[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 24521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11304]



[[Page 24521]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 70-1201]


Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for the Renewal of Special Nuclear Materials 
License for Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power, Inc., Lynchburg, VA

I. Introduction

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering renewal 
of NRC Special Nuclear Material License SNM-1168 for Framatome Advanced 
Nuclear Power, Inc. (FANP) in Lynchburg, VA. Initial operations at the 
FANP Lynchburg site with enriched uranium were authorized in December 
1969. The license was renewed in April 1976, June 1983, and September 
1991. The license was extended for 18 months on January 4, 2001.
    By application dated March 28, 2002, FANP requested renewal of SNM-
1168. FANP submitted an Environmental Report by letter dated March 28, 
2002. The NRC published a Federal Register notice on August 9, 2002 (67 
FR 51894), with a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing on the proposed 
action. No requests for a hearing were received.
    The FANP facility conducts three types of operations: producing 
fuel assemblies for use in commercial light-water reactors, support 
activities for nuclear reactor field service operations, and general 
manufacturing. The activities covered under license SNM-1168 are the 
fabrication of fuel assemblies and support activities for nuclear 
reactor field service operations. The proposed renewal of license SNM-
1168 is necessary for FANP to continue operation.
    The NRC staff performed an Environmental Assessment (EA) in support 
of its review of FANP's renewal request, in accordance with the 
requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The conclusion of the EA is a Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action.

II. EA Summary

    The scope of the EA included an evaluation of the activities 
authorized under license SNM-1168, as well as other activities which 
could potentially affect licensed activities. Principal activities in 
the facility include the processing of low-enriched uranium (<= 5.1%), 
received as UO2 pellets. Other activities conducted in 
conjunction with nuclear fuel fabrication include: fabrication of 
poison rods, download of finished fuel bundles and rods, repair of 
returned fuel assemblies, laboratory operations and waste disposal 
operations.
    On the basis of its assessment, the NRC staff has concluded that 
the environmental impacts associated with the proposed license renewal 
for continued operation at the Lynchburg facility would not be 
significant and, therefore, the proposed action does not warrant the 
preparation of an environmental impact statement. All existing 
requirements for environmental monitoring and protection will be 
continued to evaluate future impacts.

III. Further Information

    The full EA (ADAMS Accession No. ML030940720) and the following 
documents related to the proposed action, are available for inspection 
at NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html: (1) Framatome ANP, Inc., Response to the Request for 
Additional Information for License Renewal, SNM-1168, Docket No. 70-
1201, November 8, 2002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML023230413); (2) Letter to 
Peter Lee re: Special Nuclear Material License Renewal of Framatome 
ANP, Mt. Athos Road Facility, 2708, Campbell County, VA, 
October 2, 2002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML022810449); (3) Application for 
License Renewal of SNM-1168, Docket No. 70-1201, March 28, 2002 (ADAMS 
Accession No. ML020940468); and, (4) Supplement to the Environmental 
Report, SNM-1168, Docket No. 70-1201, March 28, 2002 (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML020930031). These documents and B&W Fuel Company's letter to 
Robert Pierson re: Exemption from Emergency Plan, March 21, 1994, may 
also be examined and copies for a fee at the NRC's Public Document 
Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, MD 20852. Any questions with respect to this action should 
be referred to Ms. Julie Olivier, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, 
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Mail Stop T-8 A33, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone 
(301)415-8089.

    Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of April, 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Susan M. Frant,
Chief, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and 
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 03-11304 Filed 5-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P