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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41774-41776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing 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
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