[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 227 (Friday, November 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85268-85274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28372]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-170; NRC-2012-0272]
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact;
issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-84, held by the Armed
Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI or the licensee) for the
continued operation of its Training, Research, Isotope Production,
General Atomics (GA) (TRIGA) research reactor. The NRC is issuing an
environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact
(FONSI) associated with the renewal of the license.
DATES: The EA and FONSI are available as of November 25, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2012-0272 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may obtain publicly available information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2012-0272. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS,
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. For
the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided
in a table in the ``Availability of Documents'' section of this
document.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy K. Montgomery, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Rockville, MD
20852; telephone: 301-415-3398; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of a renewed Facility Operating
License No. R-84, held by AFRRI, which would authorize continued
operation of the AFRRI TRIGA research reactor, located in Bethesda,
Montgomery County, Maryland. As required by section 51.21 of title 10
of the Code of Federal
[[Page 85269]]
Regulations (10 CFR), ``Criteria for and identification of licensing
and regulatory actions requiring environmental assessments,'' the NRC
performed an EA. Based on the results of the EA that follows, the NRC
has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the
proposed license renewal and is issuing a FONSI.
II. Environmental Assessment
Facility Site and Environs
The AFRRI complex and TRIGA Mark-F research reactor is located on
the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda Military
Installation, Montgomery County, Maryland. The AFRRI lies 3 miles (4.8
kilometers) north of the Washington, DC-Maryland line. The AFFRI site
contains a moderate slope that declines northward towards a narrow
creek valley, which feeds into Rock Creek. The nearest residence, 295
feet (90 meters) away, is Fisher House, a temporary home for families
of patients of the medical center.
The AFRRI complex includes six separate primary buildings arranged
in an interconnected complex. The principal radiation facilities housed
within AFRRI are the TRIGA reactor facility, the linear accelerator
facility, the Cobalt-60 facility, and the Low-Level Radiation Facility.
In addition to these facilities, AFRRI also houses research
laboratories, a hot cell, a radiochemistry lab, an animal clinical
research facility, office space, and related support areas. The reactor
facility, which includes the Mark-F reactor and its associated
equipment, is housed in a single building of reinforced concrete. A mat
foundation under the building distributes floor and shielding loads and
also provides shielding against potential soil activation. The roof of
the building is constructed of lightweight concrete poured over a
corrugated steel form supported by steel roof trusses. Access to the
AFRRI complex is controlled.
The AFRRI TRIGA research reactor is used to study the effects of
neutron and gamma radiation on living organisms and instruments and to
produce radioisotopes. The reactor is an open pool-type light water
reactor that can operate in either steady-state mode up to a power
level of 1.1 megawatt (thermal) (MWt) or pulse mode with a step
reactivity insertion of up to 2.45 percent [Delta]k/k. The reactor
utilizes standard design GA fuel elements. The AFRRI TRIGA reactor has
the capability of a horizontally movable core. The reactor pool
contains approximately 15,000 gallons (56,800 liters) of light,
demineralized water. The reactor tank is 19.5 feet (6 meters) deep and
13 feet (4 meters) wide in a clover leaf shape. The reactor core is
positioned in the reactor tank under approximately 16 feet (5 meters)
of water. The reactor tank water serves as radiation shielding, a
neutron moderator and reflector, and reactor coolant. The AFRRI TRIGA
reactor tank is constructed of aluminum and is embedded in ordinary
concrete with a protective coating between the aluminum and concrete.
The core is shielded in the radial directions by the reactor tank water
and a minimum of approximately 9 feet (2.75 meters) of ordinary
concrete (with the exception of the exposure rooms). The reactor is
fueled with special nuclear material enriched to less than 20 percent
Uranium-235. A detailed description of the reactor can be found in the
AFRRI Safety Analysis Report (SAR).
