[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30355-30356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14401]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8943]
Crow Butte Resources Inc.
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Final finding of no significant impact notice of opportunity
for hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposes to amend NRC
Source Material License SUA-1534 to allow the licensee, Crow Butte
Resources, Inc., to process the approved maximum production flow rate
of 5000 gallons per minute using existing upflow ion exchange (IX)
columns, rather than the previously-approved combination of upflow and
pressurized downflow IX columns, at its in-situ leach uranium mining
facility in Dawes County, Nebraska. An Environmental Assessment was
performed by the NRC staff in accordance with the requirements of 10
CFR Part 51. The conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a
Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed licensing action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James R. Park, 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, D.C. 20555. Telephone 301/415-6699.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
During April 1991, Crow Butte Resources, Inc. (CBR) commenced
uranium recovery operations at its Crow Butte in-situ leach (ISL)
uranium mining facility in Dawes County, Nebraska. These activities are
authorized by NRC Source Material License SUA-1534. The NRC staff
prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) based on its review of CBR's
original license application and environmental report (ER); a final
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) concerning the issuance of
SUA-1534 was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 1989 (54
FR 53200). Since the issuance of SUA-1534, the NRC staff has prepared
supplemental EAs and published FONSIs based on its review of CBR's
amendment requests to: (1) increase its maximum processing flow rate
from 2500 gallons per minute (gpm) to 3500 gpm (58 FR 13561; March 12,
1993); (2) increase the processing flow rate from 3500 gpm to the
currently approved level of 5000 gpm and the approved restoration flow
rate from 1893 lpm (500 gpm) to 3785 lpm (1000 gpm) (61 FR 7541;
February 28, 1996); and (3) increase the concentrations of radioactive
and non-radioactive constituents in waste streams disposed of through
deep well injection (61 FR 34451; July 2, 1996).
Summary of the Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action is an amendment to SUA-1534 to allow Crow Butte
to process at the approved maximum flow rate using existing upflow IX
columns. The NRC staff's review was conducted in accordance with the
requirements of 10 CFR 40.32 and 10 CFR 40.45.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
There will be no construction impacts or land disturbance
associated with the proposed action, because CBR will be using existing
IX columns, and no increase in the amounts or concentrations of liquid
effluents beyond the levels previously assessed. Liquid effluents will
be disposed by any of three waste disposal options (in solar
evaporation ponds, by deep disposal well, or by land application), all
of which have been previously approved for use at the Crow Butte
facility.
The proposed action will result in an increase in annual radon
emissions to the environment. However, the NRC staff's review found
that the results of modeling satisfactorily show that the potential
impacts to offsite individuals remain well below the 1 millisievert per
year (mSv/yr) (100 millirem per year (mrem/yr)) public dose limit of 10
CFR 20.1301. The largest dose estimate was 0.23 mSv/yr (23 mrem/yr) for
the receptor located approximately 1.0 kilometer from the processing
plant vent location.
Conclusion
The NRC staff concludes that approval of Crow Butte's amendment
request to process its maximum production flow rate using existing
upflow IX columns will not cause significant environmental impacts. The
following statements summarize the conclusions resulting from the
environmental assessment:
(1) In-plant radiological impacts from the proposed amendment
request will be negligible. Radiological impacts to the public will
remain well below the applicable NRC regulatory limits;
(2) The proposed amendment will not affect CBR's yellowcake
possession limits at the facility.
(3) No additional lands will be disturbed by the proposed action;
(4) There will be no increase in the amounts or concentrations of
liquid effluents; and
(5) Because the staff has determined that there will be no
significant impacts associated with approval of the amendment request,
there can be no disproportionately high and adverse effects or impacts
on minority and low-income populations. Consequently, further
evaluation of `Environmental Justice' concerns, as outlined in
Executive Order 12898 and NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards Policy and Procedures Letter 1-50, Rev.1, is not warranted.
[[Page 30356]]
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the NRC staff has concluded that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated. The principal alternative to the proposed action would be to
deny the requested action. Because the environmental impacts of the
proposed action and this no-action alternative are similar, there is no
need to further evaluate alternatives to the proposed action.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with the State of Nebraska, Department of
Environmental Quality (NDEQ), in the development of the Environmental
Assessment. A facsimile copy of the final Environmental Assessment was
transmitted to Mr. Frank Mills of the NDEQ on May 1, 1997. In a
telephone conversation on May 6, 1997, Mr. Mills indicated that the
NDEQ had no comments on the Environmental Assessment.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared an Environmental Assessment for the
proposed amendment of NRC Source Material License SUA-1534. On the
basis of this assessment, the NRC staff has concluded that the
environmental impacts that may result from the proposed action would
not be significant, and therefore, preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement is not warranted.
The Environmental Assessment and other documents related to this
proposed action are available for public inspection and copying at the
NRC Public Document Room, in the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20555.
Notice of Opportunity for Hearing
The Commission hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on
an application for a licensing action falling within the scope of
Subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications in Materials
and Operator Licensing Proceedings,'' of the Commission's Rules of
Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings in 10 CFR Part 2 (54 FR
8269). Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any person whose interest may be
affected by this proceeding may file a request for a hearing. In
accordance with Sec. 2.1205(c), a request for a hearing must be filed
within thirty (30) days from 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 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: Rulemakings and
Adjudications Staff.
Each request for a hearing must also be served, by delivering it
personally or by mail to:
(1) The applicant, Crow Butte Resources, 216 Sixteenth Street Mall,
Suite 810, Denver, Colorado 80202; and
(2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director of
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 Commission'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
Sec. 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 Sec. 2.1205(c).
Any hearing that is requested and granted will be held in
accordance with the Commission's ``Informal Hearing Procedures for
Adjudications in Materials and Operator Licensing Proceedings'' in 10
CFR Part 2, Subpart L.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of May 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. 97-14401 Filed 6-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
