[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43236-43237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18410]
[[Page 43236]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030-35160]
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Issuance of a License Amendment of U. S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Byproduct Material License No. 45-25483-01; Richemont North
America, Inc.
I. Summary
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
terminating Byproduct Material License No. 45-25483-01 to authorize the
release of the licensee's facilities in Winchester, Virginia, for
unrestricted use and has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in support of this action.
The NRC has reviewed the results of the final survey of the
Richemont North America facility in Winchester, Virginia. Richemont
North America was authorized by the NRC from August 31, 1999, until the
present to use manufactured watch dials and hands containing luminous
paint activated with tritium for the manufacture and repair of
timepieces. In 2002, Richemont North America ceased operations with
licensed materials at the Winchester, Virginia site, and requested that
the NRC terminate the license. Richemont North America has conducted
surveys of the facility and determined that the facility meets the
license termination criteria in Subpart E of 10 CFR part 20. The NRC
staff has evaluated Richemont North America's request and the results
of the surveys, performed a confirmatory survey, and has developed an
EA in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. Based on the
staff evaluation, the conclusion of the EA is a Finding of No
Significant Impact on human health and the environment for the proposed
licensing action.
II. Environmental Assessment
Introduction
Richemont North America has requested release, for unrestricted
use, of their building located at 202 North Loudoun Street, in
Winchester, Virginia, as authorized for use by NRC License No. 45-
25483-01. License No. 45-25483-01 was issued on August 31, 1999, and
amended periodically since that time. NRC-licensed activities performed
at the Winchester, Virginia site were limited to the repair, service
and repair of returned timepieces and the receipt and application of
timepiece self-luminous parts typically performed on bench tops. No
outdoor areas were affected by the use of licensed materials. Licensed
activities ceased completely in June 2002 and the licensee requested
release of the facilities for unrestricted use. Based on the licensee's
historical knowledge of the site and the condition of the facilities,
the licensee determined that only routine decontamination activities,
in accordance with licensee radiation safety procedures, were required.
The licensee surveyed the facility and provided documentation that the
facility meets the license termination criteria specified in subpart E
of 10 CFR part 20, ``Radiological Criteria for License Termination.''
The Proposed Action
The proposed action is to terminate NRC Radioactive Materials
License No. 45-25483-01 and release the licensee's facilities at 202
North Loudoun Street in Winchester, Virginia, for unrestricted use. By
letter dated September 30, 2002, Richemont North America provided
survey results which demonstrate that the Winchester, Virginia facility
is in compliance with the radiological criteria for license termination
in subpart E of 10 CFR part 20, ``Radiological Criteria for License
Termination.''
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of the proposed action is to release the building
located at the 202 North Loudoun Street in Winchester, Virginia, for
unrestricted use and to terminate the Richemont North America materials
license. This will allow Richemont North America to stop leasing the
building. The need for the proposed action is to comply with NRC
regulations and the Timeliness Rule. NRC is fulfilling its
responsibilities under the Atomic Energy Act to make a decision on a
proposed license amendment for release of facilities for unrestricted
use that ensures protection of the public health and safety and
environment.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The only alternative to the proposed action of terminating the
license and releasing the Winchester, Virginia facility for
unrestricted use is no action. The no-action alternative is not
acceptable because it will result in violation of NRC's Timeliness Rule
(10 CFR 30.36), which requires licensees to decommission their
facilities when licensed activities cease. The licensee does not plan
to perform any activities with licensed materials at this location.
Maintaining the areas under a license would also reduce options for
future use of the property and require Richemont North America to
continue leasing office space for which it has no use.
The Affected Environment and Environmental Impacts
Richemont North America leased office space in a Wachovia Bank
building in downtown Winchester, Virginia. The building was of brick
construction, the offices encompassed the second floor. The building is
surrounded by other small business buildings.
The NRC staff has reviewed the surveys performed by Richemont North
America to demonstrate compliance with the 10 CFR 20.1402 license
termination criteria. Based on its review, the staff has determined
that the affected environment and environmental impacts associated with
the decommissioning of the Richemont North America facility are bounded
by the impacts evaluated by the ``Generic Environmental Impact
Statement in Support of Rulemaking on Radiological Criteria for License
Termination of NRC-Licensed Facilities'' (NUREG-1496). The staff also
finds that the proposed release for unrestricted use of the Richemont
North America facility is in compliance with 10 CFR 20.1402,
``Radiological Criteria for Unrestricted Use''. The NRC has found no
other activities in the area that could result in cumulative impacts.
Agencies and Persons Contacted and Sources Used
This EA was prepared entirely by the NRC staff. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service was contacted for comment and responded by letter
dated January 16, 2003, with no opposition to the action. The Virginia
Department of Historic Resources was also contacted and had no comment.
Conclusion
Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that the proposed
action complies with 10 CFR part 20. NRC has prepared this EA in
support of the proposed license termination to release the Richemont
North America facility located at 202 North Loudoun Street in
Winchester, Virginia, for unrestricted use. On the basis of the EA, NRC
has concluded that the environmental impacts from the proposed action
are not expected to be significant and has determined that the
preparation of an environmental impact statement for the proposed
action is not required.
[[Page 43237]]
List of Preparers
Orysia Masnyk Bailey, Materials Licensing/Inspection Branch 1,
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Health Physicist.
List of References
1. NRC License No. 45-25483-01 inspection and licensing records.
2. Richemont. ``Request to terminate license'' Letter from J.
Brown to NRC dated September 30, 2003. (ML020870095)
3. Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations part 20, subpart E,
``Radiological Criteria for License Termination.''
4. Federal Register notice, Volume 65, No. 114, page 37186,
dated Tuesday, June 13, 2000, ``Use of Screening Values to
Demonstrate Compliance With The Federal Rule on Radiological
Criteria for License Termination.''
5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ``Richemont North America,
Inc. Termination of Byproduct Materials License, 2806,
Frederick County, Virginia,'' Letter from K. Mayne to NRC dated
January 16, 2003.
6. NRC. NRC Inspection Report No. 45-25483-01/02-01, dated
November 26, 2002. (ML023300524)
7. NRC. NUREG-1757 ``Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning
Guidance,'' Final Report dated September 2002.
8. NRC. NUREG-1496 ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement in
Support of Rulemaking on Radiological Criteria for License
Termination of NRC-Licensed Nuclear Facilities,'' Final Report dated
July 1997.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon the environmental assessment, the staff concludes that
the proposed action will not have a significant impact on the quality
of the human environment. Accordingly, the staff has determined that
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not warranted.
IV. Further Information
The references listed above are available for public inspection and
may also be copied for a fee at the NRC's Public Document Room, located
at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland
20852. These documents are also available for public review through
ADAMS, the NRC's electronic reading room, at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.htlm.
Any questions with respect to this action should be referred to
Orysia Masnyk Bailey, Materials Licensing/Inspection Branch 1, Division
of Nuclear Materials Safety, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region
II, Suite 23T85, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8931.
Telephone 404-562-4739.
Dated at Atlanta, Georgia the 7th day of July, 2003.
For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Douglas M. Collins,
Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region II.
[FR Doc. 03-18410 Filed 7-18-03; 8:45 am]
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