[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 44884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-16830]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 03-005980]


Consideration of Amendment Request for Sorting, Characterizing, 
and Repackaging Waste at the Safety Light Corporation Facility, 
Bloomsburg, PA, and Opportunity for a Hearing

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of consideration of amendment request for sorting, 
characterizing, and repackaging waste at the Safety Light Corporation 
facility, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and opportunity for a hearing.

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    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering issuance of a 
license amendment to By-Product Materials License No. 37-00030-02 
(License No. 37-00030-02), issued to Safety Light Corporation (SLC), to 
authorize the sorting, characterizing, and repackaging of containerized 
waste located at the SLC facility in South Central Township, about five 
miles from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
    During 1999 and 2000, the licensee removed waste from two 
underground silos, as part of site remediation of the radiological 
contamination at the SLC facility, in accordance with the conditions 
described in License No. 37-00030-02. The waste is stored in two 
temporary waste storage areas, because additional sorting and 
characterization of the waste is required. The SLC facility is located 
adjacent to the Susquehanna River, so these storage areas potentially 
could flood during severe hurricane-type conditions. On February 6, 
2002, the licensee submitted the ``Work Plan for SLC, Bloomsburg, PA, 
Radioactive Waste Repackaging'' (Work Plan) for NRC review and 
approval. The radioactive contamination in this waste, based on 
previous characterization data, consists primarily of tritium, Sr-90 
and Cs-137 that is regulated by NRC, and Ra-226 that is regulated by 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental (PADEP). 
There may also be some mixed waste (radioactive and hazardous waste) 
that is dually regulated by NRC and PADEP. The waste material had been 
placed within two underground silos during previous operations at the 
facility, which began during the late 1940s. These operations by United 
States Radium Corporation and later the SLC, involved the manufacturing 
and distributing of self-illuminating watch and instrument dials, and 
other uses of a variety of radioactive material until about 1968, when 
tritium was the only radionuclide used.
    During all waste processing activities, the NRC will require the 
licensee to maintain effluents and doses within NRC requirements, and 
as low as reasonably achievable. Prior to approving the Work Plan and 
supporting information, the NRC will have made findings required by the 
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC's regulations. Approval 
of the Work Plan at the SLC Bloomsburg, PA facility will be documented 
in an amendment to License No. 37-00030-02. The NRC has coordinated 
this NRC licensing action with PADEP and the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency Region III, which have separate 
jurisdictions related to this waste material and this facility.
    The NRC hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on an 
application for amendment of a license falling within the scope of 
Subpart L ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudication in Materials 
Licensing Proceedings,'' of NRC's rules and practice for domestic 
licensing proceedings in 10 CFR Part 2. Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.1205(a), 
any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding may file a 
request for a hearing in accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(c). A request 
for hearing must be filed withing thirty (30) days of the date of 
publication of the Federal Register Notice.
    The request for the hearing must be filed with the Office of the 
Secretary either:
    1. By delivery to the Document Control Desk or may be delivered to 
the Commission's Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 
MD 20852-2738; or
    2. By mail or telegram addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: 
Rulemakings & Adjudications Staff.
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part 
2 of the 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 10 CFR 
2.1205(g);
    3. The requesters areas of concern about the licensing activity 
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
    4. The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing is 
timely in accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(c).
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(e), each request for a hearing 
must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, to:
    1. The applicant, Safety Light Corporation, 4150-A Old Berwick 
Road, Bloomsburg, PA 17815, Attention: Larry Harmon, Plant Manager; and
    2. The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director for 
Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 
20852, or by mail, addressed to the Executive Director for Operations, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
    For further details with respect to this action, the Work Plan and 
supporting information dated February 6, April 25 and May 28, 2002 is 
available for inspection at the NRC's Public Document Room, 11555 
Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, and from http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html.

    Dated at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, this 27th day of June 
2002.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Francis M. Costello,
Deputy Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, RI.
[FR Doc. 02-16830 Filed 7-3-02; 8:45 am]
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