[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 65165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29327]
[[Page 65165]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 050-133; NRC-2009-0541]
Pacific Gas and Electric, Humboldt Bay Power Plant, Unit 3;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for an
Exemption From Certain Control and Tracking Requirements in 10 CFR Part
20 Appendix G Section III.E
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an exemption from certain control and tracking requirements
in 10 CFR part 20 appendix G section III.E for Facility Operating
License No. DPR-7 issued to Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E or the
licensee), for Humboldt Bay Power Plant (HBPP) Unit 3, located in
Humboldt County, California.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for an exemption dated September 4, 2009. The licensee has
requested an exemption from certain control and tracking requirements
in 10 CFR part 20 appendix G section III.E, which require the licensee
to investigate, and file a report with the NRC, if shipments of low-
level radioactive waste are not acknowledged by the intended recipient
within 20 days after transfer to the shipper.
The proposed action would grant an exemption to extend the time
period that can elapse during shipments of low-level radioactive waste
before the licensee is required to investigate and file a report with
the NRC. Specifically, the exemption would extend the time period for
the licensee to receive acknowledgment that the low-level radioactive
waste shipment has been received by the intended recipient from 20 days
to 45 days.
The Need for the Proposed Action
PG&E is in the process of decommissioning HBPP Unit 3. During the
decommissioning process, large volumes of slightly contaminated debris
are generated and require disposal. PG&E transports low-level
radioactive waste from HBPP Unit 3 to distant locations such as a waste
disposal facility operated by Energy Solutions in Clive, Utah, and
waste processors in Tennessee.
The licensee's request to extend the 20-day investigation and
reporting requirements for shipments of low-level radioactive waste to
45 days is based on historical data derived from experience at Southern
California Edison Company's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
(SONGS). That experience indicates that rail transportation time to
waste disposal facilities frequently exceeded the 20-day reporting
requirement. A review of the SONGS data indicates that transportation
time for shipments by rail or truck/rail took over 16 days on average
and, on occasion, took up to 57 days. HBPP is in a more remote location
than SONGS and is not near a railhead. Shipping from HBPP may require a
combination of truck/rail, barge/rail or barge/truck shipments. These
mixed-mode shipments will be comprised of truck and barge shipments
from HBPP to inland locations in California or nearby states, followed
by rail shipments to the waste disposal facilities or processors. The
additional step of transloading material at a remote railyard (e.g.,
unloading and loading, waiting for the train to depart) is expected to
add to shipping delays that exceed the time of shipments from SONGS.
The licensee affirms that the low-level radioactive waste shipments
will always be tracked throughout transportation until they arrive at
their intended destination. The licensee believes, and the staff
agrees, that the need to investigate, trace, and report to the NRC on
the shipment of low-level waste packages not reaching their destination
within 20 days does not serve the underlying purpose of the rule.
Therefore, the NRC staff finds that granting an exemption to extend the
time period from 20 days to 45 days for mixed-mode shipments of low-
level radioactive waste will not result in an undue hazard to life or
property.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has reviewed the licensee's proposed exemption request and
concluded that the proposed exemption is procedural and administrative
in nature.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
any effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no significant
increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological 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
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative).
Denial of the application would result in no change in current
environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action
and the alternative action are similar.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with NRC policy, on November 2, 2009, the staff
consulted with a State of California official in the Radiologic Health
Services, State Department of Health Services, regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action. The state official had no
comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC 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.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 1st day of December 2009.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Keith I. McConnell,
Deputy Director, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing
Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection,
Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management
Programs.
[FR Doc. E9-29327 Filed 12-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P