U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commiss

Environmental Review

Public Scoping Meeting

International Isotopes Fluorine Products IncInternational Isotopes Fluorine Products, Inc

Proposed Fluorine Extraction Process and 

De-Conversion Facility

Hobbs, New Mexico
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commis

Who We Are and What We D

D id Sk D t Di tDavid Skeen, 

Depu

ty Direc

t

o

r

Division of Waste Management and Environmental Pr

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environm

Management Programs
Who We Are

• Energy Reorganization Act of 1974• Independent Federal agency• We have regulatory responsibility for com

use of nuclear materials, including the proInternational Isotopes Fluorine Products f
NRC’s Mission 

To regulate the nation's civilian ubyproduct, source, and special nuclear materials to ensure adeqnuclear materials to ensure adeq

protection of public health and sto promote the common defense security, and to protect the environment
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission
The NRC Regulates:

• Nuclear reactors - commercial power, re

and test; new designs

• Nuclear materials - reactor fuel; radioac

materials for medical industrial academimaterials for medical, industrial, academi

• Nuclear waste

– transportation; storage 

disposal; decommissioning of facilities

• Nuclear security

– physical security of n

material to protect it from sabotage or atta
NRC’s Primary Functions

• Establish rules and regulations• Issue licenses• Provide oversight through inspection

Provide oversight through inspection

enforcement and evaluation of operaexperience

• Conduct research to provide suppor

regulatory decisions

• Respond to emergencies
What We Don’t Do

• Build or promote nuclear facilities • Own or operate nuclear power plants• Regulate nuclear weapons, military 

reactors or space vehicle reactorsreactors or space vehicle reactors

• Regulate naturally occurring radioac

material (radon) and radiation-produmachines (x-rays)
Openness

• NRC’s Goals & Objectives: 

– Safety, Security, Openness, Effectivene

Operational Excellence

• NRC places a high priority on keepin

public and stakeholders informed 

• Stakeholder participation in the regu

process is encouraged

• www.nrc.gov
Communications

• Communication is key• Active dialogue with:

– You– Public interest groups

I di T ib

– Indian 

T

ribes

– State and local officials– State agencies– Other Federal agencies– Congress– Nuclear industry groups– International organizations
• As part of the licensing process, 

NRC conducts an environmental review 

Your input is vital

Why are we here?

• Your input is vital• We are at the beginning of the 

process

• No decisions have yet been mad
Licensing Process for the Propose

International Isotopes Inc. Fluorine Pro

and De-conversion Facility

Matt Bartlett, NRC 

Licensing Project Manager
Summary of INIS proposed facility

Overview of licensing processObjectives
Location: Lea County

IIFP

Lee C

New Mexico

14 i t f H bb

Hobbs

14 mi. wes

t o

f

H

obb

s
INIS Process

Receipt: DUF6 from enrichment facilitiProcessing: Chemical Deconversion o

Chemical Deconversion o

DUO2SiF4BF3

IIFP

UF6SiO2B2O3

(or DU3O8)

DUF6SiO2B2O3

com

AHF
NRC Review Schedule

Application Received (12-30-09)Completed Acceptance Review (02-24-1In-depth safety review (18 mo.) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

(24 mo.)

If approved, issue license in early 2012

This schedule may change based on the quality of the applicant’s license application, the responsiveness to request

for additional information, and unplanned higher priority operational safety work.
NRC Licensing Process

Safety Review 

Radiation, chemical, fire, emergency 

preparedness, environment, seismic, security, etc.

