82 FR 14759 - Uranerz Energy Corporation; Jane Dough Unit
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 54 (March 22, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 54 (March 22, 2017)
| Page Range | 14759-14760 | |
| FR Document | 2017-05691 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 14759-14760] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-05691] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 40-9067; NRC-2015-0199] Uranerz Energy Corporation; Jane Dough Unit AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an amendment of License SUA-1597, to expand operations to the Jane Dough Unit at Uranerz Energy Corporation (Uranerz) Nichols Ranch In Situ Recovery (ISR) Facility (Docket No. 40-9067). The NRC has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for this licensing action. DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document is available on March 22, 2017. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0199 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-2015-0199. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; 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 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 via email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this document. 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: Ashley Waldron, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7317; email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment of License SUA-1597 issued to Uranerz, for operation of the Jane Dough Unit, located in Wyoming, Johnson and Campbell Counties. Therefore, as required by part 51 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), the NRC performed an EA. Based on the results of the EA that follows, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the amendment, and is issuing a FONSI. II. Environmental Assessment Description of the Proposed Action The proposed action would allow Uranerz to construct, operate, perform aquifer restoration, and decommissioning activities at the Jane Dough Unit. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated May 8, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14164A274), as supplemented by letter dated April 13, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15118A122). Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action allows Uranerz to recover uranium within the proposed Jane Dough Unit. The licensee would process the recovered uranium into yellowcake at the existing central processing plant currently located on the Nichols Ranch Unit. Yellowcake is the uranium oxide product of the ISR milling process that is used to produce various products, including fuel for commercially-operated nuclear power reactors. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The NRC staff has assessed the potential environmental impacts from the construction, operation, aquifer restoration, and decommissioning of the proposed Jane Dough Unit. The NRC staff assessed the impacts of the proposed action on land use; historical and cultural resources; visual and scenic resources; climatology, meteorology and air quality; geology, minerals, and soils; water resources; ecological resources; socioeconomics; noise; traffic and transportation; public and occupational health and safety; and waste management. All impacts were determined to be SMALL. The NRC staff concluded that license amendment for the Nichols Ranch ISR project license authorizing the construction and operation of the Jane Dough Unit would not significantly affect the quality of the human health, safety, and environment. Approval of the proposed action would not result in an increased radiological risk to public health or the environment. 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). The No-Action Alternative would mean that the NRC would not approve the addition of the Jane Dough Unit to the existing Nichols Ranch licensed permit area. In-situ recovery activities would not occur within the Jane Dough Unit and the associated environmental impacts also would not occur. Agencies and Persons Consulted In accordance with its stated policy, on December 20, 2016, the NRC staff consulted with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The state official concurred with the EA and FONSI on January 25, 2017. Additional Information The NRC received an application from Uranerz to amend its NRC source materials license SUA-1597. This application requests authorization for Uranerz to construct and operate ISR activities at the Jane Dough unit in Campbell County and Johnson County, Wyoming. The NRC staff is conducting an environmental review in accordance with part 51 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), which implements the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). Based on the results of the EA that follows, the NRC [[Page 14760]] staff has determined not to prepare an EIS for the Jane Dough amendment and is issuing a FONSI. Under the NRC's environmental protection regulations in 10 CFR part 51, an EA was prepared. In May 2009, the NRC staff issued NUREG-1910, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities'' (herein referred to as the GEIS). In the GEIS, the NRC assessed the potential environmental impacts from construction, operation, aquifer restoration, and decommissioning of an in situ leach uranium milling facility (also known as an ISR facility) located in four specific geographic regions of the western United States. In January 2011, the NRC staff prepared Supplement 2 to the GEIS for the Nichols Ranch ISR facility, the Jane Dough amendment is an expansion to that facility. This EA incorporates by reference relevant portions from the Nichols Ranch Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and GEIS, and uses site-specific information from Uranerz license application and independent sources to fulfill the requirements in 10 CFR 51.20(b)(8). The final EA was prepared by the NRC and its contractor, the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, in compliance with NEPA (as amended), and the NRC's regulations for implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 51). The