[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 132 (Monday, July 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42398-42400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17344]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-170]


Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute; Nuclear Research 
Reactor; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the 
issuance of a license amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-84, 
issued to Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (the licensee) 
for operation of their research reactor.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow extension of the license expiration 
time from November 8, 2000, to August 1, 2004, for the Armed Forces 
Radiobiology Research Institute Research Reactor. The proposed action 
is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment dated 
February 28, 2000. The licensee submitted an Environmental Report with 
its request for license extension.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to allow continued operation of the 
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Research Reactor in order 
to continue training, radiobiology research, and activation analysis 
activities beyond the current term of the license.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Research Reactor 
is located near the center of the National Naval Medical Center in 
Bethesda, Maryland in a metal and concrete building.
    The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute Research Reactor 
is a moderate power (1 megawatt), pool-type research reactor. The NRC 
licensed the facility in 1962 and the facility license was renewed in 
1984. Since about 1981, the facility has operated about 28.8 megawatt-
hours per year on average. During that time, the gaseous Argon-41 
radiological release has been on average of 3.236 x 10\9\ becquerel per 
year (8.747 curies per year). Since 1981, the facility has had no 
radiological liquid releases. Solid releases of radioactive material 
have been transferred and disposed of in accordance with the 
requirements of the licensee's byproduct license. Currently, there are 
no plans to change any operating characteristics of the reactor during 
the license extension period.
    The NRC 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.
    As for 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, 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 no significant environmental impact is associated with the 
operation of research reactors licensed to operate at power levels up 
to and including 2 megawatts thermal. We have determined that this 
generic evaluation is applicable to operation of the Armed Forces 
Radiobiology Research Institute Research Reactor and that there are no 
special or unique features that would preclude reliance on the generic 
evaluation.
    Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. The proposed 
action will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, 
no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that may be 
released off site, and there is no significant increase in occupational 
or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant 
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

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Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    An alternative to the proposed action for the research reactor 
facility is to deny the application (i.e., ``no action'' alternative). 
If the application is denied, the licensee has indicated that it would 
apply for license renewal and operate under the timely renewal 
provisions of 10 CFR 2.109 until the NRC 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 NRC 
denied license renewal, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute 
Research Reactor operations would stop and decommissioning would be 
required with a likely small impact on the environment. The 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternative action are 
similar.

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 Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute's license in 
January 1985.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    On May 8, 2000, the staff consulted with the Maryland Department of 
Natural Resources Official, Rich McLean, regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. Mr. McLean also contacted and 
coordinated review with Roland Fletcher, Manager Radiological Health 
Program, Air and Radiation Management Administration, Maryland 
Department of the Environment. The State officials had no comment.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 February 28, 2000. A hard copy is available for 
public inspection at the NRC's Public Document Room, the Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555. Publicly available 
records will also be accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public 
Library component on the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the 
Electronic Reading Room).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of June 2000.

    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.

Environmental Considerations Regarding the Licensing of Research 
Reactors and Critical Facilities

Introduction

    This discussion deals with research reactors and critical 
facilities which are designed to operate at low power levels, 2 MWt and 
lower, and are used primarily for basic research in neutron physics, 
neutron radiography, isotope production, experiments associated with 
nuclear engineering, training and as a part of a nuclear physics 
curriculum. Operation of such facilities will generally not exceed a 5-
day week, 8-hour day, or about 2000 hours per year. Such reactors are 
located adjacent to technical service support facilities with 
convenient access for students and faculty.
    Sited most frequently on the campuses of large universities, the 
reactors are usually housed in already existing structures, 
appropriately modified, or placed in new buildings that are designed 
and constructed to blend in with existing facilities. However, the 
environmental considerations discussed herein are not limited to those 
which are part of universities.

