[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13766-13768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05030]
[[Page 13766]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70-1151; NRC-2022-0047]
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC; Columbia Fuel Fabrication
Facility; and US Ecology, Inc.; Idaho Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act Subtitle C Hazardous Disposal Facility Located Near Grand
View, Idaho
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact;
issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an
environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact
(FONSI) related to a request for alternate disposal, exemptions, and
associated license amendment for the disposition of waste containing
byproduct material and special nuclear material (SNM) from the
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC's (WEC) Columbia Fuel Fabrication
Facility (CFFF) in Hopkins, South Carolina, under License Number SNM-
1107. The material would be transported to and disposed of at the US
Ecology, Inc. (USEI) disposal facility located near Grand View, Idaho,
a Subtitle C Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous
waste disposal facility permitted by the State of Idaho to receive low-
level radioactive waste. The NRC is also considering the related action
of approving corresponding exemptions to USEI, allowing them to accept
and dispose the material on their site. Approval of the alternate
disposal request from WEC, the exemptions requested by WEC and USEI,
and a conforming license amendment to WEC would allow WEC to transfer
specific waste from CFFF for disposal at USEI.
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available March
10, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2022-0047 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may obtain publicly available information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2022-0047. Address
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301-415-0624; email: [email protected]. For technical
questions, contact the individual listed in the ``For Further
Information Contact'' section of this document.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or
by email to [email protected]. For the convenience of the reader,
instructions about obtaining materials referenced in this document are
provided in the ``Availability of Documents'' section.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents, by appointment, at the NRC's PDR, Room P1 B35, One White
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. To make
an appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to
[email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenny Tobin, Office of Nuclear
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2328, email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
By letter dated November 5, 2021, as corrected by letter dated
December 1, 2021, WEC requested exemptions and an associated license
amendment to License Number SNM-1107, issued for the operation of the
CFFF located in Hopkins, South Carolina pursuant to section 20.2002 of
title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Method for
obtaining approval of proposed disposal procedures.'' By letter dated
November 5, 2021, USEI incorporated the supplemented WEC application in
its request for corresponding exemptions. The requests are for NRC
authorization for an alternate disposal of NRC-licensed byproduct and
SNM from the CFFF. As required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC conducted an
EA. Based on the results of the EA that follows, the NRC has determined
that pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, preparation of an environmental impact
statement for the exemption request is not required and, pursuant to 10
CFR 51.32, issuance of a FONSI is appropriate.
WEC submitted a 10 CFR 20.2002 alternate disposal request (ADR) on
May 8, 2020 with a corresponding exemption request from USEI on May 11,
2020. The NRC staff reviewed and approved the request on December 9,
2020, along with the corresponding exemptions for USEI. Following
approval, WEC determined that the volume of material considered was
incorrect. To resolve the issue WEC submitted a second request, dated
February 8, 2021. The NRC staff reviewed and approved the second
request and issued an updated safety evaluation report (SER) evaluating
both requests as well as a new exemption to USEI on March 11, 2021. On
June 1, 2021, WEC submitted another ADR for the disposal of additional
material from CFFF. On September 14, 2021, in a response to an NRC
staff request for additional information (RAI), WEC supplemented and
narrowed its June 1, 2021, request to consider only the disposal of
calcium fluoride (CaF2) sludge containing byproduct material
and SNM. WEC stated that the other waste material types discussed in
the June 1, 2021, request would be addressed in the response to the NRC
staff's RAI. The NRC staff approved the request to dispose of
CaF2 sludge at USEI on October 12, 2021.
This ADR seeks approval to dispose of volumetrically contaminated
and surface-contaminated wastes using bounding dose calculations and
corresponding volume and radionuclide concentration limits that are
based upon the annual USEI worker exposure limit of 5 millirem per year
(mrem/yr).