proposed Jane Dough Unit would be located in Johnson and Campbell Counties, Wyoming, and would encompass approximately 1489 hectares (3,680 acres). In this final EA, the NRC staff has assessed the potential environmental impacts from the construction, operation, aquifer restoration, and decommissioning of the proposed Jane Dough Unit. The NRC staff assessed the impacts of the proposed action on land use; historical and cultural resources; visual and scenic resources; climatology, meteorology and air quality; geology, minerals, and soils; water resources; ecological resources; socioeconomics; noise; traffic and transportation; public and occupational health and safety; and waste management. In doing so, the NRC staff evaluated site-specific data and information from the Jane Dough Unit to determine if Uranerz proposed activities and the site characteristics were consistent with those evaluated in the Nichols Ranch SEIS. The NRC then determined which relevant sections of, and impact conclusions in, the SEIS could be incorporated by reference. The NRC staff also determined if additional data or analysis was needed to assess the potential environmental impacts for a specific environmental resource area. The NRC documented its assessments and conclusions in the final EA. In addition to the action proposed by the licensee, the NRC staff addressed the no-action alternative which serves as a baseline for comparison of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action. After weighing the impacts of the proposed license amendment and comparing to the No-Action Alternative, the NRC staff, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.91(d), sets forth its NEPA recommendation regarding the proposed action (granting the request for an NRC license amendment for the proposed Jane Dough Unit). Unless safety issues mandate otherwise, the NRC staff recommendation related to the environmental aspects of the proposed action is that an NRC license amendment be issued. The final EA for the proposed Jane Dough Unit is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML17047A666. III. Finding of No Significant Impact Based on its review of the proposed action, and in accordance with the requirements in 10 CFR part 51, the NRC staff has determined that license amendment for the Nichols Ranch ISR project license authorizing the construction and operation of the Jane Dough Unit would not significantly affect the quality of the human health, safety, and environment. In its license amendment request, Uranerz has proposed the addition of two production units on the Jane Dough Unit, which is contiguous with the Nichols Ranch Unit. No significant changes in Uranerz's authorized operations for the Nichols Ranch ISR Project were requested. Approval of the proposed action would not result in an increased radiological risk to public health or the environment. The NRC staff has determined that pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, preparation of an EIS is not required for the proposed action and, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, a FONSI is appropriate. On the basis of the EA, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined not to prepare an EIS for the proposed action. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of March 2017. For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Brian W. Smith, Deputy Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and Environmental Review, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2017-05691 Filed 3-21-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices 14759
granted the exemption and issued the adams.html. To begin the search, select Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
amendment that the licensee requested ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then Action
on February 27, 2014. select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS The NRC staff has assessed the
The exemption and amendment were Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, potential environmental impacts from
issued on February 6, 2017, as part of please contact the NRC’s Public the construction, operation, aquifer
a combined package to the licensee Document Room (PDR) reference staff at restoration, and decommissioning of the
(ADAMS Accession No. ML16356A462). 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or via proposed Jane Dough Unit. The NRC
email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The staff assessed the impacts of the
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day ADAMS accession number for each proposed action on land use; historical
of March 2017. document referenced (if it is available in and cultural resources; visual and
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ADAMS) is provided the first time that scenic resources; climatology,
Jennifer Dixon-Herrity,
it is mentioned in this document. meteorology and air quality; geology,
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and minerals, and soils; water resources;
Chief, Licensing Branch 4, Division of New purchase copies of public documents at
Reactor Licensing, Office of New Reactors. ecological resources; socioeconomics;
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One noise; traffic and transportation; public
[FR Doc. 2017–05686 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville and occupational health and safety; and
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. waste management. All impacts were
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: determined to be SMALL. The NRC staff
NUCLEAR REGULATORY Ashley Waldron, Office of Nuclear concluded that license amendment for
COMMISSION Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. the Nichols Ranch ISR project license
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, authorizing the construction and
[Docket No. 40–9067; NRC–2015–0199] Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: operation of the Jane Dough Unit would
301–415–7317; email: Ashley.Waldron@ not significantly affect the quality of the
Uranerz Energy Corporation; Jane nrc.gov. human health, safety, and environment.
