83 FR 26708 - Kennecott Uranium Corporation; Sweetwater Uranium Project
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 111 (June 8, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 111 (June 8, 2018)
| Page Range | 26708-26709 | |
| FR Document | 2018-12350 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 111 (Friday, June 8, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 26708-26709] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-12350] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 40-8584; NRC-2015-0025] Kennecott Uranium Corporation; Sweetwater Uranium Project AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering renewal of Source Material License SUA-1350 issued to Kennecott Uranium Corporation (KUC) for continued operations at the Sweetwater Uranium Project (SUP) in Sweetwater County, Wyoming (Docket No. 40-8584). 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 are available on June 8, 2018. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2015-0025 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 http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2015-0025. Address questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; 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 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 [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. 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 renewal of Source Material License SUA-1350 issued to Kennecott Uranium Corporation (KUC) for continued operations at the SUP site located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. As required by part 51 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions,'' the NRC performed an EA. Based on the results of the EA, 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 authorize KUC to operate a conventional uranium mill at the SUP for an additional ten years. The licensee's application dated July 24, 2014, is available at ADAMS Package Accession No. ML14251A113. Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action would allow KUC to recover uranium at the SUP. The licensee would process the recovered uranium into yellowcake on site at the SUP. Yellowcake is a type of uranium concentrate powder obtained from leach solutions in an intermediate step in the processing of uranium ores 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 operations and decommissioning at the SUP. 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. The NRC staff concluded that the renewal of Source Material License SUA-1350 authorizing KUC to continue operations for ten years at the [[Page 26709]] SUP would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Approval of the proposed action would not result in 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 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 license SUA-1350, and KUC would commence decommissioning activities. Agencies and Persons Consulted In accordance with its stated policy, on March 26, 2018, the NRC staff consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) regarding the proposed action. The FWS stated that no federally listed or proposed endangered or threatened species occur within the area affected by the proposed action. The SHPO notified NRC that it had no comments related to the historic and cultural resources on the proposed license renewal. The WDEQ stated that it had no comments on the draft EA. Additional Information The NRC staff conducted an environmental review in accordance with 10 CFR part 51, which implements the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). The results of the NRC's environmental review can be found in the final EA (ADAMS Accession No. ML18135A206). Based on the results of this environmental assessment, the NRC has determined not to prepare an EIS for license renewal of the SUP and is instead issuing a FONSI. After weighing the impacts of the license renewal 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 renewal of license SUA-1350). Unless safety issues mandate otherwise, the NRC staff's recommendation related to the environmental aspects of the proposed action is that an NRC license renewal be issued. 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 renewal of SUP would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Based on the EA, the NRC staff determined that approval of the proposed action would not result in a significantly 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. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, on June 5, 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. 2018-12350 Filed 6-7-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![26708 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2018 / Notices
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND NUCLEAR REGULATORY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SPACE ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION Ashley Waldron, Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S.
[Docket No. 40–8584; NRC–2015–0025]
[Notice: 18–050] Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Kennecott Uranium Corporation; Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone:
Planetary Science Advisory Sweetwater Uranium Project 301–415–7317; email: Ashley.Waldron@
Committee; Meeting nrc.gov.
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:National Aeronautics and Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and I. Introduction
Space Administration.
finding of no significant impact; The NRC is considering renewal of
ACTION: Notice of meeting. issuance. Source Material License SUA–1350
issued to Kennecott Uranium
SUMMARY: In accordance with the SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Corporation (KUC) for continued
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as Commission (NRC) is considering
operations at the SUP site located in
renewal of Source Material License
amended, the National Aeronautics and Sweetwater County, Wyoming. As
SUA–1350 issued to Kennecott Uranium
Space Administration (NASA) required by part 51 of title 10 of the
Corporation (KUC) for continued
announces a meeting of the Planetary operations at the Sweetwater Uranium Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR),
Science Advisory Committee (PAC). Project (SUP) in Sweetwater County, ‘‘Environmental Protection Regulations
This Committee functions in an Wyoming (Docket No. 40–8584). The for Domestic Licensing and Related
advisory capacity to the Director, NRC has prepared an environmental Regulatory Functions,’’ the NRC
Planetary Science Division, in the assessment (EA) and finding of no performed an EA. Based on the results
NASA Science Mission Directorate. The significant impact (FONSI) for this of the EA, the NRC has determined not
meeting will be held for the purpose of licensing action. to prepare an environmental impact
soliciting, from the planetary science statement (EIS) for the amendment and
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in
community and other persons, scientific is issuing a FONSI.
