83_FR_48647 83 FR 48461 - Cameco Resources; Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Project

83 FR 48461 - Cameco Resources; Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Project

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 186 (September 25, 2018)

Page Range48461-48463
FR Document2018-20793

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the renewal of NRC source materials license SUA-1548, to authorize continued uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) operations at the sites under the Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Project (Smith Ranch Project) (Docket No. 40-8964). The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this licensing action.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48461-48463]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20793]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 40-8964; NRC-2012-0214]


Cameco Resources; Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Project

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
the renewal of NRC source materials license SUA-1548, to authorize 
continued uranium in-situ recovery (ISR) operations at the sites under 
the Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Project (Smith Ranch Project) (Docket 
No. 40-8964). The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this licensing action.

[[Page 48462]]


DATES: The EA referenced in this document is available on September 25, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0214 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-2012-0214. 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 ``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 (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: James Park, Office of Nuclear Material 
Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington 
DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6954; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC is considering the renewal of NRC source materials license 
No. SUA-1548 issued to Power Resources Inc. (doing business as Cameco 
Resources [Cameco]). License SUA-1548 authorizes Cameco to conduct ISR 
operations at the following four sites under the Smith Ranch Project 
located in Wyoming: The Smith Ranch site in Converse County (which 
encompasses the contiguous Smith Ranch, Highland, and Reynolds Ranch 
properties); the North Butte remote satellite site in Campbell County; 
the Ruth remote satellite site in Johnson County; and the Gas Hills 
remote satellite site in Fremont and Natrona Counties. Therefore, as 
required by part 51 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 
CFR part 51), ``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 allow Cameco to continue ISR operations 
at the four sites under the Smith Ranch Project. As proposed, Cameco 
would continue to recover uranium from subsurface uranium deposits 
using the ISR process, open new wellfield areas for additional uranium 
recovery, perform aquifer restoration in wellfields where uranium 
recovery has ended, and conduct decommissioning activities as site-wide 
activities wind down. Additionally, Cameco requested NRC approval of 
increased ground water flowrates at certain project sites and the 
commencement of previously approved uranium recovery at the Reynolds 
Ranch satellite and at the Gas Hills remote satellite site. The 
proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated 
February 1, 2012 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML12234A537 and ML12234A539).

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow Cameco to continue recovering 
uranium at the Smith Ranch Project sites. The licensee would process 
the recovered uranium into yellowcake at the existing central 
processing plant currently located on the Smith Ranch property and at 
the central processing facility located on the Highland property. 
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 
Cameco's continued ISR-related construction, operation, aquifer 
restoration, and decommissioning activities at the Smith Ranch Project 
sites. 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. Impacts to all resources except ground 
water and noise were determined to be SMALL (i.e., not detectable or 
minor); ground water impacts were determined to be SMALL to MODERATE 
and noise impacts MODERATE (i.e., sufficient to alter noticeably, but 
not to destabilize, important attributes of the resource) to onsite 
workers and wildlife. The NRC staff concluded that renewal of source 
materials license SUA-1548 for the Smith Ranch Project would not 
significantly affect the quality of the human 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 staff considered 
denial of the proposed license renewal (i.e., the ``No-Action'' 
alternative). Under the No-Action Alternative, Cameco would transition 
ongoing ISR operations at the Smith Ranch and Highland properties and 
at the North Butte remote satellite site from active uranium recovery 
to aquifer restoration and decommissioning. A much smaller amount of 
yellowcake would be produced, resulting from aquifer restoration 
activities.
    Decommissioning activities also would occur at the Reynolds Ranch 
satellite and the Ruth and Gas Hills remote satellite sites to remove 
existing infrastructure. Cameco would be required by 10 CFR part 
40.42(d) to submit a detailed decommissioning plan to the NRC staff for 
review and approval at least 12 months before the planned commencement 
of final decommissioning. The NRC concluded that environmental impacts 
from the No-Action Alternative would be not significant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on August 8, 2018, the staff 
provided the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) and the 
Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office (WY SHPO), with the draft EA 
for review and comment (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML18211A382 and 
ML18215A054). On August 29, 2018, the WDEQ stated that it had no 
comment on the draft EA, but noted one typographical error in the NRC's 
transmittal letter (ADAMS Accession No. ML18247A356). The WY SHPO also

