13768 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2022 / Notices 

Document ADAMS accession No. 

US Ecology Exemption for Alternate Disposal of Specific Waste from the Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication 

Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR 70.17, dated December 9, 2020.

ML20304A341 

Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC—Amendment 25 to Material License SNM–1107, Exemption for Alternate 

Disposal of Specific Waste (Enterprise Project Identifier L–2020-Lll-0009), dated December 9, 2020.

ML20302A083 (Package) 

Request for Alternate Disposal Approval and Exemption for Specific Columbia Fuel Fabrication Waste (Docket No. 

70–1151, Material License SNM–1107), dated February 8, 2021.

ML21039A719 

Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC—Amendment 26 to Material License SNM–1107, Exemption for Alternate 

Disposal of Specific Waste (Enterprise Project Identifier L–2021–LLA–0013), dated March 11, 2021.

ML21064A225 

U.S. Ecology Exemption for Alternate Disposal of Specific Waste from the Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR 70.17, dated March 11, 2021.ML21061A277 (Package) 

Request for Exemption Associated with Disposal of Specified Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste (Docket 

No. 70–1151), dated November 5, 2021.

ML21309A095 

Request for Exemption Associated with Disposal of Specified Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste (Docket 

No. 70–1151), correction dated December 1, 2021.

ML21336A461 

Safety Evaluation Report for Request or Alternate Disposal Approval and Exemptions from Disposal of Columbia 

Fuel Fabrication Facility Waste to the US Ecology Idaho Facility, dated March 4, 2022.

ML22054A045 (Package) 

Request for Exemptions Associated with Disposal and Transportation of Specified Columbia Fuel Fabrication 

Waste dated June 1, 2021.

ML21153A001 

Letter: Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC—Amendment 28 to Material License Snm–1107, Exemption for Alternate Disposal of Specific Waste (Enterprise Project Identifier L–2021–LLA–0101) dated October 12, 2021.ML21214A093 (Package) 

Request for Exemptions under 10 CFR 30.11 and 10 CFR 70.17 for Alternate Disposal of Wastes from Columbia 

Fuel Fabrication Facility under 10 CFR 20.2002, dated November 5, 2021.

ML21351A038 

Letter from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality entitled ‘‘Review of the Draft Environmental Assessment related to an alternative disposal request from Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF) for 

disposal of CaF2 Sludge,’’ dated March 3, 2022.

ML22062B349 

Email from Ken Taylor of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control entitled ‘‘Review of 

Draft Environmental Assessment for Westinghouse Columbia alternative disposal request,’’ dated March 3, 2022.

ML22062B355 

NUREG–1757, Volume 1, Revision 2. Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance: Decommissioning Process for 

Materials Licensees.

ML063000243 

Dated: March 4, 2022. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Jacob I. Zimmerman, 

Chief, Fuel Facility Licensing Branch, 

Division of Fuel Management, Office of 

Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. 

[FR Doc. 2022–05030 Filed 3–9–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[Docket No. 50–397; NRC–2022–0062] 

Energy Northwest; Columbia 

Generating Station 

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Environmental assessment and 

finding of no significant impact; 

issuance. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) is considering 

approval of the continued onsite 

disposal of sediments containing very 

low levels of radioactive materials at the 

Columbia Generating Station 

(Columbia), located in Benton County, 

Washington for Renewed Facility 

Operating License No. NPF–21, held by 

Energy Northwest (EN, the licensee). 

The NRC is issuing an environmental 

assessment (EA) and finding of no 

significant impact (FONSI) associated 

with the proposed action. 

DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in 

this document are available on March 

10, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID 

NRC–2022–0062 when contacting the 

NRC about the availability of 

information regarding this document. 

You may obtain publicly available 

information related to this document 

using any of the following methods: 

• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and search 

for Docket ID NRC–2022–0062. Address 

questions about Docket IDs in 

Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; 

telephone: 301–415–0624; email: 

Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical 

questions, contact the individual listed 

in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section of this document. 

• NRC’s Agencywide Documents 

Access and Management System 

(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly 

available documents online in the 

ADAMS Public Documents collection at 

https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ 

adams.html. To begin the search, select 

‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For 

problems with ADAMS, please contact 

the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) 

reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301– 

415–4737, or by email to 

PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. For the 

convenience of the reader, instructions 

about obtaining materials referenced in 

this document are provided in the 

‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section. 

• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and 

purchase copies of public documents, 

by appointment, at the NRC’s PDR, 

Room P1 B35, One White Flint North, 

11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 

Maryland 20852. To make an 

appointment to visit the PDR, please 

send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov 

or call 1–800–397–4209 or 301–415– 

4737, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

(ET), Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mahesh Chawla, Office of Nuclear 

Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission, Washington, 

DC 20555–0001, telephone: 301–415– 

8371, email: Mahesh.Chawla@nrc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction 

The NRC is considering approval of a 

request dated December 21, 2020, as 

supplemented by letter dated June 23, 

2021, from EN for continued onsite 

disposal of sediments containing very 

low levels of radioactive material at 

Columbia, located in Benton County, 

Washington. Columbia is a single unit 

boiling water reactor. The cooling 

system consists of the circulating water 

system and standby service water 

system, including spray ponds and 

cooling towers. The sediments are 

generated from periodic cleaning of 

cooling towers and standby service 

water system spray ponds at the site. 

The licensee is requesting approval in 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2022 / Notices 13769 

1The NRC clarified the jurisdiction of these 

requests and their related disposal actions in 

Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS)–2016–11, 

‘‘Requests to Dispose of Very Low-Level 

Radioactive Waste Pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002.’’ As 

reflected in that document, the NRC has jurisdiction 

over both the 20.2002 request for alternative 

disposal procedures and the on-site disposal of this 

material. This EA provides the NRC’s analysis of 

the environmental impacts of approval of the 

disposal procedures under 20.2002; no separate 

NRC action is necessary regarding on-site disposal 

because the licensee already has authority to 

possess the radioactive materials. 

accordance with Section 20.2002 of title 

10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 

(10 CFR), ‘‘Method for obtaining 

approval of proposed disposal 

procedures,’’ to dispose of 

approximately 1,116 cubic meters (m3) 

(1,460 cubic yards (yd3)) of sediment 

onsite within an existing disposal area. 

Based on the results of the EA that 

follows, the NRC has determined that 

the proposed action will not have 

significant environmental impacts and 

is issuing a FONSI. 

Under 10 CFR 20.2002, a licensee may 

seek NRC authorization to dispose of 

licensed material using procedures not 

otherwise authorized by the NRC’s 

regulations. A licensee’s supporting 

analysis must satisfy the requirements 

associated with the four parts of the 

regulation, including demonstrating that 

the radiological doses arising from the 

proposed disposal will be within the 

dose limits of 10 CFR part 20, 

‘‘Standards for Protection Against 

Radiation,’’ and will be as low as 

reasonably achievable. 

II. Environmental Assessment 

Description of the Proposed Action 

The proposed action would permit 

the disposal of up to 1,116 m3 (1,460 

yd3) of sediment containing very low 

levels of radioactive material from the 

circulating water system cooling towers 

and the standby service water system 

spray ponds into sediment disposal 

cells in an existing sediment disposal 

area on the Columbia site. This material 

results from the accumulation of 

sediment in the cooling towers and the 

standby service water system spray 

ponds and is removed from these 

systems, as needed, to prevent build-up. 

Since 1995, the licensee has disposed 

of sediment containing very low 

concentrations of radioactive material 

from cooling towers and the standby 

service water system spray ponds 

within disposal cells located 

approximately 250 feet south of the 

cooling towers. Currently, the sediment 

disposal area totals approximately 4,459 

square meters (m2) (48,000 square feet 

(ft2) and consists of five disposal cells. 

Two of the disposal cells no longer have 

capacity for future sediment disposal. 

The three remaining disposal cells, 

including two active disposal cells and 

one newly established cell for future 

disposal, have a combined capacity of 

approximately 1,116 m3 (39,420 ft3). 

The corners of the disposal area are 

marked with posts and signs indicating 

its dedicated purpose, and a fence with 

a locked gate encloses the disposal area 

to prevent inadvertent access. 

Sediments collected from the cooling 

towers and the spray ponds consist of 

sand and silt-sized particles, with up to 

25 percent of organic material by 

weight. The sediments are shown to 

have low levels of metals, with 

concentrations of lead and chromium 

detected above background levels. 

