[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 29921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14049]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70-27]
BWX Technologies (BWXT), Lynchburg, VA Issuance of Environmental
Assessment Regarding the Proposed Exemption From the Requirement in 10
CFR 70.25(e) To Provide a Decommissioning Cost Estimate
The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption to BWXT (the applicant) from the
requirement of 10 CFR Part 70.25(e) to provide a decommissioning cost
estimate (DCE) for the Naval Reactors (NR) work at BWXT. The BWXT
facilities and operation are located at Lynchburg, Virginia.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action: By letter dated April 8,
1999, and supplements dated May 10 and May 13, 1999, BWXT (the
applicant) requested Materials License SNM-42 be amended to grant an
exemption from the requirement of 10 CFR Part 70.25(e) to provide a
decommissioning cost estimate (DCE) for the Naval Reactors (NR)
programs at BWXT, located at Lynchburg, Virginia. In a letter dated
April 9, 1999, from the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of NR,
NR supported BWXT's request for an exemption.
Need for the Proposed Action: The BWXT operation involves the
manufacturing of nuclear fuels for the U. S. Navy program. When BWXT's
operations cease, the NRC will require decommissioning of the
facilities and land in accordance with the requirements specified in 10
CFR 70.25. As described in the applicant's license amendment request
and the NR April 9, 1999, letter, the exemption is requested in order
to eliminate the need to prepare a detailed decommissioning cost
estimate to be filed together with the Statement of Intent that the
Federal government will be responsible for the cost of decommissioning.
The following information, as detailed in the applicant's request and
NR's letter, provide support for the exemption request: (1) The DOE,
through NR, is contractually obligated to pay the expenses eventually
incurred by BWXT in decommissioning the BWXT facilities associated with
NR work; (2) NR has an adequate understanding of the potential costs of
decommissioning the BWXT facilities used in NR work; (3) a detailed DCE
prepared now will not be valid when decommissioning occurs many years
from now; (4) exempting BWXT at this time from the requirement for a
DCE would not endanger life or property or the common defense and
security; and (5) the Federal Government will not obtain a benefit
commensurate with the expenditure of public funds to prepare a detailed
DCE.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action: The NRC staff has
examined the applicant's proposed exemption request and concluded that
the proposed exemption request is procedural and administrative in
nature. Since the Federal Government will be responsible for the
ultimate financial cost in the decommissioning of the applicant's
facilities, exempting BWXT at this time from the requirement for a DCE
will not endanger life or property, or the common defense and security,
and will not cause any environmental impact.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action: Since there is no
environmental impact associated with this proposed action, no
alternatives other than the proposed action were evaluated.
Agencies and Persons Consulted: No other agency or persons were
consulted for this proposed action since the proposed action is
procedural and administrative in nature and the final financial cost
for the decommissioning of the applicant's facilities is assured by the
Federal Government.
Finding of No Significant Impact
As discussed above, the proposed action is procedural and
administrative in nature and there is no environmental impact
associated with this action. Accordingly, the Commission has determined
not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed
exemption.
This application for the proposed action was docketed under 10 CFR
part 70, Docket No. 70-27. For further details with respect to this
action, see the April 8, 1999, exemption request, and other above-
mentioned letters which are available for public inspection at the
Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC
20555.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of May 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Theodore S. Sherr,
Chief, Licensing and International Safeguards Branch, Division of Fuel
Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-14049 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
