ML20137A871
| ML20137A871 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Lowell |
| Issue date: | 10/28/1985 |
| From: | Thomas C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20137A862 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8511260125 | |
| Download: ML20137A871 (3) | |
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7f90-01 UNITED STATES NtlCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIPONMENTAL IMPACT REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO FACILITY OPEP.ATING LICENSE NO. R-125 UNIVERSITY OF LOWELL DOCKET NO. 50-223 The Nuclear Regulatory Comission (the Cernission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. R-125 for the University of Lowell research reactor located on the campus in Lowell, Massachusetts.
The Amendment will renew the Operating License for thirty years from its date of issuance, in accordance with the licensee's application dated j
February 14, 1985, as supplemented. Opportunity for hearing was afforded by the Notice of Proposed Renewal of Facility License published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on Parch 29, 1985 at 50 FR 12668. On April 29, 1985 a Petition to
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Intervene was filed. A hearing Board was set up and a prehearing conference scheduled. However, on July 11, 1985 before the prehearing conference was convened, the Petition to Intervene was withdrawn. A Memorandum teminatirc
~'the proceeding was issued on July 19, 1985 by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.
Continued operation of the reactor will not require alteration of buildings or structures, will not lead to changes in effluents released from the facility to the environment Will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, and will not involve any unresolved issues concerning alternative uses of available resources. Based on the foregoing and on the Environmental gBA2 286M Bisslha
.. 7590-01 Assessment, the Commission concludes that renewal of the license will not result in any significant environmental impacts.
Finding of No Significant Trpact The Comission has prepared en Environmental Assessnent of this action dated October 4,1985 and has concluded that the preposed action will not have a significant effect on the avality of the human environment. Therefore, the Comission has. determined not to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed action.
Sumary of Environmental Impacts As Described in the Environmental Assessment The proposed action would authorize the licensee to continue operating the reactor in the same manner that it has been operated since 1974. The environmental impacts associated with the continued operation of the facility are discussed in an Environmental Assessment associated with this action. The Assessment concluded that continued operation of this reactor for an additional 30 years will not result in any significant environmental impacts on cir, water, f
land or biota in the area, and that an Environmental Impact Statement need not be prepared. These conclusions were based on the following:
' a) the excess reactivity available under the technical specifications is insufficient to support a reactor transient generating enough energy to cause overheating of the fuel or loss of integrity of the cledding, b) at a themal power level of 1 megawatt the inventory of fission products in the fuel cannot generate sufficient radioactive decey heat to cause fuel damage even in the hypothetical event of rapid total loss of coolant, and
. 7590-01 c).
the hypothetical loss of integrity of the cladding cf the maximum irradiated encapsulated fueled experiment will not lead to radiation exposures in the unrestricted environment that exceed 4
guideline values of 10 CFR Part 20.
For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the application for license renewal dated February 14, 1985, as supplemented, the Environmental Assessment, and the Safety Evaluation Report prepared by the staff (NUREG-1139).
4 These documents are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 1717 H Street NW, Washington, D. C. 20555. Copies may be obtained upon reouest addressed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, ATTENTION: Director, Division of Licensing.
Copies of NUREG-1139 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 28th day of October 1985.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION-cua o. kas
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Cecil D. Thomas, Acting Assistant Director for Safety Assessment Division of Licensing
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