[[Page 48463]]

responded on August 29, 2018, stating that the WY SHPO would not be 
commenting, considering its understanding that Section 106 consultation 
was completed during the original licensing for the project (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML18242A349).
    On August 9, 2018, the NRC staff made sections of the draft EA 
concerning historic and cultural resources available on the NRC public 
web page for the Smith Ranch Project for public comment at https://www.nrc.gov/materials/uranium-recovery/license-apps/smith-ranch/section106-smith-ranch.html. On the same date, the NRC staff also made 
these same sections of the draft EA available to the Tribal Historic 
Preservation Officers (THPOs) from 27 Native American Tribes for their 
review and comment.
    No comments were received from members of the public. In response 
to comments received from the THPO for the Northern Arapaho Tribe 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML18247A228), the NRC staff hosted two conference 
calls, on August 28 and 30, 2018, to discuss the staff's approach 
concerning protection of historic and cultural resources (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML18243A262); no THPOs attended these calls. The NRC 
staff also held a conference call with the Northern Cheyenne THPO on 
August 31, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18260A046). No written comments 
were received from the Northern Cheyenne THPO. However, the NRC staff 
addressed the Northern Arapaho THPO's comments provided on August 31, 
2018, conference call in the final EA.

Additional Information

    The NRC staff conducted its environmental review in accordance with 
10 CFR part 51, which implements the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) and following the 
NRC staff guidance in NUREG-1748, ``Environmental Review Guidance for 
Licensing Actions Associated with NMSS Programs'' (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML032450279).
    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) (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML15093A368 and ML15093A486). In the GEIS, the NRC staff 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. Smith Ranch Project 
properties are located in two of these four regions.
    Where applicable, this EA incorporates by reference relevant 
portions from the GEIS, and uses site-specific information from 
Cameco's license renewal application and responses to NRC staff 
requests for additional information, and from independent sources to 
fulfill the requirements in 10 CFR 51.20(b)(8).
    License SUA-1548 authorizes Cameco to conduct ISR operations at 
four properties under the Smith Ranch Project located in Wyoming: The 
contiguous Smith Ranch, Highland, and Reynolds Ranch properties in 
Converse County; the North Butte remote satellite site in Campbell 
County; the Ruth remote satellite site in Johnson County; and the Gas 
Hills remote satellite site in Fremont and Natrona Counties.
    In the EA, the NRC staff assessed the potential environmental 
impacts from the continued construction, operation, aquifer 
restoration, and decommissioning of the sites under the Smith Ranch 
Project. 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 addition to the action proposed by the licensee, the NRC staff 
addressed the No-Action Alternative that serves as a baseline for 
comparison of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed 
action. Under the No-Action Alternative, the NRC staff would deny 
renewal of License SUA-1548.
    After weighing the impacts of the proposed 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 NRC license renewal request for the Smith 
Ranch Project). Unless safety issues mandate otherwise, the NRC staff 
recommendation related to the environmental aspects of the proposed 
action is that a renewed NRC license be issued. The EA for the proposed 
renewal of License SUA-1548 may be accessed at ADAMS Accession No. 
ML18257A071.

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 
renewal of source materials license SUA-1548 for the Smith Ranch 
Project would not significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment. In its license renewal request, Cameco proposed increased 
ground water flowrates at certain of the project properties with 
previously approved uranium recovery to commence at the Reynolds Ranch 
satellite and at the Gas Hills remote satellite site. No other 
significant changes in Cameco's authorized operations for the Smith 
Ranch 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 that, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, a FONSI is appropriate.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day of September 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. 2018-20793 Filed 9-24-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P



                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 25, 2018 / Notices                                                 48461