Dough Unit Approval of the proposed action would
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory not result in an increased radiological
I. Introduction risk to public health or the environment.
Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and The NRC is considering issuance of an
Environmental Impacts of the
finding of no significant impact; amendment of License SUA–1597
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
issuance. issued to Uranerz, for operation of the
Jane Dough Unit, located in Wyoming, As an alternative to the proposed
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Johnson and Campbell Counties. action, the NRC staff considered denial
Commission (NRC) is considering an Therefore, as required by part 51 of title of the proposed action (i.e., the ‘‘no-
amendment of License SUA–1597, to 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations action’’ alternative). The No-Action
expand operations to the Jane Dough (10 CFR), the NRC performed an EA. Alternative would mean that the NRC
Unit at Uranerz Energy Corporation Based on the results of the EA that would not approve the addition of the
(Uranerz) Nichols Ranch In Situ follows, the NRC has determined not to Jane Dough Unit to the existing Nichols
Recovery (ISR) Facility (Docket No. 40– prepare an environmental impact Ranch licensed permit area. In-situ
9067). The NRC has prepared an statement (EIS) for the amendment, and recovery activities would not occur
environmental assessment (EA) and is issuing a FONSI. within the Jane Dough Unit and the
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated environmental impacts also
II. Environmental Assessment would not occur.
for this licensing action.
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in Description of the Proposed Action Agencies and Persons Consulted
this document is available on March 22, The proposed action would allow In accordance with its stated policy,
2017. Uranerz to construct, operate, perform on December 20, 2016, the NRC staff
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID aquifer restoration, and consulted with the Wyoming
NRC–2015–0199 when contacting the decommissioning activities at the Jane Department of Environmental Quality,
NRC about the availability of Dough Unit. The proposed action is in regarding the environmental impact of
information regarding this document. accordance with the licensee’s the proposed action. The state official
You may obtain publicly-available application dated May 8, 2014 (ADAMS concurred with the EA and FONSI on
information related to this document Accession No. ML14164A274), as January 25, 2017.
using any of the following methods: supplemented by letter dated April 13,
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. Additional Information
http://www.regulations.gov and search ML15118A122). The NRC received an application from
for Docket ID NRC–2015–0199. Address Uranerz to amend its NRC source
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Need for the Proposed Action materials license SUA–1597. This
Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; The proposed action allows Uranerz application requests authorization for
email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For to recover uranium within the proposed Uranerz to construct and operate ISR
technical questions, contact the Jane Dough Unit. The licensee would activities at the Jane Dough unit in
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER process the recovered uranium into Campbell County and Johnson County,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this yellowcake at the existing central Wyoming. The NRC staff is conducting
document. processing plant currently located on an environmental review in accordance
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents the Nichols Ranch Unit. Yellowcake is with part 51 of title 10 of the Code of
Access and Management System the uranium oxide product of the ISR Federal Regulations (10 CFR), which
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- milling process that is used to produce implements the requirements of the
available documents online in the various products, including fuel for National Environmental Policy Act of
ADAMS Public Documents collection at commercially-operated nuclear power 1969, as amended (NEPA). Based on the
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ reactors. results of the EA that follows, the NRC
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![14760 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices
staff has determined not to prepare an staff also determined if additional data For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
EIS for the Jane Dough amendment and or analysis was needed to assess the Commission.
is issuing a FONSI. potential environmental impacts for a Brian W. Smith,
Under the NRC’s environmental specific environmental resource area. Deputy Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety,
protection regulations in 10 CFR part The NRC documented its assessments Safeguards, and Environmental Review,
51, an EA was prepared. and conclusions in the final EA. Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
In May 2009, the NRC staff issued Safeguards.
NUREG–1910, ‘‘Generic Environmental In addition to the action proposed by [FR Doc. 2017–05691 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach the licensee, the NRC staff addressed the
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
Uranium Milling Facilities’’ (herein no-action alternative which serves as a
referred to as the GEIS). In the GEIS, the baseline for comparison of the potential
NRC assessed the potential environmental impacts of the proposed NUCLEAR REGULATORY
environmental impacts from action. COMMISSION
construction, operation, aquifer After weighing the impacts of the [Docket Nos. 052–00025 and 052–00026;
restoration, and decommissioning of an proposed license amendment and NRC–2008–0252]
in situ leach uranium milling facility comparing to the No-Action Alternative,
(also known as an ISR facility) located the NRC staff, in accordance with 10 Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units
in four specific geographic regions of CFR 51.91(d), sets forth its NEPA 3 and 4
the western United States. In January recommendation regarding the proposed
2011, the NRC staff prepared action (granting the request for an NRC AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory
Supplement 2 to the GEIS for the license amendment for the proposed Commission.
