[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30964-30965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8349]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-157/97]


Ward Center for Nuclear Studies at Cornell University; Triga 
Research Reactor and Zero Power Reactor; Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering the issuance of license amendments to Facility Operating 
License No. R-80 and No. R-89, that would allow decommissioning of the 
Ward Center for Nuclear Studies (WCNS) TRIGA Research Reactor (TRIGA), 
Docket No. 50-157, License No. R-80 and Zero Power Reactor (ZPR), 
Docket No. 50-97, License No. R-89, located in Ithaca, New York.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    By letters dated August 22, 2003, as supplemented on May 13, 
September 27, October 26, December 13, 2005 and February 13, 2006, the 
licensee submitted a decommissioning plan (DP) in accordance with 10 
CFR 50.82(b)(1), in order to dismantle the 500-kilowatt (thermal) WCNS 
TRIGA Reactor and the 0.1-kilowatt (thermal) WCNS ZPR, to dispose of 
its component parts and radioactive material, and to decontaminate the 
facilities in accordance with the proposed DP to meet the Commission's 
unrestricted release criteria. After the Commission verifies that the 
release criteria have been met, Facility Operating License No. R-80 and 
No. R-89 will be terminated. The licensee submitted an Environmental 
Report on March 31, 2003, dated March 2003, that addresses the 
estimated environmental impacts resulting from decommissioning the 
WCNS, which includes the TRIGA Reactor and the ZPR.
    Cornell University ceased operations of the WCNS TRIGA reactor on 
April 21, 2003, and the WCNS ZPR ceased operations on February 12, 
1997. All the reactor fuel has been removed from both of the reactors.
    A ``Notice and Solicitation of Comments Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.1405 
and 10 CFR 50.82(b)(5) Concerning Proposed Action to Decommission the 
Ward Center for Nuclear Studies at Cornell University Reactor 
Facility'' was published in the Federal Register on August 10, 2005 (70 
FR 46549), and in the Ithaca, New York daily newspaper, The Ithaca 
Journal, on September 3, 2005. No comments were received.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is necessary because of Cornell University's 
decision to cease operations permanently at the WCNS TRIGA Reactor and 
ZPR. As specified in 10 CFR 50.82, any licensee may permanently cease 
operation and apply to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for license 
termination and authorization to decommission the affected facility. 
Further, 10 CFR 51.53(d) provides that each applicant for a license 
amendment to authorize decommissioning of a production or utilization 
facility shall submit with its application an environmental report that 
reflects any new information or significant environmental change 
associated with the proposed decommissioning activities. Cornell 
University is planning unrestricted use for the area that would be 
released.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The decommissioning plan states that all decontamination will be 
performed by trained personnel in accordance with the requirements of 
the radiation protection program, and will be overseen by a radiation 
safety officer with multiple years of experience in decommissioning 
health physics practices. All reactor and pool components will be 
removed from the facility as low level radioactive waste and managed in 
accordance with NRC requirements. The licensee estimates the total 
occupational radiation exposure for the decommissioning process to be 
about 18 person-rem. The licensee proposes controls, as mentioned above 
and in the DP, to minimize the occupational exposure to individual 
workers, thereby ensuring that the exposures are within the 10 CFR part 
20 limits. In addition, by keeping the public at a safe distance, using 
access control, and by using the approved DP and Cornell's radiation 
protection program to control effluent releases, the licensee expects 
the radiation exposure to the general public to be negligible. The 
licensees conclusion is consistent with the estimate given for the 
``reference research reactor'' in NUREG-0586, ``Final Generic 
Environmental Impact Statement on Decommissioning of the Nuclear 
Facilities, August 1988.''
    Occupational and public exposure may result from offsite disposal 
of the low-level residual radioactive material from the WCNS, which 
includes the TRIGA Reactor and the ZPR. In the DP the licensee stated 
that the handling, storage, and shipment of this radioactive material 
will meet the requirements of 10 CFR 20.2006, ``Transfer for Disposal 
and Manifest,'' and 49 CFR parts 100-177, ``Transportation of Hazardous 
Materials.'' The licensee anticipates that about 4700 ft\3\ (133 m\3\) 
of low level radioactive waste generated during the decommissioning 
process will be shipped during approximately twenty truck shipments in 
appropriate shipping containers to a disposal facility. The waste that 
needs to be processed prior to disposal will be shipped by the licensee 
to a licensed waste processor. The DP states that waste for disposal 
will be shipped to either the Barnwell, South Carolina, or the 
Envirocare of Utah disposal sites. Included in these shipments will be 
mixed waste of activated and/or contaminated lead.
    The NRC Final Rule on License Termination, 10 CFR 20.1402, provides 
radiological criteria for release of a site for unrestricted use. 
Release criteria for unrestricted use is a maximum Total Effective Dose 
Equivalent (TEDE) of 25 mrem per year from residual radioactivity above 
background. Application of the as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) 
principle is also a requirement. The results of the final status survey 
will be used to demonstrate that the predicted dose to a member of the 
public from any residual activity does not exceed the 25 mrem per year 
dose limit. The NRC will perform inspections and a confirmatory survey 
to verify the decommissioning activities and the final status survey.
    The DP states that liquid waste that is generated during the 
decommissioning activities will be filtered or solidified and disposed 
of in accordance with the regulations in 10 CFR part 20, subpart K, 
``Waste Disposal.'' Containment measures will be taken as necessary to 
minimize the spread of contamination. Engineered features such as 
enclosures and temporary barriers with high-efficiency particulate air 
filters will be used to control the spread of airborne radioactive 
material. Airborne releases of radioactive materials are not expected.
    The licensee analyzed accidents applicable to decommissioning 
activities. The accident with the greatest potential impact on members 
of the public is the dropping of a waste shipping liner containing 
radioactive material. The maximum TEDE to a member of the public at the 
site boundary for this accident is about 40 mrem, which is within the 
dose limits for members of the public given in 10 CFR part 20, subpart 
D, ``Radiation Dose Limits for Individual Members of the Public.''
    Based on the review of the specific proposed activities associated 
with the dismantling and decontamination of the

