83 FR 19119 - Centrus Energy Corp.; Proposed Decommissioning Plan
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 84 (May 1, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 84 (May 1, 2018)
| Page Range | 19119-19120 | |
| FR Document | 2018-09084 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 19119-19120] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-09084] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 70-7003; NRC-2018-0079] Centrus Energy Corp.; Proposed Decommissioning Plan AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: License amendment application; request for comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received an application from Centrus Energy Corp. (Centrus) to amend Material License Number SNM-7003 to authorize decommissioning of its American Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility (LCF) located in Piketon, Ohio. The NRC has accepted the application for technical review and evaluation of the decommissioning plan. As all materials and equipment at the LCF were previously removed and dispositioned offsite under the authority of Centrus' existing license, the NRC's review of the decommissioning plan is limited to (1) decommissioning funding, (2) dose assessment and derived concentration guideline levels and methodology, and (3) final status survey design in accordance with the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual. In order to inform its review of these remaining issues, the NRC is soliciting comments from affected parties. DATES: Submit comments by July 2, 2018. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received before this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0079. Address questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; 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. Mail comments to: May Ma, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. For additional direction on obtaining information and submitting comments, see ``Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments'' in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yawar H. Faraz, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7220; email: Yawar.Faraz@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Obtaining Information and Submitting Comments A. Obtaining Information Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0079 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information for this action. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this action by any of the following methods: Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0079. 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 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. B. Submitting Comments Please include Docket ID NRC-2018-0079 in your comment submission. The NRC cautions you not to include identifying or contact information that you do not want to be publicly disclosed in your comment submission. [[Page 19120]] The NRC will post all comment submissions at http://www.regulations.gov as well as enter the comment submissions into ADAMS. The NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove identifying or contact information. If you are requesting or aggregating comments from other persons for submission to the NRC, then you should inform those persons not to include identifying or contact information that they do not want to be publicly disclosed in their comment submission. Your request should state that the NRC does not routinely edit comment submissions to remove such information before making the comment submissions available to the public or entering the comment into ADAMS. II. Background By letter dated February 21, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18030A442), the NRC accepted for detailed technical review Centrus' application dated January 5, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18025B285), and a subsequent clarification dated February 14, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18046A081), to amend Material License No. SNM-7003 to authorize decommissioning of its LCF located in Piketon, Ohio. In the early 1980s, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiated its construction of the Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant (GCEP) at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in Piketon, Ohio. After installing and operating several hundred centrifuges, the DOE terminated the GCEP project in 1985. Approximately 15 years later, USEC, Inc. decided to use and expand the existing GCEP facilities for deploying its own commercial centrifuge plant. In 2004, USEC, Inc. signed a lease agreement with DOE to use certain GCEP facilities for testing and eventual commercial production as part of its overall gas centrifuge uranium enrichment project. The NRC issued Material License No. SNM-7003 for the LCF to USEC, Inc. on February 24, 2004 (ADAMS Accession No. ML062630432). At that time, USEC, Inc., under contract with DOE, dismantled and packaged for transport for offsite disposition DOE's contaminated and non- contaminated GCEP classified waste, comprising of centrifuges and equipment. After licensing by the NRC, USEC, Inc. began to install its own centrifuges in a portion of one of the two existing GCEP process buildings and began operating the LCF as a test facility in August of 2006. The LCF's purpose was to obtain ``reliability, performance, cost, and other data'' for use in the decision whether to construct and operate a commercial uranium enrichment plant, commonly referred to as the American Centrifuge Plant. To govern any future operation of the ACP, the NRC issued Material License No. SNM-2011 on April 13, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. ML070400284). To date, no significant construction activities have occurred at the ACP. These NRC licenses were subsequently transferred from USEC, Inc. to Centrus. The LCF lies completely within the ACP site, occupying about ten percent of the space reserved for the ACP. The ACP site, in turn, lies completely within DOE's controlled access area, where an adjoining uranium enrichment facility using a gaseous diffusion process previously operated for several decades. Currently, DOE is decommissioning this facility. On March 2, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16074A405), Centrus notified the NRC, in accordance with paragraph 70.38(d)(2) of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), of