Removal and transfer of the sediment 

from the cooling towers will be via a 

vacuum truck or other mechanical 

means. The vacuum truck will be filled 

with sediment and emptied into the 

disposal cell during a cooling tower 

cleaning event. Removal and transfer of 

sediment from the standby service water 

system spray ponds will be determined 

by Columbia’s operating status. When 

the plant is offline and water drained 

from the ponds, a vacuum truck will be 

used to remove and transfer the 

sediment. During plant operations when 

the spray ponds cannot be drained, the 

sediment will be vacuumed by divers 

into the vacuum truck and then 

discharged to the disposal cells. 

Pumping of the sediment from the spray 

ponds to large filter bags may also be 

used to remove the sediment from the 

spray ponds. The filter bags are used to 

separate the water from the sediment. 

Once dewatered, the sediment is moved 

to the disposal cells and the water that 

was collected from the laydown area is 

pumped back to the spray ponds. Each 

disposal cell will continue to be filled 

until the level reaches the top of the 

berm. Transportation of the sediments 

from the cooling towers and spray 

ponds to the disposal cells occurs 

within the boundaries of the Columbia 

property. 

The proposed action is in accordance 

with the licensee’s application dated 

December 21, 2020, as supplemented by 

letter dated June 23, 2021. 

Need for the Proposed Action 

The proposed action is needed to 

allow onsite disposal of sediments 

containing very low levels of radioactive 

material removed from Columbia’s 

cooling towers and spray ponds. 

Benefits of the licensee’s proposed 

action include significantly reduced 

transportation distances and costs 

incurred as a result of offsite disposal, 

while maintaining protection of public 

health and safety and the environment. 

This request provides the licensee with 

an alternative to the usage of offsite 

shallow land burial waste repositories 

consistent with a previously released 

NRC Information Notice (IN) 83–05, 

‘‘Obtaining Approval for Disposal of 

Very-Low-Level Radioactive Waste,’’ 

dated February 24, 1983. 

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed 

Action 

This section addresses the 

radiological and non-radiological 

(resource-specific) impacts of the 

proposed action. The NRC considered 

the potential impacts of the proposed 

sediment disposal activities as well as 

the potential cumulative impacts 

associated with past, present, and 

reasonably foreseeable activities 

including consideration of recent 

disposal cell construction on the 

Columbia site that was completed in 

November 2020. 

Radiological Impacts and Human 

Health Occupational Dose 

The proposed request for onsite 

disposal of slightly contaminated 

sediment will not require any physical 

changes to the plant or plant operations; 

therefore, there will be no change to any 

in-plant radiation sources. In addition, 

the NRC’s review of the processes and 

procedures for disposing of the material 

found that doses to different individuals 

involved with these disposal actions 

would be less than the NRC’s public 

dose limit of 25 millirem per year 

(mrem/yr). NRC staff also confirmed 

that the established maximum 

radionuclide concentration limits 

ensure that sum of fractions calculations 

for sediments containing a mixture of 

radionuclides will not exceed one. 

The licensee applies pre-disposal 

screening criteria to contaminated 

sediment samples in accordance with 

Washington State’s Energy Facility Site 

Evaluation Council (EFSEC) Resolution 

No. 299 to ensure that disposal limits 

are met.1 Routine disposal cell 

monitoring is performed to determine 

the direct dose rates using 

thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) 

placed in close proximity to disposal 

cells as well as a control TLD located 

farther away. Specifically, TLD 119B is 

located at the disposal cells while TLD 

119 Ctrl is located 200 yards east of the 

sediment disposal area and is used for 

determining background radiation 

levels. 

The NRC staff reviewed the licensee’s 

summary report of radionuclide 


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13770 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2022 / Notices 

concentrations for each onsite disposal 

event from 2010 through 2019. The 

measured concentrations for each of the 

radionuclides were much lower than the 

corresponding disposal limits. 

Additionally, the mean quarterly TLD 

results were provided for each 

monitoring station for each year and 

were documented in the summary 

report. The staff confirmed, using the 

measured exposure rate, that the dose 

estimated to workers would be much 

lower than the licensee’s established 

limit of 15 mrem/yr. Thus, the proposed 

Columbia onsite disposal of slightly 

contaminated sediment containing very 

low concentrations of radioactive 

material within an existing disposal cell 

will have no significant radiological 

impact to the workers. Additionally, the 

licensee’s established limit of 15 mrem/ 

yr is below the radiological criteria of 25 

mrem/yr for unrestricted use after 

license termination in accordance with 

10 CFR 20.1402, ‘‘Radiological criteria 

for unrestricted use.’’ 

