[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13768-13774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05043]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-397; NRC-2022-0062]
Energy Northwest; Columbia Generating Station
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact;
issuance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
approval of the continued onsite disposal of sediments containing very
low levels of radioactive materials at the Columbia Generating Station
(Columbia), located in Benton County, Washington for Renewed Facility
Operating License No. NPF-21, held by Energy Northwest (EN, the
licensee). The NRC is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed
action.
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on
March 10, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2022-0062 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 Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2022-0062. Address
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301-415-0624; 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 https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, 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,
instructions about obtaining materials referenced in this document are
provided in the ``Availability of Documents'' section.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents, by appointment, at the NRC's PDR, Room P1 B35, One White
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. To make
an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to
[email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mahesh Chawla, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-8371, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering approval of a request dated December 21,
2020, as supplemented by letter dated June 23, 2021, from EN for
continued onsite disposal of sediments containing very low levels of
radioactive material at Columbia, located in Benton County, Washington.
Columbia is a single unit boiling water reactor. The cooling system
consists of the circulating water system and standby service water
system, including spray ponds and cooling towers. The sediments are
generated from periodic cleaning of cooling towers and standby service
water system spray ponds at the site. The licensee is requesting
approval in
[[Page 13769]]
accordance with Section 20.2002 of title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR), ``Method for obtaining approval of proposed
disposal procedures,'' to dispose of approximately 1,116 cubic meters
(m\3\) (1,460 cubic yards (yd\3\)) of sediment onsite within an
existing disposal area. Based on the results of the EA that follows,
the NRC has determined that the proposed action will not have
significant environmental impacts and is issuing a FONSI.
Under 10 CFR 20.2002, a licensee may seek NRC authorization to
dispose of licensed material using procedures not otherwise authorized
by the NRC's regulations. A licensee's supporting analysis must satisfy
the requirements associated with the four parts of the regulation,
including demonstrating that the radiological doses arising from the
proposed disposal will be within the dose limits of 10 CFR part 20,
``Standards for Protection Against Radiation,'' and will be as low as
reasonably achievable.
II. Environmental Assessment
Description of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would permit the disposal of up to 1,116 m\3\
(1,460 yd\3\) of sediment containing very low levels of radioactive
material from the circulating water system cooling towers and the
standby service water system spray ponds into sediment disposal cells
in an existing sediment disposal area on the Columbia site. This
material results from the accumulation of sediment in the cooling
towers and the standby service water system spray ponds and is removed
from these systems, as needed, to prevent build-up.
Since 1995, the licensee has disposed of sediment containing very
low concentrations of radioactive material from cooling towers and the
standby service water system spray ponds within disposal cells located
approximately 250 feet south of the cooling towers. Currently, the
sediment disposal area totals approximately 4,459 square meters (m\2\)
(48,000 square feet (ft\2\) and consists of five disposal cells. Two of
the disposal cells no longer have capacity for future sediment
disposal. The three remaining disposal cells, including two active
disposal cells and one newly established cell for future disposal, have
a combined capacity of approximately 1,116 m\3\ (39,420 ft\3\). The
corners of the disposal area are marked with posts and signs indicating
its dedicated purpose, and a fence with a locked gate encloses the
disposal area to prevent inadvertent access. Sediments collected from
the cooling towers and the spray ponds consist of sand and silt-sized
particles, with up to 25 percent of organic material by weight. The
sediments are shown to have low levels of metals, with concentrations
of lead and chromium detected above background levels. Removal and
transfer of the sediment from the cooling towers will be via a vacuum
truck or other mechanical means. The vacuum truck will be filled with
sediment and emptied into the disposal cell during a cooling tower
cleaning event. Removal and transfer of sediment from the standby
service water system spray ponds will be determined by Columbia's
operating status. When the plant is offline and water drained from the
ponds, a vacuum truck will be used to remove and transfer the sediment.
