02-31607. Notice of Timely Receipt and Consideration of Renewal Application for the Crownpoint Uranium Project, Crownpoint, NM, and Opportunity To Provide Comments and To Request a Hearing

I. Introduction

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated August 22, 2002, a request from Hydro Resources, Inc. (HRI) for renewal of NRC Source Material License SUA-1580 for the Crownpoint Uranium Project. The application is deemed timely filed, and accordingly, the license will not expire until final action has been taken by the NRC.

In January 1998, HRI was granted by the NRC, Source Material License SUA-1580 for uranium production at the Crownpoint Uranium Project which is the subject of an ongoing adjudication before the NRC. HRI has submitted a license renewal application for a second term. The application only requests the extension of the effective dates of the existing license, all the processes authorized by the current license will remain unchanged.

If the NRC approves the renewal request, the approval will be documented in the issuance of a renewed HRI license. However, before approving the proposed renewal, the NRC will need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC's regulations. These findings will be documented in a Safety Evaluation Report and an Environmental Assessment.

II. Opportunity To Provide Comments

The NRC is providing notice to individuals in the vicinity of the facility that the NRC is in receipt of this request, and will accept comments concerning this action within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The comments may be provided to the Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administration Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and should cite the publication date and page number of this Federal Register notice. Written comments may also be delivered to Room T-6 D59, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, from 7:30 a.m. until 4:15 p.m. on Federal workdays.

III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing

NRC also provides notice that this is a proceeding on an application for an amendment of a license falling within the scope of subpart L, “Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudication in Materials Licensing Proceedings,” of NRC's rules and practice for domestic licensing proceedings in 10 CFR part 2. Whether or not a person has or intends to provide comments as set out in section II above, pursuant to § 2.1205(a), any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding may file a request for a hearing in accordance with § 2.1205(d). A request for a hearing must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of publication of this Federal Register notice.

The request for a hearing must be filed with the Office of the Secretary either:

1. By delivery to the Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff of the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays; or

2. By mail or telegram, addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. Because of continuing disruptions in the delivery of mail to United States Government offices, it is requested that requests for hearings be also transmitted to the Secretary of the Commission either by means of facsimile transmission to 301-415-1101, or by e-mail to [e-mail].

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(f), each request for a hearing must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, to:

1. The applicant, Hydro Resources, Inc., 650 South Edmonds Lane, Suite 108, Lewisville, Texas 75067, Attention: Mr. Mark S. Pelizza, President; and

2. The NRC staff, by delivery to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays, or by mail, addressed to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Because continuing disruptions in the delivery mail to United States Government offices, it is requested that requests for hearing be transmitted to the Office of the General Counsel either by means of facsimile transmission to 301-415-3725, or by e-mail to [e-mail].

In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR part 2 of the NRC's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a person other than an applicant 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 proceeding, including the reasons why the requestor should be permitted a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in § 2.1205(h).

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 § 2.1205(d).

IV. Further Information

The application for the license renewal is available for inspection at NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/​reading-rm/​adams.html (ADAMS Accession Number: ML022460195, License Renewal Request, August 22, 2002). Documents may also be examined and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Any questions with respect to this action should be referred to Mr. Michael Layton, Project Manager, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T-8A33, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone].

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of December, 2002.

For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Daniel M. Gillen,

Chief, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.