Offsite Dose 

This request is for approval for the 

onsite disposal of slightly contaminated 

sediment within the sediment disposal 

area on the Columbia site. As such, 

members of the public will not have 

access to the disposal area. Therefore, 

there is no direct radiation exposure to 

the public. In addition, the proposed 

action does not require any physical 

changes to the plant or plant operation. 

Therefore, there will be no change to the 

types and quantities of radioactive 

effluents or to the operation of the 

radioactive gaseous and liquid waste 

management systems to perform their 

intended functions. Once deposited in 

the sediment disposal cell, the 

consolidated, mud-cake consistency of 

the dried sediment is not readily 

erodible, including by precipitation in 

the semiarid climate. Should erosion 

become a concern, site personnel will 

cover the deposited material with 

locally sourced sand to minimize 

fugitive dust emissions. The proposed 

onsite disposal would not contribute 

any additional groundwater 

contamination and associated 

radiological exposure to the public. For 

these reasons, the offsite radiation dose 

to members of the public would not 

change and would continue to be within 

regulatory limits and therefore would 

not be significant. Finally, as previously 

noted, the potential onsite radiological 

dose would be below the radiological 

criteria for unrestricted use after license 

termination. Therefore, the proposed 

action would not be expected to have a 

significant radiological impact to the 

public. 

Radiological Impacts Summary 

Based on the radiological evaluations 

previously discussed, the NRC staff has 

determined the proposed action would 

not result in any adverse or significant 

radiological impacts. The proposed 

action would have no or a negligible 

contribution to cumulative radiological 

doses to workers and the public. 

Land Use 

Current land uses would not be 

affected by the proposed onsite disposal 

of slightly contaminated sediment at 

Columbia. The designated disposal site 

is a previously disturbed area adjacent 

to the Columbia cooling towers. 

Therefore, the disposal area is industrial 

in nature, and the NRC staff has 

determined that there would be no 

significant land use impacts associated 

with the proposed action. The recent 

construction of the disposal cell and the 

continued use of the sediment disposal 

area under the proposed action would 

not affect existing land uses and would 

not contribute to regional cumulative 

land use trends. 

Water Resources 

The proposed sediment disposal 

location includes existing disposal cells 

and a newly established disposal cell 

within a designated sediment disposal 

area. As with past disposals, site 

personnel would transport the 

dewatered but saturated sediment 

removed from the cooling tower 

structures and deposit the material in a 

disposal cell. These activities would 

have no or negligible impact on surface 

water hydrology or quality because no 

surface water drainages exist in or near 

the sediment disposal area. The closest 

surface water feature is the Columbia 

River, which is located approximately 

3.5 miles to the east of the disposal area. 

Once deposited in the cell, the 

consolidated, mud-cake consistency of 

the dried sediment is not readily 

erodible, including by precipitation in 

the semiarid climate. When necessary, 

site personnel will cover the deposited 

material with locally sourced sand 

should erosion become a concern. In 

addition, the licensee’s cooling system 

sediment disposal activities are subject 

to Columbia’s National Pollutant 

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 

permit (number WA–002515–1) (EFSEC 

2014, 2019). Special Condition 10 of the 

site NPDES permit requires the licensee 

to develop, implement, and maintain a 

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. 

This plan prescribes best management 

practices for soil erosion and sediment 

control, stormwater pollution 

prevention, waste management, and 

spill response across the Columbia site. 

The NPDES permit requires that the 

licensee manage all solid waste material 

so that it does not enter either surface 

waters or groundwater. The permit also 

requires that the discharge of leachate 

be managed to prevent a violation of 

State water quality standards for surface 

water and groundwater. Further, the 

NPDES permit specifically references 

site cooling water system sediment 

disposal operations and requires that 

the licensee follow the prescribed 

procedures for sediment handling and 

disposal set forth in the latest 

resolutions (i.e., Resolution No. 299) 

issued by the State of Washington 

EFSEC. 

In accordance with EFSEC Resolution 

No. 299, EN personnel must conduct 

environmental and radiological 

monitoring of the sediment and the 

disposal site in accordance with the 

licensee’s standard environmental 

monitoring procedures and practices. 

