[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 68 (Friday, April 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18382-18383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8630]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 040-08838]


Notice of Consideration of Amendment Request for U.S. Army 
Jefferson Proving Ground Site in Madison, IN and Opportunity for a 
Hearing

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of a license amendment to Materials License No. SUB-1435 
issued to the U.S. Army (licensee) at the Jefferson Proving Ground 
(JPG) site in Madison, Indiana. The licensee requested, in a letter 
dated February 15, 2000, to: (1) Authorize transfer of licensing 
responsibilities for the Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG) site from the 
U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM) to the U.S. Army Soldier 
and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM), (2) designate Ms. Joyce E. 
Kuykendall as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) for the site, and (3) 
include the revised JPG Security Plan in the license.
    From 1941 to 1994, the licensee conducted ordnance testing on the 
JPG site, and fired more than 24 million rounds of conventional 
explosive. From 1984 to 1994, the licensee conducted accuracy testing 
of depleted uranium (DU) tank penetrator rounds at the site. An NRC 
license was issued to authorize the U.S. Army to use, store, and 
perform testing of DU munitions at JPG. The DU penetrator rounds vary 
in size but can be generally described as rods comprised of a DU 
titanium alloy with a diameter of approximately 2.5 centimeters (cm) (1 
inch) and a length as much as 61 cm (2 feet). The DU munitions testing 
contaminated approximately 5.1 x 10\6\ square meters (m\2\) (1260 
acres) of the site with an estimated 7 x 10\4\ kilograms (1.5 x 10\5\ 
pounds) of DU. In accordance with the Defense Authorization Amendments 
and Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-526), the 
licensee was required to close the JPG base on September 30, 1995. 
Currently, the licensed material is kept onsite in the restricted area 
known as the ``Depleted Uranium Impact Area.'' This area is located 
north of the firing line, and consists of approximately 12 x 10\6\ m\2\ 
(3,000 acres).
    An NRC administrative review, documented in a letter to the 
licensee dated March 15, 2000, found the license amendment application 
acceptable to begin a technical review. The application requested to: 
(1) Authorize transfer of licensing responsibilities for the JPG site 
from TECOM to SBCCOM, (2) designate Ms. Joyce E. Kuykendall as the RSO 
for the site, and (3) include the revised JPG Security Plan in the 
license. The NRC Decommissioning Branch is currently changing its 
policy regarding listing the RSO by name in the license. Instead, the 
license will include the qualifications that an RSO must meet for the 
respective site. NRC staff plans to revise the JPG license condition on 
the RSO accordingly.
    If the NRC approves the February 15, 2000, request, the approval 
will be documented in an amendment to NRC License No. SUB-1435. 
However, before approving the proposed amendment, the NRC will need to 
make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended, and NRC's regulations. These findings will be documented in a 
Safety Evaluation Report and an Environmental Assessment or a 
Categorical Exclusion.
    NRC hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on an 
application for an amendment of a license falling within the scope of 
Subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudication in Materials 
Licensing Proceedings,'' of NRC's rules of practice for domestic 
licensing proceedings in 10 CFR Part 2. Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any 
person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding may file a 
request for a hearing in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(d). A request for 
a hearing must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of 
publication of this Federal Register notice.
    The request for a hearing must be filed with the Office of the 
Secretary either:
    1. By delivery to Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, 
between 7:45 am and 4:15 pm Federal workdays; or
    2. By mail, telegram, or facsimile addressed to the Secretary, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Attention: 
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff.
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(f), each request for a hearing 
must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, to:
    1. The applicant, U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical 
Command, 5183 Black Hawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5424, 
Attention: Mr. John M. Ferriter, and;
    2. The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director for 
Operations, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, between 7:45 am and 
4:15 pm Federal workdays, or by mail, addressed to the Executive 
Director for Operations, U.S.

[[Page 18383]]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part 
2 of NRC's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a person other 
than an applicant must describe in detail:
    1. The interest of the requester in the proceeding;
    2. How that interest may be affected by the results of the 
proceeding, including the reasons why the requester should be permitted 
a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in 
Sec. 2.1205(h):
    3. The requester's areas of concern about the licensing activity 
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
    4. The circumstance establishing that the request for a hearing is 
timely in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(d).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  The application for license amendment 
and supporting documentation are available for inspection at NRC's 
Public Electronic Reading Room on the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html. Questions with respect to this action 
should be referred to Ms. Sherry W. Lewis, Decommissioning Branch, 
Division of Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001. Telephone: (301) 415-6619. Fax: (301) 415-5398.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of April 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert A. Nelson,
Acting Chief, Decommissioning Branch, Division of Waste Management, 
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 00-8630 Filed 4-6-00; 8:45 am]
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