00-2523. Rio Algom Mining Corporation; Request to Revise a Site-Reclamation Milestone

AGENCY:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of receipt of a request from Rio Algom Mining Corporation to revise a site-reclamation milestone in License No. SUA-1119 for the Lisbon, Utah, facility and notice of opportunity for a hearing.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated October 23, 1998 and subsequent telephone conversation, a request from Rio Algom Mining Corporation (Rio Algom) to amend License Condition (LC) 55 A.(3) of Source Material License SUA-1119 for the Lisbon, Utah, facility. The license amendment request proposes to modify LC 55 A.(3) to change the completion date for placement of the final radon barrier on the pile to December 31, 2000 for the area not covered by the evaporation pond. Due to continuing use of the evaporation pond, the final radon barrier at the pond location will be completed by 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jill Caverly, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The portion of LC 55 A.(3) with the proposed change would read as follows:

A. To ensure timely compliance with target completion dates established in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Environmental Protection Agency (56 FR 55432, October 25, 1991), the licensee shall complete reclamation to control radon emissions as expeditiously as practicable, considering technological feasibility, in accordance with the following schedule:

(3) Placement of final radon barrier designed and constructed to limit radon emissions to an average flux of no more than 20 pCi/m₂ sec above background—December 31, 2000 for areas not covered by the evaporation ponds and by December 31, 2014 for the area under the evaporation ponds.

Rio Algom's request to amend LC 55 A.(3) of Source Material License SUA-1119, which describes the proposed changes to the license condition and the reason for the request, is being made available for public inspection at the NRC's Public Document Room at 2120 L Street, NW (Lower Level), Washington, DC 20555.

The NRC hereby provides notice of an opportunity for a hearing on the license amendment under the provisions of 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L, “Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications in Materials and Operator Licensing Proceedings.” 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(c), a request for hearing must be filed within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The request for a hearing must be filed with the Office of the Secretary, either:

(1) By delivery to the Docketing and Service Branch of the Office of the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852; or

(2) By mail or telegram addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, Attention: Docketing and Service Branch.

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

(1) The applicant, Rio Algom Corporation, 6305 Waterford Blvd., Suite 325, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118, Attention: William Paul Goranson; and

(2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director for Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, or by mail addressed to the Executive Director for Operations, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.

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 requestor 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(g);

(3) The requestor'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(c).

The request must also set forth the specific aspect or aspects of the subject matter of the proceeding as to which petitioner wishes a hearing.

In addition, members of the public may provide comments on the subject application within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The comments may be provided to David L. Meyer, Chief, Rules Review and Directives Branch, Division of Freedom of Information and Publications Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of January 2000.

For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Thomas H. Essig,

Chief, Uranium Recovery and Low Level Waste Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.