ML20059M971

Forwards EA & Finding of No Significant Impact to Support Renewal of License SNM-561 for Continued Operation for 5-yr Period

ML20059M971
Person / Time
Site:	07000622
Issue date:	11/18/1993
From:	Keegan E NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Fliszar R ARMY, DEPT. OF, HEADQUARTERS MATERIEL DEVELOPMENT
Shared Package
ML20059M973	List: ML20059M971 ML20059M974
References
TAC-L21626, NUDOCS 9311300028
Download: ML20059M971 (1)

Text

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NOV I e i^d3 Mr. Richard W. Fliszar ARDEC Radiation Protection Officer Department of the Army U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, NJ 07806-5000

SUBJECT:

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (TAC NO. L21626)

Enclosed are copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant inpact (FONSI) prepared to support the renewal of Special Nuclear Materials License SNM-561 for continued operation for a five year period.

The FONSI, which has been forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication on November 17, 1993, also contains a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing in accordance with Subpart L of 10 CFR Part 2.

If you have any questions regarding this action, I can be reached en (301) 504-3354.

Please reference the above TAC No. in future correspondence related to this request.

Sincerely, Original signed b/

Elaine M. Keegan Project Manager Licensing Section 1 Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, NMSS

Enclosures:

(2) As stated DISTRIBUTION: (Control No. 080S)

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tiDV 1 6 1993 10 7590-01' U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FINDING DF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING RENEWAL OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIALS LICENSE SNM-561 DEPARTMENT OF'THE ARMY U.S. ARMY ARMAMENT RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING CENTER. PICATINNEY ARSENAL D0VER. NEW-JERSEY DOCKET 70-622 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the renewal of Special Nuclear Materials License SNM-561 for the continued operation lof the Department of Army, U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinney_ Arsenal, in Dover, New Jersey for a period of 5 years.

SUMMARY

OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:

The proposed action is the renewal of-SNM-561 for a period of 5 years _for the receipt, possession, storage, use, and transfer of sealed sources of plutonium-238, plutonium-239, and neptunium-237, a

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 rasearch programs or as a tool in the study of other materials.

4 The MTR fuel elements are aluminum-clad, uranium aluminum alloy which is 2n enriched tc 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 request to amend the license authorizing usage of the CFX will be submitted for NRC approval.

O The Need for the Proposed Action: Activities under this license serve a variety of research'and development needs for the military.

Research and i

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development activities associated with the license are primarily in the areas

-j of weapons, weapon systems, and munitions.

Environmental Impacts 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

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use of the sealed sources or the storage of the f uel elements.

There is no radiological impact to offsite or onsite populations due to either the storage or use of licensed material.

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Conclusion:==

Based on the information presented above, the environmental impacts associated with the proposed license renewal will be insignificant; The No gaseous or liquid effluents will be released to t* e environment.

radiological impact from the storage and use of licensed materials is insignificant.

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.

Aaencies and Persons' Consulted:

St'aff utilized the application dated August L

28, 1993 in completing the environmental review.

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l Findina of No Sionificant Impact: The Commission has prepared an Environmental Assessment related to the renewal of Special Nuclear Material License SNM-561, On the basis of the assessment, the Commission has concluded that environmental-impacts that would be created by the proposed licensing

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action would not be significant'and do not warrant the preparation of an l

1 Environmental Irpact Statement.

Accordingly, it has been determined that a, i

finding of No Significant Impact is-appropriate

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3 The Environmental Assessment and the above documents related to this proposed action are available for public inspection and copying at the Commission's Public Document Room at the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street N. W.,

Washington, D. C.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING Any person whose interest may be affected by the issuance of this renewal f

may file a request for a hearing. Any request for hearing must be filed with the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C. 20555, within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Reaister; be served on the NRC staff (Executive Director for Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852); on the licensee (Department of the Army, U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, New Jersey, 07806-5000); and must comply with the requirements for requesting a hearing set forth in the Commission's regulation, 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L, " Informal Hearing Procedures for-Adjudications in Materials Licensing Proceedings."

These requirements, which the requestor must address in detail, are:

1.

The interest of the requestor in the proceeding; 2.

How that interest may be affected by the results of the proceeding, including the reasons why the requestor should be permitted a hearing; 3.

The requestor'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 hearing is timely, that is, filed within 30 days of the date of this notice.

in addressing how the requestor's interest may be affected by the proceeding, the request should describe the nature of the requestors right under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, to be made a party to the proceeding; the nature and extent of the requestor's property, financial, or other (i.e.,

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. health, safety) interest in the proceeding; and the possible effect of any order that may be entered in the proceeding upon the requestor's interest.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this lb day of November 1993.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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Robert C. Pierson, Chief Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, FCSS

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