[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11998-12004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04702]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-602; NRC-2025-2195]
University of Texas at Austin; Nuclear Engineering Teaching
Laboratory Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics Mark II
Research Reactor; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice; issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-129, held by the University
of Texas at Austin (UTA or the licensee), for the continued operation
of its Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory (NETL) Training,
Research, Isotopes, General Atomics (TRIGA) Mark II research reactor
located in the City of Austin, Travis County, Texas. The NRC staff is
issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant
impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed action (i.e., renewal of
the operating license).
DATES: The EA and FONSI are available on March 11, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2025-2195 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of inf 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-2025-2195. Address
questions about Docket IDs to Bridget Curran; telephone: 301-415-1003;
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 ADAMS Public 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 that document is available in ADAMS) is provided in a
table in the ``Availability of Documents'' section of this document.
[[Page 11999]]
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: Angela Sabet, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-287-1162; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-
129, held by UTA, which would authorize continued operation of its 1.1
megawatt thermal (MW(t)) TRIGA Mark II research reactor with no fixed
license term, located on UTA's J.J. Pickle Research Campus (PRC), in
the NETL building in the City of Austin, Travis County, Texas.
As required by section 51.21 of title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR), ``Criteria for and identification of licensing
and regulatory actions requiring environmental assessments,'' the NRC
staff prepared an EA documenting its environmental review. Based on the
results of the NRC staff's environmental review as documented in the EA
that follows, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) for the proposed renewed license and is issuing
a FONSI in accordance with 10 CFR 51.32, ``Finding of no significant
impact.''
II. Environmental Assessment
Facility Site and Environs
The NETL TRIGA Mark II research reactor is an aluminum-lined pool-
type non-power reactor that has been licensed to operate since January
17, 1992, for teaching and research purposes. The research reactor is
licensed to operate at a steady state of 1.1 MW(t) or in pulsing mode
with maximum power levels up to about 1500 MW(t) (with a trip setpoint
at 1750 MW(t)) for durations of about 10 milliseconds. The reactor is
in the NETL building on UTA's PRC, which lies approximately 10 miles
(16 kilometers) north of the main UTA campus. Most of the land adjacent
to the UTA PRC is developed for mixed commercial and industrial
activities and includes warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and small
business parks. The remainder of adjacent land contains apartment
complexes and other residences.
Within the NETL building, a concrete, vault-type enclosure serves
as the confinement volume for the TRIGA reactor. The TRIGA reactor is
housed within an open pool, which serves as part of the cooling system
as well as moderator, coolant, and shielding. The reactor is fueled
with a metallic alloy of low-enriched uranium in a zirconium hydride
matrix. Waste heat is dissipated through the cooling system, which is
composed of three subsystems: the reactor pool, pool cooling system,
and pool cleanup system. The reactor pool removes waste heat passively
by natural circulation. The pool cooling system then removes excess
heat from the pool by transferring heat from the pool water to a campus
chill water system through a heat exchanger. Finally, the pool cleanup
system recirculates pool water through a filter and ion exchanger to
remove suspended solids and chemical impurities. Makeup water for the
cooling system is provided through Austin Water, the City of Austin's
water utility.
During normal operation of the TRIGA reactor, gaseous (airborne)
radioactive effluent is almost exclusively Argon-41 (Ar-41). The
primary liquid radioactive effluents produced during normal operation
include miscellaneous neutron activation products in the primary
coolant, many of which are deposited in the mechanical filter and
demineralizer resins and, therefore, disposed of as solid radioactive
waste. Non-routine liquid radioactive wastes can result from
decontamination or maintenance activities, such as filter or resin
replacements. Solid radioactive waste includes waste generated from
reactor maintenance operations and irradiation of various experiments.
Much of the solid radioactive waste generated at the NETL TRIGA
facility is held in a restricted area and allowed to decay to
background levels and then disposed of as non-radioactive waste. Solid
radioactive waste that is not decayed in storage is transmitted to the
UTA Radiation Safety Office for appropriate disposal. No solid
radioactive waste is permanently stored on site.
