Jump to main content.

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: May 30, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 34507-34508]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30my00-103]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 04008868]


Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact and
Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing for disposal pursuant to 10 CFR
20.2002.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the
license amendment request for disposal pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002 of
solid residual material containing up to 25 picocuries of thorium-232
and progeny per gram of filtercake from IIVI, Incorporated, to an
industrial landfill. IIVI, Incorporated, is authorized to perform
activities with source material pursuant to License STA1455. The
licensee and the NRC performed dose assessments of the disposal of this
material in this manner, and determined that such disposal, with the
restriction that not more than two effective containers per month be
disposed of in this manner, would result in doses of less than 25
millirem per year.

Introduction

    IIVI, Incorporated (IIVI), is a specialty manufacturer whose
products include optical components for the laser industry, some of
which contain thorium. They are authorized to perform manufacturing
activities with source material pursuant to License STA1455. Filtration
of liquid effluents to remove metals prior to release to the sanitary
sewerage system results in collection of small quantities of thorium in
the solid residual material (filtercake). The licensee generates 10 or
fewer containers of filtercake each year. Each container holds
approximately 23.9 cubic meters of material having a mass of
approximately 36,000 kilograms, which is defined as an effective
container for the purpose of dose assessment. The material typically
contains less than 25 picocuries of thorium-232 and progeny per gram of
filtercake (25 pCi/g Th-232). The licensee requested disposal of this
material pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002 to an industrial landfill, and
provided a dose analysis to justify their proposed limit of 25 pCi/g.
The licensee and the NRC performed dose assessments of the disposal of
this material in this manner, and determined that such disposal would
result in doses of less than 25 millirem per year to members of the
public so long as not more than two effective containers per month
would be disposed of in this manner.

Proposed Action

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the request
for disposal pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002 to an industrial landfill, of
not more than two effective containers per month of solid residual
material (filtercake) containing up to 25 picocuries of thorium-232 and
progeny per gram of filtercake from IIVI, Incorporated.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Filtration of liquid effluents is required by other regulatory
agencies to remove metals from the liquid effluent prior to release to
a public sanitary sewerage system, and small amounts of thorium are
retained in the filtercake. The licensee needs this amendment to the
license in order to have a cost-effective method of disposal of the

[[Page 34508]]

filtercake containing metals. Prior to filtering of the liquid
effluents, thorium in this waste stream was released to a public
sanitary sewerage system in accordance with 10 CFR 20.2003 regulatory
limits. A restriction is required, that not more than two effective
containers be disposed of each month, in order to ensure that such
disposals do not exceed the criterion of 25 millirem per year (25 mrem/
y) to a member of the public.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The staff considered results of analyses using a generic model for
unrestricted release of the material. The staff concluded that disposal
pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002 of this material without restrictions would
meet the 25 mrem/y criterion only if the filtercake did not exceed 4.1
pCi/g Th-232.
    The staff considered results of analyses to determine if site-
specific data, such as regional meteorological and subsurface
information, would be likely to change the dose assessment results
significantly. The staff concluded that annual doses would be less than
those resulting from assessments using the generic model, but the
annual doses still would be in excess of the 25 mrem/y criterion if the
filtercake contained up to 25 pCi/g Th-232.
    The staff considered results of analyses using a model that assumed
the landfill would not be used for any future activities, as could
occur if deed restrictions were in place that prevented exhumation of
the landfill. The staff concluded that doses would meet the 25 mrem/y
criterion but that such deed restrictions are unlikely at this time.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The activities that NRC staff will authorize, pursuant to 10 CFR
20.2002, through the issuance of an amendment to License No. STA1455 is
expected to have an insignificant impact on the environment. The
disposal of the filtercake containing up to 25 pCi/g Th232, restricted
so that no more than two effective containers of filtercake are
disposed of per month to an industrial landfill, would not exceed the
criterion of 25 mrem/y to a member of the public.

Conclusion

    The environmental impacts from the proposed action are
insignificant.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has prepared an Environmental Assessment related to
the proposed disposal pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002 of filtercake
containing up to 25 pCi/g thorium-232 and progeny from IIVI. On the
basis of the Environmental Assessment, the Commission has concluded
that this licensing action would not significantly affect the
environment and does not warrant the preparation of an environmental
impact statement. Accordingly, it has determined that a Finding of No
Significant Impact is appropriate.
    The above documents related to this proposed action are available
for public inspection and copying at the Commission's Public Document
Room at the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW, Washington, DC.

Opportunity for a Hearing

    The NRC hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on an
application for a license amendment falling within the scope of Subpart
L, Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications in Materials Licensing
Proceedings, of NRC's rules and practice for domestic licensing
proceedings in 10 CFR Part 2. Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.1205(a), any person
whose interest may be affected by this proceeding may file a request
for a hearing in accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(c). A request for a
hearing must be filed within thirty (30) days of the date of
publication of the Federal Register Notice.
    The request for a hearing must be filed with the Office of the
Secretary either:
    1. By delivery to the Docketing and Service Branch of the Office of
the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 208522738; or
    2. By mail or telegram addressed to the Secretary, U. S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Attention: Docketing and
Service Branch.
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part
2 of the NRC's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a person
other than the applicant must describe in detail:
    1. The interest of the requestor in the proceeding;
    2. How that interest may be affected by the results of the
proceeding, including the reasons why the requestor should be permitted
a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in 10 CFR
2.1205(g);
    3. The requestor's areas of concern about the licensing activity
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
    4. The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing is
timely in accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(c).
    In accordance with 10 CFR 2.1205(e), each request for a hearing
must also be served, by delivering it personally or by mail, to:
    1. The applicant, IIVI Incorporated, 375 Saxonburg Boulevard,
Saxonburg, PA 16056, Attention: Mr. John Lebrecque, and
    2. The NRC staff, by delivery to the Executive Director for
Operations, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD,
20852, or by mail, addressed to the Executive Director for Operations,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
    For further details with respect to this action, the application
for amendment request is available for inspection at the Commission's
Public Document Room, 2120 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20555.

    Dated at King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, this 16th day of May,
2000.

    For The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Francis M. Costello,
Deputy Director, Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 0013452 Filed 52600; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 759001P

 
 

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.