II. Environmental Assessment
Description of the Proposed Action
WEC and USEI requested NRC approval for a 10 CFR 20.2002 ADR,
exemptions to 10 CFR part 70.3 and 10 CFR 30.3, and a conforming WEC
license amendment to allow WEC to package, ship, and dispose of
specific volumetrically contaminated and surface-contaminated waste at
the USEI disposal facility. The volumetrically contaminated waste
includes CaF2 sludge dredged from the disposal lagoons and
the Sanitary Lagoon located on the site, contaminated soil from under
and adjacent to the Sanitary Lagoon, and soil associated with the
demolition of the CaF2 storage pad. The surface-contaminated
waste being considered for disposal includes obsolete uranium
hexafluoride (UF6) shipping cylinders and debris associated
with demolition and removal of the CaF2 pad and Sanitary
Lagoon. The waste being considered originates from processes associated
with the chemical conversion of UF6 to uranium dioxide
(UO2) performed at CFFF and
[[Page 13767]]
are contaminated with isotopic uranium (U-234, U-235, and U-238) and
technicium-99 (Tc-99).
As proposed, this waste would be transported from CFFF in Hopkins,
South Carolina, to the USEI facility near Grand View, Idaho. The USEI
facility is a RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste disposal facility
permitted by the State of Idaho. The USEI site has both natural and
engineered features that limit the transport of radioactive material.
The natural features include a low precipitation rate [i.e., 18.4 cm/
year (7.4 in./year)] and a long vertical distance to groundwater (i.e.,
61-meter (203-ft) thick on average unsaturated zone below the disposal
zone). The engineered features include an engineered cover, liners, and
leachate monitoring systems. Because the USEI facility is not licensed
by the NRC, this proposed action requires the NRC to exempt USEI from
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, and NRC licensing requirements with
respect to USEI's requested receipt and disposal of this material.
Need for the Proposed Action
The need for the proposed action is to authorize a safe and
appropriate method for disposing of the volumetrically contaminated and
surface-contaminated waste as part of remediation activities currently
being performed at the CFFF in accordance with Consent Agreement 19-02-
HW between WEC and the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control. The proposed action would also conserve low-
level radioactive waste disposal capacity at licensed low-level
radioactive disposal sites while ensuring that the material being
considered is disposed of safely in a regulated facility.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC staff reviewed the information provided by WEC to support
their 10 CFR 20.2002 alternate disposal request and for USEI's specific
exemptions from 10 CFR 30.3 and 10 CFR 70.3 in order to dispose of the
volumetrically contaminated and surface-contaminated waste. Under the
10 CFR 20.2002 criteria, a licensee may seek NRC authorization to
dispose of licensed material using procedures not otherwise authorized
by NRC regulations. The licensee's supporting analysis must show that
the radiological doses arising from the proposed 10 CFR 20.2002
disposal will be as low as reasonably achievable and within the 10 CFR
part 20 dose limits.
As documented in the SER, the NRC staff concluded that the
requested alternate disposal is acceptable under 10 CFR 20.2002.
Details provided in this request, in combination with past reviews
considering similar material from the same site, provide an adequate
description of the waste and the proposed manner and conditions of
waste disposal. The use of maximum annual volumes and radionuclide
concentration limits ensures that potential doses to members of the
public, including transportation workers and USEI workers involved in
processing and disposing of the waste upon its arrival at USEI, are
minimal and within the ``few mrem'' per year criteria that the NRC
established (see NUREG-1757, Volume 1, Revision 2). As USEI is a RCRA
Subtitle C hazardous waste landfill permitted by the Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality, these disposals are also subject to the RCRA
regulations for the site, which includes a site-specific waste
acceptance criteria.
NRC staff also considered non-radiological impacts associated with
the proposed action. NRC staff concludes that approval of the proposed
request would not result in significant environmental impacts from non-
radiological effluents or significantly impact air quality or noise
because the volume of materials to be transported for disposal are
relatively small, the sites where the proposed action would occur are
already disturbed industrial areas which perform these actions on a
regular basis, and because the proposed action would not require the
development or disturbance of additional land. In addition, approval of
the proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or
consequences of accidents associated with the transport and disposal of
the volumetrically contaminated and surface-contaminated waste.