The cooling systems for the AFRRI TRIGA research reactor are the
primary cooling system, the secondary cooling system, the primary water
purification system, and the makeup water system for the primary
coolant. Natural convection of the water in the reactor pool dissipates
the heat generated by the reactor core. Heated coolant rises out of the
core and into the bulk pool water. The large heat sink provided by the
volume of primary coolant allows several hours of full-power operation
without any secondary cooling. During prolonged operations at the upper
range of power levels, the secondary cooling system is activated and
the waste heat is released to the atmosphere through the facility's
mechanical draft wet cooling tower, which is located on the roof of the
AFRRI complex. The heat removal system transfers heat from the reactor
pool and primary piping system to the secondary system via a 1.5
megawatt (MW) heat exchanger. The secondary system uses a cooling tower
to discharge the heat directly to the atmosphere. Secondary coolant
make-up water to the cooling tower is provided by municipal water and
is automatically added as needed by a float-type valve. The addition of
secondary coolant make-up water is based on the evaporative loss
through the cooling tower and is minimal with respect to the total
capacity of the municipal water system. The environmental effects of
thermal effluents from the cooling tower at 1.1 MWt reactor power level
are negligible. During operation, the secondary system is maintained at
a higher pressure than the primary system to minimize the likelihood of
primary system contamination entering the secondary system and
ultimately the environment. The reactor pool water level is monitored
by a float activated switch. A drop in the reactor pool water level of
6 inches (15 centimeters) causes a reactor scram and activates several
alarms. Instrumentation in the reactor tank, primary cooling water
system, and primary water purification system permits the measurement
of parameters important to the safe operation of the reactor and the
associated cooling system. The licensee does not chemically treat the
primary coolant.
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would renew Facility Operating License No. R-84
for a period of 20 years from the date of issuance of the renewed
license. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated June 24, 2004, as supplemented by letters dated March
4, August 13, September 27, October 21, and December 15, 2010; February
7, June 20, September 6, October 20, and November 28, 2011; January 17,
April 20, and September 21, 2012; June 28, and August 27, 2013;
December 4, 2014; March 30, 2015; and February 9, February 27, August
5, September 12, September 21, September 26, September 27, September
30, and November 16, 2016 (collectively referred to as ``the renewal
application''). In accordance with 10 CFR 2.109, ``Effect of timely
renewal application,'' the existing license remains in effect until the
NRC takes final action on the renewal application.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow the continued operation of
the AFRRI TRIGA research reactor to conduct radiobiology and related
research, which relates to the mission of the armed forces of the
United States in collaboration with other research entities, for a
period of 20 years.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The environmental impacts of the proposed action are discussed
below. As discuss below, the proposed action will not have a
significant environmental impact. In addition, the proposed action will
not require any physical changes to the facility and the impacts are
similar to those occurring during past operations.
A. Radiological Impact
Environmental Effects of Reactor Operations
Gaseous radioactive effluents resulting from the operation of the
AFRRI TRIGA reactor released from the
[[Page 85270]]
facility are Nitrogen-16 (N-16) and Argon-41 (Ar-41). These nuclides
are released to the environment from the reactor building ventilation
system through the AFRRI stack, which has a normal air flow rate of
approximately 31,000 cubic feet per minute (878 cubic meters per
minute). Because the half-life of N-16 is approximately 7.4 seconds,
the release from the reactor stack is insignificant considering the
amount of time it would take for N-16 to reach the stack from its
production point in the reactor core. Ar-41 is by far the most
significant radionuclide released as a gaseous effluent during normal
reactor operations. The maximum release of Ar-41 would occur from
continuous operation at full power. Using the TS constraint of a
maximum allowable 313.5 Ci release, the licensee calculated the dose to
a member of the public using the Environmental Protection Agency COMPLY
code to be 9.9 millirem/year (mrem/yr). The NRC staff reviewed these
calculations and found them to be reasonable and conservative. The
annual reports for the five years of operation from 2011 through 2015
show that the highest calculated actual release due to Ar-41, 6.21 Ci
in 2011, would result in a dose of 0.2 mrem/yr to a member of the
public, which is less than 1 percent of the 100 mrem/yr limit specified
in 10 CFR 20.1301, ``Dose limits for individual members of the
public.'' Additionally, this potential radiation dose also demonstrates
compliance with the as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA) air
emissions dose constraint of 10 mrem specified in 10 CFR 20.1101,
``Radiation protection programs,'' paragraph (d).
There are no liquid radioactive wastes generated as a result of
normal reactor operations, however, a liquid waste disposal system is
available as a means to control the release of radioactive liquid waste
from the AFRRI complex to the sanitary sewer system.
