[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16830-16831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8916]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-607]


Department of the Air Force at McClellan Air Force Base 
(McClellan Air Force Base Triga Reactor); Notice of Issuance of 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of Facility Operating License No. R-130 for a term 
of 20 years for the Department of the Air Force at McClellan Air Force 
Base (AFB) (the applicant) 2.3-megawatt thermal (MW(t)) TRIGA reactor 
located at the McClellan Nuclear Radiation Center (MNRC), McClellan 
AFB, California.

Description of Proposed Action

    The proposed action is the issuance of Facility Operating License 
No. R-130 for the MNRC TRIGA research reactor at McClellan AFB, 
California, in response to an application from the applicant dated 
October 23, 1996, as supplemented. The proposed action would authorize 
operation of the MNRC reactor at a power level of 2.3 MW(t) for a 
period of 20 years. The reactor has pulsing capability, with a maximum 
reactivity step addition of 1.75$ proposed by the applicant. The MNRC 
has been in operation since mid-1991 under the authority of the 
Department of the Air Force under Section 91b of the Atomic Energy Act. 
The applicant has sought NRC licensing of the reactor due to the 
planned closure of McClellan AFB.

Summary of the Environmental Assessment

    The NRC staff has reviewed the applicant's application for an 
operating license including the applicant's environmental report. To 
document its review, the staff has prepared an environmental assessment 
(EA) which examined radiological and nonradiological impacts of 
continued operation, the environmental effects of postulated 
radiological accidents, and the long-term effects of continued facility 
operation. Based on its review of the applicant's application, the 
staff has determined that the environmental

[[Page 16831]]

impacts, both radiological and nonradiological, associated with the 
licensing the MNRC for a period of 20 years, are not significant and 
have been adequately evaluated by the applicant.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The staff has reviewed the applicant's application for an operating 
license and environmental report in accordance with the requirements of 
10 CFR Part 51. Based upon the EA, the staff concluded that there are 
no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action and that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the Commission has 
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement.
    For further details with respect to this action see the applicant's 
request for an operating license dated October 23, 1996, as 
supplemented on June 16, September 5, October 7 and 9, and December 17, 
1997. These documents are available for public inspection at the NRC 
Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, 
Washington, D.C. 20003. Single copies of the EA may be obtained from 
Alexander Adams Jr., Senior Project Manager, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, M.S. O-11-B-20, 
Washington, D.C. 20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of March 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Marvin M. Mendonca,
Acting Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project 
Directorate, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-8916 Filed 4-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P