During plant operations when the spray ponds cannot be drained, the
sediment will be vacuumed by divers into the vacuum truck and then
discharged to the disposal cells. Pumping of the sediment from the
spray ponds to large filter bags may also be used to remove the
sediment from the spray ponds. The filter bags are used to separate the
water from the sediment. Once dewatered, the sediment is moved to the
disposal cells and the water that was collected from the laydown area
is pumped back to the spray ponds. Each disposal cell will continue to
be filled until the level reaches the top of the berm. Transportation
of the sediments from the cooling towers and spray ponds to the
disposal cells occurs within the boundaries of the Columbia property.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated December 21, 2020, as supplemented by letter dated
June 23, 2021.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow onsite disposal of sediments
containing very low levels of radioactive material removed from
Columbia's cooling towers and spray ponds.
Benefits of the licensee's proposed action include significantly
reduced transportation distances and costs incurred as a result of
offsite disposal, while maintaining protection of public health and
safety and the environment. This request provides the licensee with an
alternative to the usage of offsite shallow land burial waste
repositories consistent with a previously released NRC Information
Notice (IN) 83-05, ``Obtaining Approval for Disposal of Very-Low-Level
Radioactive Waste,'' dated February 24, 1983.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
This section addresses the radiological and non-radiological
(resource-specific) impacts of the proposed action. The NRC considered
the potential impacts of the proposed sediment disposal activities as
well as the potential cumulative impacts associated with past, present,
and reasonably foreseeable activities including consideration of recent
disposal cell construction on the Columbia site that was completed in
November 2020.
Radiological Impacts and Human Health Occupational Dose
The proposed request for onsite disposal of slightly contaminated
sediment will not require any physical changes to the plant or plant
operations; therefore, there will be no change to any in-plant
radiation sources. In addition, the NRC's review of the processes and
procedures for disposing of the material found that doses to different
individuals involved with these disposal actions would be less than the
NRC's public dose limit of 25 millirem per year (mrem/yr). NRC staff
also confirmed that the established maximum radionuclide concentration
limits ensure that sum of fractions calculations for sediments
containing a mixture of radionuclides will not exceed one.
The licensee applies pre-disposal screening criteria to
contaminated sediment samples in accordance with Washington State's
Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) Resolution No. 299 to
ensure that disposal limits are met.\1\ Routine disposal cell
monitoring is performed to determine the direct dose rates using
thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) placed in close proximity to
disposal cells as well as a control TLD located farther away.
Specifically, TLD 119B is located at the disposal cells while TLD 119
Ctrl is located 200 yards east of the sediment disposal area and is
used for determining background radiation levels.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The NRC clarified the jurisdiction of these requests and
their related disposal actions in Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS)-
2016-11, ``Requests to Dispose of Very Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002.'' As reflected in that document, the NRC
has jurisdiction over both the 20.2002 request for alternative
disposal procedures and the on-site disposal of this material. This
EA provides the NRC's analysis of the environmental impacts of
approval of the disposal procedures under 20.2002; no separate NRC
action is necessary regarding on-site disposal because the licensee
already has authority to possess the radioactive materials.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's summary report of
radionuclide
[[Page 13770]]
concentrations for each onsite disposal event from 2010 through 2019.
The measured concentrations for each of the radionuclides were much
lower than the corresponding disposal limits. Additionally, the mean
quarterly TLD results were provided for each monitoring station for
each year and were documented in the summary report. The staff
confirmed, using the measured exposure rate, that the dose estimated to
workers would be much lower than the licensee's established limit of 15
mrem/yr. Thus, the proposed Columbia onsite disposal of slightly
contaminated sediment containing very low concentrations of radioactive
material within an existing disposal cell will have no significant
radiological impact to the workers. Additionally, the licensee's
established limit of 15 mrem/yr is below the radiological criteria of
25 mrem/yr for unrestricted use after license termination in accordance
with 10 CFR 20.1402, ``Radiological criteria for unrestricted use.''