Low-level solid radioactive waste generated from reactor operations
typically includes laboratory wastes such as glassware, paper,
plastics, scintillation vials, disposable gloves, and radioactive
biological samples. Low-level waste typically comprises a volume of one
to five 55-gallon drums with less than 5 milliCuries per year,
containing essentially all short-lived, radionuclides (i.e., Na-24, Mn-
56, Cu-64). Reactor demineralizer resins and particulate filters are
typically changed at intervals of 6 to 18 months, and are disposed of
as solid waste. Solid radioactive wastes are transferred to the AFRRI
byproduct license and disposed of under the requirements of that
license.
Reactor staff members of the AFRRI TRIGA research reactor and other
AFRRI personnel who work with radioactive materials are assigned
personal dosimeters which assess whole body and extremity doses.
Personnel exposures are well within the limits set forth by 10 CFR
20.1201, ``Occupational dose limits for adults.'' There are no changes
in reactor operation associated with license renewal that would lead to
an increase in occupational dose expected as a result of the proposed
action.
The radiation monitoring systems associated with reactor operations
at AFRRI are provided and maintained as a means of ensuring compliance
with radiation limits established under 10 CFR part 20. ``Standards for
Protection Against Radiation.'' The AFRRI monitoring systems consist of
radiation area monitors (RAMs), continuous air monitors (CAMs), cooling
water monitors, AFRRI perimeter monitors, personnel monitors, and stack
gas and particulate monitors. The RAMs, placed in various areas of the
reactor building, utilize scintillation detectors which measure gamma
radiation. The CAMs, utilized in the reactor room, exposure rooms, and
prep-area provide continuous air sampling and monitoring (gross beta-
gamma activity) primarily of airborne particulate matter. The stack
particulate and gas monitoring systems measure the beta-gamma activity
emitted by radioactive particulates and the activity of gaseous
radioactive nuclides, respectively, that are exhausted through the
AFRRI stack. Perimeter monitoring at AFRRI consists of several
stations, each equipped with a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) which
detects X-ray and gamma radiation. Even with uncertainties in
individual TLDs of 10 mrem, readings have been well under
the regulatory limit.
The licensee takes environmental samples quarterly. Samples are
taken of water, soil, and vegetation and have been below action levels
specified in the AFRRI Health Physics Procedure. A review of licensee's
annual reports for the five years of operation from 2011 through 2015
indicate that samples are generally indistinguishable from normal
environmental background activity levels. Based on the NRC staff's
review of data from the annual reports over the years from 2011 through
2015, the NRC staff concludes that operation of the AFRRI TRIGA
research reactor does not have any significant radiological impact on
the surrounding environment. The proposed renewal would not authorize
any changes to reactor design or operation and thus would not change
off-site radiation levels. Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the
proposed action would not have a significant radiological impact.
Environmental Effects of Accidents
Accident scenarios are discussed in Chapter 13 of the AFRRI SAR.
The accidents analyzed in Chapter 13 range from anticipated events to a
postulated fission product release with radiological consequences that
exceed those of any fission product accident considered to be credible.
This limiting accident is referred to as the maximum hypothetical
accident (MHA) and is the bounding, most significant radiological
fission product release accident. The MHA analysis was supplemented by
letter dated January 17, 2012 and NRC staff evaluated the analysis and
performed confirmatory calculations. The MHA scenario for AFRRI is the
failure of a fueled experiment in air. For the MHA analysis, the
licensee assumed that all noble gasses and fission products that
accumulated inside the experiment capsule would be directly released
into the reactor room air without radioactive decay and be ultimately
released to the unrestricted area. The licensee also assumed that the
fueled experiment would contain one gram of 19.75 percent low enriched
uranium (LEU) and be irradiated in the AFRRI reactor for 42 minutes at
1 megawatt thermal (MWt). The 42-minute sample irradiation time was
assumed because it is the time required to reach the TS limit of 1
curie (Ci) for iodine isotopes--Iodine-131 through Iodine-135. Licensee
calculations estimate the maximum concentration of fission products
that might be present in the reactor room air following the MHA. This
estimate is based on the actual percentage of fission product gases
that escapes from the fuel and collects in the gap between the cladding
and the fuel, as determined by experiments conducted by the reactor's
designer, General Atomics. The licensee calculations show the Total
Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE) is within regulatory limits at all
distances downwind from the AFRRI facility. The maximum calculated TEDE
for a member of the public is calculated to be 76 mrem and the maximum
calculated TEDE for an AFRRI occupational worker was calculated to be
508 mrem. The proposed license renewal would not significantly increase
the probability or consequences of accidents. The NRC staff reviewed
these calculations and found them to be performed using approved
methods and are acceptable. The calculated public dose from an
accidental release is less than the 10
[[Page 85271]]
CFR part 20 annual limit of 100 mrem and the occupational dose is a
fraction of the 10 CFR part 20 annual limit of 5000 mrem.