                                               responding to a suspected or confirmed                  circumstances of an accident or                       individual to the source from which the
                                               breach or (2) preventing, minimizing, or                incident; (2) determining the probable                agency obtained the information. The
                                               remedying the risk of harm to                           cause of an accident or incident; (3)                 NTSB is not authorized to amend
                                               individuals, the recipient agency or                    evaluating human performance or                       records from non-agency sources.
                                               entity (including its information                       survival factors issues arising during an             Additionally, the NTSB is not
                                               systems, programs, and operations), the                 accident or incident investigation; (4)               authorized to direct a non-agency source
                                               Federal Government, or national                         providing victim and family assistance                to change or alter records. Because
                                               security, resulting from a suspected or                 following an accident or incident; (5)                medical practitioners may provide
                                               confirmed breach.                                       carrying out special studies and                      differing but equally valid medical
                                                                                                       investigations about transportation                   judgments and opinions when making
                                               POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORAGE OF
                                               RECORDS:
                                                                                                       safety (including avoiding personal                   medical evaluations of an individual’s
                                                                                                       injury); and/or (6) examining techniques              health status, review of requests from
                                                 MEDICS records are primarily
                                                                                                       and methods of accident or incident                   individuals seeking amendment of their
                                               maintained electronically in a database.
                                                                                                       investigation, and periodically                       medical records, beyond administrative
                                               Some paper records may also be kept,
                                                                                                       publishing recommended procedures                     correction such as association of a
                                               and their location will be identified in
                                                                                                       for accident or incident investigations.              medical record with an incorrect
                                               the database. Paper records whose
                                                                                                       Electronic records are protected from                 individual, may be limited to
                                               location is identified in MEDICS will be
                                                                                                       unauthorized access through password                  consideration of including the differing
                                               secured in a locked file cabinet, a secure
                                                                                                       identification procedures, limited                    opinion in the record rather than
                                               office, or both, and will be searchable
                                                                                                       access, firewalls and other system-based              attempting to determine whether the
                                               only by NTSB accident investigation
                                                                                                       protection methods. This system                       original opinion is accurate.
                                               number, not by PII. Paper records that
                                                                                                       conforms to all applicable Federal laws
                                               are uploaded to MEDICS are destroyed.                                                                         NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE:
                                                                                                       and regulations, as well as NTSB
                                               The database may be accessed from                                                                               Individuals wishing to inquire about
                                                                                                       policies and standards, as they relate to
                                               NTSB approved computers. In the                                                                               whether this system of records contains
                                                                                                       information security and data privacy.
                                               future, the database may become                                                                               information about them may contact the
                                                                                                       Access is limited by user roles.
                                               accessible from any computer that                                                                             agency office listed in the Record
                                                                                                       Participants to an investigation may
                                               provides for an authorized user’s                                                                             Access Procedure section, and provide
                                                                                                       access only the records relevant to that
                                               authentication.                                                                                               the identifying information described in
                                                                                                       accident, while NTSB Medical Officers
                                               POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETRIEVAL OF                 will have access to all records. MEDICS               that section.
                                               RECORDS:                                                will identify the location of paper                   EXEMPTIONS PROMULGATED FOR THE SYSTEM:
                                                 Once an authorized user accesses                      records, which will be stored in a
                                                                                                       locked cabinet, a secured office, or both.               None.
                                               MEDICS with his or her user ID and
                                               password, the MEDICS system is                          RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE:                              HISTORY:
                                               searchable by NTSB accident or                                                                                   82 FR 23075.
                                               incident number, accident city, accident                  Individuals wishing to access
                                               state, accident country, and an                         information about themselves in this                    Dated: September 20, 2018.
                                               individual’s name, age, and date of                     system of records may contact the Chief,              Robert L. Sumwalt, III,
                                               birth.                                                  Records Management Division, National                 Chairman.
                                                                                                       Transportation Safety Board, 490                      [FR Doc. 2018–20821 Filed 9–24–18; 8:45 am]
                                               POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR RETENTION AND                L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC
                                                                                                                                                             BILLING CODE 7533–01–P
                                               DISPOSAL OF RECORDS:                                    20594. Individuals must comply with
                                                 MEDICS records that are disclosed in                  NTSB regulations regarding the Privacy
                                               the NTSB’s public docket pursuant to                    Act, 49 CFR part 802, and must furnish
                                               routine use number 5 will be retained                   the following information for their                   NUCLEAR REGULATORY
                                               permanently. All other MEDICS records                   records to be located and identified:                 COMMISSION
                                               will be destroyed one year after the                      1. Full name(s).                                    [Docket No. 40–8964; NRC–2012–0214]
                                               conclusion of the investigation or safety                 2. Date of birth.
                                               study to which the record relates, unless                 3. If known, the date and location of               Cameco Resources; Smith Ranch-
                                               required to be retained under another                   the accident, incident, or occurrence, or             Highland Uranium Project
                                               record retention statute, regulation or                 the NTSB investigation identifier(s) for
                                               court order.                                            the investigation(s) in which the NTSB                AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory
                                                                                                       created or obtained the record.                       Commission.
                                               ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND PHYSICAL                                                                       ACTION: Environmental assessment and
                                                                                                         4. Signature.
                                               SAFEGUARDS:
                                                                                                                                                             finding of no significant impact;
                                                 NTSB headquarters is guarded and                      CONTESTING RECORD PROCEDURE:
                                                                                                                                                             issuance.
                                               monitored by security personnel,                          Individuals wishing to amend their
                                               cameras, a Physical Access Control                      records should contact the agency office              SUMMARY:  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
                                               System (PACS), and other physical                       identified in the Record Access                       Commission (NRC) is considering the
                                               security measures. The computerized                     Procedure section and furnish such                    renewal of NRC source materials license
                                               records contained within MEDICS are                     identifying information described in                  SUA–1548, to authorize continued
                                               maintained in a secure, password-                       that section to identify the records to be            uranium in-situ recovery (ISR)
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                                               protected, encrypted computer system.                   amended. Individuals seeking                          operations at the sites under the Smith
                                               Access to and use of these records are                  amendment of their records must also                  Ranch-Highland Uranium Project
                                               limited to NTSB employees and                           follow the agency’s Privacy Act                       (Smith Ranch Project) (Docket No. 40–
                                               contractors whose official duties require               regulations, 49 CFR part 802. Where the               8964). The NRC has prepared an
                                               such access. NTSB personnel may                         requested amendment implicates                        Environmental Assessment (EA) and
                                               access the records only when access is                  information provided by a third-party                 Finding of No Significant Impact
                                               relevant to (1) determining the facts or                source, the agency will refer the                     (FONSI) for this licensing action.