Integrated Safety Analysis Summary

Id tifi t ti l id t

Outcome

Publish Safety Evaluation Report (SEIf approved, issue license

Identifies po

tenti

al acciden

t

s

Items relied on for safety
Opportunities for Involvement

Contact NRC

Licensing Review: Matt Bartlett 301.492.311

Matthew.Bartlett@nrc.gov

Environmental Review: Asimios Malliakos 301.415.6458 

Asimios Malliakos@nrc gov

Three additional NRC public meetings

Draft EISFinal SERInspection and Oversight

Asimios.Malliakos@nrc.gov
Additional Information

NRC Website http://www.nrc.govFuel Cycle Facts

• http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cyc

deconversion.html

• http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cyc

fac/inisfacility.html

E-mail Distribution or Questionsmatthew.bartlett@nrc.gov
Environmental Review Process 

for the Proposed Fluorine Extractio

Process and De-Conversion Facil

Asimios Malliakos, NRC 

Environmental Project Manager

July 29, 2010

Hobbs, New Mexico
Why are we here?

• NRC is conducting an environmental rev

as part of the license application review proposed International Isotopes, Inc., fac

• This environmental review is required by 

This environmental review is required by 

National Environmental Policy Act of 196amended

• Your comments will be used to refine the 

scope of our environmental review
Law, Regulation, and 

Guidance Documents

• National Environmental Policy Act of 1

as amended

• Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, 

Part 51

• NUREG 1748
Environmental Process

Receive applicant’s environmental report

Engage Consulting and 

Cooperating Agencies

P bli h

Perform acceptance review

If environmentais accepted, issFederal Regist

Begin and h

Public Participation scopOpportunity

P

ubli

s

h

Scoping Report

Identify and AnaEnvironmental

Impacts

Publish Draft EIS for Public Comment

Begin public comment period and hold public meeting on Draft EISRevise Draft EIS after considering

public comments

Publish Final EIS Licensi
Scoping Process of an 

Environmental Review • Requirement of NEPA, NRC• Refine the environmental review

– Receive and address your concerns

Id tif i ifi t li i t i t t

– Identify significan

t, eli

mina

te unimpor

tan

t

– Identify alternatives– Identify related documents– Identify other environmental review and 

consultation requirements

• Listen, receive written comments
Where is the 

proposed site?

[International Isotopes Fluorine Products. Environmental Report for the Uranium Processing Plant, December 2009]Accessible at:http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html Docket No. 40-9086
What is an EIS?

• NRC staff will document its environmental 

in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS

•

An EIS describes the 

potential environmen

impacts of a proposed action and its altern

• An EIS provides information to the public a

agency decision makers
What topics will an EIS 

address?

• An EIS addresses five main topics

– The proposed action, including its purpose 

the need it meetsthe need it meets

– Alternatives, including no action– The affected environment– Impacts to the environment– Mitigative measures
What effects are considered?

• The EIS will address the effects of facility con

operation, and decommissioning

• Example review areas include 

– Air, water, soils, plants, and animals– Public and worker health

– Historic, archaeological, or architectural prope

artifacts

– Economic resources, cultural resources, and 

services

– Environmental justice 

• Impacts may be direct, indirect, or cumulative
Environmental Process

Receive applicant’s environmental report

Engage Consulting and 

Cooperating Agencies

P bli h

Perform acceptance review

If environmentais accepted, issFederal Regist

Begin and h

Public Participation scopOpportunity

P

ubli

s

h

Scoping Report

Identify and AnaEnvironmental

Impacts

Publish Draft EIS for Public Comment

Begin public comment period and hold public meeting on Draft EISRevise Draft EIS after considering

public comments

Publish Final EIS Licensi
How do I make a comment?

• Speaking at this meeting• Filling out a yellow comment card at this m• Writing an email to INIS.EIS@nrc.gov• Writing to NRC (note Docket No. 40-9086)

Chief, Rules and Directives BranchMail Stop TWB 5B01MU.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionWashington, DC 20555–0001 
• Project Website 

http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/inisfacility.html

• NRC’s electronic reading room (Docket No.40-9086)

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html

Where can I get more information?• Hobbs Public Library

509 North Shipp Street, Hobbs, NM 88240

• Contact NRC

– Licensing Review: Matt Bartlett 301.492.3119

Matthew.Bartlett@nrc.gov

– Environmental Review: Asimios Malliakos 301.415.6458 

Asimios.Malliakos@nrc.gov