UTA maintains a Radiation Monitoring Program, which involves
regular monitoring of airborne, liquid, and solid gamma and beta
radiation to ensure that any effluent releases are within the limits of
10 CFR part 20, ``Standards for Protection Against Radiation.'' The
current monitoring program consists of: monthly direct gamma radiation
measurements around the perimeter of the facility; quarterly integrated
gamma dose measurements using dosimeters located at the perimeter and
in the general area of the facility, which are exchanged quarterly;
quarterly groundwater samples from under the reactor structure; monthly
contamination monitoring on the roof of the reactor building; and
quarterly contamination monitoring at the perimeter and in the general
area of the facility.
A detailed description of the reactor and its operations can be
found in UTA's Updated Safety Analysis Report (SAR) dated August 4,
2023, and in UTA's license renewal application dated December 12, 2011.
Description of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would renew Facility Operating License No. R-
129 with no fixed license term, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.51(c),
``Continuation of license.'' The proposed action would authorize UTA to
operate its TRIGA reactor at a steady state of 1.1 MW(t) or in pulsing
mode with maximum power levels up to about 1500 MW(t) (with a trip
setpoint at 1750 MW(t)) for durations of about 10 milliseconds. The
proposed action is in accordance with UTA's application dated December
12, 2011, as supplemented by letters dated January 17, September 17,
and December 19, 2012; March 22, June 24, and August 21, 2013; July 15,
August 26, and December 22, 2015; February 5, May 2, and December 1,
2016; and August 4 and September 15, 2023 (collectively referred to as
``the license renewal application''). The notice of opportunity to
request a hearing was published in the Federal Register on November 28,
2016 (81 FR 85646). The current license was set to expire at midnight
on January 17, 2012. However, the NRC's timely renewal provision
contained in 10 CFR 2.109(a) permits the licensee to continue to
operate the TRIGA reactor under the terms and conditions of its
existing license, and that license will not be deemed to have expired
until the license renewal application before the NRC has been finally
determined.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow the continued operation of
the TRIGA reactor, which is used for education, research, and public
service activities. The current reactor research program includes
neutron activation analysis, cryogenic irradiation facility neutron
depth profiling, prompt gamma activation analysis, fast neutron beam,
neutron radiography, and isotope production. The NETL serves a
[[Page 12000]]
multipurpose role, with the primary function as a ``user facility'' for
faculty, staff, and students from the College of Engineering. The
facility supports the UTA Cockrell School of Engineering, Department of
Mechanical Engineering's Nuclear and Radiation Engineering Program with
laboratory exercises in UTA courses, undergraduate research, and
graduate research. The facility also supports development and
application of nuclear methods for researchers from other universities,
industry, and government organizations. The NETL provides nuclear
analytic services to researchers, industry, and other research and
industrial laboratories for testing and evaluation of materials. The
NETL provides public education through tours and demonstrations.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The environmental impacts of the proposed action are described in
this notice. As discussed further, the proposed action will not have a
significant effect on the quality of the human environment. The
proposed action will not require any physical changes to the facility,
and the impacts are similar to those occurring during past operations.
Separate from this EA, the NRC staff is performing a safety evaluation.
The results of this safety evaluation will be documented in the NRC
staff's safety evaluation report.
Radiological Impacts
Environmental Effects of Reactor Operations
Gaseous radioactive effluents resulting from the routine operation
of the TRIGA reactor are nitrogen-16 (N-16) and Ar-41. These nuclides
are released to the environment from the reactor building through an
exhaust stack on the roof that combines the ventilation exhaust from
both the main and the purge systems. The NETL TRIGA facility's exhaust
stack discharge length is 63 feet (19.2 meters) and has a normal air
flow rate of approximately 1,100 cubic feet per minute (31 cubic meters
per minute). Because the half-life of N-16 is approximately 7 seconds,
the release from the exhaust stack is insignificant considering most of
the N-16 produced in the reactor coolant would decay before reaching
the stack. 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.
Assuming maximum full power operation release of Ar-41, the licensee
calculated the dose to a member of the public using the Environmental
Protection Agency's Clean Air Assessment Package--1988 computer code
conservatively to be 66 millirem/year (mrem/yr), which is less than the
100 mrem/yr limit specified in 10 CFR 20.1301, ``Dose limits for
individual members of the public.'' UTA's calculation is conservative
because operations are not continuous and are not always at full power.
The NRC staff finds the UTA results to be reasonable and conservative.
