ML23033A671
ML23033A671 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Vallecitos Nuclear Center |
Issue date: | 03/17/2023 |
From: | Joshua Borromeo NRC/NRR/DANU/UNPL |
To: | |
Shared Package | |
ML23033A673:ML23033A670 | List: |
References | |
NRC-2023-0051, 88FR17274 | |
Download: ML23033A671 (24) | |
Text
[7590-01P]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No.50-073; NRC-2023-0051]
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC
Nuclear Test Reactor
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance.
SUMMARY
- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering renewal of
Facility License No. R-33, held by the GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC
(GE-Hitachi or the licensee), for the continued operation of the Nuclear Test Reactor
(NTR or the reactor), located on the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC) site in Sunol,
Alameda County, CA. The NRC is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed action.
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on March 22,
2023.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2023-0051 when contacting the NRC
about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly
available information related to this document using any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and
search for Docket ID NRC-2023-0051. Address questions about Docket IDs in
Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; telephone: 301-415-0624; email:
Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical questions, contact the individual listed in the
For Further Information Contact section of this document.
NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the 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 by phone at 1-800-397-
4209 or 301-415-4737, or by email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. For the convenience of
the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided in a table in the Availability of
Documents section of this document.
NRCs PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents,
by appointment, at the NRCs PDR, Room P1 B35, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. To make an appointment to visit the PDR,
please send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov or call 1-800-397-4209 or
301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Duane Hardesty, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-3724; email: Duane.Hardesty@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of a renewed Facility Operating License No.
R-33, held by GE-Hitachi, which would authorize continued operation of its NTR, located
on the VNC site in Sunol, Alameda County, CA. The renewed license would authorize
continued operation of the NTR for an additional 20 years from the date of issuance of
the renewed license.
As required by Section 51.21 of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(10 CFR), Criteria for and identification of licensing and regulatory actions requiring 2
environmental assessments, the NRC staff prepared this EA documenting its
environmental review. Based on the results of the environmental review as documented
in the EA that follows, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact
statement for the proposed renewed license and is issuing a FONSI in accordance with
10 CFR 51.32, Finding of no significant impact.
II. Environmental Assessment
Facility Site and Environs
The NTR at the Vallecitos Nuclear Center is a heterogeneous, high-enriched-
uranium, graphite-moderated and reflected light-water-cooled thermal reactor. It is
licensed to operate at a power level of up to 100 kilowatts thermal (kWt) and has been in
operation since 1957. The NTR is fueled by highly enriched uranium-aluminum alloy
disks clad with aluminum.
The NTR lies within the VNC site on the north side of Vallecitos Valley in Sunol,
Alameda County, CA. The site slopes upwards from 400 feet (122 meters (m)) above
mean sea level (MSL) at its relatively flat southern end to 1,200 feet (366 m) above MSL
along a northern ridge. The southern end of the property drains southwest through
ditches to Vallecitos Creek, which then discharges to Arroyo de la Laguna near the north
end of Sunol Valley. Vallecitos Valley is approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers (km))
long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and primarily consists of undeveloped grasslands. The
towns of Pleasanton and Livermore lie approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north and 5 miles
(8 km) northeast of the VNC site, respectively. Fremont lies approximately 8 miles (12.9
km) southwest of the site.
The NTR is housed within Building 105 of the VNC site. Building 105 lies on a
135-acre (54.7-hectare (ha)) parcel in the southwest quadrant of the site. In addition to 3
the NTR, the building contains offices, laboratories, and storage areas. This area of the
site also includes several other buildings and high structures, including a 15-foot-tall
(4.6-m) gas-fired boiler exhaust stack and several single and multistory buildings,
including Buildings 102, 103, and 106. Additionally, the site contains three other reactor
facilities: Vallecitos Boiling-Water Reactor (DPR-1), Empire State Atomic Development
Agency Vallecitos Experimental Superheat Reactor (DR-10), and GE Test Reactor
(TR-1). DPR-1 and DR-10 are permanently shutdown and in active decommissioning.