Offsite Dose
This request is for approval for the onsite disposal of slightly
contaminated sediment within the sediment disposal area on the Columbia
site. As such, members of the public will not have access to the
disposal area. Therefore, there is no direct radiation exposure to the
public. In addition, the proposed action does not require any physical
changes to the plant or plant operation. Therefore, there will be no
change to the types and quantities of radioactive effluents or to the
operation of the radioactive gaseous and liquid waste management
systems to perform their intended functions. Once deposited in the
sediment disposal cell, the consolidated, mud-cake consistency of the
dried sediment is not readily erodible, including by precipitation in
the semiarid climate. Should erosion become a concern, site personnel
will cover the deposited material with locally sourced sand to minimize
fugitive dust emissions. The proposed onsite disposal would not
contribute any additional groundwater contamination and associated
radiological exposure to the public. For these reasons, the offsite
radiation dose to members of the public would not change and would
continue to be within regulatory limits and therefore would not be
significant. Finally, as previously noted, the potential onsite
radiological dose would be below the radiological criteria for
unrestricted use after license termination. Therefore, the proposed
action would not be expected to have a significant radiological impact
to the public.
Radiological Impacts Summary
Based on the radiological evaluations previously discussed, the NRC
staff has determined the proposed action would not result in any
adverse or significant radiological impacts. The proposed action would
have no or a negligible contribution to cumulative radiological doses
to workers and the public.
Land Use
Current land uses would not be affected by the proposed onsite
disposal of slightly contaminated sediment at Columbia. The designated
disposal site is a previously disturbed area adjacent to the Columbia
cooling towers. Therefore, the disposal area is industrial in nature,
and the NRC staff has determined that there would be no significant
land use impacts associated with the proposed action. The recent
construction of the disposal cell and the continued use of the sediment
disposal area under the proposed action would not affect existing land
uses and would not contribute to regional cumulative land use trends.
Water Resources
The proposed sediment disposal location includes existing disposal
cells and a newly established disposal cell within a designated
sediment disposal area. As with past disposals, site personnel would
transport the dewatered but saturated sediment removed from the cooling
tower structures and deposit the material in a disposal cell. These
activities would have no or negligible impact on surface water
hydrology or quality because no surface water drainages exist in or
near the sediment disposal area. The closest surface water feature is
the Columbia River, which is located approximately 3.5 miles to the
east of the disposal area.
Once deposited in the cell, the consolidated, mud-cake consistency
of the dried sediment is not readily erodible, including by
precipitation in the semiarid climate. When necessary, site personnel
will cover the deposited material with locally sourced sand should
erosion become a concern. In addition, the licensee's cooling system
sediment disposal activities are subject to Columbia's National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (number WA-
002515-1) (EFSEC 2014, 2019). Special Condition 10 of the site NPDES
permit requires the licensee to develop, implement, and maintain a
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. This plan prescribes best
management practices for soil erosion and sediment control, stormwater
pollution prevention, waste management, and spill response across the
Columbia site.
The NPDES permit requires that the licensee manage all solid waste
material so that it does not enter either surface waters or
groundwater. The permit also requires that the discharge of leachate be
managed to prevent a violation of State water quality standards for
surface water and groundwater. Further, the NPDES permit specifically
references site cooling water system sediment disposal operations and
requires that the licensee follow the prescribed procedures for
sediment handling and disposal set forth in the latest resolutions
(i.e., Resolution No. 299) issued by the State of Washington EFSEC.
In accordance with EFSEC Resolution No. 299, EN personnel must
conduct environmental and radiological monitoring of the sediment and
the disposal site in accordance with the licensee's standard
environmental monitoring procedures and practices. This monitoring
includes ensuring that sediments placed in the disposal cells comply
with specified disposal concentration limits for listed radionuclides.
The licensee provides an updated summary of sediment disposal
activities and associated sediment monitoring results in its publicly
available annual radiological environmental operating reports. The NRC
staff's review of the latest available report dated May 13, 2020, shows
that the radionuclide concentrations in sediments placed in the
disposal cells were well below the prescribed concentration limits,
with overall activity levels (i.e., for cobalt-60 and cesium-137)
within the range historically observed for cooling tower sediment. The
licensee's adherence to the measures previously described and
associated regulatory requirements would prevent or minimize any
surface water quality or groundwater quality impacts during sediment
disposal operations.