The NETL as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) program annual reports
for the 5 years of operation from 2020 through 2024 show that the
annual release of Ar-41 is no greater than 6.8 curies, which would
result in a dose of about .01 mrem/yr to a member of the public, which
is less than one percent of the 100 mrem/yr limit specified in 10 CFR
20.1301. This radiation dose of 0.0094 mrem/year also demonstrates
compliance with the ALARA air emissions dose constraint of 10 millirem
(mrem) specified in paragraph (d) of 10 CFR 20.1101, ``Radiation
protection programs.''
Liquid radioactive waste produced as part of routine operation of
the TRIGA reactor typically consists of miscellaneous neutron
activation products in the primary coolant. Since most of these
activation products can be deposited on mechanical filters and the
demineralizer resins, these materials are dealt with as solid sources.
UTA minimizes the release of liquid radioactive waste and, when
possible, liquid radioactive waste that is generated is normally
converted into solid waste for offsite disposal. Rarely, the NETL may
have need to release liquid radioactive effluent to the sanitary sewer
in compliance with limits specified in 10 CFR 20.2003, ``Disposal by
release into sanitary sewerage.'' The NETL ALARA program annual reports
for the 5 years of operation from 2020 through 2024 show that the NETL
TRIGA facility had two liquid radioactive waste disposals via the
sanitary sewer system, in 2023 and 2024. Liquid waste disposed in 2023
and 2024 originated from contaminated water from storage wells and from
cleaning rotary specimen rack rabbits, respectively. No other liquid
radioactive waste was generated, disposed of or transported off-site
between 2020 and 2024.
Low-level solid radioactive waste generated from reactor operations
typically includes laboratory waste such as plastic bags, gloves,
absorbent material, and disposable lab coats, as well as reactor
demineralizer resins and particulate filters. The maximum average
annual solid radioactive waste volume produced by the NETL TRIGA
reactor is approximately 25 cubic feet (0.7 cubic meters), though
historically the volume of solid radioactive waste produced is much
less. One transfer of solid radioactive waste containing activated
experimental components occurred in 2023. There was no other transfer
of solid radioactive waste in the remaining 5-year period from 2020 to
2024. Much of this waste contains radioactive material with a
relatively short half-life and is held in a restricted area until it
has decayed to background levels of radioactivity. Once that waste is
decayed in storage and surveyed to confirm that radioactivity levels
are at background, the waste can be disposed of as non-radioactive. The
remaining solid waste, containing radioactive materials with a
relatively long half-life, can average approximately 2 cubic feet (0.06
cubic meters) per year. Radioactive wastes are packaged according to
U.S. Department of Transportation waste processor and disposal site
requirements, as applicable, and are temporarily stored in a restricted
area until transferred for disposal.
No solid radioactive waste is intended to be retained or
permanently stored on site. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) retains
title to the fuel used in the NETL TRIGA reactor, and DOE is required
to take spent fuel from the site for final disposition in accordance
with its contractual obligations under Standard Research Subcontract
No. 00078206.
According to Section 1.2 of the SAR, the NETL TRIGA reactor's
shielding was designed to limit personnel exposure rates from radiation
generated during reactor operation in accessible areas of the pool and
shield structure at 1.5 MW(t) to less than 1 millirem/hour, while the
reactor operates to a maximum steady-state license limit of 1.1 MW(t).
Current experimental programs at the beam ports limit routine access to
the biological shielding surface near the core. Reactor staff members
of the NETL TRIGA reactor and other NETL TRIGA personnel who work in
restricted areas are assigned personal dosimeters, which assess whole
body and extremity doses.
As described in Chapter 11 of the SAR, and as verified through NRC
staff review of the licensee's NETL ALARA program annual reports for
the 5 years of operation from 2020 through 2024, personnel exposures
are well within the limits set by 10 CFR 20.1201, ``Occupational dose
limits for adults,'' and are ALARA in accordance with 10 CFR
20.1101(b). The licensee tracks exposures of personnel monitored with
[[Page 12001]]
dosimeters, and the NETL ALARA program annual reports for the 5 years
of operation from 2020 through 2024 show that personnel exposures
(measured in terms of total effective dose equivalent) ranged from 4 to
14 percent of the occupational limit of 5,000 mrem. The greatest
individual annual exposure over the last 5 years was 306 mrem in 2022.
