[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26885]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 31, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-315 and 50-316]

 

Indiana Michigan Power Company; Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power 
Plant, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering the approval of the licensee's request to leave 
approximately 942 cubic meters of slightly contaminated sludge in place 
underneath the upper parking lot on the D.C. Cook site. This was 
proposed by Indiana Michigan Power Company (the licensee) for the D.C. 
Cook Plant, located in Berrien County, Michigan.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action by the NRC would approve the disposal of 
contaminated sludge by leaving it in place at the facility, as proposed 
by the licensee's request dated October 9, 1991, as supplemented 
October 23, 1991, September 3, 1993, and September 29, 1993. The 
request for approval is submitted pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002. The total 
volume of contaminated sludge is estimated to be 942 cubic meters.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    In 1982, approximately 942 cubic meters of slightly contaminated 
sludge were removed from the turbine room sump absorption pond and 
pumped to the upper parking lot located within the exclusion area of 
the D.C. Cook plant. The contaminated sludge was spread over an area 
approximately 4.7 acres. The sludge contains a total radionuclide 
inventory of 8.86 millicuries (mCi) of Cesium-137, Cesium-136, Cesium-
134, Cobalt-60, and Iodine-131.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The licensee in 1982 evaluated the following potential exposure 
pathways to members of the general public from the radionuclides in the 
sludge: (1) external exposure caused by groundshine from the disposal 
site, (2) internal exposure caused by inhalation of resuspended 
radionuclide, and (3) internal exposure from ingesting ground water. 
The staff has reviewed the licensee's calculational methods and 
assumptions and finds that they are consistent with NUREG-1101, 
``Onsite Disposal of Radioactive Waste,'' Volumes 1 and 2, November 
1986 and February 1987, respectively. The staff finds the assessment 
methodology acceptable. The table below lists the doses calculated by 
the licensee for the maximally exposed member of the public based on a 
total activity of 8.89 mCi disposed in that year. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Whole body
                                                                 dose   
                                                             received by
                          Pathway                             maximally 
                                                               exposed  
                                                              individual
                                                              (mrem/yr) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundshine................................................         0.94
Inhalation.................................................         0.94
Groundwater Ingestion......................................         0.73
                                                            ------------
  Total....................................................         2.61
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For perspective, the radiation from the naturally occurring 
radionuclides in soils and rocks plus cosmic radiation gives a person 
in Michigan a whole-body dose rate of about 89 mrem per year outdoors, 
which may be altered as much as 20 mrem per year by the type of 
construction of the person's residence (e.g., wood frame or brick) and 
the amount of time spent in it.
    On July 5, 1991, the licensee re-sampled the onsite disposal area 
to assure that no significant impacts and adverse effects had occurred. 
A counting procedure based on the appropriate environmental low limit 
detection was used by the licensee; however, no activity above 
background was detected during the re-sampling. The 1991 re-sampling 
process used by the licensee confirms that the environmental impact of 
the 1982 disposal was very small. The staff finds the licensee's 
methodology acceptable.
    The staff has evaluated the impacts of leaving the contaminated 
sludge in place, and finds that the potential environmental impacts are 
insignificant.
    With regard to the nonradiological impacts, the staff has 
determined that leaving the soil in place has the smallest impact when 
compared to the principal alternatives discussed below.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The principal alternative to leaving the contaminated sludge in 
place would be to dig it up, package it in 55-gallon drums or other 
suitable containers, and ship it to a disposal facility licensed to 
dispose of low-level radioactive waste. This would be costly, 
requiring, for example, the removal of the parking surface over the 
disposal area, and would not provide environmental benefits in that no 
measurable radioactivity has been detected from the material. On the 
basis of the above analysis and evaluations and after weighing the 
environmental, technical, and other benefits against the environmental 
costs, the staff concludes that the action called for under NEPA and 10 
CFR Part 51 is the issuance of an approval of the proposed waste 
disposal.

Alternative Use of Resources

    The principal result of this action does involve the use of 
resources beyond the scope anticipated in the Environmental Impact 
Statement issued August 1973, for normal plant operations; however, 
this additional use of land is not significant, as the area involved is 
located underneath the upper parking lot. This action involves no other 
critical materials or resources.

Agenices and Persons Consulted

    The staff consulted with the State of Michigan regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State had no comments.

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 staff concludes that the proposed action 
will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human 
environment.
    For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the 
licensee's letters dated October 9, 1991, October 23, 1991, September 
3, 1993, and September 29, 1993. These letters are available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, 
N.W., Washington, DC 20555 and at the local public document room 
located at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library, 500 Market 
Street, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of October 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John B. Hickman,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-26885 Filed 10-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M