TR-1 is permanently shutdown and currently in SAFSTOR (i.e., Safe Storage) under a
possession-only license. Figures 1 and 2 in GE-Hitachis Environmental Report (ER)
(included in the list of documents associated with the license renewal application and
can be found in Section III Availability of Documents at the end of this notice) provide a
map of the VNC site and an aerial photograph of the sites developed area, respectively.
The descriptions of the NTR facility, the site, and the surrounding environs in this EA
originate from GE-Hitachis ER or GE-Hitachis Safety Analysis Report (SAR) (included
in the list of documents associated with the license renewal application and can be found
in Section III Availability of Documents at the end of this notice) unless otherwise cited.
Within Building 105, the NTR is housed within a thick-walled, reinforced concrete
Reactor Cell that includes the reactor, reactor control mechanisms, coolant system, and
a fuel loading tank. Penetrations into the Reactor Cell provide for passing water, electric
power, and air into and out of the cell. The Reactor Cell confines airborne radioactivity
and provides for controlled release through an exhaust stack. The stack is 45 feet
(13.7 m) above grade level and 9 feet (2.7 m) above the highest point of Building 105. In
addition to the Reactor Cell, the NTR includes the Control Room, North Room, South
Cell, and Set-up Room. The Reactor Cell and these rooms collectively comprise the 4
NTR and are included within the 10 CFR Part 20, Standards for Protection Against
Radiation, Restricted Area wherein radiological controls are implemented for personnel
safety.
The Control Room contains the control console, an operator work area, and
space for equipment and experiment preparation. Personnel in the Control Room may
experience dose rates of 0.6 millirem per hour (mrem/h) during typical reactor operation
and up to 2 mrem/h when the aperture (an opening that will allow neutrons to pass
through it surrounded by neutron absorbing materials) between the Reactor Cell and the
South Cell is open during neutrography operations. The North Room provides access to
the north neutron radiography position inside the shielded, concrete monument, as well
as the access station for the cable held retractable irradiation facility. The South Cell is
a concrete shielded room that provides access to the thermal column, horizontal facility,
and the south neutron radiography position. It also contains apertures to the North
Room for neutron radiography. The Set-up Room contains storage and space for
experiment set-up prior to irradiation or testing.
GE-Hitachi typically operates the NTR for one shift, 5 days per week for a total
annual average of approximately 700 full-power hours per year. During operation, the
primary coolant core outlet temperature is typically 124 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) (51.1
degrees Celsius (°C)). This results in a delta of 20°F (-6.7°C) (across the primary to
secondary cooling water heat exchanger. Secondary cooling water temperature is
usually below 95°F (35°C) and rarely exceeds 100°F (37.7°C). Upon leaving the heat
exchanger, secondary cooling water flows to the facility drain, which discharges to
50,000-gallon (189,270-liter) site retention basins. GE-Hitachi samples water in these
basins to ensure it contains no radioactive material prior to release. During this process, 5
the wastewater cools to ambient temperature. From the retention basins, GE-Hitachi
releases the cooled wastewater through an onsite sprinkler irrigation system. To ensure
that these releases do not create buildup of trace byproducts in soil runoff, GE-Hitachi
periodically samples sediment in the discharge swale at the southeast end of the VNC
property.
The NTR shares many facilities and equipment in Building 105 with other
laboratory facilities housed within the building. These include potable water, fire
protection, emergency supplies and support, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,
AC electrical distribution, and compressed air.
A detailed description of the NTR and its operations can be found in GE-Hitachis
SAR (included in the list of documents associated with the license renewal application
and can be found in Section III Availability of Documents at the end of this notice)
submitted as part of its renewal application.
