Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 136 (Monday, July 16, 2012)

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41774-41776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17230]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Notice of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for the Construction and Operation of a Radiological
Work and Storage Building

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and the Department of Energy (DOE)
implementing procedures (10 CFR part 1021); the Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (NNPP) announces the availability of a Final
Environmental Assessment (EA) for construction and operation of a
radiological work and storage building at the Knolls Atomic Power
Laboratory Kesselring Site in West Milton, New York. A modernized
facility is needed to streamline radioactive material handling and
storage operations, permit demolition of aging facilities, and
accommodate efficient maintenance of existing nuclear reactors. The EA
shows that the potential effects on the human environment associated
with the construction and operation of the radiological work and
storage building are not significant. Therefore, the NNPP has concluded
that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required to be
prepared and is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

ADDRESSES: The Final EA and FONSI may be viewed at the Saratoga Springs
Public Library in Saratoga Springs, NY,

[[Page 41775]]

the Schenectady County Public Library (Niskayuna Branch) in Niskayuna,
NY, or online at http://www.NNPP-NEPA.us/environmental_assessments/kesselring_site/rwsb_ea.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NNPP is responsible for all aspects of
U.S. Navy nuclear power and propulsion pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 2406 and
2511. These responsibilities include design, maintenance, and safe
operation of nuclear propulsion systems throughout their operational
life cycles. Crucial components of this mission are to provide
prospective Naval nuclear propulsion plant operators and officers with
training and certification in the actual hands-on operation of a
nuclear propulsion plant, and to test new Naval nuclear propulsion
plant technologies. Two land-based training platforms are located at
the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory Kesselring Site near West Milton,
Saratoga County, New York.
Purpose and Need: The operation, maintenance, refueling, overhaul,
and decommissioning of the prototype naval nuclear reactors results in
low-level radioactive contamination of some support equipment and the
generation of low-level radioactive waste. A shortfall has been
identified between the radiological work and storage space currently
available at the Kesselring Site and the space that is necessary to
support continued operation and maintenance on the prototypes.
Radioactive materials must be handled in facilities that are
specifically designed to contain radioactivity and prevent the spread
of radioactive contamination to workers, the public, and the
environment. Additional modernized radiological work and storage space
is needed to support maintenance on the operational nuclear prototypes
at the Kesselring Site. No spent nuclear fuel will be handled or stored
in the new Radiological Work and Storage Building or any of the
alternatives being considered.
Alternatives Considered: The NNPP identified three alternatives to
address the above need.
Alternative 1--Construct a new Radiological Work and
Storage Building (Proposed Action)
Alternative 2--Construct a Temporary Radiological Work
Structure
Alternative 3--Continue to use existing facilities (No
Action Alternative)
Description of the Proposed Action: The Proposed Action demolishes
Building 80C and constructs a modernized Radiological Work and Storage
Building that would have a footprint of approximately 670-1,270 square
meters (7,200-13,600 square feet). Demolition of Building 80C and
disposition of equipment inside of Building 80C would be completed in
accordance with stringent NNPP requirements. The new facility would be
used for the preparation of equipment for maintenance operations,
packaging of radiological waste for shipment, and temporary storage of
radiologically controlled material. The facility would be built within
an already developed portion of the Kesselring Site. The Radiological
Work and Storage Building would be designed and constructed to meet
stringent NNPP requirements to contain radioactivity and prevent the
spread of radioactive contamination to workers, the public, and the
environment. NNPP standards include applicable Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) standards (ANSI-1999 and 40 CFR part 61). The proposed
location of the Radiological Work and Storage Building allows for
staging equipment for maintenance in parallel with moving equipment
during prototype maintenance evolutions. The facility design would be a
site-specific adaptation of radiological work facilities constructed at
naval shipyards that perform similar work on nuclear-powered ships. The
facility would be equipped with internal bridge cranes to support
movement of equipment and material within the facility.
Environmental Impacts of Proposed Action: The DOE evaluated the
potential environmental impacts of the construction and operation of
the proposed new Radiological Work and Storage Building, a Temporary
Radiological Work Structure, and a No Action Alternative. The DOE
considered geology, topography and soils, ecological resources, water
resources, noise, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, land use,
cultural resources, socioeconomics and environmental justice, traffic
and transportation, aesthetic and scenic resources, utilities and
energy, non-hazardous waste, radiological impacts, and cumulative
effects. The DOE determined that either there would be no impacts or
the potential impacts would be insignificant, short-term or both.

Geology, Topography, and Soils

The geology and topography at the Kesselring Site would not be
affected by the construction and demolition activities. Short-term soil
impacts would occur but would be minimized through the use of erosion
and sedimentation control techniques such as installing silt fencing
and sediment traps to stabilize soil.

Ecological Resources

Ecological resources would not be affected since the construction
and demolition activities are on previously developed portions of the
Kesselring Site. The developed area of the Kesselring Site is not a
typical habitat for endangered species and the wetlands that exist
outside of the developed area would not be affected by any of the
alternatives. None of the alternatives would change the existing
conditions.

Water Resources

Demolition and construction activities associated with the new
modernized storage facility would be in the developed area of the
Kesselring Site. Activities would be done in accordance with applicable
federal, state, and local requirements, including development and
implementation of an erosion and sediment control plan for storm water
management. Radiological work areas in the new modernized facility
would be built with impermeable floors, thus no impact would be
expected during operations.

Noise

Noise during construction, demolition, and operation of the new
modernized storage facility would not be discernible beyond the site
boundaries which are nearly one mile from the developed area of the
site.