This monitoring includes ensuring that 

sediments placed in the disposal cells 

comply with specified disposal 

concentration limits for listed 

radionuclides. The licensee provides an 

updated summary of sediment disposal 

activities and associated sediment 

monitoring results in its publicly 

available annual radiological 

environmental operating reports. The 

NRC staff’s review of the latest available 

report dated May 13, 2020, shows that 

the radionuclide concentrations in 

sediments placed in the disposal cells 

were well below the prescribed 

concentration limits, with overall 

activity levels (i.e., for cobalt-60 and 

cesium-137) within the range 

historically observed for cooling tower 

sediment. The licensee’s adherence to 

the measures previously described and 

associated regulatory requirements 

would prevent or minimize any surface 

water quality or groundwater quality 

impacts during sediment disposal 

operations. 

The potential exists for some water 

from the saturated sediment to infiltrate 

through the unlined disposal cells and 

reach groundwater. Groundwater occurs 

at a depth of approximately 50 feet 

below land surface at the disposal area. 

The underlying groundwater is 

contaminated with tritium and other 

contaminants associated with legacy 

activities at the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s Hanford Reservation. 

Nevertheless, EN’s adherence to 

sediment disposal procedures and 

disposal concentration limits for 

specified radiological constituents 

would ensure that disposal activities 

would not further contribute to 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2022 / Notices 13771 

groundwater contamination and 

associated radiological exposure to the 

public. 

Long term, management and 

monitoring activities would ensure that 

there are no inadvertent offsite impacts 

to surface water or groundwater quality 

from continued disposal site operations. 

Based on the previously mentioned 

information, the NRC staff has 

determined the impacts to water 

resources would not be significant. 

With the work practices, management, 

and monitoring measures in place as 

previously described, the recent 

disposal cell construction and the 

continued use of the sediment disposal 

area would result in a negligible 

contribution to cumulative water quality 

impacts, either in the underlying 

groundwater system or in the Columbia 

River. 

Air Resources 

With regards to the National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards for criteria 

pollutants (ozone, carbon monoxide, 

lead, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, 

and sulfur dioxide), Benton County is 

designated in attainment for all criteria 

pollutants (EPA 2021). Air emissions 

would be predominantly from the 

transfer of the sediment and equipment 

used in transporting the sediment (e.g., 

vacuum truck). The removal and 

disposal of sediment can result in 

fugitive dust emissions; fugitive dust is 

particulate matter suspended in the air. 

The use of vacuum trucks or filter bags 

to remove and transfer the sediment 

minimizes the potential for fugitive 

emissions. Similarly, soil erosion, and 

therefore fugitive dust, from the 

disposal cells is minimal since the 

sediment in the disposal cells dries as 

mud-cake. Air emissions from 

equipment exhaust would be 

intermittent and localized. 

Based on the previously provided 

information, the NRC staff has 

determined that there would be no 

significant air quality impacts 

associated with the proposed action. 

With the best management practices 

(water application and placement of 

sand or gravel) that have been 

implemented to control fugitive dust, 

the recent construction of the disposal 

cell and the continued use of the 

sediment disposal area would result in 

a negligible contribution to cumulative 

air quality impacts in Benton County. 

Terrestrial and Aquatic Resources 

The designated disposal site is a 

previously disturbed area within the 

industrial-use portion of the Columbia 

site. The area where the disposal cells 

are located were originally disturbed 

during construction of Columbia and 

currently contain sediments from 

previous cleaning operations. To the 

west of the disposal cells, the borrow pit 

is used as a construction landfill. All 

areas of the disposal site are largely 

devoid of vegetation, although some 

sparse grasses and shrubs have 

repopulated the area. Topography is 

generally flat with some gentle slopes. 

Some animals may frequent the disposal 

site. Mammals common to the Columbia 

property include mule deer (Odocoileus 

hemionus), coyote (Canis latrans), 

cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus nuttalli), 

and black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus 

californicus) (NRC 2012). Columbia is 

within the Pacific Flyway, and over 145 

species of birds have been reported from 

the site. Some of the most commonly 

sighted birds include western 

meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), redwinged blackbird (Agelaius 

phoeniceus), bank swallow (Riparia 

riparia), brown-headed cowbird 

(Molothrus ater), eastern kingbird 

(Tyrannus tyrannus), California gull 

(Larus californicus), Bullock’s oriole 

(Icterus bullockii), killdeer (Charadrius 

vociferus), western kingbird (Tyrannus 

verticalis), and barn swallow (Hirundo 

rustica). No aquatic resources, such as 

wetlands, streams, or ponds occur 

within the disposal site. 

