ML19340E046
| ML19340E046 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute |
| Issue date: | 12/11/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Steers N AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19340E047 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8101060274 | |
| Download: ML19340E046 (2) | |
Text
/)f'('.
Y
/psrs1yk j~
UNITED STATES y g') *c ( 3 g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION E
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 3*
.a 4
DEC 111980
[
Mr. Newton Steers 6601 River Road Bethesda, Maryland 20034 g
Dear Mr. Steers:
This is in response to your October 15, 1980 letter to Mr. John F. Ahearne, Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), expressing the concerns of several Montgomery County citizens over potential public health and safety risks raised because of the location of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute ( AFRRI) research reactor in a heavily populated area. You also expressed f~de~iTre to have NRC hold public hearings and to develop an Environmental Impact Statement.
AFRRI has recently sui;mitted a request for renewal of their operating license for a period of twenty (20) years. A notice advising the public of the receipt of the application and the intent of NRC to review the application was published in the Federal Register on November 25, 1980. A copy is enclosed for your information.
As stated in the notice, any individual member of the public or organization whose interest may be affected may request a hearing and file a petition for leave to intervene as a party in the hearing. A copy of the NRC's rules of practice,10 CFR Part 2, is enclosed for your information. The pro-cedures for filing a petition to intervene are set out at 10 CFR E 2.714 If you desire to formally request a hearing and participate as a party, you should file a petition by December 25, 1980.
In regard to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) requires the preparation and issuance of an EIS for all major Federal actions which significantly affect the quality of the human environment. When it is unclear at the outset whether preparation of an EIS for the action in question is justified, the NRC regulations implementing NEPA,10 CFR Part 51, require preparation of an Environmental Impact Appraisal (EIA) leading in turn to either (1) a finding of no significant impact and preparation of a negative declaration or (2) to a finding of significant impact and preparation of an EIS.
In 1974, the NRC staff prepared a generic EIS for research reactors which concluded that
...there will be no significant environmental impact associ:.ted with the licensing of research reactors or critical facilities designed to operate at power levels of 2 megawatts or lower and that no environmental impact statements are required to be written...".
Since the AFRRI reactor appears to meet the criteria of the generic EIA (i.e., has a power level of 1 megawatt), an EIS will most likely not be required for the AFRRI license renewal application review. However, in the event there is intervention and a hearing in the license renewal action described above, the issue of a need for an EIS may be raised at that time.
8103060 D
+-
Mr. Newton Steers You can be assured that the health and safety of the public is of the highest concern to the NRC and that these 'acets of the application will also be rendered inter.sive review and evaluation.
If you have further questions, please feel free to centact me or the NRC Project Manager for the AFRRI research reactor (Mr. Harold Bernard, (492-8357).
Sincerely,
.. :1
.....;1 Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Copy of 10 CFR Part 2 l
n
...e
- ^ ~.7
.,.7
~
.,.m..
=-.;
.::2 =.1 I
' No.
S ECY-80-1792 togging care 10/23/R0 P
NRC SECRETARIAT l
TO:
O Comm.ssioner oat.
E xec. cir./Oper.
C Gen. Counsel g
L Cong. Liaison solicitor
=2 2-
=.
O Puoiic Affairs secretary F
.::2:.
.=
Incoming:
Newton I. Steers From:
Newton Steers Anearne 10/15/80
=
To.
g,,,
Concernea about tne plans of t' e Armed rorces Radiob'foT{k.y Res institute located at tna ria ; 1 riavai redical Center in 6. Ma.--safety of publ1C y
O Prgpare reply for signature of:
Chairman
[
j C Commissioner
.I.
O eco. cC. Ct. sot. PA, sECY Signature block ometted O
- . =.
Return onginal of incoming with response
.i'
-(h For direct repiv
- Suspense: Nov 17 3
O For aooropriate action mr
,2...: g..
For information
-c.'d Gir. -- -
y p G For recommendation 0. te........ (
g-;
Time o-awe-
' ~-
l~
f..
Remartts:
?
For the Commission:
bilIie
- send three (3) copies of recly to Secy Mail Facility l
NaC42 ACTloN SLIP