted use. Therefore, Facility Operating License No. R-28 is terminated. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of April 2015. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Andrew Persinko, Deputy Director, Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2015-08576 Filed 4-13-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 71 / Tuesday, April 14, 2015 / Notices 20017
http://www.regulations.gov. MSHA License No. R–28 for the Ford Nuclear by students, faculty and staff of the UM
cautions the commenter against Reactor (FNR). The NRC has terminated and other institutions and entities for
providing any information in the the license of the decommissioned FNR research, experiments, and education
submission that should not be publicly at the University of Michigan (UM or classes. The FNR operations provided
disclosed. Full comments, including the licensee) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, major assistance to a wide variety of
personal information provided, will be and has released the site for unrestricted research and educational programs,
made available on www.regulations.gov use. including neutron irradiation services,
and www.reginfo.gov. DATES: Notice of termination of Facility neutron beam port experimental
The public may also examine publicly Operating License No. R–28 given on facilities, classes in reactor operations,
available documents at MSHA, 1100 April 14, 2015. reactor related laboratory work, neutron
Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID activation analysis, isotope preparation,
Arlington, VA. Sign in at the NRC–2015–0090 when contacting the radiochemical preparation, gamma
receptionist’s desk on the 21st floor. NRC about the availability of irradiation services, neutron
Questions about the information information regarding this document. radiography, testing services, and
collection requirements may be directed You may obtain publicly-available training programs. The licensee ceased
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER information related to this document operation of the facility in July 2003,
INFORMATION section of this notice. using any of the following methods: and the fuel was subsequently removed
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to in December 2003. The FNR underwent
III. Current Actions decommissioning activities from 2006
http://www.regulations.gov and search
This request for collection of for Docket ID NRC–2015–0090. Address until 2012, followed by Final Status
information contains provisions for questions about NRC dockets to Carol Surveys (FSS) in the winter of 2012 to
Ventilation Plans, Tests, and Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; assess the final radiological status of the
Examinations in Underground Coal email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For facility.
Mines. MSHA has updated the data technical questions, contact the The licensee submitted a proposed
with respect to the number of individual listed in the FOR FURTHER Decommissioning Plan (DP) on June 23,
respondents, responses, burden hours, INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
2004 (ADAMS Package No.
and burden costs supporting this ML041810586) which was revised on
document.
information collection request. • NRC’s Agencywide Documents January 10, 2006 (ADAMS Package No.
Type of Review: Revision of a Access and Management System ML060180411). The NRC approved the
currently approved collection. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- revised UM DP by Amendment No. 50
Agency: Mine Safety and Health available documents online in the to License R–28, dated June 26, 2006
Administration. ADAMS Public Documents collection at (ADAMS Accession No. ML061220260).
OMB Number: 1219–0088. As required by the FNR DP, the UM
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
Affected Public: Business or other for- submitted a Final Status Survey Plan
adams.html. To begin the search, select
profit. (FSSP), in letters dated April 8, 2011,
‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
Number of Respondents: 434. July 12, 2011, January 20, 2012, June 1,
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
Frequency: On occasion. 2012, July 13, 2012, and September 17,
Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, 2012 (ADAMS Accession Nos.
Number of Responses: 1,902,012. please contact the NRC’s Public
Annual Burden Hours: 313,624 hours. ML11119A004, ML11199A009,
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at ML12025A125, ML12157A266,
Annual Respondent or Recordkeeper 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
Cost: $118,982. ML12199A018, and ML12264A562,
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The respectively). Additional site
Comments submitted in response to ADAMS accession number for each
this notice will be summarized and characterization information for the
document referenced (if it is available in FNR was provided on February 14,
included in the request for Office of ADAMS) is provided the first time that
Management and Budget approval of the 2012, and September 18, 2012 (ADAMS
it is mentioned in the SUPPLEMENTARY Package No. ML120950629 and ADAMS
information collection request; they will INFORMATION section.
also become a matter of public record. Accession No. ML12264A064).
