[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 29921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14049]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 70-27]


BWX Technologies (BWXT), Lynchburg, VA Issuance of Environmental 
Assessment Regarding the Proposed Exemption From the Requirement in 10 
CFR 70.25(e) To Provide a Decommissioning Cost Estimate

    The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption to BWXT (the applicant) from the 
requirement of 10 CFR Part 70.25(e) to provide a decommissioning cost 
estimate (DCE) for the Naval Reactors (NR) work at BWXT. The BWXT 
facilities and operation are located at Lynchburg, Virginia.

Environmental Assessment

    Identification of the Proposed Action: By letter dated April 8, 
1999, and supplements dated May 10 and May 13, 1999, BWXT (the 
applicant) requested Materials License SNM-42 be amended to grant an 
exemption from the requirement of 10 CFR Part 70.25(e) to provide a 
decommissioning cost estimate (DCE) for the Naval Reactors (NR) 
programs at BWXT, located at Lynchburg, Virginia. In a letter dated 
April 9, 1999, from the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of NR, 
NR supported BWXT's request for an exemption.
    Need for the Proposed Action: The BWXT operation involves the 
manufacturing of nuclear fuels for the U. S. Navy program. When BWXT's 
operations cease, the NRC will require decommissioning of the 
facilities and land in accordance with the requirements specified in 10 
CFR 70.25. As described in the applicant's license amendment request 
and the NR April 9, 1999, letter, the exemption is requested in order 
to eliminate the need to prepare a detailed decommissioning cost 
estimate to be filed together with the Statement of Intent that the 
Federal government will be responsible for the cost of decommissioning. 
The following information, as detailed in the applicant's request and 
NR's letter, provide support for the exemption request: (1) The DOE, 
through NR, is contractually obligated to pay the expenses eventually 
incurred by BWXT in decommissioning the BWXT facilities associated with 
NR work; (2) NR has an adequate understanding of the potential costs of 
decommissioning the BWXT facilities used in NR work; (3) a detailed DCE 
prepared now will not be valid when decommissioning occurs many years 
from now; (4) exempting BWXT at this time from the requirement for a 
DCE would not endanger life or property or the common defense and 
security; and (5) the Federal Government will not obtain a benefit 
commensurate with the expenditure of public funds to prepare a detailed 
DCE.
    Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action: The NRC staff has 
examined the applicant's proposed exemption request and concluded that 
the proposed exemption request is procedural and administrative in 
nature. Since the Federal Government will be responsible for the 
ultimate financial cost in the decommissioning of the applicant's 
facilities, exempting BWXT at this time from the requirement for a DCE 
will not endanger life or property, or the common defense and security, 
and will not cause any environmental impact.
    Alternatives to the Proposed Action: Since there is no 
environmental impact associated with this proposed action, no 
alternatives other than the proposed action were evaluated.
    Agencies and Persons Consulted: No other agency or persons were 
consulted for this proposed action since the proposed action is 
procedural and administrative in nature and the final financial cost 
for the decommissioning of the applicant's facilities is assured by the 
Federal Government.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    As discussed above, the proposed action is procedural and 
administrative in nature and there is no environmental impact 
associated with this action. Accordingly, the Commission has determined 
not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed 
exemption.
    This application for the proposed action was docketed under 10 CFR 
part 70, Docket No. 70-27. For further details with respect to this 
action, see the April 8, 1999, exemption request, and other above-
mentioned letters which are available for public inspection at the 
Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of May 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Theodore S. Sherr,
Chief, Licensing and International Safeguards Branch, Division of Fuel 
Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-14049 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
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