Description of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would renew Facility Operating License No. R-33 for a
period of 20 years from the date of issuance of the renewed license. The proposed
action would authorize GE-Hitachi to operate the NTR at a nominal steady-state power
of 100 kWt. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees application dated
November 19, 2020, and supplements dated September 22, 2021; April 22, 2022 and
September 15, 2022; and January 27, 2023. The NRC issued the initial facility operating
license on October 31, 1957. The NRC subsequently issued renewed facility operating
licenses on December 28, 1984, and April 20, 2001. The current facility operating
license was set to expire at midnight on April 20, 2021. In accordance with
6 10 CFR 2.109, Effect of timely renewal application, the existing license remains in
effect until the NRC takes final action on the renewal application.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow the continued operation of the NTR to
provide irradiation services for (1) neutron radiography (neutrography) of radioactive and
nonradioactive objects, (2) small sample irradiation and activation, (3) sensitive reactivity
characterizations of reactor fuel cladding material, (4) training, and (5) calibrations and
other testing utilizing a neutron flux for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD),
U.S. national laboratories, and U.S. private industry. A significant use of the facility is
the performance of neutron radiography on energetic devices used for DOD applications
and the space industry. The NTR is currently one of two facilities in the United States
that provides this service.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The environmental impacts of the proposed action are described in this EA. As
discussed further, the proposed action will not have a significant environmental impact.
In addition, the proposed action will not require any physical changes to the facility, and
the impacts are similar to those occurring during past operations. Separate from this
EA, the NRC staff is performing a safety evaluation, which will be available with the
renewed license, if issued.
Radiological Impacts
Environmental Effects of Reactor Operations
Gaseous radioactive effluents resulting from the routine operation of the NTR are
released to the environment from the reactor building from an exhaust stack on the roof
after passing through a prefilter and a bank of HEPA filters. The NTR stack discharge 7
length is 45 ft (14 m). Argon (Ar)-41 is by far the most significant radionuclide released
as a gaseous effluent during normal reactor operations. The maximum release of Ar-41
would occur from continuous operation at full power. GE-Hitachi provided airborne
radiological effluent releases for calendar year 2018 as an example of the releases
tracked at the NTR indicating that the total noble gases releases from the stack
was 190 curies (Ci), the majority of which is Ar-41. NRC staff confirmed the releases
of 190 Ci in GE-Hitachis annual report and determined that it is reasonable to assume
most of the releases are due to Ar-41 given that it would be conservative to assume this
for dose calculations. The licensees methodology for determining stack release rate
action levels and limits ensures that doses to members of the public due to airborne
releases are at or below the 10 CFR 20.1101(d) limit of 10 mrem per year. This meets
the 100 mrem per year (mrem/yr) (1 millisieverts per year (mSv/yr) dose equivalent to
the maximally exposed individual in 10 CFR Part 20.1301, Dose limits for individual
members of the public.
The only liquid radiation source for the NTR is the primary coolant, but no
radioactive liquid effluents are discharged from the facility. The primary coolant is
regularly sampled to monitor fuel leakage into the primary coolant, which is vented into a
holdup tank prior to reactor startup. The amount of water vented into the holdup tank is
small enough that it evaporates, and the tank does not fill. Dose rate measurements of
the reactor holdup tank show that no-long lived radionuclides accumulate in the tank.
The total amount of liquid waste generated is from the primary coolant sampling, which
is approximately one liter per sample. This sample waste is disposed of with the other
laboratory waste.
8 Solid radioactive waste generated from reactor operations at the NTR are
primarily contaminated paper and plastic, filters, and resins. Shipments of solid
radioactive low-level waste consist of one to three cubic feet (less than one cubic meter)
of contaminated material per year with activity in the order of millicuries. Once
transferred, the low level waste broker ships and disposes of the waste in accordance
with applicable regulations for radioactive materials.
No spent (irradiated) fuel will be permanently stored within the NTR during the
license renewal term. If it is necessary to remove a fuel assembly, it is transferred to the
fuel loading tank and special arrangements are made to use a shielded transfer cask
and storage facilities elsewhere on the site. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
provides fuel for use at the NTR. GE-Hitachi has entered into a contract with DOE
whereby the DOE retains title to the fuel and is obligated to take all NTR spent nuclear
fuel from the site for final disposition. GEH does not anticipate any changes in spent fuel
handling during the proposed license renewal term.