its decision to permanently cease operation of the LCF and to terminate Material License No. SNM-7003 following decontamination and decommissioning activities. On May 17, 2016, Centrus submitted a license amendment request to the NRC to downgrade licensed activities at the LCF to ``limited operations'' and to remove enrichment capability from the license (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML16162A194). The NRC approved the amendment on December 23, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16330A248). Since notifying the NRC of its intent to decommission the LCF under the authority of its existing Material License No. SNM-7003, Centrus removed the process gas in the form of UF6 and packaged all LCF classified equipment, including all LCF centrifuges and piping, and shipped the packages offsite for appropriate disposition. The NRC has verified that all classified matter has been shipped offsite for appropriate disposition, and the NRC has withdrawn Centrus' authorization to possess classified information or material/equipment at the LCF and ACP in Piketon, Ohio. Except for the NRC's confirmation of the results of Centrus' final status survey, all physical decommissioning activities for the LCF have been completed. This present action requires the NRC to evaluate and consider Centrus' decommissioning plan for approval and to consider the approval of a corresponding license amendment. This review will be limited in scope to those portions of the decommissioning plan not previously completed under the authority of the license. Before completing the proposed action, the NRC will need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the NRC's regulations. These findings will be documented in a safety evaluation report and an environmental assessment. III. Opportunity To Provide Comments In accordance with section 20.1405 of 10 CFR, the NRC is providing notice to individuals in the vicinity of the site that the NRC is in receipt of a decommissioning plan and will accept comments from affected parties concerning this decommissioning proposal. The NRC requests comments on the portions of the LCF's decommissioning plan under review by the NRC, which are limited to: (1) Decommissioning funding, (2) dose assessment and derived concentration guideline levels and methodology, and (3) final status survey design in accordance with the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of April 2018. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Craig G. Erlanger, Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and Environmental Review, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. 2018-09084 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices 19119
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, Respondents: Investigators who email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For
and clarity of the information on submit proposals to NSF’s Division of technical questions, contact the
respondents, including through the use Undergraduate Education. individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
of automated collection techniques or Estimated Number of Annual INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
other forms of information technology; Respondents: 2,300. document.
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of Burden on the Public: 20 minutes (per • Mail comments to: May Ma, Office
the collection of information on response) for an annual total of 767 of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN–7–
respondents, including through the use hours. A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
of automated collection techniques or Dated: April 26, 2018. Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
other forms of information technology. 0001.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
DATES: Written comments should be For additional direction on obtaining
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science information and submitting comments,
received by July 2, 2018, to be assured Foundation.
of consideration. Comments received see ‘‘Obtaining Information and
[FR Doc. 2018–09137 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]
after that date will be considered to the Submitting Comments’’ in the
BILLING CODE 7555–01–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
this document.
regarding the information collection and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY Yawar H. Faraz, Office of Nuclear
requests for copies of the proposed
COMMISSION Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S.
information collection request should be
addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports [Docket No. 70–7003; NRC–2018–0079] Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Clearance Officer, National Science Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone:
Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Centrus Energy Corp.; Proposed 301–415–7220; email: Yawar.Faraz@
Room W18253, Alexandria, VA 22314, Decommissioning Plan nrc.gov.
or by email to splimpto@nsf.gov. AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commission. I. Obtaining Information and
Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292–7556 or
ACTION: License amendment application; Submitting Comments
send email to splimpto@nsf.gov.
request for comment.
Individuals who use a A. Obtaining Information
telecommunications device for the deaf SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2018–
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Commission (NRC) has received an 0079 when contacting the NRC about
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– application from Centrus Energy Corp. the availability of information for this
8339, which is accessible 24 hours a (Centrus) to amend Material License action. You may obtain publicly-
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year Number SNM–7003 to authorize available information related to this
(including federal holidays). decommissioning of its American action by any of the following methods:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Centrifuge Lead Cascade Facility (LCF) • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
Title of Collection: DUE Project Data located in Piketon, Ohio. The NRC has http://www.regulations.gov and search
Form. accepted the application for technical for Docket ID NRC–2018–0079.