Personnel exposures are within the limits set forth by 10 CFR
20.1201. There are no changes proposed in reactor operation associated
with license renewal that would lead to an increase in occupational
dose.
The radiation monitoring systems associated with operation of the
NETL TRIGA reactor 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 NETL TRIGA
facility's monitoring systems consist of remote area monitors,
continuous air monitors, cooling water monitors, portable radiation
survey instruments, personnel monitors, and stack gas and particulate
monitors, as described in Section 11.1.5 of the SAR. 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 NETL
TRIGA facility's exhaust stack. Perimeter monitoring at the NETL TRIGA
facility consists of thermoluminescent dosimeters, which detect X-ray
and gamma radiation.
The licensee conducts an environmental monitoring program to record
and track the radiological impact of the operation of the NETL TRIGA
reactor on the surrounding unrestricted area. The dosimeters are
located at six sites in and around the NETL building. UTA staff
analyzes the results to ensure that the reported doses are below the
dose limits specified in 10 CFR 20.1301, ``Dose limits for individual
members of the public,'' and to monitor for trends that would indicate
unusual or elevated exposures. A review of the NETL ALARA program
annual reports for the 5 years of operation from 2020 through 2024
shows that the measured doses at six exterior locations around the NETL
building ranged from 1 mrem to 5 mrem (excluding natural background
exposure), which are well below the 100 mrem annual limit for dose to
the general public specified in 10 CFR 20.1301. The Texas Department of
State Health Services (TDSHS) also monitors five exterior locations
near the NETL building with reported measurements ranging from 1 mrem
to 28 mrem, which are also well below the 100 mrem annual limit.
Based on the NRC staff's review, as previously discussed, of data
from the NETL ALARA program annual reports for the 5 most recent years
of operation from 2020 to 2024, the NRC staff concludes that operation
of the NETL TRIGA reactor does not have any significant radiological
impact on the surrounding environment. No changes in reactor operation
that would affect off-site radiation levels are expected or proposed as
a result of the proposed license renewal. 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 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 accident considered to be credible. The latter
limiting accident is referred to as the maximum hypothetical accident
(MHA). UTA considers a fuel handling accident in air to be its MHA.
Calculations have been performed by the licensee that estimate the
maximum concentration of fission products that might be present in the
reactor room air following the MHA. UTA concluded from its calculations
that individual worker exposures from the MHA would not exceed 10 CFR
20.1101 dose limits, and that all effluent releases to the environment
would also meet 10 CFR part 20 dose limits.
Separate from the NRC staff's EA herein, the NRC staff is
evaluating the UTA MHA analyses of the potential radiological
consequences that may result from the proposed license renewal. The
results of the NRC staff's safety evaluation and conclusion will be
documented in a safety evaluation report that will be made publicly
available. If the NRC concludes that the radiological consequences of
the MHA are within 10 CFR part 20 dose limits, then the MHA and the
proposed action would not have a significant impact with respect to the
radiological consequences of the MHA.
Conclusion--Radiological Impacts
In the license renewal application, the licensee has not proposed
any physical changes to the reactor facility design, or adverse changes
to facility operating conditions, that would significantly affect
facility operation; therefore, there would be no changes in the types
or quantities of routine effluents that may be released off site. 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.
Accordingly, there would be no increase in routine occupational or
public radiation exposure as a result of the proposed action. Based on
the information previously discussed, the NRC staff finds that the
proposed action will not significantly increase the probability and
consequences of accidents.
License renewal would not significantly change reactor operations.
As previously discussed, information in the license renewal application
and data reported to the NRC by the licensee for the last five years of
reactor operation were evaluated to determine the radiological impact.
The NRC staff found that releases of radioactive material and personnel
exposures were all well within applicable regulatory limits. Based on
this evaluation, the continued operation of the reactor would have no
significant radiological impacts. A separate safety evaluation is being
drafted by NRC staff to determine the probability and consequence of
accidents of the proposed action. If the NRC staff concludes in its
safety evaluation report that the probability and consequences of
accidents are within NRC regulatory requirements, then the proposed
license renewal will not have a significant environmental impact with
respect to accidents.
