ML20199H690
| ML20199H690 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/20/1997 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Wittrup M POWER RESOURCES CORP. |
| References | |
| REF-WM-5 NUDOCS 9711260193 | |
| Download: ML20199H690 (2) | |
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November 20, 1997 P.tark Wittrup, MSc., P. Eng.
Director, Environmental and Safety Power Resources Operations Offices 800 Werner Ct., Suite 352 Casper, Wyoming, 82601
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON DRAFT STANDARD REVIEW PLAN FOR IN SITU URANIUM EXTRACTION LICENSE APPLICATIONS
Dear Mr. Wittrup:
I am respondirig to your October 28,1997, request to extend the public comment period on the Draft Standard Review Plan for in Situ Uranium Extraction License Applications. After considering your request along with the request of others for an extension, I must inform you that we are unable to extend the public comment period beyond December 8,1997. The Nuclear Reaulatory Commission has an immediate need for a focused set of procedures in the review of In situ ieach applications. This Star,dard Review Plan (SRP) will provide the staff with those much needed procedures. In addition, the resources available to work on this activity are only available through March 1998. The December 8,1997, comment date was based on the time 1
frame needed to receive and consider comments consistent with a March 1998 completion date.
I recognize that the SRP is the first time all of the NRC review procedures and acceptance criteria have been consolidated into a single report. However, much of the information currently contained in the SRP has previously been made available to the industry for quite some time.
For example, Appendix D,
- Effluent Disposal at Licensed Uranium Recovery Facihties," was issued as staif guidance in 1994. Similarly, Appendix E,
- Recommended Outline for Site Specific in Situ Leach Facility Reclamation and Stabilization Cost Estimates," comes from the staff position on surety instruments which has been publicly available for nearly 10 years. Finally, many of the regulatory Luides cited as acceptance criteria have been available to the public for more than 10 years.
Not oniy has nearly all of the information contained in the SRP been publicly available for many years, the NRC staff held a public meeting in Riverton, Wyoming on March 19,1997, *.o obtain suggestions on the content of tho proposed Standard Review Plan for Uranium in Situ Mining Applications." This meeting was attended by members of the National Mining Association, the Wyoming Mining Association, the Uranium Producers of America,individuallicensees, and the g
general public. Also, on June 5,1997, a groundwater mini-workshop was held with the uranium 3
mining industry and the public. This workshop covered various groundwater issues of interest to the uranium in situ mining industry; including a presentation on the status of the SRP.
j"l d In summary, it is important to recognize that much of the information currently cited in the SRP j
has been publicly available for many years. The SRP merely pulls together this information in a g()
single, focused document that can be used in future reviews. Additionally, because of the limited availability of resourcec to work on this project, and the pressing need for a single h/h,y comprehensive review guide, we cannot extend the period of public comment. If it is possible to illi,1 lll11,11!!!Il li me me 99
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do so, comments received after the end of the public comment period will be considered when finalizing the SRP. If they cannot be considered at that time, the staff will consider those comments in any future revisions to the SRP.
If you have any questions on the SRP schedule, please feel free to contact the NRC Project Manager for the SRP development, William Ford. Mr. Ford can be reached at (301) 415-6630.
However, as stated in the October 22,1997, notice in the Federal Register; all comments should be written and be sent to the Chief, Rules and Directives, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
Sincerely, (Original signed by)
Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Mariagement Office of Nuclear Material Gafety and Safeguards DISTRIBUTION:
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