The potential exists for some water from the saturated sediment to
infiltrate through the unlined disposal cells and reach groundwater.
Groundwater occurs at a depth of approximately 50 feet below land
surface at the disposal area. The underlying groundwater is
contaminated with tritium and other contaminants associated with legacy
activities at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Reservation.
Nevertheless, EN's adherence to sediment disposal procedures and
disposal concentration limits for specified radiological constituents
would ensure that disposal activities would not further contribute to
[[Page 13771]]
groundwater contamination and associated radiological exposure to the
public.
Long term, management and monitoring activities would ensure that
there are no inadvertent offsite impacts to surface water or
groundwater quality from continued disposal site operations. Based on
the previously mentioned information, the NRC staff has determined the
impacts to water resources would not be significant.
With the work practices, management, and monitoring measures in
place as previously described, the recent disposal cell construction
and the continued use of the sediment disposal area would result in a
negligible contribution to cumulative water quality impacts, either in
the underlying groundwater system or in the Columbia River.
Air Resources
With regards to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for
criteria pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, lead, particulate matter,
nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide), Benton County is designated in
attainment for all criteria pollutants (EPA 2021). Air emissions would
be predominantly from the transfer of the sediment and equipment used
in transporting the sediment (e.g., vacuum truck). The removal and
disposal of sediment can result in fugitive dust emissions; fugitive
dust is particulate matter suspended in the air. The use of vacuum
trucks or filter bags to remove and transfer the sediment minimizes the
potential for fugitive emissions. Similarly, soil erosion, and
therefore fugitive dust, from the disposal cells is minimal since the
sediment in the disposal cells dries as mud-cake. Air emissions from
equipment exhaust would be intermittent and localized.
Based on the previously provided information, the NRC staff has
determined that there would be no significant air quality impacts
associated with the proposed action. With the best management practices
(water application and placement of sand or gravel) that have been
implemented to control fugitive dust, the recent construction of the
disposal cell and the continued use of the sediment disposal area would
result in a negligible contribution to cumulative air quality impacts
in Benton County.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Resources
The designated disposal site is a previously disturbed area within
the industrial-use portion of the Columbia site. The area where the
disposal cells are located were originally disturbed during
construction of Columbia and currently contain sediments from previous
cleaning operations. To the west of the disposal cells, the borrow pit
is used as a construction landfill. All areas of the disposal site are
largely devoid of vegetation, although some sparse grasses and shrubs
have repopulated the area. Topography is generally flat with some
gentle slopes. Some animals may frequent the disposal site. Mammals
common to the Columbia property include mule deer (Odocoileus
hemionus), coyote (Canis latrans), cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus
nuttalli), and black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) (NRC 2012).
Columbia is within the Pacific Flyway, and over 145 species of birds
have been reported from the site. Some of the most commonly sighted
birds include western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), red-winged
blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), brown-
headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus),
California gull (Larus californicus), Bullock's oriole (Icterus
bullockii), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), western kingbird (Tyrannus
verticalis), and barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). No aquatic resources,
such as wetlands, streams, or ponds occur within the disposal site.
No terrestrial or aquatic habitat would be altered, modified, or
destroyed as a result of the proposed action. The licensee anticipates
no surface water or storm water runoff as a result of disposal
activities. Some limited wind erosion and fugitive dust may occur
during movement of heavy equipment during use of the disposal cells.
Wind erosion after placement of the sediment is not expected because of
its tendency to dry as mud-cake. Noise associated with grading,
transportation, or other related activities may temporarily disturb
wildlife. However, most wildlife on or near the disposal site is likely
relatively tolerant of human activity given that the disposal site is
part of a larger operating power plant site. Disposal activities would
not require additional lighting. The recent construction of the
disposal cell and the continued use of the sediment disposal area would
not affect terrestrial or aquatic habitats, and no cumulative effects
to ecological resources would result.