The licensee has systems in place for controlling the release of
radiological effluents and implements a radiation protection program to
monitor personnel exposures and releases of radioactive effluents. The
systems and radiation protection program are appropriate for the types
and quantities of effluents expected to be generated by continued
operation of the reactor. The NRC staff evaluated information in the
licensee's application and data the licensee reported to the NRC for
the last 5 years of operation to determine the projected radiological
impact of the facility on the environment during the period of the
renewed license. The NRC staff found that releases of radioactive
material and personnel exposures have been well within applicable
regulatory limits. Because the licensee has not requested any changes
to the facility design or operating conditions, and no changes are
being made in the types or quantities of effluents, there would be no
significant change in the types or significant increase in the
quantities of effluents that may be released off site and there would
be no significant increases in individual or cumulative radiation
exposure. Therefore, the proposed license renewal would not increase
routine occupational or public radiation exposure and would not change
the environmental impact of facility operation. Based on its
evaluation, the NRC staff concluded that continued operation of the
reactor would not have a significant radiological impact.
B. Non-Radiological Impacts
Given that the proposed action does not involve any change in the
operation of the reactor, change in the emissions or heat load
dissipated to the environment, or construction or other land
disturbance activities, the proposed action would not have a
significant impact on land use, visual resources, air quality, noise,
or terrestrial or aquatic resources. Additionally, because the TRIGA
reactor uses municipal water for its cooling system, the proposed
action would have no effect on ground or surface waters. No release of
potentially harmful chemical substances will occur during normal
operations. No significant quantities of hazardous chemicals, toxins,
or reactives are present at the facility. No significant quantities of
strong acids or bases are used or stored at the facility. The facility
does use small volumes (typically less than 50 milliliters) of standard
laboratory-grade chemicals for experiments, but these chemicals have
low toxicity, reactivity and corrosivity characteristics. These
chemicals are disposed through an established procedure with the
Uniformed Services University of the Health Science's Environment
Health Office in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and state of Maryland requirements. Small amounts of chemicals
and/or high-solid content water may be released from the facility
through the sanitary sewer during periodic blowdown of the cooling
tower or from laboratory experiments. For the secondary coolant system,
a commercial cooling water treatment system is used to control growth
of organisms, keep the stainless steel heat exchanger surfaces clean,
and prevent corrosion and scale. These chemicals are highly diluted and
pose minimal hazards to the environment and operating staff. Chemicals
are disposed through an established procedure with the Uniformed
Services University of the Health Science's Environment Health Office
in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state
of Maryland requirements. Based on this information, the NRC staff
concludes that the proposed action would not result in significant non-
radiological waste impacts. Given that the proposed action does not
involve any change in the design or operation of the reactor, does not
use ground or surface waters for its cooling system, and involves
limited chemical usage and releases, the NRC concludes that the
proposed action would have no significant non-radiological impacts.
Other Applicable Environmental Laws
In addition to the National Environmental Policy Act, the NRC has
responsibilities that are derived from other environmental laws, which
include the Endangered Species Act, Coastal Zone Management Act,
National Historic Preservation Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act,
and Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice. The following
presents a brief discussion of impacts associated with these laws and
other requirements.
1. Endangered Species Act (ESA)
The ESA was enacted to prevent further decline of endangered and
threatened species and to restore those species and their critical
habitat. Section 7 of the ESA requires Federal agencies to consult with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's (FWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) regarding action that may affect listed species or designated
critical habitats.