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                                               48462                     Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 25, 2018 / Notices

                                               DATES:   The EA referenced in this                      Therefore, as required by part 51 of title            water resources; ecological resources;
                                               document is available on September 25,                  10 of the Code of Federal Regulations                 socioeconomics; noise; traffic and
                                               2018.                                                   (10 CFR part 51), ‘‘Environmental                     transportation; public and occupational
                                               ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID                    Protection Regulations for Domestic                   health and safety; and waste
                                               NRC–2012–0214 when contacting the                       Licensing and Related Regulatory                      management. Impacts to all resources
                                               NRC about the availability of                           Functions,’’ the NRC performed an EA.                 except ground water and noise were
                                               information regarding this document.                    Based on the results of the EA, the NRC               determined to be SMALL (i.e., not
                                               You may obtain publicly-available                       has determined not to prepare an                      detectable or minor); ground water
                                               information related to this document                    environmental impact statement (EIS)                  impacts were determined to be SMALL
                                               using any of the following methods:                     for the amendment, and is issuing a                   to MODERATE and noise impacts
                                                  • Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to                  FONSI.                                                MODERATE (i.e., sufficient to alter
                                               http://www.regulations.gov and search                                                                         noticeably, but not to destabilize,
                                                                                                       II. Environmental Assessment                          important attributes of the resource) to
                                               for Docket ID NRC–2012–0214. Address
                                               questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer                 Description of the Proposed Action                    onsite workers and wildlife. The NRC
                                               Borges; telephone: 301–287–9127;                                                                              staff concluded that renewal of source
                                                                                                          The proposed action would allow                    materials license SUA–1548 for the
                                               email: Jennifer.Borges@nrc.gov. For                     Cameco to continue ISR operations at
                                               technical questions, contact the                                                                              Smith Ranch Project would not
                                                                                                       the four sites under the Smith Ranch                  significantly affect the quality of the
                                               individual listed in the FOR FURTHER                    Project. As proposed, Cameco would
                                               INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                                                                           human environment. Approval of the
                                                                                                       continue to recover uranium from                      proposed action would not result in an
                                               document.                                               subsurface uranium deposits using the
                                                  • NRC’s Agencywide Documents                                                                               increased radiological risk to public
                                                                                                       ISR process, open new wellfield areas                 health or the environment.
                                               Access and Management System                            for additional uranium recovery,
                                               (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-                       perform aquifer restoration in wellfields             Environmental Impacts of the
                                               available documents online in the                       where uranium recovery has ended, and                 Alternatives to the Proposed Action
                                               ADAMS Public Documents collection at                    conduct decommissioning activities as                    As an alternative to the proposed
                                               http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                          site-wide activities wind down.                       action, the staff considered denial of the
                                               adams.html. To begin the search, select                 Additionally, Cameco requested NRC                    proposed license renewal (i.e., the ‘‘No-
                                               ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For                   approval of increased ground water                    Action’’ alternative). Under the No-
                                               problems with ADAMS, please contact                     flowrates at certain project sites and the            Action Alternative, Cameco would
                                               the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)                    commencement of previously approved                   transition ongoing ISR operations at the
                                               reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–                 uranium recovery at the Reynolds                      Smith Ranch and Highland properties
                                               415–4737, or by email to pdr.resource@                  Ranch satellite and at the Gas Hills                  and at the North Butte remote satellite
