ML20126H448
| ML20126H448 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Texas at Austin |
| Issue date: | 05/23/1985 |
| From: | Crutchfield D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126H428 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8506180348 | |
| Download: ML20126H448 (4) | |
Text
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7590-01 1
UNITED STATES 'UCLEAR REGULATORY COMPISSION N
NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REGARDING CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RESEARCH REACTOR DOCKET NO. 50-602 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance a construction permit to The University of Texas for a research reactor to be constructed at the University's Balcones Research Center in Austin, Texas.
The construction permit will allow The University of Texas to construct a research reactor in accordance with the application dated November 9,1984, as supplemented. Opportunity for hearing was afforded by the Notice of Proposed Issuance of Construction Permit and Facility Operating License published in the Federal Register on March 29,1985, at 50 FR 12669.
No request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene was filed following notice of the proposed action.
Findina of No Significant Environmental Impact i
The Commission has prepared an Environmental Assessment of this action, dated May 13, 1985, and has concluded that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the Commission has determined not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed action.
B50618034B B50604 PDR ADOCK 050 62
. 7590-01 Summary of Environmental Impacts As Described in the Environmental Assessment The proposed action would authorize the applicant to construct a reactor facility at the Balcones Research Center in Austin, Texas. The environmental impacts associated with the construction and subsquent operation of the facility are discussed in the Environmental Assessment associated with this action. The assessment concludes that the construction and subsequent operation of this facility will not result in any significant environmental impacts on air, water, land or biota in the area, and that an Environmental Impact Statement need not be prepared. These conclusions regarding construction were based on the following:
The reactor facility will be constructed in an area that has already been developed by the University for a Research Center. Utility requirements and construction activities for the reactor laboratory and its related facilities will not be substantially different from those required for previous construction projects at the Balcones Research Center.
- Indeed, construction activities for the proposed reactor facility are expected to be less extensive than those of three previous major research projects constructed since 1980 and should have no impact on areas beyond the Research Center site.
The conclusions regarding operation of the facility were based on the following:
a) normal operations will generate insignificant amounts of gaseous, liquid and solid wastes. Anticipated radiation doses from these
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, 7590-01 wastes in an unrestricted area will be within the 10 CFR 20 guideline values, b) the ultimate heat rejection source (the central chilled water facility) is capable of absorbing all the waste heat from the reactor operation, c) the excess reactivity available under the technical specifications is insufficient to support a reactor transient generating enough,
4 energy to cause overheating of the fuel or loss of integrity of the cladding, d) at a thermal power level of 1100 kilowatts, the inventory of fission products in the fuel cannot generate sufficient radioactive decay heat to cause fuel damage even in the hypothetical event of instantaneous total loss of coolant, and e) the hypothetical loss of integrity of the cladding of the maximum irradiated fuel rod will not lead to radiation exposures in the unrestricted environment that exceed guideline values of 10 CFR 20.
For further details with respect to this proposed action, see (1) the application for construction pennit and operating license dated November 9 l
1984, as supplemented, (2) the Environmental Assessment, and (3) the Safety Evaluation Report (NUREG-1135) prepared by the staff. These documents are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, f
1717 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20555. Copiesofitems(1)and(2) may be obtained upon request addressed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555 ATTENTION: Director, Division of Licensina.
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> 7590-01 l
Copies of NUREG-1135 may be purchased by calling (202) 275-2060 or (202) 275-2171 or by writing to the Superintendent of Documents U.S.
Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, Washington, D.C.
20013-7982.
Dated at Bethesda, Maryland, this 23rd day of May 1985.
f, eIk!*hf.Uru d
ssi tant Director.
l for Safety Assess t
Division of Licensing i
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