Non-Radiological Impacts
The proposed action does not involve any change in the operation of
the reactor, any change in the emissions, or any change in the heat
load dissipated to the environment. No new construction or other land
disturbing activities are proposed. The proposed action would not
result in any land use changes or increase in noise or air emissions
and would not have a significant impact on air quality, noise, visual
resources, or ecological resources. Water is supplied through the City
of Austin and no changes in facility operations are proposed. Data from
the National Flood Insurance Program indicates that no portion of the
research campus site is within the 100- or 500-year flood zone. The
proposed license renewal would have no direct impacts on surface water
or groundwater resources because water would continue to be supplied
from Austin Water, the City of Austin's water utility, which has
adequate capacity. Heat produced by reactor operations is ultimately
released to the environment through the secondary cooling system and
the
[[Page 12002]]
facility's cooling tower. No increased thermal effects on the
environment would result from the proposed action. Therefore, the NRC
staff concludes that the proposed action would have no significant non-
radiological impacts.
Other Applicable Environmental Laws and Policies
In addition to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA), the NRC has responsibilities that are derived from
other environmental laws, which include the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (ESA), the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
amended (CZMA), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended
(FWCA), and the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (NHPA).
The following presents a brief discussion of impacts associated with
resources protected by these laws and related requirements.
Endangered Species Act
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 Service (FWS) or National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) regarding actions that may affect listed species or
designated critical habitats.
On December 15, 2025, the NRC staff conducted a search of Federally
listed species and critical habitats that have the potential to occur
in the vicinity of the NETL TRIGA facility using FWS's Environmental
Conservation Online System Information for Planning and Conservation
system. Seventeen Federally listed species occur in Travis County,
Texas, where the NETL TRIGA reactor is located: the Austin Blind
Salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis), Bone Cave Harvestman (Texella
reyesi), Bracted Twistflower (Streptanthus bracteatus), Golden-cheeked
Warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea
sosorum), Jollyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tonkawae), Piping
Plover (Charadrius melodus), Rufa Red Knot (Caldris canutus rufa),
tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), Texas Fatmucket (Lampsilis
bracteata), Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Tooth Cave Ground
Beetle (Rhadine persephone), Bee Creek Cave Harvestman (Texella
reddelli), Kretschmarr Cabe Mold Beetle (Texamaurops reddelli), Tooth
Cave Spider (Neoleptoneta myopica), Tooth Cave Pseudoscorpion
(Tartarcreagis texana) and Whooping Crane (Grus americana). However,
none of these species are likely to occur near the NETL TRIGA reactor
because the reactor is located on the UTA campus, which does not
provide suitable habitat for Federally listed species. This is because
the UTA campus has been developed and in use for research and
educational purposes for many decades. Additionally, operation of the
NETL TRIGA reactor has no direct nexus to the natural environment that
could otherwise affect Federally listed species. No critical habitats
occur in the area. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the
proposed license renewal of the NETL TRIGA reactor would have no effect
on Federally listed species or critical habitats. Federal agencies are
not required to consult with 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 NETL TRIGA reactor license
renewal, and the NRC staff considers its obligations under ESA Section
7 to be fulfilled for the proposed action.
Coastal Zone Management Act
The CZMA, in part, encourages States to preserve, protect, develop,
and, where possible, restore coastal resources. Individual States are
responsible for developing a Federally approved Coastal Zone Management
Plan and implementing a Coastal Zone Management Program in accordance
with such a plan. Section 307(c)(3)(A) of the CZMA requires that
applicants for Federal licenses whose proposed action could reasonably
affect coastal zones of a State must provide a certification that the
proposed activity complies with the enforceable policies of the State's
approved Coastal Zone Management Program and will be conducted in a
manner consistent with that program.
Travis County, Texas, in which the NETL TRIGA reactor is located,
does not contain any coastal zones. Because the reactor is not located
within or near any managed coastal zones, the proposed action would not
affect any coastal zones and the requirement to provide a certification
of compliance with the State's Coastal Zone Management Program does not
apply. Therefore, consistency determination is not required for the
proposed action.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
The FWCA requires Federal agencies that license water resource
development projects to consult with the FWS (or NMFS, when applicable)
and the State wildlife resource agencies regarding the potential
impacts of the project on fish and wildlife resources.
