[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 10037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5816]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-77]
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Regarding Termination of Facility License No. R-31, Catholic University
of America, AGN-201 Nuclear Research Reactor
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an Order terminating Facility License No. R-31 for the
Catholic University of America (the licensee) Aerojet-General
Nucleonics (AGN-201) Nuclear Research Reactor located in Washington,
District of Columbia, in accordance with the application dated February
6, 1992, as supplemented on June 2, 1995.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would authorize the licensee to decontaminate
and dismantle its AGN-201 Nuclear Reactor Facility, and dispose of its
component parts in accordance with the proposed decommissioning plan.
Following an ``Order Authorizing Decommission Plan and Authorizing
Decommissioning of the Catholic University of America Research
Reactor,'' dated September 24, 1992, (57 FR 45094) the licensee
completed the dismantlement and submitted a final survey report on
December 20, 1994, as supplemented on September 22, 1995. A NRC Region
I inspector conducted a survey of the Facility on November 7-9, 1995,
(Inspection Report No. 50-77/95-01). Region I, in a memorandum dated
December 11, 1995, concluded that their inspection findings confirmed
the data developed in the licensee final survey report. The proposed
action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated February
6, 1992.
The Need for Proposed Action
The proposed action is to release the facility for unrestricted
access and use, and Facility License No. R-31 must be terminated.
Environmental Impact of License Termination
The licensee indicates that the residual contamination levels
comply with the criteria of Regulatory Guide 1.86 Table 1, for
unrestricted release of the facility. The licensee also indicates that
the radiological exposure at the facility is also less than 5 micro R/
hr above background at one meter which has also been accepted by the
NRC for unrestricted release of facilities. These measurements have
been verified by the NRC Region I inspection. The NRC finds that since
these criteria have been met there is no significant impact on the
environment and the facility can be released for unrestricted use.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application would result
in no change in environmental impacts and would deny release of the
site for unrestricted use and require continuance of the facility
license. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the
alternative action are similar. Since the reactor and component parts
have been dismantled and disposed of in accordance with NRC regulations
and guidelines, there is no viable alternative to termination of
Facility License No. R-31.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with the Program Manager for the
Pharmaceutical, Radiological and Medical Devices Control Division of
the District of Columbia regarding the proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes
that the issuance of the Order will not have a significant effect on
the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the
proposed action.
For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the
licensee's submittal on decommissioning the facility, dated February 6,
1992, as supplemented on June 2, 1995. These documents are available
for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 6th day of March 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactor and Decommissioning Project Directorate,
Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-5816 Filed 3-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
