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Rio Algom Mining Corp.
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[Federal Register: May 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 87)]
[Notices]
[Page 22620-22622]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04my01-141]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 40-8964]
Rio Algom Mining Corp.
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Final finding of no significant impact; Notice of opportunity
for hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to renew
NRC Source Material License SUA-1548 to authorize the licensee, Rio
Algom Mining Corporation (RAMC), to continue commercial operations of
its in situ leach (ISL) Rio Algom Smith Ranch Uranium Recovery Project
in Converse County, Wyoming. This license currently authorizes RAMC to
receive, acquire, possess, and transfer uranium at the Rio Algom Smith
Ranch Project, which is located approximately 17 miles (27 Kilometers)
Northeast of Glenrock, Wyoming. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was
performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of RAMC renewal
request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The
conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John H. Lusher, Fuel Cycle
Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, Mail Stop T8-A33, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone 301/415-
7694.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
At the Rio Algom Smith Ranch Facility, ISL uranium recovery method
involves: (1) The injection of native groundwater, with added sodium
carbonate/bicarbonate and oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, into uranium-
bearing orebody through injection wells; (2) the chemical mobilization
of the uranium through oxidation and then complexation with the
carbonate species; and (3) the extraction of the uranium-bearing
solution from the subsurface through a pattern of pumping wells. The
uranium is separated from the leach solution by conventional ion
exchange methods in the processing facility. The resulting uranium-poor
solution is recharged with carbonate and oxygen and returned to the
leaching zone for additional uranium recovery. This cycle continues
until the ore zone is depleted or recovery of uranium is no longer
economically feasible.
The recovered uranium solution is processed further by using
ammonia or hydrogen peroxide to precipitate the uranium into a slurry.
The resulting slurry is thickened by gravity settling, and then washed
and de-watered in a filter press to about 50 percent solids. The filter
press solids (cake) are then dried in a natural gas heated oil vacuum
dryer, to produce uranium oxide, which is commonly known as
``yellowcake.'' The dried yellowcake is packaged in 55-gallon (208-
liter) steel drums for storage and eventual shipment to a fuel
processing facility.
RAMC conducts uranium recovery operations within designated areas
(wellfield units) of the Rio Algom Smith Ranch site. These wellfield
units consist of about 50 acres (20 hectars) in size. A number of well
patterns are installed in each wellfield unit, with each pattern
typically including four injection wells laid out in a roughly
rectangular shape and one centrally-located pumping (production) well.
Currently, RAMC is conducting uranium recovery operations in three
wellfield units.
[[Page 22621]]
Summary of the Environmental Assessment
The NRC staff performed an appraisal of the environmental impacts
associated with the continued operation of the Rio Algom Smith Ranch
ISL facility, in accordance with 10 CFR part 51, Licensing and
Regulatory Policy Procedures for Environmental Protection. In
conducting its appraisal, the NRC staff considered the following
information: (1) RAMC's license renewal application, as amended; (2)
previous environmental evaluations of the RAMC facility; (3) RAMC's
amendment request submitted subsequent to its renewal application, and
NRC staff approval of such request; (4) data contained in required
environmental monitoring reports; (5) results of NRC staff site visits
and inspections of the RAMC facility; and (6) consultations with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and
the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer. The results of the
staff's appraisal are documented in an Environmental Assessment. The
safety aspects for the continued operation are discussed separately in
a Safety Evaluation Report (SER).
The license renewal would authorize RAMC to continue operating the
Rio Algom Smith Ranch ISL facility, such that the plant and satellite
facilities throughput does not exceed a flow rate of 12,000 gallons
(45,420 liters) per minute, exclusive of the flow involved in restoring
the depleted wellfield units. Annual yellowcake production will not be
authorized to exceed 3.5 million pounds (1,587,565 kilograms).
All conditions in the renewal license and commitments presented in
the renewal application are subject to NRC inspection. Violation of the
license may result in enforcement action.
