[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48437-48439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23077]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket 72-1015]
NAC International, Inc.; Issuance of Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption from
Requirements of 10 CFR Part 72
By letter dated July 19, 1999, NAC International, Inc., (NAC or
applicant) requested an exemption, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7, from the
requirements of 10 CFR 72.234(c). NAC, located in Norcross, Georgia, is
seeking Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) approval
to procure materials for and fabricate 36 transportable storage
canisters (TSCs), 36 vertical concrete casks (VCCs), and 1 transfer
cask prior to receipt of the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the
UMS Universal Storage System (UMS). The UMS TSC, VCC, and transfer cask
are basic components of the UMS system, a cask system designed for the
dry storage and transportation of spent fuel. The UMS system is
intended for use under the general license provisions of subpart K of
10 CFR part 72 by Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPC) at the
Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station (Maine Yankee), located in Wiscasset,
Maine. The application for the CoC was submitted by NAC to the
Commission on August 29, 1997, as supplemented.
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Identification of Proposed Action: NAC is seeking Commission
approval to procure materials for and fabricate 36 TSCs, 36 VCCs, and 1
transfer cask prior to receipt of the CoC. The applicant is requesting
an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 72.234(c), which states
that ``Fabrication of casks under the Certificate of Compliance must
not start prior to receipt of the Certificate of Compliance for the
cask
[[Page 48438]]
model.'' The proposed action before the Commission is whether to grant
this exemption under 10 CFR 72.7.
Need for the Proposed Action: NAC requested the exemption from 10
CFR 72.234(c) to ensure the availability of storage casks so that Maine
Yankee can decommission as scheduled. As a subcontractor to MYAPC, NAC
is to supply a total of 66 UMS systems. Maine Yankee's decommissioning
schedule is based on initiating spent fuel loading operations in April
2001 using the UMS system. The UMS CoC application is under
consideration by the Commission. It is anticipated that, if approved,
the CoC would be issued in late 2000.
MYAPC plans to continue loading the UMS canisters until all spent
fuel is in dry storage. The current Maine Yankee loading plan specifies
24 UMS systems to be loaded by October 2001. NAC also requested an
exemption to fabricate a 90-day supply of additional UMS systems to
support the Maine Yankee decommissioning plan. Specifically, NAC stated
that, in addition to the fabrication exemption for the 24-required UMS
systems, a fabrication exemption is also needed for an additional 12
TSCs and VCCs to ensure a continuous Maine Yankee loading campaign.
Consequently, NAC requested a fabrication exemption for a total of 36
TSCs and VCCs.
To support training and dry run operations, NAC indicated that the
first of the UMS TSCs, VCCs, and transfer cask are required by October
2000. To meet this decommissioning schedule, NAC stated that
procurement of the TSCs, VCCs, and transfer cask materials must begin
by September 1999.
The proposed procurement and fabrication exemption will not
authorize use of the UMS system to store spent fuel. That will occur
only when, and if, a CoC is issued. NRC approval of the procurement and
fabrication exemption request should not be construed as an NRC
commitment to favorably consider NAC's application for a CoC. NAC will
bear the risk of all activities conducted under the exemption;
including the risk that the 36 TSCs, 36 VCCs, and 1 transfer cask that
NAC plans to construct may not be usable as a result of not meeting
specifications or conditions delineated in a CoC that NRC may
ultimately approve.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: The Environmental
Assessment for the final rule, ``Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel in NRC-
Approved Storage Casks at Nuclear Power Reactor Sites'' (55 FR 29181
(1990)), considered the potential environmental impacts of casks which
are used to store spent fuel under a CoC and concluded that there would
be no significant environmental impacts. The proposed action now under
consideration would not permit use of the UMS system, only procurement
and fabrication. There are no radiological environmental impacts from
procurement or fabrication since the TSC, VCC, and transfer cask
material procurement and fabrications do not involve radioactive
materials. The major non-radiological environmental impacts involve use
of natural resources due to fabrication. Each TSC weighs approximately
18 tons and consists mainly of steel. Each VCC weighs approximately 119
tons and is comprised primarily of concrete. The transfer cask weighs
approximately 60 tons and consists mainly of steel.
The amount of steel required for the TSCs and transfer cask is
expected to have insignificant impact on the steel industry.
Fabrication of the TSCs and transfer cask would be at a metal
fabrication facility and is insignificant compared to the amount of
metal fabrication performed annually in the United States. If the TSCs
and transfer cask are not usable, they could be disposed of or
recycled. The amount of material disposed of would be insignificant
compared to the amount of steel that is disposed of annually in the
United States. Based upon this information, the procurement of
materials and fabrication of the canisters and transfer cask will have
no significant impact on the environment since no radioactive materials
are involved, and the amount of natural resources used is minimal.
The amount of concrete required for the VCCs is expected to have an
insignificant impact on the concrete industry. Fabrication of the VCCs
would be in the vicinity of the reactor site and is insignificant
compared to the amount of concrete fabrication performed annually in
the United States. If the VCCs are not usable, they could be disposed
of or recycled. The amount of material disposed of would be
insignificant compared to the amount of concrete that is disposed of
annually in the United States. Based upon this information, the
procurement of materials and fabrication of the VCCs will have no
significant impact on the environment since no radioactive materials
are involved, and the amount of natural resources used is minimal.
Alternative to the Proposed Action: Since there is no significant
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact are not
evaluated. The alternative to the proposed action would be to deny
approval of the exemption and, therefore, not allow procurement of
materials and fabrication of the TSCs, VCCs, and transfer cask until a
CoC is issued. This alternative would have the same environmental
impact.
Given that there are no significant differences in environmental
impacts between the proposed action and the alternative considered and
that the applicant has a legitimate need to procure materials and
fabricate prior to certification and is willing to assume the risk that
any material procured or any TSC, VCC, or transfer cask fabricated may
not be approved or may require modification, the Commission concludes
that the preferred alternative is to approve the procurement and
fabrication request and grant the exemption from the prohibition on
fabrication prior to receipt of a CoC.
Agencies and Persons Consulted: Clough Toppon from the State of
Maine Bureau of Health was contacted about the EA for the proposed
action and had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR part 51. Based
upon the foregoing EA, the Commission finds that the proposed action of
granting an exemption from 10 CFR 72.234(c) so that NAC may procure
materials for and fabricate 36 TSCs, 36 VCCs, and 1 transfer cask prior
to issuance of a CoC for the UMS system will not significantly impact
the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the
proposed exemption.
The request for the exemption from 10 CFR 72.234(c) was filed by
NAC on July 19, 1999. For further details with respect to this action,
see the application for a CoC for the UMS system, dated August 29,
1997, as supplemented January 29, February 12, and July 16, 1999. The
exemption request and CoC application are docketed under 10 CFR part
72, Docket 72-1015.
The exemption request and the non-proprietary version of the CoC
application are available for public inspection at the Commission's
Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20555.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day of August 1999.
[[Page 48439]]
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Susan F. Shankman,
Acting Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material
Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 99-23077 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
