[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 10037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5816]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-77]


Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact 
Regarding Termination of Facility License No. R-31, Catholic University 
of America, AGN-201 Nuclear Research Reactor

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an Order terminating Facility License No. R-31 for the 
Catholic University of America (the licensee) Aerojet-General 
Nucleonics (AGN-201) Nuclear Research Reactor located in Washington, 
District of Columbia, in accordance with the application dated February 
6, 1992, as supplemented on June 2, 1995.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would authorize the licensee to decontaminate 
and dismantle its AGN-201 Nuclear Reactor Facility, and dispose of its 
component parts in accordance with the proposed decommissioning plan. 
Following an ``Order Authorizing Decommission Plan and Authorizing 
Decommissioning of the Catholic University of America Research 
Reactor,'' dated September 24, 1992, (57 FR 45094) the licensee 
completed the dismantlement and submitted a final survey report on 
December 20, 1994, as supplemented on September 22, 1995. A NRC Region 
I inspector conducted a survey of the Facility on November 7-9, 1995, 
(Inspection Report No. 50-77/95-01). Region I, in a memorandum dated 
December 11, 1995, concluded that their inspection findings confirmed 
the data developed in the licensee final survey report. The proposed 
action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated February 
6, 1992.

The Need for Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to release the facility for unrestricted 
access and use, and Facility License No. R-31 must be terminated.

Environmental Impact of License Termination

    The licensee indicates that the residual contamination levels 
comply with the criteria of Regulatory Guide 1.86 Table 1, for 
unrestricted release of the facility. The licensee also indicates that 
the radiological exposure at the facility is also less than 5 micro R/
hr above background at one meter which has also been accepted by the 
NRC for unrestricted release of facilities. These measurements have 
been verified by the NRC Region I inspection. The NRC finds that since 
these criteria have been met there is no significant impact on the 
environment and the facility can be released for unrestricted use.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application would result 
in no change in environmental impacts and would deny release of the 
site for unrestricted use and require continuance of the facility 
license. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the 
alternative action are similar. Since the reactor and component parts 
have been dismantled and disposed of in accordance with NRC regulations 
and guidelines, there is no viable alternative to termination of 
Facility License No. R-31.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with the Program Manager for the 
Pharmaceutical, Radiological and Medical Devices Control Division of 
the District of Columbia regarding the proposed action.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes 
that the issuance of the Order will not have a significant effect on 
the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has 
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the 
licensee's submittal on decommissioning the facility, dated February 6, 
1992, as supplemented on June 2, 1995. 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 this 6th day of March 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactor and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 
Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-5816 Filed 3-11-96; 8:45 am]
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