The proposed action does not involve any water resource development
projects, including any of the 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 with other agencies pursuant to
the FWCA is required for the proposed action.
National Historic Preservation Act
The NHPA requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of their
undertakings on historic properties. As stated in the NHPA, 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). In accordance with 36 CFR
800.8(c), ``Use of the NEPA process for Section 106 purposes,'' the NRC
staff will comply with NHPA Section 106 through the NEPA process, in
lieu of the procedures set forth in 36 CFR 800.3 through 800.6. The
Area of Potential Effects (APE) has been identified as the 226-acre
J.J. Pickle Research Campus.
The NRC staff initiated NHPA Section 106 consultation with the
Texas Historical Commission (THC) and Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation (ACHP), on May 1, 2024, and with seven Tribes on April 30,
2024, and twelve Tribes on May 10, 2024.
The NRC staff received a response from ACHP on May 17, 2024,
confirming notification pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(c). Responses were
received from three Tribes stating that no properties are present; that
there would be no impact to properties of significance to the Tribe;
and that the APE is outside the Tribe's area of interest. No response
to Section 106 initiation was received from the THC.
The NRC staff conducted a confirmatory review for the presence of
historic and cultural resources within and adjacent to the APE through
the Texas Archaeological Sites Atlas online database and NRHP online
database. No previously recorded historic or cultural resources have
been previously identified in or adjacent to the APE. Based on this
information and the fact that the proposed license renewal would entail
no land disturbance, structure or building modifications, or other
changes or refurbishments, the NRC staff has determined that the
proposed action and the continued operation of the NETL TRIGA reactor
would have no adverse effect on historic properties.
The draft historic and cultural resources section of this EA was
submitted to consulting Tribes and the
[[Page 12003]]
THC, and made publicly available in January 2026. One Tribe responded
with their concurrence with the NRC staff's determination and no
interest in further consultation. Concurrence with the NRC staff's
determination from the THC was received on February 14, 2024.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to license renewal, the NRC considered denying
the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). If the NRC
denied the request for license renewal, reactor operations would cease
and decommissioning would be required. The NRC notes that, even with a
renewed license, the NETL TRIGA reactor would eventually be
decommissioned, at which time the environmental effects of
decommissioning would occur. Decommissioning would be conducted in
accordance with an NRC-reviewed and -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. However, as previously discussed in this EA, radioactive
effluents from reactor operations are well below the applicable
regulatory limits. Therefore, the environmental impacts of license
renewal and of the denial of the request for license renewal would be
similar. In addition, denying the request for license renewal would
eliminate the benefits of education, research, and public services
provided by the NETL TRIGA reactor.
Alternative Use of Resources
The proposed license renewal does not involve the use of any
different resources or significant quantities of resources beyond those
associated with current facility operations and previously considered
in the issuance of Facility Operating License No. R-129 for the reactor
on January 17, 1992.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The staff did not enter into consultation with any other Federal
agencies or with the State of Texas regarding the environmental impact
of the proposed action. However, on December 22, 2025, the NRC notified
the Texas State officials, TDSHS, and Texas Advance Nuclear Energy
Office, Office of the Texas Governor (OTG) of the proposed action. By
email dated December 27 and 29, 2025, both TDSHS and OTG indicated that
the State of Texas had no comments.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC is considering renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-
129, held by UTA, which would authorize the continued operation of the
NETL TRIGA reactor with no fixed license term in accordance with 10 CFR
50.51(c).
On the basis of the EA included in Section II of this notice and
incorporated by reference in this finding, the NRC staff concludes that
the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality
of the human environment. This is because the proposed action will
result in no significant radiological impacts from continued
operations, as the types or quantities of effluents that may be
released off site would not change. No changes in land use would occur
or increases in noise or air emissions. Continued operations under the
proposed action would have no significant impacts on air quality,
noise, visual resources, surface water or groundwater resources,
terrestrial or aquatic resources, or on any other environmental
resource conditions. Additionally, the proposed action would have no
effect on Federally listed species or designated critical habitats and
would not affect historic properties. Therefore, the NRC staff
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect
on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC staff has
determined that a FONSI is appropriate and that there is no need to
prepare an EIS for the proposed action.