The NRC staff conducted a search of Federally listed species and
critical habitats that have the potential to occur in the vicinity of
the AFFRI site using the FWS Environmental Conservation Online System
(ECOS) Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) system. The
IPaC system report states that no Federally endangered or threatened
species or critical habitats occur in the vicinity of the AFFRI site
(ADAMS Accession No. ML16218A224). Accordingly, the NRC concludes that
the proposed license renewal of the TRIGA reactor would have no effect
on Federally listed species or critical habitats. Federal agencies are
not required to consult with the FWS if they determine that an action
will not affect listed species or critical habitats (ADAMS Accession
No. ML16120A505). Thus, the ESA does not require the NRC to engage in
consultation for the proposed TRIGA reactor license renewal, and the
NRC considers its obligations under ESA Section 7 to be fulfilled for
the proposed action.
2. Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
The CZMA, in part, encourages states to preserve, protect, develop,
or restore coastal resources. Applicants for Federal licenses to
conduct an activity that affects any land or water use or natural
resource of the coastal zone of a state must provide a certification
that the proposed activity complies with the state's approved coastal
zone management program and will be conducted consistent with that
program. Montgomery County is not located within Maryland's coastal
zone. Because the AFRRI reactor is not located within or near any
managed coastal zones, the proposed action would not affect any coastal
zones and a Coastal Zone Management Act consistency certification is
not required.
3. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
The NHPA requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of their
undertakings on historic properties. As stated in the Act, historic
properties are any prehistoric or historic district, site, building,
structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in the
National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The NHRP lists historic
properties in the vicinity of the AFRRI and the National Naval Medical
Center. The closest property is the Bethesda Naval Hospital Tower,
(39[deg]00'06'' N. 77[deg]05'41'' W.), within 0.5 miles. Operation of
the AFRRI reactor has not
[[Page 85272]]
likely had any impact on this property. The license renewal does not
request any new construction or modifications to the facility. Based on
this information, the NRC staff finds that the potential impacts of
continued operation of AFRRI under the proposed license renewal would
have no adverse effect on historic and archaeological resources at the
National Naval Medical Center and AFRRI.
4. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)
The FWCA requires Federal agencies that license water development
projects to consult with the FWS (or NMFS, when applicable) and state
wildlife agencies regarding the potential impacts on fish and wildlife
resources.
The licensee is not planning any water resource development
projects, including any modifications relating to impounding a body of
water, damming, diverting a stream or river, deepening a channel,
irrigation, or altering a body of water for navigation or drainage.
Therefore, no coordination or consultation with FWS, pursuant to the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, is required for the proposed
action.
5. Executive Order 12898--Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898, ``Federal Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations,'' 59 FR
7629 (February 16, 1994), directs agencies to identify and address the
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects of their actions on minority and low-income populations, to the
greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. The environmental
justice impact analysis evaluates the potential for disproportionately
high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minority and
low-income populations that could result from the relicensing and the
continued operation of the AFRRI. Such effects may include human
health, biological, cultural, economic, or social impacts. Minority and
low-income populations are subsets of the general public residing
around the AFRRI, and all are exposed to the same health and
environmental effects generated from activities at the AFRRI.
Minority Populations in the Vicinity of the AFRRI--According to the
U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 Census, approximately 52 percent of the total
population (approximately 1.5 million individuals) residing within a
10-mile radius of AFRRI identified themselves as minority. The largest
minority populations were Black or African American (approximately
355,000 persons or 23 percent) and persons of Hispanic, Latino, or
Spanish origin of any race (approximately 261,000 persons or 17
percent). According to the 2010 Census, about 51 percent of the
Montgomery County population identified themselves as minorities, with
persons of Black or African American and Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish
origin of any race comprising the largest minority populations (17.2
and 17 percent, respectively). According to the U.S. Census Bureau's
2015 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, the minority
population of Montgomery County, as a percent of the total population,
had increased to about 55 percent.
Low-income Populations in the Vicinity of the AFRRI--According to
the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year
Estimates, approximately 157,000 persons and 21,000 families
(approximately 10 and 6 percent, respectively) residing within a 10-
mile radius of the AFRRI were identified as living below the Federal
poverty threshold. The 2014 Federal poverty threshold was $24,230 for a
family of four.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015 American Community
Survey 1-Year Estimates, the median household income for Maryland was
$75,847, while 6.7 percent of families and 9.7 percent of the state
population were found to be living below the Federal poverty threshold.
