[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26885]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 31, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-315 and 50-316]
Indiana Michigan Power Company; Donald C. Cook Nuclear Power
Plant, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering the approval of the licensee's request to leave
approximately 942 cubic meters of slightly contaminated sludge in place
underneath the upper parking lot on the D.C. Cook site. This was
proposed by Indiana Michigan Power Company (the licensee) for the D.C.
Cook Plant, located in Berrien County, Michigan.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action by the NRC would approve the disposal of
contaminated sludge by leaving it in place at the facility, as proposed
by the licensee's request dated October 9, 1991, as supplemented
October 23, 1991, September 3, 1993, and September 29, 1993. The
request for approval is submitted pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002. The total
volume of contaminated sludge is estimated to be 942 cubic meters.
The Need for the Proposed Action
In 1982, approximately 942 cubic meters of slightly contaminated
sludge were removed from the turbine room sump absorption pond and
pumped to the upper parking lot located within the exclusion area of
the D.C. Cook plant. The contaminated sludge was spread over an area
approximately 4.7 acres. The sludge contains a total radionuclide
inventory of 8.86 millicuries (mCi) of Cesium-137, Cesium-136, Cesium-
134, Cobalt-60, and Iodine-131.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The licensee in 1982 evaluated the following potential exposure
pathways to members of the general public from the radionuclides in the
sludge: (1) external exposure caused by groundshine from the disposal
site, (2) internal exposure caused by inhalation of resuspended
radionuclide, and (3) internal exposure from ingesting ground water.
The staff has reviewed the licensee's calculational methods and
assumptions and finds that they are consistent with NUREG-1101,
``Onsite Disposal of Radioactive Waste,'' Volumes 1 and 2, November
1986 and February 1987, respectively. The staff finds the assessment
methodology acceptable. The table below lists the doses calculated by
the licensee for the maximally exposed member of the public based on a
total activity of 8.89 mCi disposed in that year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Whole body
dose
received by
Pathway maximally
exposed
individual
(mrem/yr)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groundshine................................................ 0.94
Inhalation................................................. 0.94
Groundwater Ingestion...................................... 0.73
------------
Total.................................................... 2.61
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For perspective, the radiation from the naturally occurring
radionuclides in soils and rocks plus cosmic radiation gives a person
in Michigan a whole-body dose rate of about 89 mrem per year outdoors,
which may be altered as much as 20 mrem per year by the type of
construction of the person's residence (e.g., wood frame or brick) and
the amount of time spent in it.
On July 5, 1991, the licensee re-sampled the onsite disposal area
to assure that no significant impacts and adverse effects had occurred.
A counting procedure based on the appropriate environmental low limit
detection was used by the licensee; however, no activity above
background was detected during the re-sampling. The 1991 re-sampling
process used by the licensee confirms that the environmental impact of
the 1982 disposal was very small. The staff finds the licensee's
methodology acceptable.
The staff has evaluated the impacts of leaving the contaminated
sludge in place, and finds that the potential environmental impacts are
insignificant.
With regard to the nonradiological impacts, the staff has
determined that leaving the soil in place has the smallest impact when
compared to the principal alternatives discussed below.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The principal alternative to leaving the contaminated sludge in
place would be to dig it up, package it in 55-gallon drums or other
suitable containers, and ship it to a disposal facility licensed to
dispose of low-level radioactive waste. This would be costly,
requiring, for example, the removal of the parking surface over the
disposal area, and would not provide environmental benefits in that no
measurable radioactivity has been detected from the material. On the
basis of the above analysis and evaluations and after weighing the
environmental, technical, and other benefits against the environmental
costs, the staff concludes that the action called for under NEPA and 10
CFR Part 51 is the issuance of an approval of the proposed waste
disposal.
Alternative Use of Resources
The principal result of this action does involve the use of
resources beyond the scope anticipated in the Environmental Impact
Statement issued August 1973, for normal plant operations; however,
this additional use of land is not significant, as the area involved is
located underneath the upper parking lot. This action involves no other
critical materials or resources.
Agenices and Persons Consulted
The staff consulted with the State of Michigan regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental
impact statement for the proposed action. Based upon the foregoing
environmental assessment, the staff concludes that the proposed action
will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human
environment.
For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the
licensee's letters dated October 9, 1991, October 23, 1991, September
3, 1993, and September 29, 1993. These letters are available for public
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street,
N.W., Washington, DC 20555 and at the local public document room
located at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library, 500 Market
Street, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of October 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John B. Hickman,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-26885 Filed 10-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