Nichols Ranch ISR facility, the Jane Jane Dough Unit). Unless safety issues ACTION: License amendment application;
Dough amendment is an expansion to mandate otherwise, the NRC staff opportunity to comment, request a
that facility. recommendation related to the hearing, and petition for leave to
This EA incorporates by reference environmental aspects of the proposed intervene.
relevant portions from the Nichols action is that an NRC license
Ranch Supplemental Environmental SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
amendment be issued. Commission (NRC) is considering
Impact Statement (SEIS) and GEIS, and
uses site-specific information from The final EA for the proposed Jane issuance of an amendment and
Uranerz license application and Dough Unit is available in ADAMS exemption to Combined Licenses (NPF–
independent sources to fulfill the under Accession No. ML17047A666. 91 and NPF–92), issued to Southern
requirements in 10 CFR 51.20(b)(8). Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC),
III. Finding of No Significant Impact and Georgia Power Company,
The final EA was prepared by the
NRC and its contractor, the Center for Based on its review of the proposed Oglethorpe Power Corporation, MEAG
Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, in action, and in accordance with the Power SPVM, LLC, MEAG Power SPVJ,
compliance with NEPA (as amended), requirements in 10 CFR part 51, the LLC, MEAG Power SPVP, LLC,
and the NRC’s regulations for NRC staff has determined that license Authority of Georgia, and the City of
implementing NEPA (10 CFR part 51). amendment for the Nichols Ranch ISR Dalton, Georgia (together ‘‘the
The proposed Jane Dough Unit would project license authorizing the licensees’’), for construction and
be located in Johnson and Campbell construction and operation of the Jane operation of the Vogtle Electric
Counties, Wyoming, and would Dough Unit would not significantly Generating Plant (VEGP), Units 3 and 4,
encompass approximately 1489 hectares affect the quality of the human health, located in Burke County, Georgia.
(3,680 acres). safety, and environment. In its license DATES: Submit comments by April 21,
In this final EA, the NRC staff has amendment request, Uranerz has 2017. Requests for a hearing or petition
assessed the potential environmental proposed the addition of two for leave to intervene must be filed by
impacts from the construction, production units on the Jane Dough May 22, 2017.
operation, aquifer restoration, and Unit, which is contiguous with the ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
decommissioning of the proposed Jane Nichols Ranch Unit. No significant by any of the following methods:
Dough Unit. The NRC staff assessed the changes in Uranerz’s authorized • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
impacts of the proposed action on land operations for the Nichols Ranch ISR http://www.regulations.gov and search
use; historical and cultural resources; Project were requested. Approval of the for Docket ID NRC–2008–0252. Address
visual and scenic resources; proposed action would not result in an questions about NRC dockets to Carol
climatology, meteorology and air increased radiological risk to public Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
quality; geology, minerals, and soils; health or the environment. The NRC email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
water resources; ecological resources; staff has determined that pursuant to 10 technical questions, contact the
socioeconomics; noise; traffic and CFR 51.31, preparation of an EIS is not individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
transportation; public and occupational required for the proposed action and, INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
health and safety; and waste pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, a FONSI is document.
management. appropriate. • Mail comments to: Cindy Bladey,
In doing so, the NRC staff evaluated Office of Administration, Mail Stop:
site-specific data and information from On the basis of the EA, the NRC OWFN–12–H08, U.S. Nuclear
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
the Jane Dough Unit to determine if concludes that the proposed action will Regulatory Commission, Washington,
Uranerz proposed activities and the site not have a significant effect on the DC 20555–0001.
characteristics were consistent with quality of the human environment. For additional direction on obtaining
those evaluated in the Nichols Ranch Accordingly, the NRC has determined information and submitting comments,
SEIS. The NRC then determined which not to prepare an EIS for the proposed see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
relevant sections of, and impact action. Submitting Comments’’ in the
conclusions in, the SEIS could be Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
incorporated by reference. The NRC of March 2017. this document.
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Document Created: 2017-03-22 03:59:01
Document Modified: 2017-03-22 03:59:01
| 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 | Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. | |
| Dates | The EA and FONSI referenced in this document is available on March 22, 2017. | |
| Contact | Ashley Waldron, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7317; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 14759 |
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