No terrestrial or aquatic habitat would 

be altered, modified, or destroyed as a 

result of the proposed action. The 

licensee anticipates no surface water or 

storm water runoff as a result of 

disposal activities. Some limited wind 

erosion and fugitive dust may occur 

during movement of heavy equipment 

during use of the disposal cells. Wind 

erosion after placement of the sediment 

is not expected because of its tendency 

to dry as mud-cake. Noise associated 

with grading, transportation, or other 

related activities may temporarily 

disturb wildlife. However, most wildlife 

on or near the disposal site is likely 

relatively tolerant of human activity 

given that the disposal site is part of a 

larger operating power plant site. 

Disposal activities would not require 

additional lighting. The recent 

construction of the disposal cell and the 

continued use of the sediment disposal 

area would not affect terrestrial or 

aquatic habitats, and no cumulative 

effects to ecological resources would 

result. 

As previously described, the only 

potential impact on ecological resources 

is temporary noise-related disturbance; 

however, this does not pose a significant 

impact on surrounding wildlife due to 

their relative tolerance to human 

activity. Therefore, the NRC concludes 

that the impacts to aquatic and 

terrestrial resources resulting from the 

proposed action would not be 

significant. 

Threatened and Endangered Species 

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) 

was enacted to prevent further decline 

of endangered and threatened species 

and to restore those species and their 

critical habitat. Section 7 of the ESA 

requires Federal agencies to consult 

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(FWS) or National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS) regarding actions that 

may affect listed species or designated 

critical habitats. The NRC staff 

conducted a search of Federally listed 

species and critical habitats that have 

the potential to occur in the action area 

using the FWS’s Environmental 

Conservation Online System 

Information for Planning and 

Conservation system. The FWSgenerated report from this system (FWS 

2021) identifies two Federally listed 

species that occur or potentially occur 

within the vicinity of the action area: 

Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus 

americanus) and bull trout (Salvenlinus 

confluentus). Additionally, the upper 

Columbia River spring chinook salmon 

(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and upper 

Columbia River steelhead (O. mykiss), 

which are under the jurisdiction of 

NMFS, occur in the Columbia River, 

which lies approximately 3.5 miles east 

of the Columbia site. No critical habitats 

occur in the action area. The designated 

disposal site lacks suitable aquatic 

features for the three fish species. 

Therefore, these species do not occur in 

the action area and would not be 

affected by the proposed action. 

The western yellow-billed cuckoo is 

associated with riparian habitats, 

especially cottonwood-willow forests. 

When migrating, the species may 

inhabit coastal scrub, second-growth 

forests, and forest edges. Although this 

species has been recorded within 

Benton County, it has not been observed 

on the Columbia site. Based on the lack 

of suitable habitat and sightings, the 

NRC staff concludes that this species 

does not occur within the action area 

and would, therefore, not be affected by 

the proposed action. 

For these reasons, the NRC staff 

concludes that the proposed action 

would have no effect on Federally listed 

species or designated critical habitats. 

Federal agencies are not required to 

consult with NMFS or the FWS if they 

determine that an action will not affect 

listed species or critical habitats. Thus, 

the ESA does not require consultation 

for the proposed action, and the NRC 

staff considers its obligations under the 


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ESA Section7 to be fulfilled for the 

proposed action. 

Historic and Cultural Resources 

Section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act requires Federal 

agencies to take into account the effects 

of their undertakings on historic 

properties. Historic properties are 

defined as resources included in, or 

eligible for inclusion, in the National 

Register of Historic Places. There are no 

historic properties within the Columbia 

site. The designated disposal site is a 

previously disturbed area adjacent to 

the Columbia cooling towers, which is 

not considered a culturally sensitive 

area. The only known culturally 

sensitive area at Columbia is 

approximately 3 miles to the east of the 

sediment disposal area, along the 

Columbia River. EN has been disposing 

sediment from the cooling towers and 

spray ponds in disposal cells within this 

area since 1995 (Energy Northwest 

2020). Based on the information 

previously mentioned, the NRC staff 

concludes (1) there would be no 

significant historic and cultural 

resources impacts associated with 

continued disposal of sediment within 

the existing disposal cells, and (2) 

continued disposal of sediment within 

the existing disposal cells does not have 

the potential to cause effects on historic 

properties. 