this document are available on June 8,
and technical information relevant to 2018. II. Environmental Assessment
program planning. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
Description of the Proposed Action
DATES: Monday, July 2, 2018, 1:00 p.m. NRC–2015–0025 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of The proposed action would authorize
to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time. KUC to operate a conventional uranium
information regarding this document.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held You may obtain publicly-available mill at the SUP for an additional ten
telephonically and via WebEx. Any information related to this document years. The licensee’s application dated
interested person may dial the USA toll using any of the following methods: July 24, 2014, is available at ADAMS
free conference call number 1–800–779– • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to Package Accession No. ML14251A113.
9966 or toll number 1–517–645–6359, http://www.regulations.gov and search Need for the Proposed Action
passcode 3954829, followed by the # for Docket ID NRC–2015–0025. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer The proposed action would allow
sign, to participate in this meeting. The
Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127; KUC to recover uranium at the SUP. The
WebEx link is https://nasa.webex.com/;
email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For licensee would process the recovered
the meeting number is 994 146 371, uranium into yellowcake on site at the
technical questions, contact the
password is PAC@July2 (case sensitive). SUP. Yellowcake is a type of uranium
individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. INFORMATION CONTACT section of this concentrate powder obtained from leach
KarShelia Henderson, Science Mission document. solutions in an intermediate step in the
Directorate, NASA Headquarters, • NRC’s Agencywide Documents processing of uranium ores that is used
Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358–2355, Access and Management System to produce various products, including
fax (202) 358–2779, or khenderson@ (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- fuel for commercially-operated nuclear
nasa.gov. available documents online in the power reactors.
ADAMS Public Documents collection at
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
Action
agenda for the meeting includes the adams.html. To begin the search, select
following topics: ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then The NRC staff has assessed the
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS potential environmental impacts from
—Planetary Science Division Update Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, operations and decommissioning at the
—Planetary Science Division Research please contact the NRC’s Public SUP. The NRC staff assessed the
and Analysis Program Update Document Room (PDR) reference staff at impacts of the proposed action on land
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by use; historical and cultural resources;
It is imperative that the meeting be email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The visual and scenic resources;
held on these dates to accommodate the ADAMS accession number for each climatology, meteorology and air
scheduling priorities of the key document referenced in this document quality; geology, minerals, and soils;
participants. (if that document is available in water resources; ecological resources;
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Patricia Rausch, ADAMS) is provided the first time that socioeconomics; noise; traffic and
a document is referenced. transportation; public and occupational
Advisory Committee Management Officer,
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and health and safety; and waste
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. purchase copies of public documents at management. The NRC staff concluded
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One that the renewal of Source Material
[FR Doc. 2018–12307 Filed 6–7–18; 8:45 am]
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville License SUA–1350 authorizing KUC to
BILLING CODE 7510–13–P
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. continue operations for ten years at the
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 111 / Friday, June 8, 2018 / Notices 26709
SUP would not significantly affect the renewal of SUP would not significantly ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
quality of the human environment. affect the quality of the human NRC–2018–0107 when contacting the
Approval of the proposed action would environment. Based on the EA, the NRC NRC about the availability of
not result in increased radiological risk staff determined that approval of the information for this action. You may
to public health or the environment. proposed action would not result in a obtain publicly-available information
significantly increased radiological risk related to this action by any of the
Environmental Impacts of the
to public health or the environment. following methods:
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The NRC staff has determined that • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to
As an alternative to the proposed pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, preparation http://www.regulations.gov and search
action, the staff considered denial of the of an EIS is not required for the for Docket ID NRC–2018–0107. Address
proposed action (i.e., the ‘‘no-action’’ proposed action and, pursuant to 10 questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer
alternative). The no-action alternative CFR 51.32, a FONSI is appropriate. Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127;
would mean that the NRC would not email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, on June 5,
approve license SUA–1350, and KUC 2018. technical questions, contact the
would commence decommissioning individual listed in the FOR FURTHER
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
activities. INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
Craig G. Erlanger,
Agencies and Persons Consulted document.
Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety,
Safeguards, and Environmental Review,
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
In accordance with its stated policy, Access and Management System
on March 26, 2018, the NRC staff Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-
consulted with the U.S. Fish and available documents online in the
Wildlife Service (FWS), the Wyoming [FR Doc. 2018–12350 Filed 6–7–18; 8:45 am]
ADAMS Public Documents collection at
State Historic Preservation Officer BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
(SHPO), and the Wyoming Department adams.html. To begin the search, select
of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then
regarding the proposed action. The FWS NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS
stated that no federally listed or Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,
proposed endangered or threatened [Docket Nos. 50–390 and 50–391; NRC– please contact the NRC’s Public
species occur within the area affected by 2018–0107] Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
the proposed action. The SHPO notified 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by
NRC that it had no comments related to Tennessee Valley Authority; Watts Bar
Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
the historic and cultural resources on ADAMS accession number for each
the proposed license renewal. The AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory document referenced (if it is available in
WDEQ stated that it had no comments Commission. ADAMS) is provided the first time that
on the draft EA. it is mentioned in this document.
ACTION: License amendment application;
Additional Information opportunity to request a hearing and to • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
petition for leave to intervene; order purchase copies of public documents at
The NRC staff conducted an
imposing procedures. the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
environmental review in accordance
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
with 10 CFR part 51, which implements SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
the requirements of the National Commission (NRC) received, and is
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
considering approval of, an application G. Lamb, Office of Nuclear Reactor
amended (NEPA). The results of the from Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA
NRC’s environmental review can be Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
or the licensee) for amendments to Commission, Washington, DC 20555–
found in the final EA (ADAMS Facility Operating License Nos. NPF–90
Accession No. ML18135A206). Based on 0001; telephone: 301–415–3100, email:
and NPF–96, which authorizes the John.Lamb@nrc.gov.
the results of this environmental operation of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant
assessment, the NRC has determined not SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(WBN), Unit Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.
to prepare an EIS for license renewal of The amendments would allow the I. Introduction
the SUP and is instead issuing a FONSI. loading of tritium producing burnable
After weighing the impacts of the The NRC is considering issuance of
absorber rods (TPBARs) in WBN, Unit 2 amendments to Facility Operating
license renewal and comparing to the and would make associated technical
no-action alternative, the NRC staff, in License Nos. NPF–90 and NPF–96,
specification changes for WBN, Unit issued to TVA, for operation of the
accordance with 10 CFR 51.91(d), sets Nos. 1 and 2. Because this amendment
forth its NEPA recommendation WBN, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in
request contains sensitive unclassified Rhea County, Tennessee.
regarding the proposed action (granting non-safeguards information (SUNSI), an
the request for renewal of license SUA– The proposed amendments would
order imposes procedures to obtain revise the WBN, Unit 2 Technical
1350). Unless safety issues mandate access to SUNSI for contention
otherwise, the NRC staff’s Specification (TS) 4.2.1, ‘‘Fuel
preparation. Assemblies,’’ to add a limit for the
recommendation related to the
environmental aspects of the proposed DATES: A request for a hearing or number of TPBARs that can be loaded
action is that an NRC license renewal be petition for leave to intervene must be in the WBN, Unit 2, core; the proposed
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
issued. filed by August 7, 2018. Any potential limit would be 1,792 TPBARs. The
party as defined in § 2.4 of title 10 of the proposed amendments would also
III. Finding of No Significant Impact Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), revise TS 3.7.15, ‘‘Spent Fuel Assembly
Based on its review of the proposed who believes access to SUNSI is Storage’’; TS 3.9.9, ‘‘Spent Fuel Boron
action, and in accordance with the necessary to respond to this notice must Concentration’’; and TS 4.3, ‘‘Fuel
requirements in 10 CFR part 51, the request document access by June 18, Storage,’’ and add TS 3.7.18, ‘‘Fuel
NRC staff has determined that license 2018. Storage Pool Boron Concentration’’; and
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Document Created: 2018-06-08 01:22:13
Document Modified: 2018-06-08 01:22:13
| 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 are available on June 8, 2018. | |
| 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 | 83 FR 26708 |
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