[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 218 (Friday, November 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57911-57914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28737]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030-00692]
Indiana University, Environmental Assessment: Finding of No
Significant Impact and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing Related to
Amendment of Material License Number 13-00108-05
ACTION: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an
amendment to NRC License No. 13-00108-05, for use of carbon-14
(14C) to conduct a field study on mayapple plants in Monroe
County, Indiana. A similar project was approved by NRC in 1988
(Amendment 45 to the license).
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Sami Sherbini, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards, MS T8F5, Washington DC 20555, telephone (301) 415-7902.
Environmental Assessment
Description of Proposed Action
The proposed action is to amend NRC Byproduct Material License No.
13-00108-05 to authorize Indiana University to conduct field studies
using small quantities of 14C to label mayapple plants. The total
amount of 14C involved is not to exceed 444 megabequerels (MBq)
[12millicuries (mCi)], to be administered over a period of 2 years
starting in the spring of 1997.
Experimental Procedure
Indiana University was previously authorized by NRC, in 1988, to
conduct field studies similar to those presently being considered. The
1988 studies involved administration of 1260 MBq (34 mCi) of 14C,
and the proposed study will use 444 MBq (12 mCi).
The purpose of the project is to assess the use of carbon by the
mayapple plant, Podophyllum Peltatum. This is achieved by exposing each
plant, in the field, to gaseous 14CO2 for a period of 30
minutes, during which time some of the gas will be absorbed by the
plant. Labeled plants are left in the field for a period of 1 year,
after which the plants are harvested. A total of 475 plants are
expected to be involved during the study, which is to be conducted over
a 2-year period. The first phase is expected to start in the spring of
1997 and end with the harvesting of the labeled plants in 1998, at
which time
[[Page 57912]]
the second phase will start. The second phase ends in 1999, with the
harvesting of the remaining labeled plants. No labeled plant will
remain in the field for a period of over 1 year.
The total 14C activity to be authorized for use during the 2-
year project is 444 MBq (12 mCi). The 14C is taken to the field in
the form of sodium bicarbonate (NaH14CO3). The compound, in
liquid form, is pipetted, in the laboratory at Indiana University, into
plastic centrifuge tubes, up to 25 microcuries (Ci) (0.93 MBq)
per tube, and sealed with screw caps. The amount of liquid in each of
the tubes will be very small, usually about a drop. The sealed tubes
are to be packed into an insulated box (e.g., a picnic cooler) that has
been lined with sufficient absorbent material to absorb any liquids in
case of a spill. A maximum of 35 plants will be labeled at any one
time, thereby limiting the amount of 14C to be taken to the fieled
at any one time to 32.4 MBq (875 Ci).
In the field, a centrifuge tube is attached to the stem of each
plant to be labeled, the tube is uncapped, and the plant and tube are
sealed in an exposure vessel consisting of a large, clear, plastic bag.
Acid is then injected into the centrifuge tube using a hypodermic
needle inserted through a sealable port in the plastic bag. The ensuing
reaction causes the production of 14CO2. The labeling bag is
left in this configuration for 30 minutes, and then removed from the
plant. The centrifuge tube is recapped and the bag sealed and taken
back to the university laboratory. It is expected that about 90 percent
of the 14CO2 generated in the bag will be absorbed by the
plant. Of the activity absorbed, it is estimated that about 90 percent
will be released to the atmosphere by the plant within 3 to 4 days in
the form of 14CO2, with the remaining 10 percent being
incorporated into the plant tissues. At the end of a period not to
exceed 1 year from the date of labeling, the mayapple plant will be
removed from the field, including the roots, and returned to the
university laboratory.
Personnel performing the experiments will be trained personnel who
have successfully completed the university's radiation safety training
program as well as special training for this project. They will wear
protective clothing and latex gloves during procedures involving the
handling of radioactive materials. Each labeled plant will be posted
with a radioactive material sign, and the perimeter of the experimental
site will be posted with warning signs.
