[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85330-85331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26915]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 30-30429; NRC-2023-0202]


ProTechnics, a Division of Core Laboratories LP; Discharge of 
Radioactive Tracers in Well Completion Fluids

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 issuing a 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and accompanying environmental 
assessment (EA) for a license amendment request from ProTechnics, a 
division of Core Laboratories LP (ProTechnics), byproduct material 
license no. 42-26928-01, to authorize discharge of well completion 
fluids containing very small amounts of short-lived radioactive tracers 
in offshore waters in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the 
Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Based on the analysis in the EA, the NRC staff 
has concluded that there would be no significant impacts on the quality 
of the human environment from ProTechnics' proposed license amendment 
request, and therefore, a FONSI is appropriate.

DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on 
December 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2023-0202 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-2023-0202. 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, at 301-415-4737, 
or by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for 
each document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the 
first time that it is mentioned in this document.
     NRC's PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies 
of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. 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 
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Trefethen, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001, telephone: 301-415-0867; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    The NRC is considering a license application request from 
ProTechnics to authorize discharge of well completion fluids containing 
very small amounts of short-lived radioactive tracers in offshore 
waters in the OCS of the GOM. In its license amendment request, 
ProTechnics stated that, in connection with well logging in the GOM, it 
performs single well subsurface tracer studies in established oil and 
gas production basins located in OCS waters. In general, all of the 
material that enters the formation would be retained behind a screen 
mesh. Only the material remaining on the well bore side of the screen 
mesh would be returned to the surface (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML22325A156 
and ML23009B762). As required by section 51.21 of title 10 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), and in light of ProTechnics' license 
amendment request, the NRC staff prepared an EA that documents its 
independent evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of the 
disposal of short-lived radioactive tracers in the offshore waters. 
Based on the analysis in the EA, the NRC staff has concluded that there 
would be no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment 
from ProTechnics' proposed disposal methods, and therefore, the NRC is 
issuing a FONSI.

II. Summary of Environmental Assessment

Description of the Proposed Action

    ProTechnics is seeking a license amendment to authorize discharge 
of well completion fluids containing very small amounts of short-lived 
radioactive tracers in offshore waters in the OCS of the GOM.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC staff has assessed the potential environmental impacts from 
ProTechnics' disposal of short-lived radioactive tracers in the 
offshore waters of the GOM. The NRC staff expect the radioactive tracer 
beads to remain chemically inert in the GOM seawater, due to the 
ceramic coating on the beads. Thus, the embedded radioactive metal 
particles would not dissolve or leach out of the beads to combine with 
the seawater. Data to support this conclusion was provided with 
ProTechnics' license amendment request. Additionally, the radioisotopes 
used have a short half-life (70 to 84 days) and therefore, would decay 
in a short period of time.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    An alternative to the proposed action is the no-action alternative. 
Under the no-action alternative, the NRC would not grant ProTechnics' 
license

[[Page 85331]]

amendment request for disposal of limited concentrations of short-lived 
radioactive tracers into offshore waters of the OCS in the GOM. In 
order for ProTechnics to continue supporting oil and gas drilling 
operations in the OCS of the GOM, it would need a license amendment to 
authorize retention of the tracer materials on the drilling rigs or 
support vessels. The retained well completion fluids containing the 
tracer materials would need to be transported to shore for transfer to 
an authorized disposal facility. The NRC staff considers that transfer 
and movement of the well completion fluids containing tracer material 
would present an increased likelihood of accidents and an increased 
potential for occupational and public radiological doses in comparison 
to the proposed action.

Agencies and Person Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) Fisheries regarding its determination that the 
proposed action is not likely to adversely affect listed species or 
habitats. By email dated November 17, 2023, NOAA Fisheries concurred 
with the NRC staff's determination. Therefore, no further consultation 
is required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended. Further, the NRC staff determined that the proposed action is 
not the type of activity that has the potential to cause effects on 
historic properties. Therefore, consistent with 36 CFR 800.3(a)(1), no 
consultation is required under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    The final EA is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML23334A173.

    Dated: December 4, 2023.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jill S. Caverly,
Acting Chief, Environmental Project Management Branch 2, Division of 
Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety, and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2023-26915 Filed 12-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P