Considering the small amounts of radioactive material and limited
volumes of material, along with the NRC staff's analyses in the SER,
the NRC staff finds that the environmental impacts of the proposed
action are not significant.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered
the no-action alternative in which the NRC staff would deny the
disposal request. Denial of the request would require WEC to transport
the volumetrically contaminated and surface-contaminated waste to a
licensed low-level radioactive processing and disposal facility that is
authorized to take waste containing radioactive material in order to
satisfy the requirements of the Consent Agreement. This action would
ultimately only change the location of the disposal site. All other
factors would be of similar significance. Therefore, the no-action
alternative was not further considered.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on February 28, 2022, the
staff consulted with the South Carolina Department of Health and
Environmental Control and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
regarding the environmental impacts of the proposed action. The State
officials concurred with the EA and FONSI.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The proposed action consists of NRC approval of (a) WEC's and
USEI's alternate disposal requests under 10 CFR 20.2002, (b) WEC and
USEI's exemption request under 10 CFR 30.11(a) and 10 CFR 70.17(a), and
the issuance of a conforming license amendment to WEC. Based on this
EA, the NRC finds that there are no significant environmental impacts
from the proposed action. Therefore, the NRC has determined, pursuant
to 10 CFR 51.31, that preparation of an environmental impact statement
is not required for the proposed action and a FONSI is appropriate.
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the following table are available to
interested persons through ADAMS, as indicated.
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Document ADAMS accession No.
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Request for Alternate Disposal Approval and Exemption for ML20129J934 (Package)
Specific Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste (License
No. SNM-1197, Docket No. 70-1151), dated May 8, 2020.
Request for Exemptions under 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR 70.17 ML21061A273
for Alternate Disposal of Wastes from Columbia Fuel
Fabrication Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, dated February
25, 2021.
Request for Exemptions under 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR 70.17 ML20280A601
for Alternate Disposal of Wastes from Columbia Fuel
Fabrication Facility Under 10 CFR 20.2002, dated May 11,
2020.
[[Page 13768]]
US Ecology Exemption for Alternate Disposal of Specific ML20304A341
Waste from the Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication
Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR
70.17, dated December 9, 2020.
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC--Amendment 25 to ML20302A083 (Package)
Material License SNM-1107, Exemption for Alternate
Disposal of Specific Waste (Enterprise Project Identifier
L-2020-Lll-0009), dated December 9, 2020.
Request for Alternate Disposal Approval and Exemption for ML21039A719
Specific Columbia Fuel Fabrication Waste (Docket No. 70-
1151, Material License SNM-1107), dated February 8, 2021.
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC--Amendment 26 to ML21064A225
Material License SNM-1107, Exemption for Alternate
Disposal of Specific Waste (Enterprise Project Identifier
L-2021-LLA-0013), dated March 11, 2021.
U.S. Ecology Exemption for Alternate Disposal of Specific ML21061A277 (Package)
Waste from the Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication
Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR
70.17, dated March 11, 2021.
Request for Exemption Associated with Disposal of Specified ML21309A095
Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste (Docket No. 70-
1151), dated November 5, 2021.
Request for Exemption Associated with Disposal of Specified ML21336A461
Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste (Docket No. 70-
1151), correction dated December 1, 2021.
Safety Evaluation Report for Request or Alternate Disposal ML22054A045 (Package)
Approval and Exemptions from Disposal of Columbia Fuel
Fabrication Facility Waste to the US Ecology Idaho
Facility, dated March 4, 2022.
Request for Exemptions Associated with Disposal and ML21153A001
Transportation of Specified Columbia Fuel Fabrication
Waste dated June 1, 2021.
Letter: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC--Amendment 28 to ML21214A093 (Package)
Material License Snm-1107, Exemption for Alternate
Disposal of Specific Waste (Enterprise Project Identifier
L-2021-LLA-0101) dated October 12, 2021.
Request for Exemptions under 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR 70.17 ML21351A038
for Alternate Disposal of Wastes from Columbia Fuel
Fabrication Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, dated November
5, 2021.
Letter from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality ML22062B349
entitled ``Review of the Draft Environmental Assessment
related to an alternative disposal request from
Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF) for
disposal of CaF2 Sludge,'' dated March 3, 2022.
Email from Ken Taylor of the South Carolina Department of ML22062B355
Health and Environmental Control entitled ``Review of
Draft Environmental Assessment for Westinghouse Columbia
alternative disposal request,'' dated March 3, 2022.
NUREG-1757, Volume 1, Revision 2. Consolidated ML063000243
Decommissioning Guidance: Decommissioning Process for
Materials Licensees.
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Dated: March 4, 2022.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jacob I. Zimmerman,
Chief, Fuel Facility Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Management,
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2022-05030 Filed 3-9-22; 8:45 am]
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