[[Page 30965]]

WCNS, which includes the TRIGA Reactor and the ZPR, the staff has 
determined that the proposed action will not increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
any effluents that may be released off site, and there will be no 
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure above 
those during the operation of the facility. Therefore, the staff 
concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. The predominant hazardous 
material in the WCNS site is elemental lead. Proper precautions will be 
taken to reduce the exposure to lead dust. Asbestos is also present in 
WCNS construction materials (e.g. floor tiles, roofing materials). 
Asbestos will be removed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. 
Decommissioning activities will not affect non-radiological facility 
effluents and have no other environmental impact. The licensee states 
that there are no sensitive or endangered species on the WCNS site and 
will ensure that all construction activities or any related disturbance 
will not result in the impairment of local waterways. Therefore, the 
staff concludes that there are no significant non-radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The four alternatives for disposition of the WCNS, which includes 
the TRIGA Reactor and the ZPR are: DECON, SAFSTOR, ENTOMB, and no 
action. Cornell University has proposed the DECON option.
    DECON is the alternative in which the equipment, structures, and 
portions of the facilities containing radioactive contaminants are 
removed or decontaminated to a level that permits the property to be 
released for unrestricted use. SAFSTOR is the alternative in which the 
nuclear facilities are placed and maintained in a condition that allows 
the nuclear facilities to be safely stored and subsequently 
decontaminated (deferred decontamination) to levels that permit release 
for unrestricted use. ENTOMB is the alternative in which radioactive 
contaminants are encased in a structurally long-lived material, such as 
concrete; the entombed structure is appropriately maintained; and 
continued surveillance is carried out until the radioactivity decays to 
a level permitting release of the property for unrestricted use. The 
no-action alternative would leave the facilities in their present 
configuration, without any decommissioning activities required or 
implemented.
    The SAFSTOR, ENTOMB, and no-action alternatives would entail 
continued surveillance and physical security measures to be in place 
and continued monitoring by licensee personnel. The SAFSTOR and no-
action alternatives would also require continued maintenance of the 
facilities. The radiological impacts of SAFSTOR and no-action would be 
less than the DECON option because of radioactive decay prior to the 
start of decommissioning activities. However, these options involve the 
continued use of resources during the SAFSTOR or no-action period. The 
ENTOMB option would also result in lower radiological exposure than the 
DECON option but would involve the continued use of resources. Cornell 
University has determined that the proposed action (DECON) is the most 
efficient use of WCNS, including the TRIGA Reactor and the ZPR, since 
it proposes to use the space that will become available for 
unrestricted uses. These alternatives would have no significant 
environmental impact. In addition, the regulations in 10 CFR 
50.82(b)(4)(i) only allow an alternative which provides for delayed 
completion of decommissioning only when the delay is necessary to 
protect the public health and safety. The staff finds that delay is not 
justified since the environmental impacts of the proposed action and 
the alternatives are similar and insignificant.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Environmental Report submitted on March 
31, 2003, dated March 2003, as supplemented on May 13, September 27, 
October 26, and December 13, 2005, for the Cornell University WCNS 
TRIGA Reactor and ZPR.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    On November 4, 2005, the staff consulted with a New York State 
official, Robert Dansereau of the New York State Health Department 
Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection, regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The staff also consulted 
with other New York State officials including the Program Manager of 
the Radioactive Waste Policy and Nuclear Coordination Office of the New 
York State Energy Research & Development Authority, Chief of the 
Radiation Section Division of Hazardous Waste and Radiation Management 
of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the 
Director of the Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection of the New 
York State Health Department. The State officials had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the Commission 
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 August 22, 2003, as supplemented on May 13, 
September 27, October 26, 2005, December 13, 2005, and February 13, 
2006, which are available for public inspection, and can be copied for 
a fee, at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Public Document Room 
(PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first 
floor), Rockville, Maryland. The NRC maintains an Agencywide Documents 
Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image 
files of NRC's public documents. These documents may be accessed 
through the NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at 
http://www.nrc.gov. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who have 
problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS may contact the 
PDR reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day of May, 2006.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Brian E. Thomas,
Branch Chief, Research and Test Reactors Branch, Division of Policy and 
Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
 [FR Doc. E6-8349 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
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