As described in Chapter 11, Radiation Protection Program/Waste Management,
of the NTR SAR and verified through NRC staff review of the licensees annual reports
for the 5 years of operation from 2016 through 2020, personnel exposures are well
within the limits set by 10 CFR Part 20.1201, Occupational dose limits for adults, and
are as low as reasonably achievable in accordance with 10 CFR 20.1101(b). The
licensee tracks exposures of personnel monitored with dosimeters, and the annual
reports for the 5 years show that the personnel exposures (total effective dose
equivalent) were usually less than one percent of the occupational limit of 5,000 mrem
(50 mSv) per year. The greatest individual exposure (annual) over the last 5 years was
9 876 mrem (8.76 mSv). No changes in reactor operation that would lead to an increase
in occupational dose are expected or proposed as a result of the proposed action.
The radiation monitoring systems associated with reactor operations at the NTR
are provided and maintained as a means of ensuring compliance with radiation limits
established under 10 CFR Part 20. The monitoring systems consist of remote area
monitors, continuous air monitor, portable radiation survey instruments, hand and foot
counter, fixed air filters, and stack monitor system, as described in Section 11.1.4,
Radiation Monitoring and Surveying, of the SAR. The stack monitor system measures
particulate and noble gases, respectively, that are exhausted through the NTR exhaust
stack.
The licensee has an environmental radiation program that measures radiation
exposure in and around the VNC facility. The environmental radiation monitoring
program surveys groundwater, stream sediments, vegetation, storm water, direct
gamma radiation, gaseous effluents (which includes 4 air monitoring stations and 20
gamma radiation monitoring locations).
The licensee also obtains water samples to ensure no releases into water
pathways. The water samples are analyzed for gross alpha, beta, and tritium. Soil and
vegetation samples are analyzed for gross beta and undergo gamma spectroscopy.
These samples and dosimetry are analyzed and documented in the annual effluent and
environmental reports. Review of the annual reports over the last 5 years of operation
(2016 through 2021) shows no discernible radiological effect of NTR operations on the
environment.
Based on the review of monitoring data for the period 2016 through 2021, the
NRC staff concludes that operation of the NTR does not have any significant radiological 10 impact on the surrounding environment. No changes in reactor operation that would
affect offsite radiation levels are expected or proposed as a result of the proposed
action. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that the proposed action would not have a
significant radiological impact.
Environmental Effects of Accidents
Accident scenarios are discussed in Chapter 13, Accident Analysis, of the NTR
SAR. The accidents analyzed in Chapter 13 range from anticipated events to a
postulated fission product release with radiological consequences that exceed those of
any accident considered to be credible. The licensee considers a single-mode
nonviolent failure of 50 mg of uranium-235 powder in a singly encapsulated container
followed by release of fission products as the maximum hypothetical accident for the
NTR. This accident would involve the release of material to the reactor cell area and
into the environment with no credit taken for filtration of the release by the NTR stack
filter system. The licensee uses this scenario to calculate the maximum concentration of
fission products that might be present in the reactor cell. The licensee calculated doses
to facility personnel during a 5 minute evacuation duration, and also calculated the dose
to a member of the public outside the facility during the 2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> it would take the
released radioactive material to pass. The licensee estimated an occupational dose of
500 mrem (5 mSv), and a dose of 100 mrem (1 mSv) to the maximally-exposed member
of the public.
Separate from this EA, the NRC staff is reviewing GE-Hitachi's accident analyses
of the potential radiological consequences that may result from the proposed license
renewal. The results of the NRC staff's safety review will be documented in a safety
evaluation report that will be made publicly available. If the NRC staff concludes that the 11 radiological consequences are within 10 CFR Part 20 dose limits, then GE-Hitachi's
accident analyses and the proposed action would not have a significant impact with
respect to radiological consequences.
Conclusion - Radiological Impacts
In the application for license renewal, the licensee has not proposed any physical
changes to the reactor facility design, or adverse changes to facility operating conditions,
that would significantly affect facility operation; therefore, there would be no changes in
the types or quantities of routine effluents that may be released off site. The licensee
has systems in place for controlling the release of radiological effluents and implements
a radiation protection program to monitor personnel exposures and releases of
radioactive effluents. Accordingly, there would be no increase in routine occupational or
public radiation exposure as a result of the proposed action. Based on the information
previously discussed, the NRC staff finds that the proposed action will not significantly
increase the probability and consequences of accidents.
