ML23122A287
| ML23122A287 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000610 |
| Issue date: | 05/05/2023 |
| From: | Kenneth Erwin NRC/NMSS/DREFS/ENRB |
| To: | Wassana R Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma |
| Shared Package | |
| ML23122A280 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML23122A287 (1) | |
Text
R. Wassana 1 May 5, 2023 Reggie Wassana, Governor Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma P.O. Box 145 Concho, OK 73022
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO INITIATE SECTION 106 CONSULTATION FOR THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 05000610)
Dear Governor Reggie Wassana:
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) ML22227A202), as supplemented by letter dated October 14, 2022 (ML22293B816), pursuant to title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 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 that the NRC is considering to be the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the proposed MSRR project (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.
R. Wassana 2 As part of its review, the NRC staff is preparing an environmental assessment (EA) on the proposed action of whether to issue a construction permit for the MSRR, as provided by 10 CFR part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, the NRCs environmental protection regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). In accordance with title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR) part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, paragraph 800.8(c), the NRC staff is using the NEPA process to comply with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA), in lieu of the procedures set forth in 36 CFR 800.3 through 800.6. The EA will include identification of historic and cultural resources and historic properties, an analysis of potential effects of the proposed action, including potential effects on historic and cultural resources and historic properties, and the NRC staffs preliminary determination. The purpose of this letter is to initiate NHPA section 106 government-to-government consultation with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.28, Scoping-participants, and 36 CFR 800.2(c), the NRC wishes to ensure that Indian Tribes that might attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties in the area of potential effect are afforded the opportunity to identify their concerns, provide advice on the identification and evaluation of historic properties, including those of traditional religious and cultural importance, and, if necessary, participate in the resolution of any adverse effects to such properties.
As your Tribe has historic ties to Texas, the NRC invites you to submit any comments or concerns on the environmental review within 30 days of date sent. Comments and concerns may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Email comments to: Brian.Glowacki@nrc.gov or Mail comments to: Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, ATTN: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff.
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.
R. Wassana 3 If you have any questions concerning the NRCs NHPA section 106 consultation and associated historic and cultural resources 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; or Pat Vokoun, Environmental Project Manager, at 301-415-3470 or via email at Patricia.Vokoun@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Signed by Erwin, Kenneth on 05/05/23 Kenneth T. Erwin, Chief Environmental Review New Reactors Branch Division of Rulemaking, Environment, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No. 05000610
Enclosure:
Site Location cc:
Arapaho- Fred Mosqueda fmosqueda@cheynneandarapaho-nsn.gov Cheyenne- Chester Whiteman cwhiteman@cheyenneandarapaho-nsn.gov
R. Wassana 4
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO INITIATE SECTION 106 CONSULTATION FOR THE ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY MOLTEN SALT RESEARCH REACTOR CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION (DOCKET NUMBER: 05000610)
DATED: May 5, 2023 DISTRIBUTION:
Public
NAME BGlowacki PVokoun AWalker-Smith JWachutka DATE 05/4/2023* 05/4/2023* 05/4/2023* 05/5/2023*
OFFICE BC:REFS NAME KErwin DATE 05/5/2023*
OFFICIAL RECORD ONLY
Enclosure