Site Description
The site of the proposed experiments is on private property,
consisting mostly of upland undeveloped forest and lowland meadowland
located in a rural area of Monroe County, Indiana. The site is not
developed, but part of the lowland meadow is being used as a composting
area for lawn waste. The proposed location for the experiment is an 11
acre plot in the upland undeveloped forest section of the property. The
owners of the property live on the property, and their house is about
50 meters (160 feet) from the proposed experimental plot. They have
given the university written permission to conduct the experiments.
There is no access road to the proposed location of the
experiments, and access to the property is through a 1.25 mile-long
driveway on the property off a dead-end public road. Although many
houses in the general area have wells, the closest of which is about
300 meters (1,000 feet) from the site, the wells are no longer in use
because of the recent introduction of a municipal water supply. The
closest body of water to the site is Richland Creek, located about 460
meters (1,500 feet) from the closest point of approach to the property.
The creek is not used for fishing or drinking because it has been
classified by the State of Indiana as a Class 2 polluted waterway,
meaning that it should not be used for fishing. The depth of the water
table in the area is about 200 meters (640 feet), and is about 230
meters (740 feet) at the study location.
Based on available data and experience gained from conducting
similar experiments in the past, it appears that only two types of
insect feed on the mayapple plant: stemborers and lepidopteran larvae,
but no other animals or birds. The stemborers are known to remain
within the plant, and will therefore be collected and returned to the
laboratory when the plants are harvested. Only one lepidopteran larva
was observed on a mayapple plant during past experiments, and it
appears that these larvae are not commonly found in that area. The
licensee plans to remove any such larvae that may be found during the
proposed experiments and dispose of them as radioactive material. The
two insect species identified above are not included in the list of
endangered species for the State of Indiana published by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service.
Dose Assessments
Use of 14C to label mayapple plants, in the manner proposed by
the licensee, presents two possible pathways for exposure to the
radioactive material:
1. Inhalation of the 14CO2, either during application by the
workers, or as a result of emission by the labeled plants 3 to 4 days
after uptake by the plant.
2. Diffusion of the 14C into soil and subsequent contamination
of a drinking water supply. Activity may reach the ground through the
plant roots, or through a spill of the radioactive material during
labeling.
1. Airborne Pathways
The 14C is taken to the field in the form of sodium
bicarbonate liquid contained in sealed plastic tubes. Each tube will
contain up to 25 Ci (0.93 MBq) of C-14. Based on past
experience, the licensee estimated that 90 percent of the 14C
activity to which the plant is exposed is taken up by the plant.
Assuming each plant is exposed to the full 0.93 MBq (25 Ci)
content of the plastic tube attached to it during labeling, the plant
will absorb 25 Ci x 0.9, or about 0.83 MBq (22.5 Ci).
Of this activity, 90 percent is estimated to be released to the
atmosphere within 3 to 4 days of uptake by the plant. Therefore, the
activity released to the atmosphere by each plant will be 22.5
Ci x 0.9, or 0.75 MBq (20.3 Ci). An estimated 475
plants will be labeled during the 2-year period of the experiment.
Therefore, the total amount of 14C released to the atmosphere
during the proposed study will be 20.3 Ci x 475, or about 370
MBq (10 mCi).
The closest residents to the site of the experiments are the owners
of the property, whose house is located about 50 meters (160 feet) from
the proposed experimental site. The concentration of 14C at the
house is estimated by using standard airborne dispersion methods
normally used to estimate the concentrations of materials downwind of a
release point. The method chosen for the present purpose is that
recommended for use by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
for showing compliance with its air emissions standards (EPA 520/1- 89-
001, ``Procedures Approved for Demonstrating Compliance with 40 CFR
Part 61, Subpart I,'' Background Information Document, October 1989).
According to this model, the average downwind concentration of 14C
is given by,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08NO96.000
where:
C=concentration, Ci/m3
[[Page 57913]]
f=fraction of time wind is blowing toward receptor = 0.25
Q=release rate, Ci/s=1.6 x 10-4 Ci/s
u=wind speed, m/s=2 m/s
The release rate, Q, was obtained by dividing the total activity
released in a 2-year period, namely 370 MBq (10 mCi), by the number of
seconds in that period. The values of 0.25 and 2 m/s for ``f' and
``u'', respectively, are conservative values for these parameters.