The license renewal would not significantly change reactor operations. As
previously discussed, information in the application and data reported to the NRC by the
licensee for the last 5 years of reactor operation were evaluated to determine the
radiological impact. The NRC staff found that releases of radioactive material and
personnel exposures were all well within applicable regulatory limits. Based on this
evaluation, the NRC staff finds that the continued operation of the reactor would have no
significant radiological impacts.
Non-Radiological Impacts
The proposed action does not involve any change in the operation of the reactor
or change in the emissions or heat load dissipated to the environment. No new 12 construction or other land disturbing activities are proposed. The proposed action would
not result in any land use changes or increase in noise or air emissions, and would not
have a significant impact on air quality, noise, visual resources, or ecological resources.
Monitoring results of surface and ground water among other media are reported
according to NTR and other site licensing requirements. Treated sanitary and industrial
wastewater was disposed of onsite by an irrigation system. No surface runoff of sanitary
or industrial waste occurred. Groundwater was monitored for gross alpha, gross beta,
Strontium (Sr)-90 and tritium. Review of the last 5 years of analytical results of collected
groundwater samples (2016 through 2021), shows that the GE-Hitachi is in compliance
with all license requirements issued by the NRC, and NTR operation has no discernible
effect on groundwater quality.
GE-Hitachi uses three drainage systems at the VNC site: industrial, sanitary,
and storm. The industrial (non-cooling contact water) and sanitary wastewater
discharge nonradioactive effluent into any of the four 50,000-gallon (189,270-liter)
retention basins located in the southwest corner of the site, which store the water for
nonpotable purposes (e.g., landscape watering). There have been no discharges to
surface waters from these retention basins since July 2003. The industrial wastewater
has been discharged directly through onsite irrigation while the sanitary wastewater is
first processed (for example through chlorination) and then sprayed onto VNC property
by an irrigation system in a designated area. The storm water at the facility drains
through a series of essentially natural ditches that merge before exiting the southwest
corner of the site and emptying into Vallecitos Creek.
Groundwater level at the VNC site varies greatly, ranging from a few feet below
ground surface (near Retention Basins 2 and 3) to 30 to 40 feet (9.1 - 12.2 m) below 13 ground surface (northwest of the road leading to the water tank). Groundwater at the
site generally flows toward the southwest at an estimated velocity of about 0.01 ft/day
(.003 m/day) (in clays) to 8 ft/day (2.4 m/day) (in gravels) depending on the clay content.
GE-Hitachi conducts effluent monitoring and environmental surveillance
programs to ensure compliance with effluent release limits as described in in
10 CFR Part 20, Appendix B, Annual Limits on Intake (ALIs) and Derived Air
Concentrations (DACs) of Radionuclides for Occupational Exposure; Effluent
Concentrations; Concentrations for Release to Sewerage, and to monitor any potential
impacts on the environments around the VNC facilities. The effluent monitoring program
includes measuring gross alpha and gross beta particle activity in water discharged
through the site sanitary and industrial wastewater systems, as well as measuring tritium
levels in sanitary wastewater. The environmental surveillance program monitors gross
alpha and gross beta in sediments from neighboring streams, groundwater, and
vegetation at locations near or beyond the site perimeter and monitoring Cobalt (Co)-60
and Cesuim (Cs)-137 in stream sediment.
Recent records from the facilitys effluent monitoring program show that in
monthly testing of industrial effluent, gross alpha varied from nondetectable to
4.96 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L), and gross beta from 0.79 pCi/L to 6.14 pCi/L. In 2021,
tritium was detected from 24 pCi/L to 633 pCi/L in the industrial effluent. Compared to
industrial effluents, monthly testing of sanitary effluents generally showed lower levels of
radioactivity. In 2021, the highest concentrations of gross alpha measured in sanitary
effluent was 3.71 pCi/L, gross beta was 5.39 pCi/L, and tritium was 485 pCi/L. As part of
the environmental surveillance program, the facility tests stream sediment at locations
near or beyond the site perimeter. In 2021 testing of stream sediment, gross alpha was 14 detected at 4.73 Ci/L, gross beta at 1.6 pCi/L, and both Co-60 and Cs137 were not
detected.
