[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13725-13726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7182]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8968]
Hydro Resources, Inc.; Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), in cooperation
with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), has published a Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) regarding the proposed construction and operation of an in-situ
leach (ISL) project in McKinley County, New Mexico. This FEIS describes
and evaluates the potential environmental impacts of granting Hydro
Resources, Inc. (HRI) a combined source and 11(e)2 byproduct material
license and minerals operating leases for Federal and Indian lands for
the ISL project. The FEIS concludes, after reviewing the technical and
environmental aspects of the proposed project, and evaluating other
associated costs and benefits of the project, that the appropriate
action is to issue the requested license and leases authorizing the
applicant to proceed with the project as discussed in this FEIS.
ADDRESSES: Copies of this FEIS (NUREG-1508) may be requested by members
of the public by writing to the NRC Publications Section, ATTN:
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box
37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082. A copy is also available for
inspection and/or copying in the NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L St.
NW, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert D. Carlson, Project
Manager, Uranium Recovery Branch, Mail Stop TWFN 7-J9, Division of
Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone
(301) 415-8165.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NRC, in cooperation with BLM and BIA,
has prepared an FEIS regarding the administrative action of authorizing
HRI to conduct ISL uranium mining, also known as solution mining, in
conjunction with a combined source and 11(e)2 byproduct material
license issued by the NRC, and minerals operating leases issued for
Federal and Indian lands by BLM and BIA. The license and leases would
provide programmatic and regulatory oversight in administrative
matters; impose operating restrictions; and specify monitoring, record-
keeping, and reporting requirements.
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed
action was prepared by an interagency review group comprising staff
from the NRC, BLM, and BIA, which was published for comment in October
1994. After evaluating the environmental impacts of the proposed action
in the DEIS, the reviewing agencies concluded that the appropriate
action was to issue the requested license and proposed leases
authorizing HRI to proceed with the project. The FEIS reevaluates the
proposed licensing action on the basis of written and oral comments
received by NRC on the DEIS, and on additional information obtained in
1995 and 1996 from the applicant. The FEIS describes the evaluation
conducted by the interagency review group concerning (1) the purpose of
and need for the proposed action, evaluated under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended, and the cooperating
agencies' implementing regulations; (2) alternatives to the proposed
action; (3) the environmental resources that could be affected by the
proposed action and alternatives; (4) the potential environmental
consequences of the proposed action and alternatives; and (5) the
economic costs and benefits associated with the proposed action.
The FEIS evaluates four alternatives. Under Alternative 1 (the
proposed action), the NRC would issue HRI a license for the
construction and operation of facilities for ISL uranium mining and
processing at the Church Rock, Unit 1, and Crownpoint sites as proposed
by HRI in its license application and related submittals. Under
Alternative 2 (modified action), the NRC would issue HRI a license for
the construction and operation of facilities for ISL uranium mining and
processing as proposed by HRI, but at alternative sites and/or using
alternative liquid waste disposal methods. Under Alternative 3 (the NRC
staff-recommended action), the NRC would issue HRI a license for the
construction and operation of facilities for ISL uranium mining and
processing as proposed by HRI, but with additional measures required
and recommended by NRC staff to protect public health and safety, and
the environment. Under Alternative 4 (no action), the NRC would not
issue HRI a license for the construction and operation of facilities
for ISL uranium mining and processing at Church Rock, Unit 1, or
Crownpoint sites.
On the basis of its independent review, the NRC staff concludes
that the potential impacts of the proposed project can be mitigated,
and that HRI should be issued a combined source and 11e(2) byproduct
material license from NRC, and minerals operating leases from BLM and
BIA. However, the license and leases should be conditioned on the
commitments made by HRI in its license application and related
submittals, and the various NRC staff mitigation requirements and
recommendations discussed in the FEIS.
[[Page 13726]]
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of March 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Joseph J. Holonich,
Chief, Uranium Recovery Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office of
Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 97-7182 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
