ML23013A259
| ML23013A259 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Abilene Christian University |
| Issue date: | 05/09/2023 |
| From: | -Neednewvalue NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ENRB |
| To: | Myers K US Dept of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service |
| References | |
| Download: ML23013A259 (4) | |
Text
Karen Myers Acting Field Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1505 Ferguson Lane Austin, TX 78754
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO INITIATE CONSULTATION FOR THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 05000610)
Dear Karen Myers:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is conducting an environmental review for a construction permit application submitted by Abilene Christian University (ACU) for the proposed Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR) in Abilene, Texas. The construction permit application was submitted to the NRC by letter dated August 12, 2022 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML22227A202), as supplemented by letter dated October 14, 2022 (ML22293B816), pursuant to title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 50, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, and section 104c of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. An environmental report was included as part of the construction permit application as Chapter 19 of ACUs Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (ML22227A203). These documents may be obtained online in the NRCs ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select Begin Web-based ADAMS Search. For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.
The proposed MSRR would be constructed within the Science and Engineering Research Center (SERC) on the ACU campus. The SERC is presently being built on the southeast corner of the ACU campus in the City of Abilene, which is located 150 miles (241 kilometers) west of Fort Worth, in West Central Texas. The SERC site encompasses approximately 15.17 acres (6.14 hectares) of land (see Enclosure). The northern border of the site is East North 16th Street, and the eastern border is North Judge Ely Boulevard. The proposed location for the MSRR covers approximately 25,000 square feet within the SERC. No additional land would be cleared or graded to construct the MSRR.
To support the preparation of its environmental assessment (EA) on the proposed action of whether to issue a construction permit for the MSRR, the NRC staff requests that your office provide to the NRC staff information on Federally listed threatened or endangered species, species proposed, or which are candidates for listing, and designated or proposed critical habitat, that are on the proposed MSRR site or vicinity. The NRC staff will use this information to evaluate potential impacts on these resources in the EA and to determine whether the preparation of a biological assessment and the initiation of formal consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, is necessary.
May 9, 2023
K. Myers 2
Please also provide any information, comments, or concerns that you feel are appropriate on the scope of the proposed action. Comments may be submitted either by mail to the Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff or via email to Brian.Glowacki@nrc.gov. The NRC staff expects to publish the draft EA in October 2023. A copy of the draft EA will be made available for your review and comment.
If you have any questions concerning the NRC staffs environmental review of the construction permit application for the MSRR, please contact Brian Glowacki, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-7783 or via email at Brian.Glowacki@nrc.gov. You may also contact Peyton Doub, Environmental Scientist, at 240-529-4212 or via email at Peyton.Doub@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Brian Glowacki, Environmental Project Manager Environmental Review New Reactors Branch Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 05000610
Enclosure:
Site Location Signed by Glowacki, Brian on 05/09/23
K. Myers 3
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO INITIATE CONSULTATION FOR THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 05000610)
DATED:
May 9, 2023 DISTRIBUTION:
Public PVokoun AWalker-Smith JWachutka KErwin BGlowacki JGiacinto ADAMS Accession No: ML23013A259 (letter) *concurred via e-mail OFFICE PM:REFS LA:REFS OGC (NLO)
BC:REFS NAME PVokoun AWalker-Smith JWachutka KErwin DATE 5/4/23*
5/4/23*
5/4/23*
5/8/23*
OFFICE PM:REFS NAME BGlowacki DATE 5/8/23
Enclosure