Typical values for ``f' are of the order of 0.15, and typical values
for ``u'' are of the order of 4 to 5 m/s. The value of the diffusion
function, P, is given by,
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08NO96.001
Where:
P=diffusion function
x =distance from point of release, m=50 m
H=height of release point, m=2 m
Qz=vertical diffusion parameter, m
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN08NO96.002
The release rate is obtained by assuming uniform and continuous
emission from the plants over a period of 2 years. A release height of
2 meters (6.6 feet) above ground level is assumed, and the distance to
the owner's house is, as noted above, 50 meters (160 feet). The actual
pattern of release of 14C will not be uniform, but will in fact
occur over a period of 2 months each year, for a total of 4 months
during the 2-year period of the experiment. However, assuming uniform
emissions over the 2-year period will only affect the rate at which the
14C is inhaled, but not the total quantity inhaled, and therefore
will not affect the total committed effective dose. The uniform
emission assumption only simplifies the calculations, but does not
affect the final outcome.
Using the above formulas, the concentration of 14C at the
owner's house is estimated to be about 8.14 mBq/m3 (2.2 x 10-
7 Ci/m3 ). This is a conservative estimate because the
calculations do not take into account any additional dispersion caused
by trees and other obstacles between the plants and the house.
Assuming that the residents will inhale this activity continuously
for a period of 2 years, at an inhalation rate of 1.2 m3/hr (from
Publication 30 of the International Commission on Radiological
Protection), the total inhaled 14C activity will be about 170 Bq
(4.6 x 10-3 Ci). The effective committed dose equivalent
per unit intake for 14C, in the form of 14CO2, is 6.35
Sv/MBq (0.0235 mrem/Ci) (from Federal Guidance Report
No. 11, ``Limiting Values of Radionuclide Intake and Air Concentration
and Dose Conversion Factors for Inhalation, Submersion, and
Ingestion,'' EPA-520/1-88-020). The total committed effective dose
equivalent resulting from inhalation of 179 Bq (4.6 x 10-3
Ci) of 14CO2 is therefore less than 0.01 Sv
(1 rem).
In addition to the release to the atmosphere by the plants, some
14C activity will remain in the labeling plastic bag at the end of
the labeling period. Each bag will initially contain 0.93 MBq (25
Ci) of 14CO2, of which 90 percent, or 0.83 MBq (22.5
Ci) will be taken up by the plant, leaving 0.093 MBq (2.5
Ci) in the bag. If it is conservatively assumed that the
person performing the labeling inhales about 25 percent of that
remaining activity, and if it is also assumed that the same person
performs labeling on all 475 plants, the total 14C activity
inhaled will be 2.5 Ci x 0.25 x 475 plants, or about 11.1 MBq
(300 Ci). Inhalation of this activity, in the form of
14CO2, over a 2-year period, using a dose per unit intake of
6.35 Sv/MBq (0.0235 mrem/Ci) , as above, will result
in an occupational committed effective dose equivalent of about 70
Sv (7 mrem).
2. Soil Pathway
The soil pathway is the exposure pathway that starts with
introduction of the radioactive material into the soil, followed by
diffusion to the water table and contamination of water supplies.
Exposure routes would be by drinking contaminated water, eating fish or
other marine life living in the contaminated water, eating plants grown
in contaminated soil and irrigated using contaminated water, and eating
diary products and meat produced from cattle raised on contaminated
feed and water.
None of the above pathways is significant in this case. The
property on which the experiment is to be conducted is not a working
farm, and no food is grown or produced on it. The closest well is 300
meters (1,000 feet) from the experimental site, but the wells in the
area are no longer used as a water supply because of the introduction
of a municipal water system. There is no fishing in the surrounding
area, and the closest body of water, Richland Creek, located 460 meters
(1,500 feet) from the site, is polluted and is not used for fishing.
