[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7217-7218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3497]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 40-3453; License No. SUA-917]


Atlas Corporation Receipt of Petition for Director's Decision 
Under 10 CFR 2.206

    Notice is hereby given of receipt of a Petition dated January 11, 
1999, filed on behalf of the Grand Canyon Trust and

[[Page 7218]]

other parties (collectively identified as ``Trust'') pursuant to 10 CFR 
2.206.
    In its Petition, the Trust asserts that the Atlas site, at which 
there are no operations, is currently leaching toxic chemicals into the 
Colorado River at levels that are harming and killing endangered fish, 
seriously degrading the quality of at least a mile of river where these 
fish spawn and live, and threatening the extinction of these species. 
The Trust requests that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission take six 
immediate actions to halt these impacts and to ensure the conservation 
of the endangered species. The specific actions requested are as 
follows:
    (1) Set water quality standards for the Atlas site that are 
protective of endangered fish and incorporate those standards into the 
Atlas license.
    (2) Require immediate corrective action to eliminate the take of 
and jeopardy to endangered fish from the Atlas site.
    (3) Prohibit any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of 
resources for the purpose of stabilizing and capping the tailings pile 
in its present location in the Colorado River floodplain until after 
consultation on the entire action has been completed.
    (4) Require the removal of the tailings out of the floodplain of 
the Colorado River for long-term disposal.
    (5) Consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a 
specific plan to conserve the endangered Colorado squawfish and 
razorback sucker, including, but not limited to, steps to protect the 
Colorado squawfish nursery areas in the vicinity of the Atlas pile.
    (6) Take all other actions necessary to eliminate taking, prevent 
jeopardy to and insure the recovery of the Colorado squawfish and the 
razorback sucker, and to preserve the designated critical habitat on 
which these species depend.
    Petitioner's requests for immediate action were denied by letter 
dated January 26, 1999. In the letter, it was noted that none of the 
six items addresses a health, safety, or environmental concern that 
requires emergency steps before a complete review as provided for in 
Section 2.206.
    The Petition has been referred to the Director of the Office of 
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. As provided by Section 2.206, 
appropriate action will be taken on this Petition within a reasonable 
time. A copy of the Petition is available for inspection at the 
Commission's Public Document Room at 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20555.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myron Fliegel, Petition Manager, 
Telephone (301) 415-6629.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of February, 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carl J. Paperiello,
Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-3497 Filed 2-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P