                                               nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number                     remote satellite site. The proposed                   site from active uranium recovery to
                                               for each document referenced (if it is                  action is in accordance with the                      aquifer restoration and
                                               available in ADAMS) is provided the                     licensee’s application dated February 1,              decommissioning. A much smaller
                                               first time that it is mentioned in this                 2012 (ADAMS Accession Nos.                            amount of yellowcake would be
                                               document.                                               ML12234A537 and ML12234A539).                         produced, resulting from aquifer
                                                  • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and
                                                                                                       Need for the Proposed Action                          restoration activities.
                                               purchase copies of public documents at                                                                           Decommissioning activities also
                                               the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One                            The proposed action would allow                    would occur at the Reynolds Ranch
                                               White Flint North, 11555 Rockville                      Cameco to continue recovering uranium                 satellite and the Ruth and Gas Hills
                                               Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.                        at the Smith Ranch Project sites. The                 remote satellite sites to remove existing
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        licensee would process the recovered                  infrastructure. Cameco would be
                                               James Park, Office of Nuclear Material                  uranium into yellowcake at the existing               required by 10 CFR part 40.42(d) to
                                               Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear                     central processing plant currently                    submit a detailed decommissioning plan
                                               Regulatory Commission, Washington DC                    located on the Smith Ranch property                   to the NRC staff for review and approval
                                               20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–6954;                    and at the central processing facility                at least 12 months before the planned
                                               email: James.Park@nrc.gov.                              located on the Highland property.                     commencement of final
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              Yellowcake is the uranium oxide                       decommissioning. The NRC concluded
                                                                                                       product of the ISR milling process that               that environmental impacts from the
                                               I. Introduction
                                                                                                       is used to produce various products,                  No-Action Alternative would be not
                                                 The NRC is considering the renewal                    including fuel for commercially-                      significant.
                                               of NRC source materials license No.                     operated nuclear power reactors.
                                               SUA–1548 issued to Power Resources                                                                            Agencies and Persons Consulted
                                               Inc. (doing business as Cameco                          Environmental Impacts of the Proposed                    In accordance with its stated policy,
                                               Resources [Cameco]). License SUA–                       Action                                                on August 8, 2018, the staff provided
                                               1548 authorizes Cameco to conduct ISR                      The NRC staff has assessed the                     the Wyoming Department of
                                               operations at the following four sites                  potential environmental impacts from                  Environmental Quality (WDEQ) and the
                                               under the Smith Ranch Project located                   Cameco’s continued ISR-related                        Wyoming State Historic Preservation
                                               in Wyoming: The Smith Ranch site in                     construction, operation, aquifer                      Office (WY SHPO), with the draft EA for
                                               Converse County (which encompasses                      restoration, and decommissioning                      review and comment (ADAMS
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                                               the contiguous Smith Ranch, Highland,                   activities at the Smith Ranch Project                 Accession Nos. ML18211A382 and
                                               and Reynolds Ranch properties); the                     sites. The NRC staff assessed the                     ML18215A054). On August 29, 2018,
                                               North Butte remote satellite site in                    impacts of the proposed action on land                the WDEQ stated that it had no
                                               Campbell County; the Ruth remote                        use; historical and cultural resources;               comment on the draft EA, but noted one
                                               satellite site in Johnson County; and the               visual and scenic resources;                          typographical error in the NRC’s
                                               Gas Hills remote satellite site in                      climatology, meteorology and air                      transmittal letter (ADAMS Accession
                                               Fremont and Natrona Counties.                           quality; geology, minerals, and soils;                No. ML18247A356). The WY SHPO also