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and By letter dated October 25, 2012
Dated: April 8, 2015. purchase copies of public documents at (ADAMS Accession No. ML12293A302),
Sheila McConnell, the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One the NRC reviewed the FSSP and
Certifying Officer. White Flint North, 11555 Rockville determined that after a change to one
[FR Doc. 2015–08482 Filed 4–13–15; 8:45 am] Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. paragraph, it was acceptable and
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: consistent with the guidance in
Theodore Smith, Office of Nuclear NUREG–1757, ‘‘Consolidated
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Decommissioning Guidance’’ (ADAMS
NUCLEAR REGULATORY Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Accession No. ML063000243), and
COMMISSION Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: NUREG–1575, ‘‘Multi-Agency Radiation
301–415–6721; email: Theodore.Smith@ Survey and Site Investigation Manual’’
[Docket No. 50–134; NRC–2015–0090] nrc.gov. (MARSSIM) (ADAMS Accession No.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FNR ML082470583). The UM provided the
University of Michigan’s Ford Nuclear
was operated by the Michigan Memorial modified FSSP with the revised
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Reactor Facility
Phoenix Project (MMPP) at the UM as a paragraph on November 2, 2012
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory memorial to students and alumni of the (ADAMS Accession No. ML12312A130).
Commission. UM who served in World War II, The modification required an additional
ACTION: License termination; issuance. including the 588 who died in the war. final status survey for three special areas
The MMPP’s purpose has been to of the FNR.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory encourage and support research on the The UM provided a final status survey
Commission (NRC) is noticing the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and its report (FSSR) which included
termination of Facility Operating social implications. The FNR was used information on the three special FSS
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![20018 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 71 / Tuesday, April 14, 2015 / Notices
areas in a letter dated July 11, 2013 acquisition of split samples. As a result For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(ADAMS Package ML13205A152), of this inspection, a Notice of Violation Andrew Persinko,
followed by a corrected background was issued to the UM for failing to Deputy Director, Division of
count rate for the FSSR on August 19, independently monitor or audit either Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and
2013 (ADAMS Accession No. decommissioning operations or the Waste Programs, Office of Nuclear Material
ML13235A009). quality assurance program annually as Safety and Safeguards.
In a letter dated February 26, 2014 required (ADAMS Accession No. [FR Doc. 2015–08576 Filed 4–13–15; 8:45 am]
(ADAMS Accession No. ML14063A207), ML11299A076). This violation has been BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
the UM confirmed that FNR systems resolved by the UM reinitiating audits
and components had been transferred to and quality assurance reviews as part of
the UM Broad Scope license No. 21– semi-annual Decommissioning Review NUCLEAR REGULATORY
00215–04 by Amendment No. 102, in Committee meetings, as documented in COMMISSION
accordance with the approved DP, and an October 10, 2012 NRC inspection
requested termination of the FNR [Docket Nos. 52–025 and 52–026; NRC–
report. (ADAMS Accession No.
license. The Amendment No. 102 2008–0252]
ML12284A282). The final report from
transfer was approved by the NRC, with ORAU of the results of the soil sample Vogtle Electric Generating Station,
a correction, on February 19, 2014 analysis was provided to the NRC on Units 3 and 4; Southern Nuclear
(ADAMS Accession No. ML14055A189). August 23, 2011 (ADAMS Accession Operating Company; Tier 1 Editorial
On June 23, 2014, NRC inspectors No. ML112420852). One of the soil and Consistency Changes
confirmed that site conditions were samples exceeded the FNR DP’s soil
acceptable for license termination derived concentration guideline level AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
(ADAMS Accession No. ML14197A232). for Cobalt-60, which was addressed by Commission.