GE-Hitachi monitors groundwater at the VNC site quarterly by collecting from
eight wells located on or near the VNC site. The samples are analyzed for gross alpha,
gross beta, tritium, and Sr-90. In 2021, the highest levels of gross alpha and gross beta
detected were 6.51 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L, respectively. In 2021, the highest level of tritium
detected in the groundwater was 857 pCi/L.
In summary, effluent discharges from the VNC site comply with the facilitys
industrial and sanitary wastewater discharge limits as described in licenses issued by
the NRC and the California Department of Health. No direct surface runoff of processed
sanitary or industrial wastewater occurred in 2021. The impacts of the continued
operation of the NTR on surface water and groundwater are minimal. Hazardous
chemicals may be used in experiments at the NTR, but no releases of potentially
hazardous chemicals to the environment occur during normal facility operation.
Therefore, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed action would have no significant
non-radiological impacts.
Other Applicable Environmental Laws
In addition to the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires Federal
agencies to consider the environmental impacts of proposed actions, the NRC has
responsibilities that are derived from other environmental laws, which include the
Endangered Species Act (ESA), Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority
15 Populations and Low-Income Populations. The following presents a brief discussion of
impacts associated with resources protected by these laws and related requirements.
The ESA was enacted to prevent further decline of endangered and threatened
species and to restore those species and their critical habitat. Section 7 of the ESA
requires Federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or
National Marine Fisheries Service regarding actions that may affect listed species or
designated critical habitats. The NRC staff conducted a search of federally listed
species and critical habitats that have the potential to occur in the vicinity of the NTR
using the FWSs Environmental Conservation Online System Information for Planning
and Conservation system.
The FWS-generated report from this system identifies nine federally listed
species that occur or potentially occur within the vicinity of the VNC site: San Joaquin kit
fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), California least tern (Sterna antillarum browni), Alameda
whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus), California red-legged frog (Rana
draytonii), California tiger salamander (Ambrystoma californiense), delta smelt
(Hypomesus transpacificus), bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis),
San Bruno elfin butterfly (Callophrys mossii bayensis), and vernal pool fairy shrimp
(Branchinecta lynchi). No critical habitats occur in the area.
The VNC site lacks suitable aquatic features for the California red-legged frog,
California tiger salamander, delta smelt, and vernal pool fairy shrimp. While the
remaining species may be present in the broader area, the VNC site itself is small and
developed and does not provide suitable habitat. Additionally, operation of the NTR has
no direct nexus to the natural environment that could affect these species. Accordingly, 16 the NRC staff concludes that the proposed license renewal of NTR would have no effect
on federally listed species or critical habitats. Federal agencies are not required to
consult with the FWS if they determine that an action will not affect listed species or
critical habitats. Thus, the ESA does not require consultation for the proposed NTR
license renewal, and the NRC staff considers its obligations under ESA Section 7 to be
fulfilled for the proposed action.
Coastal Zone Management Act
The CZMA, in part, encourages States to preserve, protect, develop, and, where
possible, restore coastal resources. Individual States are responsible for developing a
federally approved Coastal Management Plan and implementing a coastal management
program in accordance with such a plan. Section 307(c)(3)(A) of the CZMA requires that
applicants for Federal permits whose proposed activities could reasonably affect coastal
zones certify to the licensing agency (here, the NRC) that the proposed activity would be
consistent with the states coastal management program. Alameda County is not within
California's approved coastal zone, and, therefore, a consistency determination is not
required for the proposed action.
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
The FWCA requires Federal agencies that license water resource development
projects to consult with the FWS (or National Marine Fisheries Service, when applicable)
and the State wildlife resource agencies regarding the potential impacts of the project on
fish and wildlife resources.
The proposed action does not involve any water resource development projects,
including any of the modifications relating to impounding a body of water, damming,
diverting a stream or river, deepening a channel, irrigation, or altering a body of water for 17 navigation or drainage. Therefore, no coordination with other agencies pursuant to the
FWCA is required for the proposed action.
