[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 24521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11304]
[[Page 24521]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 70-1201]
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact for the Renewal of Special Nuclear Materials
License for Framatome Advanced Nuclear Power, Inc., Lynchburg, VA
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering renewal
of NRC Special Nuclear Material License SNM-1168 for Framatome Advanced
Nuclear Power, Inc. (FANP) in Lynchburg, VA. Initial operations at the
FANP Lynchburg site with enriched uranium were authorized in December
1969. The license was renewed in April 1976, June 1983, and September
1991. The license was extended for 18 months on January 4, 2001.
By application dated March 28, 2002, FANP requested renewal of SNM-
1168. FANP submitted an Environmental Report by letter dated March 28,
2002. The NRC published a Federal Register notice on August 9, 2002 (67
FR 51894), with a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing on the proposed
action. No requests for a hearing were received.
The FANP facility conducts three types of operations: producing
fuel assemblies for use in commercial light-water reactors, support
activities for nuclear reactor field service operations, and general
manufacturing. The activities covered under license SNM-1168 are the
fabrication of fuel assemblies and support activities for nuclear
reactor field service operations. The proposed renewal of license SNM-
1168 is necessary for FANP to continue operation.
The NRC staff performed an Environmental Assessment (EA) in support
of its review of FANP's renewal request, in accordance with the
requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The conclusion of the EA is a Finding
of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action.
II. EA Summary
The scope of the EA included an evaluation of the activities
authorized under license SNM-1168, as well as other activities which
could potentially affect licensed activities. Principal activities in
the facility include the processing of low-enriched uranium (<= 5.1%),
received as UO2 pellets. Other activities conducted in
conjunction with nuclear fuel fabrication include: fabrication of
poison rods, download of finished fuel bundles and rods, repair of
returned fuel assemblies, laboratory operations and waste disposal
operations.
On the basis of its assessment, the NRC staff has concluded that
the environmental impacts associated with the proposed license renewal
for continued operation at the Lynchburg facility would not be
significant and, therefore, the proposed action does not warrant the
preparation of an environmental impact statement. All existing
requirements for environmental monitoring and protection will be
continued to evaluate future impacts.
III. Further Information
The full EA (ADAMS Accession No. ML030940720) and the following
documents related to the proposed action, are available for inspection
at NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html: (1) Framatome ANP, Inc., Response to the Request for
Additional Information for License Renewal, SNM-1168, Docket No. 70-
1201, November 8, 2002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML023230413); (2) Letter to
Peter Lee re: Special Nuclear Material License Renewal of Framatome
ANP, Mt. Athos Road Facility, 2708, Campbell County, VA,
October 2, 2002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML022810449); (3) Application for
License Renewal of SNM-1168, Docket No. 70-1201, March 28, 2002 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML020940468); and, (4) Supplement to the Environmental
Report, SNM-1168, Docket No. 70-1201, March 28, 2002 (ADAMS Accession
No. ML020930031). These documents and B&W Fuel Company's letter to
Robert Pierson re: Exemption from Emergency Plan, March 21, 1994, may
also be examined and copies for a fee at the NRC's Public Document
Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852. Any questions with respect to this action should
be referred to Ms. Julie Olivier, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch,
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Mail Stop T-8 A33, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone
(301)415-8089.
Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day of April, 2003.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Susan M. Frant,
Chief, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and
Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 03-11304 Filed 5-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P