OMB Control No.: 3145–0201. review and evaluation of the • NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Expiration Date of Approval: decommissioning plan. As all materials Access and Management System
September 30, 2018. and equipment at the LCF were (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
Abstract: The Division of previously removed and dispositioned available documents online in the
Undergraduate Education (DUE) Project offsite under the authority of Centrus’ ADAMS Public Documents collection at
Data Form is a component of all grant existing license, the NRC’s review of the http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
proposals submitted to NSF’s Division decommissioning plan is limited to (1) adams.html. To begin the search, select
of Undergraduate Education. This form decommissioning funding, (2) dose ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
collects information needed to direct assessment and derived concentration select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
proposals to appropriate reviewers and guideline levels and methodology, and Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
to report the estimated collective impact (3) final status survey design in please contact the NRC’s Public
of proposed projects on institutions, accordance with the Multi-Agency Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
students, and faculty members. Radiation Survey and Site Investigation 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
Requested information includes the Manual. In order to inform its review of email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
discipline of the proposed project, these remaining issues, the NRC is ADAMS accession number for each
collaborating organizations involved in soliciting comments from affected document referenced (if it is available in
the project, the academic level on which parties. ADAMS) is provided the first time that
the project focuses (e.g., lower-level it is mentioned in this document.
undergraduate courses, upper-level DATES: Submit comments by July 2, • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
undergraduate courses), characteristics 2018. Comments received after this date purchase copies of public documents at
of the organization submitting the will be considered if it is practical to do the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
proposal, special audiences (if any) that so, but the Commission is able to ensure White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
the project would target (e.g., women, consideration only for comments Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
under-represented minorities, persons received before this date.
B. Submitting Comments
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
with disabilities), strategic foci (if any) ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
of the project (e.g., research on teaching by any of the following methods: Please include Docket ID NRC–2018–
and learning, international activities, • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to 0079 in your comment submission.
integration of research and education), http://www.regulations.gov and search The NRC cautions you not to include
and the number of students and faculty for Docket ID NRC–2018–0079. Address identifying or contact information that
at different educational levels who questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer you do not want to be publicly
would benefit from the project. Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127; disclosed in your comment submission.
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![19120 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices
The NRC will post all comment whether to construct and operate a completing the proposed action, the
submissions at http:// commercial uranium enrichment plant, NRC will need to make the findings
www.regulations.gov as well as enter the commonly referred to as the American required by the Atomic Energy Act of
comment submissions into ADAMS. Centrifuge Plant. To govern any future 1954, as amended, and the NRC’s
The NRC does not routinely edit operation of the ACP, the NRC issued regulations. These findings will be
comment submissions to remove Material License No. SNM–2011 on documented in a safety evaluation
identifying or contact information. April 13, 2007 (ADAMS Accession No. report and an environmental
If you are requesting or aggregating ML070400284). To date, no significant assessment.
comments from other persons for construction activities have occurred at
submission to the NRC, then you should the ACP. These NRC licenses were III. Opportunity To Provide Comments
inform those persons not to include subsequently transferred from USEC, In accordance with section 20.1405 of
identifying or contact information that Inc. to Centrus. The LCF lies completely 10 CFR, the NRC is providing notice to
they do not want to be publicly within the ACP site, occupying about individuals in the vicinity of the site
disclosed in their comment submission. ten percent of the space reserved for the that the NRC is in receipt of a
Your request should state that the NRC ACP. The ACP site, in turn, lies decommissioning plan and will accept
does not routinely edit comment completely within DOE’s controlled comments from affected parties
submissions to remove such information access area, where an adjoining uranium concerning this decommissioning
before making the comment enrichment facility using a gaseous proposal. The NRC requests comments
submissions available to the public or diffusion process previously operated on the portions of the LCF’s
entering the comment into ADAMS. for several decades. Currently, DOE is decommissioning plan under review by
II. Background decommissioning this facility. the NRC, which are limited to: (1)
On March 2, 2016 (ADAMS Accession Decommissioning funding, (2) dose
By letter dated February 21, 2018 No. ML16074A405), Centrus notified assessment and derived concentration
(ADAMS Accession No. ML18030A442), the NRC, in accordance with paragraph guideline levels and methodology, and
the NRC accepted for detailed technical 70.38(d)(2) of title 10 of the Code of (3) final status survey design in
review Centrus’ application dated Federal Regulations (10 CFR), of its accordance with the Multi-Agency
January 5, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. decision to permanently cease operation Radiation Survey and Site Investigation
ML18025B285), and a subsequent of the LCF and to terminate Material Manual.
clarification dated February 14, 2018 License No. SNM–7003 following
(ADAMS Accession No. ML18046A081), Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day
decontamination and decommissioning
to amend Material License No. SNM– of April 2018.
activities.
