[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22868]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 15, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8989]
Envirocare of Utah, Inc.; 11e.(2) Byproduct Material Disposal
Facility; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is issuing an exemption from
the requirement of 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, criterion 7 for at least
a full year of preoperational monitoring prior to any major site
construction at the Envirocare of Utah, Inc. (Envirocare) 11e.(2)
byproduct material disposal site near Clive, Utah.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant Envirocare an exemption from the
requirements of 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, criterion 7 for at least
one full year of preoperational monitoring for organic constituents in
the Point of Compliance (POC) wells prior to major site construction at
the 11e.(2) byproduct material disposal facility. In accordance with 10
CFR 40.14, the NRC staff, upon its own initiative, has proposed this
exemption.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Envirocare of Utah, Inc. has conducted preoperational monitoring in
the POC wells for hazardous constituents specified in License Condition
11.1 of Byproduct Material License SMC-1559. Envirocare has completed
at least one full year of preoperational monitoring for all hazardous
constituents in the POC wells at the site with the exception of the
nine organic constituents. Sampling of the organic constituents in the
POC wells was conducted by Envirocare in November of 1993, and
February, April, and July of 1994. In order to complete one full year
of preoperational monitoring, however, Envirocare would need to take
another round of samples from the POC wells in November, 1994 prior to
any major site construction. Envirocare, however, wants to begin
disposal operations in early September, 1994 in order to receive the
11e.(2) byproduct material from the West Chicago Kerr McGee facility.
The purpose for requiring one full year of preoperational
monitoring data is to establish the background ground-water quality
based on data which is representative of seasonal variations, and to
assure a statistically significant number of samples is taken. The
staff has determined that the sampling conducted by Envirocare for the
organic constituents provides adequate representative samples from each
of the four seasons and provides a statistically significant number of
samples. In addition, each of these four samplings has shown that the
nine organic constituents in each well are at or below the lower limit
of detection. Envirocare, in its submittal dated August 31, 1994, has
also proposed that the background ground-water quality for the organic
constituents in the POC wells be set at the lower limit of detection.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the background ground-water
quality values for the nine organic constituents set at the lower limit
of detection, as indicated by the sampling results, provide the same
level of protection for public health, safety, and the environment from
non-radiological hazards at the site as would be achieved by full
compliance with 10 CFR part 40, appendix A, criterion 7.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action
The proposed action does not involve any significant environmental
impacts. Since the proposed action does not involve a change in
facility operation or configuration, there is reasonable assurance that
the proposed action would not increase the probability or the
consequences of an accident, or reduce the level of protection for
public health, safety, and the environment from radiological and non-
radiological hazards. No changes would be made in the types or
quantities of effluents that may be released offsite. Further, there
would be no significant increase in the allowable individual or
cumulative radiation exposure. Accordingly, the NRC concludes that this
proposed action would result in no significant radiological
environmental impact.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no
other environmental impact. Therefore, the NRC concludes that there are
no significant non-radiological impacts associated with the proposed
action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the NRC has concluded that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously
considered in the Environmental Impact Statement (NUREG-1476, August,
1993).
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff initiated this exemption. The NRC staff did not
consult with any other agency or persons regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon this environmental assessment, the staff concludes that
the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality
of the human environment. Therefore, the NRC has determined not to
prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption.
For further details with respect to this action, see the NRC
staff's Safety Evaluation Report regarding the licensee's background
ground-water quality submittal dated September 8, 1994, which is
available for public inspection at the NRC's Public Document Room,
Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of September, 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Joseph J. Holonich,
Chief, High-Level Waste and Uranium Recovery Projects Branch, Division
of Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 94-22868 Filed 9-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
