ML20059M588
| ML20059M588 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000622 |
| Issue date: | 11/16/1993 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | NRC |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20059M590 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9311190176 | |
| Download: ML20059M588 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES
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,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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's WASHINGTON, D.C. 205f60001
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November 16, 1993 I
DOCKET:
70-622 t
LICENSEE:
. Department of the Army U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center Picatinny Arsenal Dover, New' Jersey
SUBJECT:
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR LICENSE RENEWAL INTRODUCTION By application dated July 29, 1992, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) requested renewal of License-SNM-561. An updated application was submitted by letter. dated August 28, 1992, which~ superseded the previous application.
This environmental assessment (EA):has been prepared by the staff of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations (10 CFR Part 51),
and Council on-Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508).
PROPOSED ACTION
.The proposed action is the renewal of-Special Nuclear Materials License SNM-561
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for a period of 5 years for the receipt, possession, storage, use, 'and t"ansfer of-sealed sources of plutonium-238, plutonium-239, and neptunium-237, and.for. the _
. possession only of material test reactor-type (MTR) uranium fuel elements.. The sealed sources may be used as calibration or check sources in research programs y
or as a tool.in the study of-other materials.
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The MTR fuel elements are al,uginum-clad, uranium aluminum alloy which is enriched to 93.27 percent: in the U isotope.
The elements are for use with the Californium Flux Multiplication System (CFX)- which is a subcritical assembly.
~The CFX ' serves as a multiplying medium to enhance the emission of a neutron flux for the purpose of conducting neutron radiography of activation' analysis. The CFX
- is not currently authorized for use, however, should ARDEC decide to proceed with.
the process for which the MTR fuel elements were obtained, a requ'est to-amend the-ilicense authorizing usage of the CFX will be submitted for NRC approval.
'NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION Activities 'under this license serve a v' riety of research and development needs a
' for the military.
Research and development activities ' associated with the 3
license are primarily in the areas of weapons, weapon systems, and munitions.
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2 ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION The only feasible alternative to the proposed action of license renewal is the denial of the license renewal. Denying renewal of the license would cause ARDEC to cease operations authorized by License SNM-561, while activities authorized by other NRC licenses issued to the Army at this facility would continue.
Not renewing the license would only be considered if there were issues of public health and safety that could not be resolved to the satisfaction of the NRC staff.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION The radioactive material authorized by this license is in a non-dispersible form and, therefore, no liquid or gaseous effluents are produced. No solid waste is generated by the use of the sealed sources or the storage of the fuel-elements.
There is no radiological impact to offsite or onsite populations due to either the storage or use of licensed material.
CONCLUSION Based on the information presented above, the environmental impacts associated with the proposed license renewal are insignificant._ No gaseous or liquid effluents will be released to the environment. The radiological impact from the storage and use of licensed materials is insignificant. Therefore, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.31, a Finding of No Significant Impact is considered appropriate for this action.
PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTOR Elaine Keegan i
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