Conclusions
The NRC staff has re-examined actual and potential impacts
associated with continued commercial operation of the Rio Algom Smith
Ranch ISL facility, and has determined that the renewal of Source
Material License SUA-1548 will: (1) Be consistent with requirements of
10 CFR Part 40, (2) not be inimical to the public health and safety;
and (3) not have long-term detrimental impacts on the environment. The
following statements summarize the conclusions resulting from the
staff's environmental assessment, and support the FONSI:
1. The proposed ground water monitoring program is sufficient to
detect excursions (vertical and horizontal) of recovery solutions.
Furthermore, aquifer testing and previous operations indicate that the
production zone is adequately confined, thereby assuring hydrological
control of recovery solutions;
2. Liquid process waste will be disposed in accordance with
approved waste disposal options. Monitoring programs are in place to
ensure appropriate operation of the deep disposal wells and to detect
potential leakage from the evaporation ponds;
3. An acceptable environmental and effluent monitoring program is
in place to monitor effluent releases and to detect if applicable
regulatory limits are exceeded. Radiological effluents from facility
operation have been and are expected to remain below the regulatory
limits;
4. All radioactive waste generated by facility operations will be
disposed offsite at a licensed 11e.(2) byproduct disposal site;
5. Groundwater impacted by recovery operations will be restored to
baseline conditions on a wellfield unit average, as a primary goal. If
baseline conditions cannot be reasonably achieved, the R&D operations
have demonstrated that groundwater can be restored to applicable class-
of-use standards; and
6. Because the staff has determined that there will be no
significant impacts associated with approval of the license renewal,
there can be no disproportionally high and adverse effects or impacts
on minority and low-income populations. Consequently, further
evaluation of Environmental Justice concerns, as outlined in Executive
Order 12898 and NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Policy and Procedures Letter 1-50, Revision 1, is not warranted.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The proposed action is to renew NRC Source Material License SUA-
1548, for continued operation of the Rio Algom Smith Ranch ISL facility
as requested by RAMC. Therefore, the principal alternatives available
to NRC are to:
(1) Renew the license with such conditions as are considered
necessary or appropriate to protect public health and safety and the
environment; or
(2) Renew the license with such conditions as are considered
necessary or appropriate to protect public health and safety and the
environment, but not allow RAMC to expand its operations beyond those
previously approved; or
(3) Deny the renewal of the license.
Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that the
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action do not
warrant either the limiting of RAMC's future operations or the denial
of the license renewal. Additionally, in the SER prepared for this
action, the staff has reviewed the licensee's proposed action with
respect to the criteria for license issuance, specified in 10 CFR part
40, Sec. 40.32, and has no basis for denial of the proposed action.
Therefore, the staff considers that Alternative 1 is the appropriate
alternative for selection.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared an EA for the proposed renewal of NRC
Source Material License SUA-1548, On the basis of this assessment, the
NRC staff has concluded that the environmental impacts that may result
from the proposed action would not be significant, and therefore,
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted.
The EA and other documents related to this proposed action are
available for public inspection and copying at the NRC Public Document
Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.
Notice of Opportunity for Hearing
The Commission hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on
an application for a licensing action falling within the scope of 10
CFR part 2, subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications
in Materials and Operators Licensing Proceedings,'' of the Commission's
Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings and Issuance of
Orders. Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any person whose interest may be
affected by this proceeding may file a request for a hearing. In
accordance with Sec. 2.1205(d), a request for a hearing must be filed
within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this Federal
Register notice. The request for a hearing must be filed with the
Office of the Secretary either:
(1) By delivery to the Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff of the
Office of the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852; or (2) By mail or telegram addressed to the
Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555,
Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. In accordance with 10
CFR 2.1205(f), each request for a hearing must also be served, by
delivering it personally or by mail to:
(1) The applicant, Rio Algom Mining Corporation, 6305 Waterford
Blvd, Suite 325, Oklahoma City, OK 73118;
(2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the General Consel, One White
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, or
[[Page 22622]]
(3) By mail addressed to the Executive Director for Operations,
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR part
2 of the Commission's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a
person other than an 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
Sec. 2.1205(h);
(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 Sec. 2.1205(d).
Any hearing that is requested and granted will be held in
accordance with the Commission's ``Informal Hearing Procedures for
Adjudications in Materials and Operator Licensing Proceedings'' in 10
CFR part 2, subpart L.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of April 2001.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Daniel M. Gillen,
Acting Chief, Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle
Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-11278 Filed 5-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P