Notice of Renewal for Certificates of Compliance GDP-1 and GDP-2 for the U.S. Enrichment Corporation, Paducah and Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plants, Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65263-65264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31498]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Dockets 70-7001 and 70-7002]


Notice of Renewal for Certificates of Compliance GDP-1 and GDP-2 
for the U.S. Enrichment Corporation, Paducah and Portsmouth Gaseous 
Diffusion Plants, Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a 
certification decision for the United States Enrichment Corporation 
(USEC) to allow continued operation of the two gaseous diffusion plants 
(GDPs) located near Paducah, Kentucky, and Piketon, Ohio. The 
Director's Decision is to issue renewed Certificates of Compliance for 
the GDPs that cover a five-year period. USEC submitted its renewal 
applications on April 15, 1998. Notice of Receipt of the applications 
appeared in the Federal Register (63 FR 24832) on May 5, 1998, allowing 
a 45-day public comment period on the applications. As required by the 
Energy Policy Act, NRC consulted with the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) about certification. EPA did not identify any significant 
compliance issues.
    The NRC staff has reviewed the certificate renewal applications for 
the gaseous diffusion plants located near Paducah, Kentucky, and 
Piketon, Ohio, and concluded that in combination with certificate 
conditions, they provide reasonable assurance of adequate safety, 
safeguards, and security, and compliance with NRC requirements. 
Therefore, the Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards, is prepared to issue a renewed Certificate of Compliance 
for each plant. The staff has prepared Compliance Evaluation Reports 
which provide details of the staff's evaluations.
    The NRC staff has determined that the renewals satisfy the criteria 
for a categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(19). 
Therefore, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.22(b), no environmental impact 
statement or environmental assessment need be prepared for the renewal.
    USEC or any person whose interest may be affected and who submitted 
written comments in response to the Federal Register Notice on the 
renewal application under Section 76.37 may file a petition, not 
exceeding 30 pages, requesting review of the Director's Decision. The 
petition must be filed with the Commission not later than 15 days after 
publication of this Federal Register Notice. A petition for review of 
the Director's Decision shall set forth with particularity the interest 
of the petitioner and how that interest may be affected by the results 
of the decision. The petition should specifically explain the reasons 
why review of the Decision should be permitted with particular 
reference to the following factors: (1) The interest of the petitioner; 
(2) how that interest may be affected by the Decision, including the 
reasons why the petitioner should be permitted a review of the 
Decision; and (3) the petitioner's areas of concern about the activity 
that is the subject matter of the Decision. Any person described in 
this paragraph (USEC or any person who filed a petition) may file a 
response to any petition for review, not to exceed 30 pages, within 10 
days after filing of the petition. If no petition is received within 
the designated 15-day period, the Director will issue the final 
amendment to the Certificate of Compliance without further delay. If a 
petition for review is received, the decision on the amendment 
application will become final in 60 days, unless the Commission grants 
the petition for review or otherwise acts within 60 days after 
publication of this Federal Register Notice.
    A petition for review must be filed with the Secretary, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: 
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, or may be delivered to the 
Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW, Washington, DC, by the above date.
    For further details with respect to the action see (1) the 
applications for renewal and (2) the Commission's Compliance Evaluation 
Reports. These items (except for classified and proprietary portions 
which are withheld in accordance with 10 CFR 2.790, ``Availability of 
Public Records'') are available for public inspection at the 
Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW, Washington, DC, and at the Local Public Document Rooms established 
for these facilities.
    Date of renewal requests: April 15, 1998.
    Brief description of renewal applications: USEC did not request any 
changes to the existing documentation; previous applications, 
statements, and reports are incorporated by reference into the renewal 
application. These include the Technical Safety Requirements, Safety 
Analysis Report, Compliance Plan, Quality Assurance Program, Emergency 
Plan, Security and Safeguards Plans, Waste Management Program, and 
Decommissioning Funding Program, etc. Certificate of Compliance GDP-1 
for the Paducah GDP and Certificate of Compliance GDP-2 for the 
Portsmouth GDP will be renewed for a 5-year period. This will allow 
continued operation of the GDPs.
    Effective date: The renewal of Certificates of Compliance GDP-1 and 
GDP-2 becomes effective immediately after being signed by the Director, 
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
    Local Public Document Room locations: Paducah Public Library, 555 
Washington Street, Paducah, Kentucky 42003 and Portsmouth Public 
Library, 1220 Gallia Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Merri Horn, (301) 415-8126 or Mr.

[[Page 65264]]

Yawar Faraz (301) 415-8113; Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of November 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elizabeth Q. Ten Eyck,
Acting Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 98-31498 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
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