National Historic Preservation Act
The NHPA requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of their
undertakings on historic properties. As stated in the NHPA, historic properties are any
prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. By electronic mail dated
November 21, 2022, the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for the State of
California, indicated that the proposed renewal of the NTR license does not require
construction, ground disturbing activities, or changes to the reactor facility design. The
SHPO also indicated that no historic properties existed in the area of potential effects
(which includes the VNC site); and, there were no objections to the proposed license
renewal. Based on this information, the NRC staff finds that the proposed license
renewal and the continued operation of the NTR would have no adverse effect on
historic properties
Executive Order 12898 - Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in
Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, dated February 16, 1994
(59 FR 7629), directs Federal agencies to identify and address the disproportionately
high and adverse human health or environmental effects of their actions on minority and
low-income populations, to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law.
The environmental justice impact analysis evaluates the potential for
disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minority
and low-income populations that could result from the relicensing and the continued 18 operation of the reactor. Such effects may include human health, biological, cultural,
economic, or social impacts. Minority and low-income populations are subsets of the
general public residing around the reactor, and all are exposed to the same health and
environmental effects generated from activities at the reactor.
Minority Populations in the Vicinity of the NTRAccording to the U.S. Census
Bureaus 2010 Census data, approximately 56 percent of the population (approximately
372,000 individuals) residing within a 10-mi (16-km) radius of the NTR identified
themselves as minorities. The largest minority population were Asian or Pacific Islander
(approximately 121,000 individuals or 33 percent) followed by Hispanic or Latino of any
race (approximately 57,000 individuals or 16 percent). According to the 2010 Census,
66 percent of the Alameda County population identified themselves as minorities with
persons of Asian or Pacific Islander (31 percent), Hispanic or Latino of any race
(23 percent), and Black or African American (14 percent) comprising the largest minority
populations. According to the 2020 Census, 71 percent of the Alameda County
population identified themselves as minorities with persons of Asian or Pacific Islander
(35 percent), Hispanic or Latino of any race (22 percent), and Black or African American
(11 percent) comprising the largest minority populations.
Low-income Populations in the Vicinity of the NTRAccording to the U.S.
Census Bureaus 2017-2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates,
approximately 19,300 persons and 3,340 families (approximately 5 and 3 percent,
respectively) residing within a 10-mile (16-km) radius of the NTR were identified as living
below the Federal poverty threshold. The 2021 Federal poverty threshold was $27,949
for a family of four. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus 2021 American Community
Survey Census 1-Year Estimates, the median household income for the State of 19 California was $84,907 while approximately 9 percent of families and 12.3 percent the
State population were found to be living below the Federal poverty threshold. Alameda
County had a higher median household income average ($109,729) and a lower
percentage of families (6.1 percent) and persons (9.3 percent) living below the poverty
level.
Impact AnalysisPotential impacts to minority and low-income populations
would mostly consist of radiological effects. However, radiation doses from continued
operations associated with the proposed license renewal are expected to continue at
current levels, and would be below regulatory limits. No significant visual or noise
impacts are expected to result from the proposed action. Based on this information and
the analysis of human health and environmental impacts in this EA, the NRC staff finds
that the proposed license renewal would not have disproportionately high and adverse
human health and environmental effects on minority and low-income populations
residing in the vicinity of the NTR.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to license renewal, the NRC considered denying the proposed
action (i.e., the no-action alternative). If the NRC denied the request for license
renewal, reactor operations would cease and decommissioning would commence
sooner than if the NRC issued a renewed license. Therefore, the environmental effects
of decommissioning would occur sooner under the no-action alternative than if a
renewed license were issued. Decommissioning would be conducted in accordance
with an NRC-approved decommissioning plan, which would require a separate
environmental review under 10 CFR Part 51.21. Cessation of reactor operations would
reduce or eliminate radioactive effluents. However, as previously discussed in this EA, 20 radioactive effluents from reactor operations constitute a small fraction of the applicable
regulatory limits. Therefore, the environmental impacts of license renewal and the denial
of the request for license renewal would be similar. In addition, denying the request for
license renewal would eliminate the benefits of teaching, research, and services
provided by the NTR.
