[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 78 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19824-19825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10523]



[[Page 19824]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 030-04593, 040-02253, 070-00263]


Termination of Watertown Arsenal Licenses and Opportunity for a 
Hearing

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTIONS: Notice of intent to terminate radioactive material license 
numbers 20-01010-04 and SNM-00244, to amend radioactive material 
license number SUB-00238 and notice of an opportunity to request a 
hearing on the proposed actions.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public that the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission intends to terminate NRC radioactive material 
license numbers 20-01010-04 and SNM-00244, to amend NRC radioactive 
material license number SUB-00238, and to provide interested 
individuals with an opportunity to request a hearing on the proposed 
NRC actions. Radioactive material license numbers 20-01010-04, SNM-
00244, and SUB-00238 were issued to the Department of the Army 
authorizing the use of radioactive materials at the U.S. Army Research 
Laboratory (ARL), Watertown, Massachusetts. NRC intends to terminate 
radioactive material license numbers 20-01010-04 and SNM-00244, and 
amend radioactive material license number SUB-00238 to remove the ARL 
as a location of use, because remediation of residual radioactive 
material attributable to licensed operations at the ARL has 
successfully been completed and the facility is suitable for release 
for unrestricted use. License number SUB-00238 will remain active to 
authorize decommissioning activities at the portion of the ARL known as 
the Mall Property.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The majority of the licensed activities at 
the ARL involved work with depleted uranium. Beginning in the 1940s, 
research involved various machining operations, with munitions 
development commencing in the 1950s. The ARL has several large 
buildings that required significant remediation. The history of 
licensed activities at the ARL also indicated a potential for large 
volumes of contaminated soil. In 1992, NRC staff added the Watertown 
Arsenal/Mall site, which includes the ARL and the portion of the 
facility referred to as the Mall Property, to the NRC's Site 
Decommissioning Management Plan list to ensure the timely and effective 
cleanup of the site.
    The licensee conducted a radiological field survey at the ARL from 
October 1991 to January 1992. The survey was a characterization of the 
buildings and grounds. Additional surveys were conducted during 
remediation activities. The surveys identified contamination in nine 
buildings at the facility.
    Remediation of the ARL began in June 1992 and was completed in late 
1994. Remediation methods varied from general cleaning of surfaces to 
extensive demolition. Approximately 95,000 cubic feet of solid 
radioactive waste was generated during facility decommissioning 
activities.
    To support their request to terminate radioactive material license 
numbers 20-01010-04 and SNM-00244, and to amend license number SUB-
00238 to remove the ARL site as a location of use, the licensee 
determined the radiological status of the ARL by performing a final 
radiation survey of the facility and submitted the results of this 
survey to NRC for review. The results of the licensee's final survey 
indicate that residual radioactive material attributable to licensed 
operations on surfaces and in soil meet the release criteria specified 
in the licensee's approved decommissioning plan, which are lower than 
the current NRC criteria for unrestricted use. The results of the NRC 
confirmatory survey are in agreement with the licensee's final survey 
data. Region I staff reviewed the final survey and the confirmatory 
survey data and determined that the ARL meets NRC guidelines for 
release for unrestricted use for surface contamination and soil.
    Consequently, NRC staff intends to terminate NRC license numbers 
20-01010-04 and SNM-00244, to amend NRC license number SUB-00238 to 
remove the ARL as a location of use, and release the facility for 
unrestricted use. License number SUB-00238 will remain active to 
authorize decommissioning activities at the Mall Property. These 
licenses are covered by categorical exclusions in 10 CFR 
51.22(c)(14)(v), (viii) and (xv), respectively. Therefore, no 
environmental assessment is needed to terminate or amend these 
licenses.
    NRC hereby provides notice that termination of license numbers 20-
01010-04 and SNM-00244, and the amendment of license number SUB-00238, 
are proceedings on licenses falling within the scope of Subpart L 
``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudication in Materials Licensing 
Proceedings,'' of NRC's rules and practice for domestic licensing 
proceedings in 10 CFR Part 2. Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any person 
whose interest may be affected by these proceedings may file a request 
for a hearing in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c). A request for a 
hearing must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of 
publication of this Federal Register notice.
    The request for a hearing must be filed with the Office of the 
Secretary either:

    1. By delivery to the Docketing and Service Branch of the Office 
of the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, MD 20852-2738; or
    2. By mail or telegram addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Attention: 
Docketing and Service Branch.

    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part 
2 of the NRC's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a person 
other than an applicant must describe in detail:

    1. The interest of the requester in the proceeding;
    2. How that interest may be affected by the results of the 
proceeding, including the reasons why the requester should be 
permitted a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set 
out in Sec. 2.1205(g);
    3. The requester's areas of concern about the licensing activity 
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
    4. The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing 
is timely in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c).

    In accordance with 10 CFR Sec. 2.1205(e), each request for a 
hearing must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, 
to:

    1. The applicant, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Research 
Laboratory, AMSRL-OP-WT, Caretaker Force, 395 Arsenal St., 
Watertown, MA 02172-2700 Attention: Kenneth F. Worth; and
    2. NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director for 
Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
MD 20852-2738, or by mail, addressed to the Executive Director for 
Operations, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001.

    For further details with respect to this action, interested 
individuals may review the documents associated with this action which 
are available for inspection at NRC's Region I offices located at 475 
Allendale Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Persons desiring to review 
documents at the Region I Office should call Ms. Cheryl Buracker at 
(610) 337-5093 several days in advance to assure that the documents 
will be readily available for review.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 17th day of April, 1997.


[[Page 19825]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John W. N. Hickey,
Chief, Low-Level Waste and Decommissioning Projects Branch, Division of 
Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 97-10523 Filed 4-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P