[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13502]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

 

Patriots Point Development Authority; U.S. Maritime 
Administration; N.S. SAVANNAH; Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
no Significant Impact Regarding License Amendment

[Docket No. 50-238]
    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to the Amended Facility License No. NS-1 
issued to the Patriots Point Development Authority (PPDA) and the U.S. 
Maritime Administration (MARAD) for possession but not operation of the 
nuclear reactor facility aboard the N.S. Savannah.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    By application dated May 19, 1994, as supplemented by letters dated 
May 24, and May 25, 1994, PPDA and MARAD requested authorization to (1) 
delete the PPDA as a co-licensee, allow relocation of the N.S. Savannah 
to the James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF), (2) change responsibility for 
the performance of radiological health physics coverage, surveillance 
and response to the U.S. Army Center for Public Works, Humphries 
Engineering Center, (3) change the composition of the Review and Audit 
Committee to be consistent with the deletion of PPDA as a co-licensee, 
and (4) make other minor changes and discontinue public access to the 
facility. PPDA has decided to discontinue use of the ship as a museum 
exhibit and return the ship to MARAD, which has retained ownership. The 
ship was removed from the PPDA pier on May 24, 1994, under the existing 
license. The ship will be towed to Baltimore, Maryland, for drydock 
repairs, also under the existing license. The ship will then be 
relocated to the JRRF, near Fort Eustis, Virginia for long term 
storage.

Need for Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed in order to remove the PPDA as co-
licensee, to relocate the N.S. Savannah to the JRRF, near Fort Eustis, 
Virginia, for long term storage following repairs in drydock, and to 
change Technical Specifications consistent with these changes in 
licensee and location.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The potential environmental impact associated with this action is 
the relocation of the ship to the JRRF for long term storage.
    With regard to potential radiological impacts, twenty two years 
ago, the reactor was defueled, the control rods were disengaged from 
their mechanisms, primary system pump rotors were removed from the 
pumps and other physical changes were performed to make the reactor 
permanently inoperable. Core internals and primary system piping and 
components are entombed within the heavily shielded containment vessel 
which is sealed. No additional radioactivity will be produced, and the 
existing residual radioactivity will continue to decrease by 
radioactive decay. From 1981 until 1993, the ship was open to the 
public as a museum with no measurable radiation exposure to any member 
of the public. To prevent public access to potential contaminated or 
radiation areas in the ship, these areas will continue to be sealed and 
security for the ship will be maintained at the JRRF effectively 
similar to that in place at the PPDA pier.
    In the unlikely event that radioactive waste is produced on the 
ship, all waste will be removed, packaged, and shipped offsite, or 
released in accordance with radiological control procedures that are in 
place and implemented to ensure that releases of radioactive wastes 
from the facility are within the limits of 10 CFR part 20 and are as 
low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
    Based on the review of the proposed activities associated with the 
license amendment for the N.S. Savannah, the staff has determined that 
there will be no significant increase in the amounts of effluents that 
may be released offsite, and no significant increase in individual or 
cumulative occupational or population radiation exposure. Accordingly, 
the Commission concludes that the proposed action would result in no 
significant radiological environmental impact.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, after leaving 
drydock, the N.S. Savannah will be towed to the JRRF using established 
navigation channels. It will be located within the existing boundary of 
the Reserve Fleet in the James River. No extensive preparation to the 
site will be required for the N.S. Savannah. It is intended to moor the 
N.S. Savannah alongside the decommissioned U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
MH-1A Floating Nuclear Power Barge Sturgis.
    The staff has determined that the proposed activities will not 
result in any significant impacts on air, water, land, or biota in the 
area or have any other significant non-radiological environmental 
impact.
    Based on the above, the Commission concludes that there are no 
significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
amendment.

Alternatives to the Proposed Actions

    Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action, any 
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be 
evaluated.
    The principal alternative to the proposed amendment request would 
be to deny the request. This denial would force the PPDA to remain as a 
co-licensee and the ship to be returned to the PPDA pier. However, the 
PPDA returned the ship to the MARAD in accordance with the charter 
agreement and the authorizing legislation (Pub. L. 96-311, August 28, 
1980).

Alternative Use of Resources

    No alternatives appear that will have different or lesser effect on 
the use of available resources.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted the U.S. Coast Guard, and the States of 
South Carolina and Virginia in reviewing the request from the 
licensees.

Finding Of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the proposed action based upon the foregoing 
environmental assessment. The Commission concludes that the proposed 
action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human 
environment for the reasons set out above.
    For detailed information with respect to this proposed action, see 
the application for amendment dated May 19, 1994, as supplemented by 
letters dated May 24, and May 25, 1994. These documents are available 
for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, 27th day of May 1994.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 
Division of Operating Reactor Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-13502 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M