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                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 186 / Tuesday, September 25, 2018 / Notices                                                 48463

                                               responded on August 29, 2018, stating                   in four specific geographic regions of                requirements in 10 CFR part 51, the
                                               that the WY SHPO would not be                           the western United States. Smith Ranch                NRC staff has determined that renewal
                                               commenting, considering its                             Project properties are located in two of              of source materials license SUA–1548
                                               understanding that Section 106                          these four regions.                                   for the Smith Ranch Project would not
                                               consultation was completed during the                      Where applicable, this EA                          significantly affect the quality of the
                                               original licensing for the project                      incorporates by reference relevant                    human environment. In its license
                                               (ADAMS Accession No. ML18242A349).                      portions from the GEIS, and uses site-                renewal request, Cameco proposed
                                                  On August 9, 2018, the NRC staff                     specific information from Cameco’s                    increased ground water flowrates at
                                               made sections of the draft EA                           license renewal application and                       certain of the project properties with
                                               concerning historic and cultural                        responses to NRC staff requests for                   previously approved uranium recovery
                                               resources available on the NRC public                   additional information, and from                      to commence at the Reynolds Ranch
                                               web page for the Smith Ranch Project                    independent sources to fulfill the                    satellite and at the Gas Hills remote
                                               for public comment at https://                          requirements in 10 CFR 51.20(b)(8).                   satellite site. No other significant
                                               www.nrc.gov/materials/uranium-                             License SUA–1548 authorizes Cameco                 changes in Cameco’s authorized
                                               recovery/license-apps/smith-ranch/                      to conduct ISR operations at four                     operations for the Smith Ranch Project
                                               section106-smith-ranch.html. On the                     properties under the Smith Ranch                      were requested. Approval of the
                                               same date, the NRC staff also made                      Project located in Wyoming: The                       proposed action would not result in an
                                               these same sections of the draft EA                     contiguous Smith Ranch, Highland, and                 increased radiological risk to public
                                               available to the Tribal Historic                        Reynolds Ranch properties in Converse                 health or the environment. The NRC
                                               Preservation Officers (THPOs) from 27                   County; the North Butte remote satellite              staff has determined that pursuant to 10
                                               Native American Tribes for their review                 site in Campbell County; the Ruth                     CFR 51.31, preparation of an EIS is not
                                               and comment.                                            remote satellite site in Johnson County;              required for the proposed action and
                                                  No comments were received from                       and the Gas Hills remote satellite site in            that, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, a FONSI
                                               members of the public. In response to                   Fremont and Natrona Counties.                         is appropriate.
                                               comments received from the THPO for                        In the EA, the NRC staff assessed the
                                               the Northern Arapaho Tribe (ADAMS                       potential environmental impacts from                    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day
                                               Accession No. ML18247A228), the NRC                     the continued construction, operation,                of September 2018.
                                               staff hosted two conference calls, on                   aquifer restoration, and                                For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                               August 28 and 30, 2018, to discuss the                  decommissioning of the sites under the                Craig G. Erlanger,
                                               staff’s approach concerning protection                  Smith Ranch Project. The NRC staff                    Director, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety,
                                               of historic and cultural resources                      assessed the impacts of the proposed                  Safeguards, and Environmental Review,
                                               (ADAMS Accession No. ML18243A262);                      action on land use; historical and                    Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
                                               no THPOs attended these calls. The                      cultural resources; visual and scenic                 Safeguards.
                                               NRC staff also held a conference call                   resources; climatology, meteorology and               [FR Doc. 2018–20793 Filed 9–24–18; 8:45 am]