Additionally, NRC staff has reviewed the UM subsequently remediating all ACTION: Exemption and combined
the FNR FSSR. The FNR FSSR states the soil from the cavity area, and license amendment issuance.
that the criteria for termination set forth resampling as part of the final status
in FNR’s license (R–28), and as survey. SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
established in its DP and FSSP have At the request of NRC staff, on Commission (NRC) is granting an
been satisfied. January 16, 2015 (ADAMS Accession exemption to allow a departure from the
The FSSR indicates that all but one of No. ML15020A725), UM provided the certification information of Tier 1 of the
the individual radiological results of eight additional soil samples, generic design control document (DCD)
measurement determinations made taken to a depth of thirteen feet, in the and is issuing License Amendment No.
throughout the facility for surface area where stockpiled soils were reused 30 to Combined Licenses (COLs), NPF–
contamination (both total and 91 and NPF–92. The COLs were issued
to refill the excavation in the former
removable) were found to be less than to Southern Nuclear Operating
storage ports area of the FNR. All
the criteria established in the DP, which Company, Inc., and Georgia Power
samples were below minimum
is acceptable in accordance with the Company, Oglethorpe Power
detectable activity and well below the
MARSSIM statistical methodology. Corporation, Municipal Electric
soil derived concentration guideline
Similarly, sample results from soil, and Authority of Georgia, and the City of
levels, which demonstrates that the
sediments were found to be less than Dalton, Georgia (the licensee); for
reused stockpiled soils are acceptable
the volumetric radionuclide construction and operation of the Vogtle
for unrestricted release. Additionally,
concentration criteria established in the Electric Generating Plant (VEGP) Units
three split samples were sent to ORAU
DP. Additionally, all the radioactive 3 and 4, located in Burke County,
wastes have been removed from the for laboratory analysis (ADAMS
Accession No. ML15030A311). The Georgia.
facility. For these reasons, the NRC staff The granting of the exemption allows
has determined that the survey results results contained in the analytical report
are consistent with UM’s report. the changes to Tier 1 information
in the report comply with the criteria in requested in the amendment. Because
the NRC approved DP and the release Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(b)(6), the
NRC staff has concluded that the UM the acceptability of the exemption was
criteria in subpart E of part 20 of Title determined in part by the acceptability
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations FNR in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been
decommissioned in accordance with the of the amendment, the exemption and
(10 CFR). amendment are being issued
On August 9 through 11, 2011 the approved DP and that the FSSR and
associated documentation demonstrates concurrently.
NRC conducted an on-site inspection of
the decommissioning activities at the that the facilities and site may be ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
FNR. The NRC inspector evaluated released in accordance with the criteria NRC–2008–0252 when contacting the
decommissioning performance and for license termination in 10 CFR part NRC about the availability of
conducted independent radiation 20, subpart E. Further, on the basis of information regarding this document.
surveys and soil sampling, with soil the decommissioning activities carried You may obtain publicly-available
sample evaluation of the NRC samples out by the UM, the NRC’s review of the information related to this document
by the Oak Ridge Associated licensee’s FSSR, the results of the NRC using any of the following methods:
Universities (ORAU). The inspection inspections conducted at the reactor • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
was an examination of UM’s licensed facility, and the results of confirmatory http://www.regulations.gov and search
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
activities as they relate to radiation lab analyses, the NRC has concluded for Docket ID NRC–2008–0252. Address
safety and to compliance with the that the decommissioning process is questions about NRC dockets to Carol
Commission’s regulations and the complete and the facilities and sites Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
license conditions, including the DP may be released for unrestricted use. email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
and FSSP. The inspection consisted of Therefore, Facility Operating License technical questions, contact the
observations by the inspectors, No. R–28 is terminated. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
interviews with personnel, and a review Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
of procedures and records and of April 2015. document.
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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:09:36
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:09:36
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | License termination; issuance. | |
| Dates | Notice of termination of Facility Operating License No. R-28 given on April 14, 2015. | |
| Contact | Theodore Smith, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6721; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 20017 |
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