[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13725-13726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7182]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8968]


Hydro Resources, Inc.; Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), in cooperation 
with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA), has published a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) regarding the proposed construction and operation of an in-situ 
leach (ISL) project in McKinley County, New Mexico. This FEIS describes 
and evaluates the potential environmental impacts of granting Hydro 
Resources, Inc. (HRI) a combined source and 11(e)2 byproduct material 
license and minerals operating leases for Federal and Indian lands for 
the ISL project. The FEIS concludes, after reviewing the technical and 
environmental aspects of the proposed project, and evaluating other 
associated costs and benefits of the project, that the appropriate 
action is to issue the requested license and leases authorizing the 
applicant to proceed with the project as discussed in this FEIS.

ADDRESSES: Copies of this FEIS (NUREG-1508) may be requested by members 
of the public by writing to the NRC Publications Section, ATTN: 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 
37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082. A copy is also available for 
inspection and/or copying in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L St. 
NW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert D. Carlson, Project 
Manager, Uranium Recovery Branch, Mail Stop TWFN 7-J9, Division of 
Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone 
(301) 415-8165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC, in cooperation with BLM and BIA, 
has prepared an FEIS regarding the administrative action of authorizing 
HRI to conduct ISL uranium mining, also known as solution mining, in 
conjunction with a combined source and 11(e)2 byproduct material 
license issued by the NRC, and minerals operating leases issued for 
Federal and Indian lands by BLM and BIA. The license and leases would 
provide programmatic and regulatory oversight in administrative 
matters; impose operating restrictions; and specify monitoring, record-
keeping, and reporting requirements.
    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed 
action was prepared by an interagency review group comprising staff 
from the NRC, BLM, and BIA, which was published for comment in October 
1994. After evaluating the environmental impacts of the proposed action 
in the DEIS, the reviewing agencies concluded that the appropriate 
action was to issue the requested license and proposed leases 
authorizing HRI to proceed with the project. The FEIS reevaluates the 
proposed licensing action on the basis of written and oral comments 
received by NRC on the DEIS, and on additional information obtained in 
1995 and 1996 from the applicant. The FEIS describes the evaluation 
conducted by the interagency review group concerning (1) the purpose of 
and need for the proposed action, evaluated under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended, and the cooperating 
agencies' implementing regulations; (2) alternatives to the proposed 
action; (3) the environmental resources that could be affected by the 
proposed action and alternatives; (4) the potential environmental 
consequences of the proposed action and alternatives; and (5) the 
economic costs and benefits associated with the proposed action.
    The FEIS evaluates four alternatives. Under Alternative 1 (the 
proposed action), the NRC would issue HRI a license for the 
construction and operation of facilities for ISL uranium mining and 
processing at the Church Rock, Unit 1, and Crownpoint sites as proposed 
by HRI in its license application and related submittals. Under 
Alternative 2 (modified action), the NRC would issue HRI a license for 
the construction and operation of facilities for ISL uranium mining and 
processing as proposed by HRI, but at alternative sites and/or using 
alternative liquid waste disposal methods. Under Alternative 3 (the NRC 
staff-recommended action), the NRC would issue HRI a license for the 
construction and operation of facilities for ISL uranium mining and 
processing as proposed by HRI, but with additional measures required 
and recommended by NRC staff to protect public health and safety, and 
the environment. Under Alternative 4 (no action), the NRC would not 
issue HRI a license for the construction and operation of facilities 
for ISL uranium mining and processing at Church Rock, Unit 1, or 
Crownpoint sites.
    On the basis of its independent review, the NRC staff concludes 
that the potential impacts of the proposed project can be mitigated, 
and that HRI should be issued a combined source and 11e(2) byproduct 
material license from NRC, and minerals operating leases from BLM and 
BIA. However, the license and leases should be conditioned on the 
commitments made by HRI in its license application and related 
submittals, and the various NRC staff mitigation requirements and 
recommendations discussed in the FEIS.


[[Page 13726]]


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of March 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Joseph J. Holonich,
Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 97-7182 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P