Facility

    There are no exterior conduits, pipelines, electrical or mechanical 
structures or transmission lines attached to or adjacent to the 
facility other than for utility services, which are similar to those 
required in other similar facilities, specifically laboratories. Heat 
dissipation is generally accomplished by use of a cooling tower located 
on the roof of the building. These cooling towers typically are on the 
order of 10' x 10' x 10' and are comparable to cooling towers 
associated with the air-conditioning systems of large office buildings.
    Make-up for the cooling system is readily available and usually 
obtained from the local water supply. Radioactive gaseous effluents are 
limited to Ar-41 and the release of radioactive liquid effluents can be 
carefully monitored and controlled. Liquid wastes are collected in 
storage tanks to allow for decay and monitoring prior to dilution and 
release to the sanitary sewer system. Solid radioactive wastes are 
packaged and shipped offsite for storage at NRC-approved sites. The 
transportation of such waste is done in accordance with existing NRC-
DOT regulations in approved shipping containers.
    Chemical and sanitary waste systems are similar to those existing 
at other similar laboratories and buildings.

Environmental Effects of Site Preparation and Facility Construction

    Construction of such facilities invariably occurs in areas that 
have already been disturbed by other building construction and, in some 
cases, solely within an already existing building. Therefore, 
construction would not be expected to have any significant effect on 
the terrain, vegetation, wildlife or nearby waters or aquatic life. The 
societal, economic and aesthetic impacts of construction would be no 
greater than those associated with the construction of a large office 
building or similar research facility.

Environmental Effects of Facility Operation

    Release of thermal effluents from a reactor of less than 2 MWt will 
not have a significant effect on the environment. This small amount of 
waste heat is generally rejected to the atmosphere by means of small 
cooling towers. Extensive drift and/or fog will not occur at this low 
power level.
    Release of routine gaseous effluents can be limited to Ar-41, which 
is generated by neutron activation of air. Even this will be kept as 
low as practicable by using gases other than air for supporting 
experiments. Yearly doses to un-restricted areas will be at or below 
established guidelines in 10 CFR Part 20 limits. Routine releases of 
radioactive liquid effluents can be carefully monitored and controlled 
in a manner that will ensure compliance with current standards. Solid 
radioactive wastes will be shipped to an authorized disposal site in 
approved containers. These wastes should not require more than a few 
shipping containers a year.
    Based on experience with other research reactors, specifically 
TRIGA reactors operating in the 1 to 2 MWt range, the annual release of 
gaseous and liquid effluents to unrestricted areas should be less than 
30 curies and 0.01 curies, respectively.
    No release of potentially harmful chemical substances will occur 
during normal operation. Small amounts of chemicals and/or high-solid 
content water may be released from the facility through the sanitary 
sewer during periodic blowdown of the cooling tower or from laboratory 
experiments.
    Other potential effects of the facility, such as aesthetics, noise, 
societal or

[[Page 42400]]

impact on local flora and fauna are expected to be too small to 
measure.

Environmental Effects of Accidents

    Accidents ranging from the failure of experiments up to the largest 
core damage and fission product release considered possible result in 
doses that are less than 10 CFR Part 20 guidelines and are considered 
negligible with respect to the environment.

Unavoidable Effects of Facility Construction and Operation

    The unavoidable effects of construction and operation involve the 
materials used in construction that cannot be recovered and the 
fissionable material used in the reactor. No adverse impact on the 
environment is expected from either of these unavoidable effects.

Alternatives to Construction and Operation of the Facility

    To accomplish the objectives associated with research reactors, 
there are no suitable alternatives. Some of these objectives are 
training of students in the operation of reactors, production of 
radioisotopes, and use of neutron and gamma ray beams to conduct 
experiments.

Long-Term Effects of Facility Construction and Operation

    The long-term effects of research facilities are considered to be 
beneficial as a result of the contribution to scientific knowledge and 
training. Because of the relatively small amount of capital resources 
involved and the small impact on the environment, very little 
irreversible and irretrievable commitment is associated with such 
facilities.

Costs and Benefits of Facility Alternatives

    The costs are on the order of several millions of dollars with very 
little environmental impact. The benefits include, but are not limited 
to, some combination of the following: conduct of activation analyses, 
conduct of neutron radiography, training of operating personnel, and 
education of students. Some of these activities could be conducted 
using particle accelerators or radioactive sources which would be more 
costly and less efficient. There is no reasonable alternative to a 
nuclear research reactor for conducting this spectrum of activities.

Conclusion

    The staff concludes that there will be no significant environmental 
impact associated with the licensing of research reactors or critical 
facilities designed to operate at power levels of 2 MWt or lower and 
that no environmental impact statements are required to be written for 
the issuance of construction permits or operating licenses for such 
facilities.

[FR Doc. 00-17344 Filed 7-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P