[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]
[[Page 30964]]
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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
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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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