ML20196H107
| ML20196H107 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Neely Research Reactor |
| Issue date: | 12/03/1998 |
| From: | Weiss S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20196H087 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9812080212 | |
| Download: ML20196H107 (4) | |
Text
4 64 7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DOCKET NO. 50-160 GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH REACTOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of its regulations to Facility Operating License No. R-97, a license held by the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech or the licensee). The exemption would apply to the Georgia Tech Research Reactor (GTRR), a l
shutdown and defueled facility located in Atlanta, Georgia. i ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:
The proposed exemption would eliminate emergency response plan requirements due to the shutdown and defueled status of the GTRR facility.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated August 20,
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1998. The requested action would grant an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(q) for emergency planning.
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- The Need for the Proposed Action:
The nuclear fuel was removed from the GTRR in February 1996. By NRC License !
Amendment No.12, dated April 2,1998, the authority to operate the reactor was removed l
and the licensee was authorized to possess the residual by-product material. The tritiated ;
heavy water was removed from the facility in July 1998. In this shutdown and defueled ;
condition, the facility poses a reduced risk to public health and safety. Because of this i reduced risk, the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(q) are no longer required. An exemption is required from 10 CFR 50.54(q) to allow the licensee to drop the requirement to maintain and implement the Emergency Plan for the GTRR. I EnvironmentalImpact of the Proposed Action: !
1 Before issuing the proposed exemption, the Commission will have concluded that the granting of the exemption from certain portions of 10 CFR 50.54(q) is acceptable, as 1
described in the exemption. The proposed action will not increase the probability or l l
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of effluents that may j be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation i
exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmentalimpacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does not involve any historic sites, it does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmentalimpacts associated with the proposed action.
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l Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant environmental -
impacts associated with the proposed action.
l Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
' As an alternative to the pie.%ea action, the staff considered denial of the proposed I action. Denial of the exemption would result in no change in current environmental i
impacts. The environmentalimpacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are i
similar. ,
Alternative Use of Resources:
l This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the ,
Final Environmental Statement for the Georgia Tech Research Reactor.
Agencies and Persons Consulted: ,
in accordance with its stated policy, on November 25,1998, the NRC staff has ;
consulted with Mr. Thomas Hill of the State of Georgia, Radioactive Materials Program, Department of Natural Resources, regarding the environmentalimpacts of the proposed action. The State official had no comment regarding environmentalimpacts of the proposed action.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT On the basis of the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes that the r
l . proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
j Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact l
statement for the proposed action.
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. 4 7s For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee letter dated August 20, i 1998, which is available for public review at the Commission's Public Document Room, the
' 1 Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 1 I
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- Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of December 1998. ;
1 C- -
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION .
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Seymour H. Weiss, Director :
Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning :
Project Directorate '
Division of Reactor Program Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation I
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