Alternative Use of Resources
The proposed license renewal does not involve the use of any different resources
or significant quantities of resources beyond those associated with current facility
operations and previously considered in the issuance of Facility License No. R-33 for the
reactor on December 28, 1984, and the renewal of Facility License No. R-33 on
December 28, 1984, and April 20, 2001.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In satisfaction of its obligations under the NHPA, the NRC consulted with the
California SHPO, as previously described. On February 21, 2023, the NRC notified the
California State official, Mr. Anthony Chu, Chief, Division of Radiation Safety and
Environmental Management, California Department of Public Health of the proposed
action. By email dated March 8, 2023, Mr. Chu indicated that the State of California
Department of Public had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC is considering renewal of Facility License No. R-33, held by
GE-Hitachi, which would authorize the continued operation of the NTR for an additional
20 years from the date of issuance of the renewed license.
On the basis of the EA included in Section II of this notice and incorporated by
reference in this finding, the NRC staff finds that the proposed action will not have a 21 significant impact on the quality of the human environment, and will not significantly
affect the environment surrounding the NTR. This is because the proposed action will
result in no significant radiological impacts from continued operations as the types or
quantities of effluents that may be released off site would not change. No changes in
land use would occur or increases in noise or air emissions. Continued operations
under the proposed action would have no significant impacts on air quality, noise, visual
resources, surface water or groundwater resources, terrestrial or aquatic resources, or
on any other environmental resource conditions. Additionally, the proposed action would
have no effect on federally listed species or designated critical habitats, would not affect
historic properties, and would not result in environmental justice impacts. Therefore, the
NRC staff concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC staff has determined that there
is no need to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.
The NRC staff considered information provided in the licensee's application, as
supplemented, and the review of related environmental documents.Section III in this
notice lists the environmental documents related to the proposed action and includes
information on the availability of these documents.
This FONSI and other related environmental documents are accessible online in
the ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing
the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRCs PDR reference staff by
telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.
22 III. Availability of Documents
The documents in the following table are available to interested in ADAMS, as
indicated.
Document Description ADAMS Accession No.
LICENSE RENEWAL REQUEST GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, application cover letter, Nuclear Test Reactor License Renewal (R-33), (Redacted), dated ML21053A071 November 19, 2020.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, General Electric Nuclear Test Reactor Safety Analysis Report, NEDO 32740P, Rev 3, ML20325A205 chapters 1 through 8, dated November 19, 2020.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, General Electric Nuclear Test Reactor Safety Analysis Report, NEDO 32740P, Rev 3, ML20325A206 chapters 9 through 16, dated November 19, 2020.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Vallecitos Nuclear Center ML20325A195 Environmental Report 2020, dated July 2020.
Supplemental Information Supporting GE Nuclear Test Reactor License Renewal Audit Questions and Responses, ML21265A246 (package) dated September 22, 2021.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC, Response to Request for Additional Information for GE Nuclear Test ML22112A237 Reactor License Renewal Application, dated April 22, 2022.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Response to Request for Public Docketing of Information Relating to GE Nuclear Test ML22258A117 (package)
Reactor License Renewal, dated September 15, 2022.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC, Supplemental Information Supporting GE Nuclear Test Reactor License ML23027A210 Renewal Audit, dated January 27, 2023.
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy, GEH Annual Nuclear Test 2020 - ML21088A323 Reactor (NTR) Operating Report for the Year. 2019 ML20234A326 2018 - ML19081A042 2017 - ML18108A251 2016 - ML17095A289
23 Other Referenced Document
Email from the State of California, State Historic Preservation ML22325A353 Officer, dated November 21, 2022.
Email from the State of California, Division of Radiation Safety and Environmental Management ML23067A408 California Department of Public Health, dated March 8, 2023.
Dated: March 17, 2023.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
/RA/
Joshua M. Borromeo, Chief, Non-Power Production and Utilization Facility Licensing Branch, Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-Power Production and Utilization Facilities, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
24