[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 41975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19695]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-123]


University of Missouri, Rolla, Nuclear Research Reactor, 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering the issuance of a license amendment to Facility Operating 
License No. R-79, issued to University of Missouri, Rolla (the 
licensee) for operation of the University of Missouri, Rolla Research 
Reactor (UMRR).

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow extension of the license expiration 
time from November 20, 1999, to January 14, 2005, for the UMRR as 
requested by the licensee on May 24, 1999, in accordance with the 
provisions of 10 CFR 50.90. The licensee submitted an Environmental 
Report on June 24, 1999.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is necessary for the continued operation of the 
UMRR in order to continue instruction, training, and research at the 
University of Missouri, Rolla.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The UMRR is located at the University of Missouri, Rolla campus in 
a metal building on the east side of the campus near 14th Street and 
Pine Street.
    The UMRR is a low power (200 kilowatts), pool-type research reactor 
(200 kilowatts). The NRC licensed the facility in 1961 at 10 kilowatts 
and increased maximum authorized power level to 200 kilowatts in 1966. 
The facility license was renewed in 1985. Since about 1985, the 
facility has operated about 9 megawatt-hours per year on average. 
During that time, the gaseous radiological release has been about 100 
millicuries/year of Argon-41. Liquid releases have been minimized and 
radiological liquid releases have been eliminated since about 1994. 
Solid releases of radioactive material have averaged about 70 
microcuries since about 1985. Currently, there are no plans to change 
any operating characteristics of the reactor during the license 
extension period.
    The Commission concludes that the radiological effects of the 
continued operation will be minimal based on past radiological 
releases. The radiological exposures for facility operations have been 
within regulatory limits. Conditions are not expected to change.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    In addition, the environmental impact associated with operation of 
research reactors has been generically evaluated by the staff and is 
discussed in the attached generic evaluation. This evaluation concludes 
that there will be no significant environmental impact associated with 
the operation of research reactors licensed to operate at power levels 
up to and including 2 megawatts thermal and that an Environmental 
Impact Statement is not required for the issuance of construction 
permits or operating licenses for such facilities. We have determined 
that this generic evaluation is applicable to operation of the UMRR and 
that there are no special or unique features that would preclude 
reliance on the generic evaluation.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The alternative to the proposed action for the Research Reactor 
Facility is to deny the application (i.e., ``no action'' alternative). 
If this were the case, the licensee has indicated that they would apply 
for license renewal and operate under the timely renewal provisions of 
10 CFR 2.109 until the Commission renewed or denied the license renewal 
application. With operation under timely renewal or renewal, the actual 
conditions of the reactor would not change. If the Commission denied 
license renewal, UMRR Operations would stop and decommissioning would 
be required with a likely small impact on the environment.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Environmental Assessment prepared for the 
renewal of University of Missouri, Rolla's license in January 1985.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    On June 30, 1999, the staff consulted with the Missouri 
Environmental Public Health Official, Gary McNutt, regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The state official had no 
comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the Commission 
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission 
has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated May 24, 1999, as supplemented in a letter dated 
June 24, 1999, which are available for public inspection at the 
Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20555.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of July 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ledyard B. Marsh,
Chief, Events Assessment, Generic Communications, and Non-Power 
Reactors Branch, Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-19695 Filed 7-30-99; 8:45 am]
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