As previously described, the only potential impact on ecological
resources is temporary noise-related disturbance; however, this does
not pose a significant impact on surrounding wildlife due to their
relative tolerance to human activity. Therefore, the NRC concludes that
the impacts to aquatic and terrestrial resources resulting from the
proposed action would not be significant.
Threatened and Endangered Species
The Endangered Species Act (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 Service
(FWS) or National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding actions
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 action area using the
FWS's Environmental Conservation Online System Information for Planning
and Conservation system. The FWS-generated report from this system (FWS
2021) identifies two Federally listed species that occur or potentially
occur within the vicinity of the action area: Western yellow-billed
cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) and bull trout (Salvenlinus confluentus).
Additionally, the upper Columbia River spring chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and upper Columbia River steelhead (O.
mykiss), which are under the jurisdiction of NMFS, occur in the
Columbia River, which lies approximately 3.5 miles east of the Columbia
site. No critical habitats occur in the action area. The designated
disposal site lacks suitable aquatic features for the three fish
species. Therefore, these species do not occur in the action area and
would not be affected by the proposed action.
The western yellow-billed cuckoo is associated with riparian
habitats, especially cottonwood-willow forests. When migrating, the
species may inhabit coastal scrub, second-growth forests, and forest
edges. Although this species has been recorded within Benton County, it
has not been observed on the Columbia site. Based on the lack of
suitable habitat and sightings, the NRC staff concludes that this
species does not occur within the action area and would, therefore, not
be affected by the proposed action.
For these reasons, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action
would have no effect on Federally listed species or designated critical
habitats. Federal agencies are not required to consult with NMFS or the
FWS if they determine that an action will not affect listed species or
critical habitats. Thus, the ESA does not require consultation for the
proposed action, and the NRC staff considers its obligations under the
[[Page 13772]]
ESA Section7 to be fulfilled for the proposed action.
Historic and Cultural Resources
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requires
Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings
on historic properties. Historic properties are defined as resources
included in, or eligible for inclusion, in the National Register of
Historic Places. There are no historic properties within the Columbia
site. The designated disposal site is a previously disturbed area
adjacent to the Columbia cooling towers, which is not considered a
culturally sensitive area. The only known culturally sensitive area at
Columbia is approximately 3 miles to the east of the sediment disposal
area, along the Columbia River. EN has been disposing sediment from the
cooling towers and spray ponds in disposal cells within this area since
1995 (Energy Northwest 2020). Based on the information previously
mentioned, the NRC staff concludes (1) there would be no significant
historic and cultural resources impacts associated with continued
disposal of sediment within the existing disposal cells, and (2)
continued disposal of sediment within the existing disposal cells does
not have the potential to cause effects on historic properties.
Given that the disposal site is in a previously disturbed area and
not near culturally sensitive areas, the recent construction of the
disposal cell and the continued use of the sediment disposal area would
not have a cumulative impact on historic and cultural resources.
Socioeconomics
Current socioeconomic conditions would be unaffected by the
proposed onsite disposal of slightly contaminated sediment at Columbia.
The licensee would use existing resources including onsite workforce or
local contractors to conduct the disposal; therefore, there would be no
significant socioeconomic impacts. Similarly, the recent construction
of the disposal cell and the continued use of the sediment disposal
area would result in a negligible contribution to cumulative
socioeconomic impacts.
Noise
Noise emissions would occur as a result of equipment used onsite to
remove and transfer the sediment. Noise levels from the proposed action
would not be beyond those generated from operation of Columbia.
Furthermore, the nearest resident is approximately 4.5 miles from
Columbia, and noise levels from equipment and activities are not
expected to be noticeable at this distance.
Based on the information previously mentioned, the NRC staff has
determined that there would be no significant noise impacts associated
with the proposed action.
Environmental Justice
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 proposed disposal of slightly contaminated sediment at Columbia.
Such effects may include human health, biological, cultural, economic,
or socioeconomic impacts.