The NRC staff's evaluation considered information provided in the
license renewal application as supplemented, and the NRC staff's review
of related environmental documents. Section IV of this notice lists the
environmental documents related to the proposed action and includes
information on the availability of these documents.
This EA and FONSI and other related environmental documents are
accessible online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. This EA and FONSI can be tracked
with identification number NEPA ID EAXX-429-00-000-1771999899. Persons
who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing
the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC's PDR reference
staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or at 301-415-4737, or by email to
[email protected].
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents in the following table are available to interested
persons through ADAMS, as indicated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adams Accession
Document Description No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
License Renewal Request
------------------------------------------------------------------------
University of Texas at Austin, Request for Renewal of ML12156A097
Facility Operating License R-129, dated December 12,
2011 (redacted).....................................
University of Texas at Austin, Supplemental ML12156A196
Information for Renewal of Facility Operating
License R-129, Part 1, dated January 17, 2012
(redacted)..........................................
University of Texas at Austin, Supplemental ML12030A102
Information for Renewal of Facility Operating
License R-129, Part 2, dated January 17, 2012
(redacted)..........................................
University of Texas at Austin, Supplemental ML12061A009
Information Relative to Proposed Safety Analysis
Report, Appendix 15.4, Facility Operating License R-
129 (TAC ME 7694), dated February 21, 2012..........
University of Texas at Austin--Renewal of Facility ML110040316
Operating License No. R-129, Docket 50-602, dated
January 21, 2011....................................
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML12307A071
for Additional Information, dated September 17, 2012
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML13002A015
for Additional Information, dated December 19, 2012.
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML13091A006
for Additional Information, dated March 22, 2013....
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML13190A356
for Additional Information, dated June 24, 2013.....
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML13246A014
for Additional Information, dated August 21, 2013...
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML15211A638
for Additional Information, dated July 15, 2015
(redacted)..........................................
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML15251A234
for Additional Information, dated August 26, 2015...
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML15313A027
for Additional Information, dated October 23, 2015..
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML16015A052
for Additional Information, dated December 22, 2015.
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML16053A094
for Additional Information, dated February 5, 2016..
[[Page 12004]]
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML16132A239
for Additional Information, dated May 2, 2016.......
University of Texas at Austin, Response to Request ML16347A112
for Additional Information, dated December 1, 2016..
University of Texas at Austin, Updated Safety ML23279A146
Analysis Report, dated August 4, 2023 (redacted)....
University of Texas at Austin, Submission of ML23258A162
Environmental Report, dated September 15, 2023......
UTA NETL TRIGA ALARA 2020-2024....................... ML25352A069
(Package)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Referenced Documents
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species ML16120A505
Consultations Frequently Asked Questions, dated July
15, 2013............................................
Letter to SHPO; Re UTA Section 106 Initiation, dated ML24096A043
May 1, 2024.........................................
Letter to ACHP, Re: UTA Section 106 Notification, ML24096A042
dated May 1, 2024...................................
Letters to seven tribes, Re: UTA Section 106 ML24096A057
Initiation, dated April 30, 2024.................... (Package)
Letters to twelve tribes, Re: UTA Section 106 ML24127A107
Initiation, dated May 10, 2024...................... (Package)
Letter from ACHP, Section 106, confirming ML25346A204
notification, dated May 17, 2024....................
Letter from Comanche Nation, no properties of ML26055A177
interest, dated May 16, 2024........................
Letter from Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, no ML26055A180
properties of interest, dated May 13, 2024..........
Email from non-public Tribe, project outside area of ML26055A171 (non-
interest, dated June 17, 2024....................... public, withheld
pursuant to 10
CFR 2.390)
Letter from non-public Tribe, no properties of ML26050A026 (non-
interest, decline to consult further, dated February public, withheld
17, 2026............................................ pursuant to 10
CFR 2.390)
Letter from Texas SHPO, concurrence, dated February ML26048A064
14, 2026............................................
UTA NETL TRIGA EA Response from TDSHS, dated December ML26055A054
27, 2025............................................
UTA NETL TRIGA EA Response from TANENO OTG, dated ML26055A048
December 29, 2025...................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: March 6, 2026.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stephen Koenick,
Chief, Environmental Project Management Branch 1, Division of
Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support, Office of Nuclear
Materials Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2026-04702 Filed 3-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P