03-15348. Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Availability of Environmental Assessment for License Amendment of Materials License No. 29-15354-01, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, East Millstone, NJ

I. Introduction

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issuance of a license amendment to Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for Materials License No. 29-15354-01, to authorize release of its facility in East Millstone, New Jersey for unrestricted use and has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in support of this action in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. Based on the EA, the NRC has concluded that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate.

II. EA Summary

The purpose of the proposed action is to allow for the release of the licensee's East Millstone, New Jersey facility for unrestricted use. Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has been authorized by NRC since August 10, 2000, to use radioactive materials for research and development including animal studies at the site. On January 20, 2003, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. requested that NRC release the facility for unrestricted use. Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has conducted surveys of the facility and determined that the facility meets the license termination criteria in Subpart E of 10 CFR Part 20.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

The NRC staff has evaluated Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s request and the results of the surveys and has concluded that the completed action complies with the criteria in Subpart E of 10 CFR part 20. The staff has prepared the EA (summarized above) in support of the proposed license amendment to terminate the license and release the facility for unrestricted use. On the basis of the EA, NRC has concluded that the environmental impacts from the proposed action are expected to be insignificant and has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.

IV. Further Information

The EA and the documents related to this proposed action, including the application for the license amendment and supporting documentation, are available for inspection at NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/​reading-rm/​adams.html (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML031620018, ML030280251, ML030870319, and ML031611141. These documents are also available for inspection and copying for a fee at the Region I Office, 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Any questions with respect to this action should be referred to Judy Joustra, Nuclear Materials Safety Branch 2, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region I, 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, 19406, telephone [phone], fax [phone].

Dated at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania this 11th day of June, 2003.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John D. Kinneman,

Chief, Nuclear Materials Safety Branch 2, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region I.