According to the 2010 Census, approximately 27 percent of the total
population residing within a 10-mile radius of Columbia identified
themselves as minority (MCDCCAPS 2021). The largest minority
populations were people of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin of any
race (18 percent). Minority populations within Benton County comprise
30 percent of the total population with the largest minority
populations being Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin of any race (23
percent).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015-2019 American Community
Survey 5-Year Estimates using the University of Missouri's Circular
Area Profiling System (MCDCCAPS 2021), approximately 9 percent of
individuals and 6.5 percent of families residing within a 10-mile
radius of Columbia were identified as living below the Federal poverty
threshold. The 2019 Federal poverty threshold was $26,172 for a family
of four (USCB 2021).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community
Survey 1-Year Estimates (USCB 2021), the median household income for
Washington was $78,687, while 10 percent of the state population and 6
percent of families were found to be living below the Federal poverty
threshold. Benton County had a lower median household income average
($72,084) with 11 percent of individuals and 9 percent of families
living below the poverty level, respectively.
Potential impacts to minority and low-income populations would
mostly consist of radiological and environmental effects (e.g., noise
and dust impacts). Radiation doses are expected to remain well within
regulatory limits and noise and dust impacts would be temporary and
limited to onsite activities.
Based on this information and the analysis of human health and
environmental impacts presented in this EA, minority and low-income
populations near Columbia are not expected to experience
disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental
effects from the proposed action.
Similarly, the contributory effects of the recent construction of
the disposal cell and the continued use of the sediment disposal area
would also not have disproportionately high and adverse human health
and environmental cumulative effects on minority and low-income
populations residing in the vicinity of the Columbia site.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered
denial of the proposed request (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative).
Denial of the application would result in no change in current
environmental conditions or impacts. However, if the request for
continued onsite disposal of slightly contaminated sediments were not
approved, the licensee would have to pursue other means of managing
materials removed from the Columbia cooling system. The no-action
alternative would not satisfy the purpose and need for efficient and
cost-effective disposal of routinely generated sediments from the
Columbia cooling system.
As an alternative to the proposed action and no-action alternative,
the NRC staff considered other options for disposing contaminated
sediments. The most reasonable alternative would involve disposal at an
offsite location. The chosen site would have to be licensed to accept
low-level waste (LLW) including the slightly contaminated sediments
from Columbia. In considering this alternative, the potential
environmental impacts of loading and transporting the contaminated
sediments from Columbia to any licensed, offsite disposal facility
would be greater than those associated with the proposed action. As
discussed in IN 83-05, the NRC has recognized that onsite disposal of
LLW can minimize the quantity of waste shipped to radioactive waste
disposal facilities and can provide a reasonable alternative to the
high costs associated with disposal at radioactive waste disposal
facilities. Therefore, disposal at an offsite location would not result
in a compensating improvement in the
[[Page 13773]]
environmental impacts, as there would be additional transportation
related impacts associated with transporting the contaminated sediments
offsite.
Alternative Use of Resources
The proposed action does not involve the use of any different
resources or significant quantities of resources beyond those
previously considered and associated with past onsite disposals of
sediments from Columbia's cooling system. Further, the proposed
disposal activities are consistent with the proposed action (Columbia
license renewal and 20 years of continued operations) considered in
NUREG-1437, Supplement 47.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC notified the representative from the State of Washington on
October 28, 2021, of the EA and FONSI, and was informed on February 4,
2022, that the State of Washington does not have any comments on this
action. No additional agencies or persons were consulted regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action. The NRC staff determined
that the proposed action would have no effect on Federally listed
threatened and endangered species that could occur on or near the
proposed disposal area. As well, the proposed action would have no
potential to cause effects on historic properties. Therefore,
consultation was not required under Section 7 of the ESA or under
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
Energy Northwest has requested onsite disposal of up to 1,116 m\3\
(39,420 ft\3\) of sediments containing very low levels of radioactive
materials at Columbia in accordance with 10 CFR 20.2022. Based on the
EA, included in Section II of this document, the NRC staff has
concluded that the proposed action will not have a significant impact
on the quality of the human environment. Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21,
the NRC conducted an environmental review of the proposed action, and
this FONSI incorporates by reference the EA in Section II. Accordingly,
the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement
for the proposed action.
