ML24331A229
| ML24331A229 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Vallecitos |
| Issue date: | 12/20/2024 |
| From: | Rome M NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ETRB1 |
| To: | Polanco J State of CA, Office of Historic Preservation |
| References | |
| Download: ML24331A229 (1) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 Julianne Polanco, State Historic Preservation Officer California Office of Historic Preservation 1725 23rd Street, Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95816
SUBJECT:
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INITIATION OF SECTION 106 CONSULTATION AND FINDING OF ADVERSE EFFECT RE: VALLECITOS BOILING WATER REACTOR AND GENERAL ELECTRIC TEST REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING AND DEMOLITION ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (DOCKET NUMBERS: 05000018 AND 05000070 )
Dear Julianne Polanco:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering a license amendment request (LAR) pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50 for the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor (VBWR) and General Electric Test Reactor (GETR) (Project) in Alameda County, California. If the NRC approves the LAR, the Project will be an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 54 U.S.C. 306108, and its implementing regulations, Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) Part 800.
In the LAR, the licensee requests NRC review major decommissioning activities, as defined in 10 CFR 50.2, that could diminish the historic integrity (e.g., physical demolition) of select Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC) structures deemed potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
A 2016 State Highway 84 Widening Project evaluated and documented the historical significance of the VNC (Reference 1). The evaluation concluded that the VNC appears eligible for inclusion in the NRHP based on the significance of the facilitys contribution to the scientific and technological development of nuclear power generation.
An onsite architectural historical survey (SEARCH) was completed in November 2022 (Reference 2). The scope of this document covered the GETR 200 Area and the VBWR and Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor 300 Area (see Enclosed images). The conclusion of this document was that the loss of integrity at the 200 series and 300 series building complexes (30 percent and 69 percent of original buildings nonextant, respectively) would likely preclude those areas from recommendation as a standalone historic district. The SEARCH survey recommended the VBWR and GETR containment December 20, 2024
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buildings as eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criteria A for their respective roles in the advancement of nuclear technology and Criterion C as leading engineering examples in the management of nuclear material. Additionally, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers History and Heritage landmarks programs formal recognition of the VBWR as the first privately owned and operated nuclear facility to deliver significant quantities of electricity to the public utility grid. In 1987 a ceremony was held, and a commemorative plaque was installed on the VBWR.
Montrose Environmental conducted a cultural resources records search of the VNC on June 8, 2023 (Reference 3), at the Northwest Information Center (NWIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System to identify previous cultural resource studies and records for the VNC and vicinity (NWIC File #22-1913). The NWIC, an affiliate of the Office of Historic Preservation, is the official state repository of cultural resource records and reports for Alameda County. The search consisted of a review of records for built-environment resources as well as archaeological resources within 0.25 miles of the VNC. Additionally in July 2023 (Reference 3),
Montrose Environmental performed a Cultural Resources Screening. The background research consisted of a records search and literature review at the NWIC, archival map review, and geological map review. The results of the NWIC records search indicate that no known and previously recorded archaeological resources are located in the VNC.
The removal, dismantlement, and disposal of contaminated, radioactive mechanical systems and components, as well as the eventual physical demolition of the facility, is imperative to protection of public health and safety and maintaining environmental welfare, and there is no viable alternative to decommissioning that achieves this goal.
The NRC defines the area of potential effect (APE) as 200 series and 300 series building complexes (see Enclosure). The APE does not include federal or tribal lands as defined pursuant to 36 CFR 800.16(x).
The NRC staff identified the following consulting parties who are receiving this initiation and finding of adverse effect: California State Historic Preservation Office; California Valley Miwok Tribe; Lytton Rancheria of California. Additionally, the NRC contacted the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) to assist in identifying other potentially interested Tribes. The NAHC provide these additional Tribes: Amah Mutsun Tribal Band; Amah Mutsun Tribal Band of Mission San Juan Bautista; Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation; Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe; Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan; Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area; Northern Valley Yokut / Ohlone Tribe; Tamien Nation; The Ohlone Indian Tribe; Wilton Rancheria; Wuksachi Indian Tribe/Eshom Valley Band. If additional tribes are identified the NRC will invite them and provide the adverse effects finding.
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As a result of the background research, the NRC staff is providing a finding of Adverse Effect pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.5(d)(2) and supporting documentation for your review and consideration. Please provide your concurrence or objection, electronically, to jean.trefethen@nrc.gov within 30 days of your receipt of this finding of effect. Unless provided objection and information for the NRC staff to reconsider the effect assessment, the NRC staff will proceed with consultation on a resolution on adverse effects pursuant to 36 CFR § 800.6.
Sincerely, Michelle Rome, Chief Environmental Technical Review Branch 1 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket Nos: 05000018 and 05000070
Enclosures:
- 1. Area Map
- 2. Area of Potential Effects Map cc: Brenden Greenaway Brendon.Greenaway@parks.ca.gov calshpo.ohp@parks.ca.gov Non-public References emailed:
- 1. State of California, Department of Transportation, and the Alameda County Transportation Commission. 2018. SR 84 Expressway Widening and SR84/I-680 Interchange Improvement Project. Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment with Finding of No Significant Impact.
- 2. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. An International Mechanical Engineering Landmark: The Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor. [Online] October 7, 1987.
[Cited: December 23, 2021.] https://www.asme.org/about-asme/engineering-history/landmarks/128-vallecitos-boilingwater-reactor.
- 3. Montrose Environmental Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Cultural Resources Baseline Screening Memorandum. July 6, 2023. To Robert M. Masuoka from Laura Holland.
Doub, Joseph signing on behalf of Rome, Michelle on 12/20/24
- concurred via email OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NAME JTrefethen AWalker-Smith WAllen JCaverly ACoggins DATE 12/5/2024 12/9/2024 12/10/2024 12/11/2024 12/19/2024 OFFICE NMSS/REFS NAME MRome DATE 12/20/2024
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Image from 2023 SEARCH Survey
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200 Series Building site Image from 2023 SEARCH Survey 200 Office Building 201 General Electric Test Reactor 202 Aux Equipment Building 205 Demineralizer Building 206 Stack Gas Monitor 207 Operation Storage 210 Mock/Up Mechanical Shop/Engineering Office 211 Fork Truck Garage 213 Emergency Vehicle Shelter 214 Chemical Shed 216 Building Gas Supply Manifolds 217 Storage Warehouse
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VNC 300 Area Image from 2023 SEARCH Survey AREA BUILDING DESCRIPTION 300 Metallurgy and chemical building 301 VBWR containment building 302 Gas tech development building (turbine building) 304 URC assembly building 348 Stress corrosion facility 351 EVESR containment building 352 EVESR condenser building