Montgomery County had a much higher median household income average
($98,917) and a lower percent of families (5.2 percent) and individuals
(7.5 percent) living below the poverty level, respectively.
Impact Analysis--Potential impacts to minority and low-income
populations would consist of radiological effects, however radiation
doses from continued operations associated with the license renewal are
expected to continue at current levels, and would be well below
regulatory limits. No additional visual or noise impacts are expected
to result from the proposed action.
Based on this information and the analysis of human health and
environmental impacts presented in this EA, the proposed license
renewal would not have disproportionately high and adverse human health
and environmental effects on minority and low-income populations
residing in the vicinity of the AFRRI.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to license renewal, the NRC considered denying
the proposed action. If the NRC denied the request for license renewal,
reactor operations would cease and decommissioning would be required
(sooner than if a renewed license were issued), and the environmental
effects of decommissioning would occur. Decommissioning would be
conducted in accordance with an NRC-approved decommissioning plan,
which would require a separate environmental review under 10 CFR 51.21.
Cessation of reactor operations would reduce or eliminate radioactive
effluents and emissions associated with operations. However, as
previously discussed in this EA, radioactive effluents and emissions
from reactor operations are a small fraction of the applicable
regulatory limits. Therefore, the environmental impacts of license
renewal and the denial of the request for license renewal would be
similar. In addition, denying the request for license renewal would
eliminate the benefits of the research and services provided by the
AFRRI TRIGA reactor.
Alternative Use of Resources
The proposed action does not involve the use of any different
resources or significant quantities of resources beyond those
previously authorized in the issuance of License Amendment No. 18 to
Facility Operating License No. R-84 for the AFRRI TRIGA research
reactor dated August 1, 1984, as supplemented by Amendment No. 23,
dated September 5, 2000, which renewed the Facility Operating License
No. R-84 for a period of 20 years.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff did not enter into consultation with any other
Federal agency or with the State of Maryland regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action. However, on October 28,
2016, the NRC staff notified the Maryland State official, Tom Levering,
Emergency Response Director, Maryland Department of the Environment, of
the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC is considering renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-
84, held by the AFFRI for the continued operation of its TRIGA research
reactor. The NRC staff has prepared an EA as part of its review of the
proposed action. On the basis of the EA included in Section II above
and incorporated by reference in this finding, the NRC finds that there
are the proposed action will
[[Page 85273]]
not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
The proposed action would result in no significant impacts on surface
or groundwater resources, or the radiological environment. In addition,
the proposed action will not affect Federally-protected species or
affect any designated habitat. The NRC staff's evaluation considered
information in the application, as supplemented, and the staff's review
of other environmental documents. Section IV below lists the
environmental documents related to the proposed action and includes
information on the availability of these documents. Accordingly, the
NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for
the proposed action.
IV. Availability of Documents
The following table identifies the environmental and other
documents cited in this document and related to the NRC's FONSI. These
documents are available for public inspection online through ADAMS at
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or in person at the NRC's PDR
as described previously.
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Document Adams accession No.
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Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute ML041800067
Renewal of Operating License R-84 for 1 MW
TRIGA Research Reactor (June 24, 2004).
Reactor Operator Requalification Program for ML041800071
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research
Institute (Financial Qualifications and
Decommissioning Information for the AFRRI
TRIGA Reactor Facility; July 2004 Changes)
(June 24, 2004).
Environmental Report for Armed Forces ML041800068
Radiobiology Research Institute (June 24,
2004).
Safety Analysis Report for Armed Forces ML101650415
Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI)
(redacted) (June 24, 2004).
Safety Analysis Report Chapters 4 and 13 for ML101650422
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research
Institute (AFRRI) (redacted) (March 4,
2010).
Request for Additional Information Regarding ML102310075
Financial Qualifications for the License
Renewal Review (August 13, 2010).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute ML110260024
Response to Request for Additional
Information dated July 19, 2010 Re:
Technical Specifications (redacted)
(September 27, 2010).
