[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13829-13830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6911]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 72-20]


Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office; Issuance of 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding 
the Proposed Exemptions From Certain Regulatory Requirements of 10 CFR 
Part 10

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption, pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2301, from 
the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1501(c) to the U.S. Department of Energy, 
Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID or applicant). Exemption from 10 CFR 
20.1501(c) would allow DOE-ID to use a DOE Laboratory Accreditation 
Program process for personnel dosimetry at its proposed Independent 
Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). The proposed ISFSI is to be 
located at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory 
(INEEL), within the Idaho Nuclear Technology Engineering Center (INTEC) 
site in Scoville, Idaho. The proposed ISFSI would store the spent 
nuclear fuel debris created as a result of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 
(TMI-2) accident.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

    Identification of Proposed Action: The applicant is seeking 
Commission approval to construct and operate an ISFSI at INTEC. INTEC 
is an existing facility initially constructed to both store and 
reprocess spent fuel and high-level waste processed by DOE. Pursuant to 
10 CFR Part 72, DOE-ID submitted an application, including a Safety 
Analysis Report (SAR), for the ISFSI by letter dated October 31, 1996, 
as supplemented. NRC staff is currently performing a review of that 
application. On December 18, 1998, DOE-ID

[[Page 13830]]

requested an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 20.1501(c) which 
state in part that ``All personnel dosimeters * * * that require 
processing * * * must be processed and evaluated by a dosimetry 
processor * * * (1) Holding current personnel dosimetry accreditation 
from the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology * * *'' 
Specifically, the applicant proposes allowing the DOE Laboratory 
Accreditation Program (DOELAP) as an approved alternative.
    Need for the Proposed Action: The applicant is preparing to build 
and operate the TMI-2 ISFSI as described in its application and SAR, 
subject to approval of the pending license application. The applicant 
is implementing programs and procedures necessary to operate the ISFSI 
and seeks to have those programs make efficient use of resources. One 
of the programs developed by DOE is the capability to monitor personnel 
occupational radioactive dose for routine and non-routine activities at 
the TMI-2 ISFSI. Personnel dosimetry requires processing by a qualified 
processing facility. DOE prefers to use a processing organization that 
currently processes dosimetry for the INEEL. That processor is 
accredited under the DOELAP, rather than under the NVLAP. To support 
the efficient use of resources, DOE has requested to use the DOELAP for 
processing personnel dosimetry associated with the TMI-2 ISFSI.
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The staff has examined 
both the NVLAP and DOELAP processes and standards. Both the NVLAP and 
DOELAP have similar requirements in that they incorporate similar test 
categories (type of radiation and energy levels), tolerance levels, 
bias, and performance criteria. The staff concludes that the DOELAP 
process is at least as stringent as the NVLAP process and further 
concludes that, for the TMI-2 ISFSI, the DOELAP process is an 
acceptable alternative to the NVLAP process required by 10 CFR 
20.1501(c). The ``Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 
Construction and Operation of the TMI-2 Independent Spent Fuel Storage 
Installation,'' NUREG-1626 (March 1998), considered the potential 
environmental impacts of licensing this facility. The proposed action 
now under consideration would not change the potential environmental 
effects assessed in the FEIS. Specifically, there are no environmental 
impacts associated with the accreditation.
    Alternative to the Proposed Action: Since there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts are not 
evaluated. The alternative to the proposed action would be to deny 
approval of the 10 CFR 20.1501(c) exemption and, therefore, not allow 
use of the DOELAP. This alternative would have no significant 
environmental impact as well.
    Agencies and Persons Consulted: On March 1, 1999, Mr. Alan Merritt 
of the State of Idaho, INEEL Oversight Program, was contacted about the 
EA for the proposed action and had no concerns.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed 
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR part 51. Based 
upon the foregoing EA, the Commission finds that the proposed action of 
granting an exemption from 10 CFR 20.1501(c) so that DOE-ID may use the 
DOELAP, rather than the NVLAP, as required by existing regulations, 
will not significantly impact the quality of the human environment. 
Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption.
    This application was docketed under 10 CFR part 72, Docket 72-20. 
For further details with respect to this action, see the application 
for an ISFSI license dated October 31, 1996, and the request for 
exemption dated December 18, 1998, which are available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20555 and the Local Public Document Room at the INEEL 
Technical Library, 1776 Science Center Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of March 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-6911 Filed 3-19-99; 8:45 am]
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