[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 149 (Monday, August 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45859-45860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19689]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 030-29288]


Notice of Consideration of License Renewal Request for 
Decommissioning the Quehanna Site in Karthaus, Pennsylvania and 
Opportunity To Provide Comments and Request a Hearing

ACTION: Notice of consideration of amendment request to renew license 
to authorize decommissioning, and opportunity to provide comments and 
to request a hearing.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Kottan, Project Manager, 
Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials 
Safety, Region I, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 475 Allendale 
Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Telephone: (610) 337-5214, fax number 
(610) 337-5269, and/or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the renewal 
of By-Product Materials License No. 37-17860-02 (License No. 37-17860-
02), issued to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 
Bureau of Radiation Protection, to authorize decommissioning of the 
Quehanna Site in Karthaus, Pennsylvania.
    The licensee has been performing limited decommissioning of the hot 
cells at the Quehanna Site in accordance with the conditions described 
in License No. 37-17860-02. On February 26, 2003, the licensee 
submitted a license renewal application, including a revised 
Decommissioning Plan (DP) for the Quehanna Site, to the NRC for review 
that summarized the decommissioning activities that will be undertaken 
to remediate the hot cells and other building areas and any 
contaminated soil. Radioactive contamination at the licensee's Quehanna 
Site consists of contaminated process piping, soils, and building 
surfaces contaminated primarily with strontium-90 resulting from 
licensed operations that occurred from the late 1950s until 1967.
    The NRC will require the licensee to remediate the Quehanna Site to 
meet the NRC's decommissioning criteria and, during decommissioning 
activities, to maintain effluents and doses within NRC requirements and 
as low as reasonably achievable.
    Prior to approving the decommissioning plan, the NRC will have made 
findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and 
NRC's regulations. Renewal of the license, including approval of the 
Decommissioning Plan for the Quehanna Site, will be documented in an 
amendment to License No. 37-17860-02.

II. Opportunity To Provide Comments

    In accordance with 10 CFR 20.1405, the NRC is providing notice to 
individuals in the vicinity of the site that the NRC is in receipt of a 
DP, and will accept comments concerning this decommissioning proposal 
and its associated environmental impacts. Comments with respect to this 
action should be provided in writing within 30 days of this notice and 
addressed to James Kottan, Project Manager, Decommissioning and 
Laboratory Branch, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region I, 475 
Allendale Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. Telephone: (610) 337-5214, 
fax number (610) 337-5269, and/or e-mail [email protected]. Comments received 
after 30 days will be considered if practicable to do so, but only 
those comments received on or before the due date can be assured 
consideration.

[[Page 45860]]

III. Opportunity To Request a Hearing

    NRC also provides notice that this is a proceeding on an 
application for an amendment of a license falling within the scope of 
Subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudication in Materials 
Licensing Proceedings,'' of NRC's rules and practice for domestic 
licensing proceedings in 10 CFR part 2. Whether or not a person has or 
intends to provide comments as set out in section II. above, 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(d). A request for a hearing must be filed within thirty (30) 
days of 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 Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, 
between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays; or
    2. By mail, telegram, or facsimile addressed to the Secretary, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Attention: 
Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. Because of continuing disruptions 
in the delivery of mail to United States Government offices, it is 
requested that requests for hearing also be transmitted to the 
Secretary of the Commission either by means of facsimile transmission 
to 301-415-1101, or by e-mail to [email protected].
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(f), each request for a hearing 
must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, to:
    1. The applicant, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental 
Protection, Bureau of Radiation Protection, Rachel Carson State Office 
Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-2063, 
Attention: David J. Allard, Bureau Director; and
    2. The NRC staff, by delivery to the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, MD 20852-2738, between 7:45 am and 4:15 p.m., Federal 
workdays, or by mail, addressed to the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Because of continuing 
disruptions in the delivery of mail to United States Government 
offices, it is requested that requests for hearing be also transmitted 
to the Office of the General Counsel, either by means of facsimile 
transmission to (301) 415-3725, or by e-mail to [email protected].
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR part 
2 of NRC's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a person other 
than an applicant must describe in detail:
    1. The interest of the requester in the proceeding;
    2. How that interest may be affected by the results of the 
proceeding, including the reasons why the requester should be permitted 
a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in Sec.  
2.1205(h);
    3. The requester'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(d).

IV. Further Information

    Additional details with respect to this action, the renewal 
application, including the decommissioning plan, are available for 
inspection at the NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html. [Accession Number: ML030800038]. 
These documents are also available for inspection and copying for a fee 
at the Region I Office, 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, 
Pennsylvania, 19406.

    Dated at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, this 24th day of July, 
2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ronald Bellamy,
Chief, Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch, Division of Nuclear 
Materials Safety, RI.
[FR Doc. 03-19689 Filed 8-1-03; 8:45 am]
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