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the following table are available to
interested persons through one or more of the following methods, as
indicated.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document ADAMS Accession No. 1/web link
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Northwest, ``Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50-397 On- ADAMS Accession No. ML20356A172.
Site Cooling System Sediment Disposal,'' dated December 21, 2020.
Energy Northwest, ``Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50-397 ADAMS Accession No. ML21174A151.
Response to Request for Additional Information Related to On-Site
Cooling System Sediment Disposal,'' dated June 23, 2021.
State of Washington, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-
2014). National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Waste facilities/columbia-generating-station/
Discharge Permit No. WA0002515-1, Energy Northwest's Columbia columbia-generating-station-permits
Generating Station, dated September 30, 2014. (date accessed August 17, 2021).
Energy Northwest, ``Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50-397 ADAMS Accession No. ML20134J113.
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, Docket No. 72-35 2019
Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report,'' dated May 13,
2020.
State of Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-
2019). Letter from Sonia Bumpus, EFSEC, to S. Khounnala, Energy facilities/columbia-generating-station/
Northwest Environmental and Regulatory Programs Manager. Subject: columbia-generating-station-permits
Columbia Generating Station, Energy Northwest (EN) National Pollutant (accessed January 19, 2022).
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. WA002515-1 Extension
of NPDES Permit, dated September 13, 2019.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 2021). Washington https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/
Nonattainment/Maintenance Status for Each County by Year for All greenbook/anayo_wa.html (date accessed
Criteria Pollutants,'' data is current as of January 31, 2022. August 16, 2021).
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1126.
(FWS 2021). ``Pygmy Rabbit (Columbia Basin DPS).''.
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended............................ 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia Onsite Disposal 20.2002 ADAMS Accession No. ML21229A180.
Exemption Request, ``List of threatened and endangered species that
may occur in your proposed project location or may be affected by
your proposed project,'' dated August 17, 2021.
National Historic Preservation Act, as amended........................ 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.
Missouri Census Data Center Circular Area Profiling System (MCDCCAPS Summary Report, U.S. Census 2010 Summary
2021). Summary Report, U.S. Census 2010 Summary File 1 (SF1) and File 1: https://mcdc.missouri.edu/cgi-
Aggregated 2015-2019 American Community Survey Data Estimates in a 10- bin/
mile radius around the proposed disposal site at Columbia (46.471111 broker?_PROGRAM=apps.caps2010.sas&_debu
Lat., -119.333889 Long.). g=&latitude=46.471111&longitude=-
119.333889&radii=10&sitename=&units=bgs
(accessed January 19, 2022).
Aggregated 2015-2019 American Community
Survey Data Estimates: https://mcdc.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/broker?_PROGRAM=apps.capsACS.sas&_SERVICE=MCDC_long&_debug=&latitude=46.471111&longitude=-119.333889&radii=10&sitename=&dprofile=on&eprofile=on&sprofile=on&hprofile=on&units= units= (accessed January 19, 2022).
[[Page 13774]]
U.S. Census Bureau (USCB 2021). ``2019 American Community Survey 1- Table S1701: https://data.census.gov/
Year Estimates, Table S1701--Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months, cedsci/
Table S1702 ``Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months of Families,'' and table?q=S1701%3A%20POVERTY%20STATUS%20I
Table S1901 ``Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2019 Inflation- N%20THE%20PAST%2012%20MONTHS&tid=ACSST1
Adjusted Dollars)'' for Benton County and the State of Washington. Y2019.S1701 (accessed January 19,
2022).
Table S1702: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=s1702&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1702
(accessed January 19, 2022).
Table S1901: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S1901&g=0400000US53_0500000US53005 005 (accessed January 19, 2022).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (NRC 2012). NUREG-1437, Supplement ADAMS Accession No. ML12096A334.
47, Vol.1, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License
Renewal of Nuclear Plants Supplement 47 Regarding Columbia Station,''
dated April 2012.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: March 7, 2022.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mahesh L. Chawla,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch IV, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2022-05043 Filed 3-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P