[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53236-53237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22495]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-326]


University of California, Irvine, 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-
116, issued to University of California, Irvine (the licensee) for 
operation of their research reactor.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow renewal of the license for 20 years 
for the University of California, Irvine Nuclear Reactor Facility 
(UCINRF). The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated October 18, 1999, as amended on April 
24, and June 2, 2000. The licensee submitted an

[[Page 53237]]

Environmental Report for license renewal.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to allow continued operation of the 
UCINRF in order to continue education, training, research and 
development using neutrons and radioisotopes for experimental purposes 
beyond the current term of the license.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The research reactor is on the campus of the University of 
California, Irvine in Rowland Hall. Rowland Hall has research and 
teaching laboratories, lecture halls, classrooms, offices and 
workshops. It is surrounded by similar facilities in the immediate 
area.
    The UCINRF is authorized by a NRC license to operate at steady-
state thermal power levels up to a maximum of 250 kilowatts (KW). The 
reactor can also be operated in a pulse mode with reactivity addition 
of up to $3 in a short period from power levels of 1 KW or less. The 
construction permit was issued on May 5, 1969, and the operating 
license was issued on November 24, 1969. The reactor has operated less 
than 218 effective full-power days over the approximate 30-year license 
period as indicted in SAR Section 1.3.2. Facility modifications have 
been minor as, outlined in the SAR Section 1.4. The licensee has not 
indicated any plans to significantly change the design or the level of 
usage. Since initial operation, the gaseous Argon-41 radiological 
release has been conservatively estimated to be less than 5.9  x  10 
\9\ becquerels per year (0.160 curies per year). Average concentrations 
of Argon-41 were conservatively estimated by the licensee as 2.4  x  10 
-9 microcuries/milliliter. This concentration is well below 
the 10 CFR 20 Appendix B Table 2 limit of 1.0  x  10 -8 
microcuries/milliliter. Since 1992, the facility has had no 
radiological liquid or solid radiological releases. Material has been 
stored as required. Releases of radioactive material have been 
transferred and disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the 
licensee's byproduct license. Any necessary releases will be similarly 
treated. Currently, there are no plans to change any operating or 
radiological release practices or characteristics of the reactor during 
the license renewal period.
    The NRC concludes that conditions are not expected to change and 
that the radiological effects of the continued operation will continue 
to be minimal. The radiological exposures for facility operations have 
been within regulatory limits and should continue to remain so.
    The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
any effluents that may be released offsite 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.
    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 and 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 UCINRF 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.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The alternative to the proposed action for the research reactor 
facility is to deny the application. If the NRC denied license renewal, 
UCINRF operations would stop and decommissioning would be required 
with, likely, a small impact on the environment. The environmental 
impacts of the proposed action and alternative are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the safety analysis and evaluation for 
construction permit issuance and operating license issued in 1969.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    On July 25, 2000, the staff consulted with the California 
Department of Health Official, Steve Hsu, regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. 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 October 18, 1999, as amended on April 24, and 
June 2, 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 25th day of August 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.
[FR Doc. 00-22495 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
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