[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10590-10591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2923]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Relocation and Decommissioning of NS Savannah

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is considering 
transferring the Nuclear Ship NS Savannah from its present location in 
the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia to either Charleston, South 
Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virginia; or 
Baltimore, Maryland, to complete decommissioning of the ship's nuclear 
reactor. Prior to making this decision, MARAD requests public comments 
and may hold several informational public meetings and/or 
teleconferences on the proposal.

DATES: Comments are due by March 31, 2006.

[[Page 10591]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by mail to: Maritime Administration, 
Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590; or by e-mail to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erhard Koehler, Manager, NS Savannah 
Programs, Maritime Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20590; phone: (202) 366-2631; fax: (202) 366-3954; or e-mail 
[email protected]. Information regarding the NS Savannah is also 
available on MARAD's Web site at http://www.marad.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NS Savannah, the world's first nuclear-
powered commercial vessel, was originally launched on July 21, 1959, 
and served as a demonstration of the peaceful and productive use of 
atomic power. It was part of the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime 
Museum in Mount Pleasant, SC from 1981 to 1994, and has spent the last 
11 years moored at MARAD's James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.
    MARAD is considering transferring the Savannah from its present 
location to either Charleston, South Carolina; Wilmington, North 
Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virginia; or Baltimore, Maryland, to complete 
the decommissioning of its nuclear reactor. No nuclear fuel remains on 
the Savannah (as all of the fuel was removed more than 30 years ago). 
MARAD has a five-year plan to remove the rest of the irradiated 
components from the ship--the reactor pressure vessel, steam 
generators, pumps and piping systems. These components have been tested 
and found to be Class A or lower, which means they have the lowest 
radiation levels they can have and still be considered nuclear waste. 
The waste would be disposed of in a licensed facility. This collective 
process is defined as ``decommissioning.''
    The Savannah is licensed and regulated by the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC)--just like any other commercial utility 
that operates a nuclear power station. Under NRC regulations, MARAD 
must move the Savannah from its present location in the James River 
Reserve Fleet to an East Coast port / industrial complex where the 
decommissioning work can be accomplished. NRC will then consider an 
amendment to MARAD's Savannah license to authorize the decommissioning 
work. This review is expected to take two years (2006-2008), and it 
will include a series of formal hearings chaired by the NRC in the 
decommissioning port.
    MARAD is requesting public comments on its proposal to relocate the 
Savannah for decommissioning. After reviewing comments, MARAD may hold 
several informational public meetings (and/or teleconferences) 
addressing this proposal in Charleston, South Carolina; Wilmington, 
North Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virginia (to include Norfolk, 
Portsmouth, Newport News); and Baltimore, Maryland. If such meetings 
are determined to be necessary, specific dates and times for the 
meetings will be announced in the Federal Register.

    (Authority 49 CFR 1.66)

    Dated: February 24, 2006.

    By order of the Maritime Administrator.
Joel C. Richard,
Secretary, Maritime Administration
 [FR Doc. E6-2923 Filed 2-28-06; 8:45 am]
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