ML20246P533

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Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Re Proposed Order Authorizing Dismantling of Reactor & Disposition of Component Parts
ML20246P533
Person / Time
Site: Berkeley Research Reactor
Issue date: 09/05/1989
From: Weiss S
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML20246P479 List:
References
NUDOCS 8909110141
Download: ML20246P533 (3)


Text

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7590-01 4 .

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ,

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT REGARDING PROPOSED ORDER AUTH0RIZING DISMANTLING OF THE REACTOR AND DISPOSITION OF COMPONENT PARTS

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFOR Q , BERKELg u 50-224 DOCKET _N0 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering issuance of an Order authorizing the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) to dissantle their TRIGA research reactor facility located on the licensee's campus in Berkeley, California and to dispose of the reactor components in accordance with the application d6ted January 8,1988, as supplemented on January 31, 1989 an'd April 14, 1989.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action: By application dated January 8,1988, as supplemented, UCB requested authorization to decontaminate and dissantle the TRIGA research reactor, to dispose of its components parts in accordance with the proposed dismantling plan, and to terininate Facility Operating License No.

R-101. The UCB TRIGA was shutdown in December 1987, and has not operated since then. Following reactor shutdown the fuel was removed from the core and shipped as directed by the Department of Energy in accordance with DOE, NRC, and DOT requirements.

Opportunity for hearing was afforded by a " Notice of Proposed Issuance of Orders Authorizing Disposition of Component Parts and Terminating Facility License" published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on March 10,1988 (53 FR 7823).

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-2 The City of Berkeley filed a " Petition To Intervene In License Amendment Proceeding, Request For Hearings And Further P.elief." The city and the licensee held discussions, arrived at a settlement agreement and filed a " Joint Motion For Dismissal Of Hearing Procedure" with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The Board issued an Order on January 5,1989 to dismiss the proceeding.

Need for Proposed Action: In order to prepare the facility for unrestricted access and use, the dismantling and decontamination activities proposed by UCB sust be accomplished.

Environmental Impact of the Preposed Action: All decontamination will be performed by trained personnel in accordance with previously reviewed procedures and will be overseen by experienced health physics staff. Solid and liquid waste will be removed from the facility and managed in accordance with NRC requirements. The staff has calculated that the collective dose equivalent to the staff and public for the project will be less than 8 person-rem.

These conclusions were based on the fact that all proposed operations are carefully planned and controlled, all contaminated components are removed, packaged, and shipped offsite, and that the radiological control procedures ensure that releases of radioactive wastes from the facility are within the limits of 10 CFR Part 20 and are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

Based on the review of the specific proposed activities associated with the dismantling and decontamination of the UCB facility, the staff has determined that there will be no significant increase in the ascunts of effluents that may be released offsite, and no significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational or population radiation exposure.

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.. a The staff has also determined that the proposed activities will not result in any significant impacts on air, water, land, or biota in the area.

Alternative Use of Resources: The only alternative to the proposed dismantling and decontamination activities is to maintain the facility as a restricted area. This approach would include monitoring and reporting for the duration of the safe storage period. However, the UCB intends to use the area for other academic purposes.

Agencies and Persons Consulted; The NRC staff reviewed the Itcensee's request and did not consult other agencies or persons.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The Comission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action based upon the foregoing environmental assessment. We conclude that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.

For detailed information with respect to this proposed action, see the application for dismantling, decontamination and license termination dated January 8,1988, as supplemented and the Safety Evaluation prepared by the staff. These documents are available for public inspection at the Comission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, D. C. 20555.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 5th day of September 1989.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

% O Seymour H. Weiss, Director Non-Power Reactor, Decommissioning and Environmental Project Directorate Division of Reactor Projects III IV, Y and Special Projects Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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