Letter re: Armed Forces Radiobiology ML103070121
Research Institute--Request for Additional
Information Regarding the Application for
License Renewal (TAC No. ME1587) (October
21, 2010).
Request for Additional Information Re: ML103560456
License Amendment, Separation of Byproduct
Material. (December 15, 2010).
Request for Additional Information Regarding ML110460687
the Application for License Renewal
(February 7, 2011).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML112232300
Institute--Response to Request for
Additional Information Regarding the
Application for License Renewal (June 20,
2011).
Response to Request for Additional ML11269A030
Information Regarding the Application for
Renewal of License R-84. (September 6,
2011).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML113410120
Institute--Response to NRC Request for
Additional Information Questions 14-41 and
Resubmittal of Technical Specifications
(redacted) (October 20, 2011).
Response to Request for Additional ML11341A133
Information Regarding the Application for
License Renewal (TAC No. ME1587). (November
28, 2011).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML113460085
Institute, Technical Responses to NRC
Request for Additional Information Re:
License Renewal (TAC No. ME1587) (redacted)
(November 28, 2011).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML12100A162
Institute--2011 Annual Operating Report
(March 30, 2012).
Request For Additional Information Regarding ML12122A146
The Application For License Renewal (TAC
No. ME1587) (April 20, 2012).
Response to Request for Additional ML12032A054
Information Regarding the Application for
License Renewal (TAC NO. ME1587) (January
17, 2012).
Request for Additional Information Regarding ML12272A303
the Application for License Renewal
(September 21, 2012).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML13092A107
Institute--2012 Annual Operating Report
(March 25, 2013).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML13182A084
Institute--Response to Request for
Additional Information Regarding the
Application for License Renewal (TAC
ME1587) (June 28, 2013).
U.S. Dept. of Defense, Uniformed Services ML13254A064
University of the Health Sciences--
Submittal of revised Technical
Specifications, Docket 50-170. (August 27,
2013).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML14093A931
Institute--2013 Annual Operating Report
(March 25, 2014).
Request for Additional Information Regarding ML14349A319
the Renewal of Facility Operating License
No. R-84 for the AFRRI TRIGA Reactor
Facility (December 4, 2014).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML15091A256
Institute--2014 Annual Operating Report
(March 25, 2015).
Letter from Stephen L. Miller Enclosing ML15093A099
revision of the Technical Specifications
for the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research
Institute reactor (License R-84, docket 50-
170). (March 30, 2015).
Request for Additional Information Regarding ML16040A310
the Application for License Renewal.
(February 9, 2016).
Submittal of Technical Specifications for ML16060A210
the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research
Institute Facility. (February 26, 2016).
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML16089A373
Institute--2015 Annual Operating Report
(March 23, 2016).
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Armed Forces ML16218A224
Radiobiology Research Institute TRIGA
Research Reactor Proposed License Renewal,
IPaC Trust Resources Report, (August 5,
2016).
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered ML16120A505
Species Consultations Frequently Asked
Questions, (July 15, 2013).
Response to NRR Request for Additional ML16232A177
Information Regarding the Application for
License Renewal for AFRRI Facility (August
5, 2016).
U.S. Department of Defense, Armed Forces ML16258A463
Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI),
Submittal of Request for Additional
Information Regarding the Application for
License Renewal (TAC No. ME1587) (September
12, 2016).
Reactor Operator Requalification Program for ML16258A464
the AFRRI TRIGA Reactor Facility (September
12, 2016).
Request for Additional Information Regarding ML16267A447
the Application for License Renewal (TAC
No. ME1587) (September 21, 2016).
AFRRI Email Regarding License Renewal ML16270A541
Application (September 26, 2016).
AFRRI Email Response to Request for ML16271A536
Additional Information for License Renewal
(September 27, 2016).
Letter from Stephen L. Miller Enclosing ML16278A111
Revision of the Technical Specifications
for the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research
Institute Reactor (September 30, 2016).
[[Page 85274]]
U.S. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research ML16321A461
Institute Letter Regarding Review of Draft
License R-84 (November 16, 2016).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of November, 2016.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Alexander Adams, Jr.,
Chief, Research and Test Reactors Licensing Branch, Division of Policy
and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2016-28372 Filed 11-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P