7003 to authorize decommissioning of On May 17, 2016, Centrus submitted For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
its LCF located in Piketon, Ohio. a license amendment request to the NRC Craig G. Erlanger,
In the early 1980s, the U.S. to downgrade licensed activities at the Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety,
Department of Energy (DOE) initiated its LCF to ‘‘limited operations’’ and to Safeguards, and Environmental Review,
construction of the Gas Centrifuge remove enrichment capability from the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Enrichment Plant (GCEP) at the license (ADAMS Package Accession No. Safeguards.
Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site ML16162A194). The NRC approved the [FR Doc. 2018–09084 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]
in Piketon, Ohio. After installing and amendment on December 23, 2016 BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
operating several hundred centrifuges, (ADAMS Accession No. ML16330A248).
the DOE terminated the GCEP project in Since notifying the NRC of its intent
1985. Approximately 15 years later, to decommission the LCF under the NUCLEAR REGULATORY
USEC, Inc. decided to use and expand authority of its existing Material License COMMISSION
the existing GCEP facilities for No. SNM–7003, Centrus removed the
deploying its own commercial process gas in the form of UF6 and [NRC–2018–0001]
centrifuge plant. In 2004, USEC, Inc. packaged all LCF classified equipment,
Sunshine Act Meeting Notice
signed a lease agreement with DOE to including all LCF centrifuges and
use certain GCEP facilities for testing piping, and shipped the packages offsite DATES: Weeks of April 30, May 7, 14, 21,
and eventual commercial production as for appropriate disposition. The NRC 28, June 4, 2018.
part of its overall gas centrifuge uranium has verified that all classified matter has
PLACE: Commissioners’ Conference
enrichment project. been shipped offsite for appropriate
The NRC issued Material License No. Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
disposition, and the NRC has
SNM–7003 for the LCF to USEC, Inc. on Maryland.
withdrawn Centrus’ authorization to
February 24, 2004 (ADAMS Accession possess classified information or STATUS: Public and Closed.
No. ML062630432). At that time, USEC, material/equipment at the LCF and ACP Week of April 30, 2018
Inc., under contract with DOE, in Piketon, Ohio. Except for the NRC’s
dismantled and packaged for transport confirmation of the results of Centrus’ There are no meetings scheduled for
for offsite disposition DOE’s final status survey, all physical the week of April 30, 2018.
contaminated and non-contaminated decommissioning activities for the LCF Week of May 7, 2018—Tentative
GCEP classified waste, comprising of have been completed.
centrifuges and equipment. After This present action requires the NRC Thursday, May 10, 2018
licensing by the NRC, USEC, Inc. began to evaluate and consider Centrus’ 10:00 a.m. Briefing on Security Issues
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
to install its own centrifuges in a decommissioning plan for approval and (Closed Ex. 1).
portion of one of the two existing GCEP to consider the approval of a 2:00 p.m. Briefing on Security Issues
process buildings and began operating corresponding license amendment. This (Closed Ex. 1).
the LCF as a test facility in August of review will be limited in scope to those
2006. The LCF’s purpose was to obtain portions of the decommissioning plan Week of May 14, 2018—Tentative
‘‘reliability, performance, cost, and not previously completed under the There are no meetings scheduled for
other data’’ for use in the decision authority of the license. Before the week of May 14, 2018.
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Document Created: 2018-05-01 00:24:35
Document Modified: 2018-05-01 00:24:35
| 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 amendment application; request for comment. | |
| Dates | Submit comments by July 2, 2018. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but the Commission is able to ensure consideration only for comments received before this date. | |
| Contact | Yawar H. Faraz, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-7220; email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 19119 |
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