Air Quality

The emissions from the Kesselring Site resulting from steam boilers
would not increase from the addition of a new modernized facility.
There would be short-term, temporary impacts to air quality during
construction but would not impact the designation of the area with
respect to National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The new modernized
storage facility would be equipped with high efficiency air particulate
filters, and emissions would be expected to be well within EPA
requirements (40 CFR part 61). Building 80C would be evaluated as a
diffuse source of airborne radioactivity and surveyed using stringent
NNPP standards prior to demolition, with applicable monitoring
performed during demolition to ensure compliance with EPA regulations
in 40 CFR part 61. The impacts on air quality would not be significant
and would be temporary during construction and demolition.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Under any of the alternatives, there would be minor emissions of
carbon dioxide due to construction traffic and equipment; however,
these actions would not be significant.

[[Page 41776]]

Land Use

The new modernized facility would be located within the developed
portion of the Kesselring Site and would not impact the land use; the
land use would be unchanged.

Cultural Resources

The alternatives have no impact on historic properties or other
cultural resources.

Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice

Implementation of the Proposed Action would result in a temporary
increase in jobs during construction; however, the increase would be
small compared to surrounding area employment. There would be no
increase or decrease in long term employment as a result of operations
in the new modernized storage facility. Since no significant impacts
are expected, there would be no expected disproportionately high and
adverse impacts to minority and low income populations as a result of
implementing any of the alternatives.

Traffic and Transportation

Vehicular traffic to the Kesselring site would increase by about 30
vehicles compared to more than 2,000 vehicles a day currently. During
demolition, radioactive waste shipments would increase about 10
percent. The effect of the Proposed Action on traffic and
transportation would be minimal and temporary during the construction
and demolition activities.

Aesthetic and Scenic Resources

The developed area of the Kesselring Site is not visible from off-
site locations; none of the alternatives would have an impact on the
aesthetic and scenic resources.

Utilities and Energy

Existing site utility systems have sufficient capacity to support
the utility requirements for the new modernized storage facility. The
operation of the new modernized storage facility would have little
impact on the amount of energy used by the Kesselring Site as this
facility would replace a less energy efficient facility that would be
demolished.

Non-Hazardous Waste

Construction and operation of a new Radiological Work and Storage
Building is expected to produce about 40 tons of non-hazardous waste in
addition to the approximately 1,500 tons produced in a typical year by
the Kesselring Site. Solid waste would continue to be contained,
stored, transported, and disposed of in accordance with state and
federal regulations. No significant impacts to the environment would be
expected.

Radiological Impact

Stringent NNPP radiological control practices are utilized at the
Kesselring Site to contain radioactivity and to ensure the protection
of workers, the public, and the environment. The new modernized
Radiological Work and Storage Building would be designed and operated
to stringent NNPP standards that would also ensure compliance with
applicable EPA requirements.
Building 80C would be surveyed before demolition in accordance with
stringent NNPP standards, which provide equivalent or better levels of
detection and assessment as the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site
Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) and Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and
Assessment of Materials and Equipment (MARSAME). Building 80C would be
evaluated as a diffuse source of airborne radioactivity during
demolition to ensure compliance with EPA regulations in 40 CFR part 61
and consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding between U.S. EPA
and U.S. DOE concerning the Clean Air Act Emissions Standards for
Radionuclides.
Radioactive low-level solid waste from demolition of Building 80C
and operation of the new Radioactive Work and Storage Building would be
shipped by authorized common carriers to disposal sites outside of New
York State in accordance with applicable Department of Transportation,
DOE, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements that have been
previously analyzed and shown to have no significant impacts. These
waste shipments would be a small part of the shipments of radioactive
materials made annually in the United States.
The Kesselring Site conducts extensive monitoring of adjacent
streams, perimeter radiation levels, and airborne discharges from
radiological facilities. No significant impacts to the environment and
no adverse impact on the health and safety of the public would be
expected from the demolition of Building 80C, and the construction and
operation of a modernized Radiological Work and Storage Building. This
is consistent with the conclusions from on-going environmental
monitoring.

Cumulative Impacts

Since construction of the modernized Radiological Work and Storage
Building and all projects currently being considered at the Kesselring
Site would occur in the previously developed industrial area, no
significant cumulative impacts would be expected.

Conclusion

Because the Proposed Action meets the needs of the NNPP and has no
significant impact on the quality of the human environment, the NNPP
concludes that the Proposed Action to construct a modernized
Radiological Work and Storage Building is the preferred action to
address the need for streamlining radioactive material handling and
storage operations, permitting demolition of aging facilities, and
accommodating efficient maintenance of existing nuclear reactors at the
Kesselring Site.

Public Participation

The NNPP published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare this EA in
the Federal Register on August 31, 2011 to solicit comments on the
scope of the EA. A notification was also published in three newspapers
in New York (The Saratogian, The Times Union, and The Daily Gazette).
In addition, notifications were sent to federal, state, and local
public officials. The NNPP published a Notice of Availability (NOA) for
the Draft EA in the Federal Register on March 8, 2012. The NOA was also
published in three newspapers in New York. A summary of the comments
received is included in the Final EA. Clarifications to the Draft EA
have been incorporated into the Final EA which addressed all comments
received.
Finding of No Significant Impact: On the basis of the EA prepared
in support of the construction and operation of the modernized
Radiological Work and Storage Building, the Department of Energy Naval
Nuclear Propulsion Program has determined that the Proposed Action will
not significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
Therefore, the Department of Energy is not required to prepare an EIS
and is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact.

Signed in Washington, DC this 10th day of July 2012.
Kirkland H. Donald,
Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors.
[FR Doc. 2012-17230 Filed 7-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P