A spill of radioactive material is not expected to have a
significant impact on the environment because each plastic centrifuge
tube contains only a drop or so of the liquid tracer, with a total
activity of 0.93 MBq (25 Ci). However, a potentially larger
source of 14C by this pathway are the labeled plants. The plants
are estimated to absorb 90 percent of the activity to which they are
exposed, which is 25 Ci x 0.9 x 475 plants, or about 407 MBq
(11 mCi). About 90 percent of this activity is expected to be released
to the atmosphere soon after labeling, leaving 10 percent, or about 37
MBq (1 mCi), in the plant tissue. The licensee stated that all plants,
including all roots, will be harvested, and no plant will be left in
the ground for more than 1 year. However, if we assume that all the
activity in the plant tissue is released to the ground, this will
provide an upper bound for any possible effect from the groundwater
pathway.
The experimental plot is about 11 acres in area, or about 45,000
m2. It will be assumed that at the end of the experimental period
of two years, the (1 mCi) 37 MBq activity in the plants is uniformly
spread out over this area and to a depth of about 1 m, which is the
approximate depth within which most of the roots will be located. It is
also assumed that a drinking water well is located at the edge of the
experimental plot. Using these assumptions, the concentration of
14C in the top soil layer will be 0.022 Ci/m3 (814
Bq/m3) . At a soil density of about 1.5 g/cm3, the
concentration will be about 0.015 pCi/g (0.56 mBq/m3) of soil.
Using the computer code RESRAD to perform a pathway analysis, and using
the water table depth at the site of about 200 meters (640 feet), the
dose from the drinking water pathway is found to be substantially below
0.01 Sv (1 rem). This is an upper limit for this
pathway, because there is no well at the edge of the experimental plot,
the nearest well being about 300 meters (1,000 feet) from the site.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR Part 51, the Commission has
determined that there will not be a significant effect on the quality
of the human environment resulting from the use of 14C in mayapple
plant studies conducted by Indiana University in Monroe County,
Indiana. Further, an environmental impact statement is not required for
the proposed amendment to Byproduct Material License No.13-00108-05,
which will authorize use of 14C-labeled sodium bicarbonate at the
experimental
[[Page 57914]]
site. This determination is based on the foregoing Environmental
Assessment (EA) performed in accordance with the procedures and
criteria in 10 CFR Part 51, ``Environmental Protection Regulations for
Domestic Licensing and Related regulatory Functions.'' The EA described
herein confirms the Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed
studies.
Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing
Any person whose interest may be affected by the issuance of this
amendment may file a request for a hearing. Any request for hearing
must be filed with the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Washington DC 20555, within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register and must be served on the NRC staff by
mail addressed to the Executive Director for Operations, One White
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852; and must
be served on the applicant by mail or delivery to Indiana University,
Department of Environmental Health and Safety, 840 State Road 46
Bypass, Room 160, Bloomington, Indiana 47405. The request for a hearing
must comply with the requirements set forth in the Commission's
regulations, 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures
for Adjudications in Material Licensing Proceedings.'' Subpart L of 10
CFR Part 2 may be examined or copied for a fee in the Commission's
Region III Public Document Room at 801 Warrenville Road, Lisle,
Illinois 60532-4351, or in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street,
N.W., Lower Level, Washington DC 20555.
As required by 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L (10 CFR 2.1205), the
request for hearing must describe in detail: (1) The interest of the
requester in the proceeding; (2) how that interest may be affected by
the results of the proceedings, including the reasons why the requester
should be permitted a hearing, with particular reference to the factors
set out in paragraph (g) of 10 CFR 2.1205; (3) the requester's areas of
concern about the licensing activity that is the subject matter of the
proceeding; and (4) the circumstances establishing that the request for
a hearing is timely in accordance with paragraph (c) of 10 CFR 2.1205.
The factors in 10 CFR 2.1205(g) that must be addressed in the
request for hearing include: (1) the nature of the requester's right,
under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, to be made a party to the
proceeding; (2) the nature and extent of the requester's property,
financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (3) the possible
effect of any order that may be entered in the proceeding, upon the
requester's interest.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 30th day of October, 1996.
For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Josephine Piccone,
Chief, Operations Branch, Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear
Safety, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 96-28737 Filed 11-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