                                               with the Northern Cheyenne THPO on                      air quality; geology, minerals, and soils;            BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                               August 31, 2018 (ADAMS Accession                        water resources; ecological resources;
                                               No. ML18260A046). No written                            socioeconomics; noise; traffic and
                                               comments were received from the                         transportation; public and occupational               NUCLEAR REGULATORY
                                               Northern Cheyenne THPO. However,                        health and safety; and waste                          COMMISSION
                                               the NRC staff addressed the Northern                    management.                                           [NRC–2018–0208]
                                               Arapaho THPO’s comments provided on                        In addition to the action proposed by
                                               August 31, 2018, conference call in the                 the licensee, the NRC staff addressed the             Biweekly Notice; Applications and
                                               final EA.                                               No-Action Alternative that serves as a                Amendments to Facility Operating
                                                                                                       baseline for comparison of the potential              Licenses and Combined Licenses
                                               Additional Information
                                                                                                       environmental impacts of the proposed                 Involving No Significant Hazards
                                                  The NRC staff conducted its                          action. Under the No-Action                           Considerations
                                               environmental review in accordance                      Alternative, the NRC staff would deny
                                               with 10 CFR part 51, which implements                   renewal of License SUA–1548.                          AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory
                                               the requirements of the National                           After weighing the impacts of the                  Commission.
                                               Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as                    proposed license renewal and                          ACTION: Biweekly notice.
                                               amended (NEPA) and following the                        comparing to the No-Action Alternative,
                                               NRC staff guidance in NUREG–1748,                       the NRC staff, in accordance with 10                  SUMMARY:   Pursuant to Section 189a.(2)
                                               ‘‘Environmental Review Guidance for                     CFR 51.91(d), sets forth its NEPA                     of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as
                                               Licensing Actions Associated with                       recommendation regarding the proposed                 amended (the Act), the U.S. Nuclear
                                               NMSS Programs’’ (ADAMS Accession                        action (granting the NRC license                      Regulatory Commission (NRC) is
                                               No. ML032450279).                                       renewal request for the Smith Ranch                   publishing this regular biweekly notice.
                                                  In May 2009, the NRC staff issued                    Project). Unless safety issues mandate                The Act requires the Commission to
                                               NUREG–1910, ‘‘Generic Environmental                     otherwise, the NRC staff                              publish notice of any amendments
                                               Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach                      recommendation related to the                         issued, or proposed to be issued, and
                                               Uranium Milling Facilities’’ (herein                    environmental aspects of the proposed                 grants the Commission the authority to
                                               referred to as the GEIS) (ADAMS                         action is that a renewed NRC license be               issue and make immediately effective
                                               Accession No. ML15093A368 and                           issued. The EA for the proposed                       any amendment to an operating license
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               ML15093A486). In the GEIS, the NRC                      renewal of License SUA–1548 may be                    or combined license, as applicable,
                                               staff assessed the potential                            accessed at ADAMS Accession No.                       upon a determination by the
                                               environmental impacts from                              ML18257A071.                                          Commission that such amendment
                                               construction, operation, aquifer                                                                              involves no significant hazards
                                               restoration, and decommissioning of an                  III. Finding of No Significant Impact                 consideration, notwithstanding the
                                               in-situ leach uranium milling facility                     Based on its review of the proposed                pendency before the Commission of a
                                               (also known as an ISR facility) located                 action, and in accordance with the                    request for a hearing from any person.


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Document Created: 2018-09-25 00:21:36
Document Modified: 2018-09-25 00:21:36
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionEnvironmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance.
DatesThe EA referenced in this document is available on September 25, 2018.
ContactJames Park, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6954; email: [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 48461 

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