Given that the disposal site is in a 

previously disturbed area and not near 

culturally sensitive areas, the recent 

construction of the disposal cell and the 

continued use of the sediment disposal 

area would not have a cumulative 

impact on historic and cultural 

resources. 

Socioeconomics 

Current socioeconomic conditions 

would be unaffected by the proposed 

onsite disposal of slightly contaminated 

sediment at Columbia. The licensee 

would use existing resources including 

onsite workforce or local contractors to 

conduct the disposal; therefore, there 

would be no significant socioeconomic 

impacts. Similarly, the recent 

construction of the disposal cell and the 

continued use of the sediment disposal 

area would result in a negligible 

contribution to cumulative 

socioeconomic impacts. 

Noise 

Noise emissions would occur as a 

result of equipment used onsite to 

remove and transfer the sediment. Noise 

levels from the proposed action would 

not be beyond those generated from 

operation of Columbia. Furthermore, the 

nearest resident is approximately 4.5 

miles from Columbia, and noise levels 

from equipment and activities are not 

expected to be noticeable at this 

distance. 

Based on the information previously 

mentioned, the NRC staff has 

determined that there would be no 

significant noise impacts associated 

with the proposed action. 

Environmental Justice 

The environmental justice impact 

analysis evaluates the potential for 

disproportionately high and adverse 

human health and environmental effects 

on minority and low-income 

populations that could result from the 

proposed disposal of slightly 

contaminated sediment at Columbia. 

Such effects may include human health, 

biological, cultural, economic, or 

socioeconomic impacts. 

According to the 2010 Census, 

approximately 27 percent of the total 

population residing within a 10-mile 

radius of Columbia identified 

themselves as minority (MCDCCAPS 

2021). The largest minority populations 

were people of Hispanic, Latino, or 

Spanish origin of any race (18 percent). 

Minority populations within Benton 

County comprise 30 percent of the total 

population with the largest minority 

populations being Hispanic, Latino, or 

Spanish origin of any race (23 percent). 

According to the U.S. Census 

Bureau’s 2015–2019 American 

Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 

using the University of Missouri’s 

Circular Area Profiling System 

(MCDCCAPS 2021), approximately 9 

percent of individuals and 6.5 percent 

of families residing within a 10-mile 

radius of Columbia were identified as 

living below the Federal poverty 

threshold. The 2019 Federal poverty 

threshold was $26,172 for a family of 

four (USCB 2021). 

According to the U.S. Census 

Bureau’s 2019 American Community 

Survey 1-Year Estimates (USCB 2021), 

the median household income for 

Washington was $78,687, while 10 

percent of the state population and 6 

percent of families were found to be 

living below the Federal poverty 

threshold. Benton County had a lower 

median household income average 

($72,084) with 11 percent of individuals 

and 9 percent of families living below 

the poverty level, respectively. 

Potential impacts to minority and 

low-income populations would mostly 

consist of radiological and 

environmental effects (e.g., noise and 

dust impacts). Radiation doses are 

expected to remain well within 

regulatory limits and noise and dust 

impacts would be temporary and 

limited to onsite activities. 

Based on this information and the 

analysis of human health and 

environmental impacts presented in this 

EA, minority and low-income 

populations near Columbia are not 

expected to experience 

disproportionately high and adverse 

human health and environmental effects 

from the proposed action. 

Similarly, the contributory effects of 

the recent construction of the disposal 

cell and the continued use of the 

sediment disposal area would also not 

have disproportionately high and 

adverse human health and 

environmental cumulative effects on 

minority and low-income populations 

residing in the vicinity of the Columbia 

site. 

Environmental Impacts of the 

Alternatives to the Proposed Action 

As an alternative to the proposed 

action, the NRC staff considered denial 

of the proposed request (i.e., the ‘‘noaction’’ alternative). Denial of the 

application would result in no change 

in current environmental conditions or 

impacts. However, if the request for 

continued onsite disposal of slightly 

contaminated sediments were not 

approved, the licensee would have to 

pursue other means of managing 

materials removed from the Columbia 

cooling system. The no-action 

alternative would not satisfy the 

purpose and need for efficient and costeffective disposal of routinely generated 

sediments from the Columbia cooling 

system. 

As an alternative to the proposed 

action and no-action alternative, the 

NRC staff considered other options for 

disposing contaminated sediments. The 

most reasonable alternative would 

involve disposal at an offsite location. 

The chosen site would have to be 

licensed to accept low-level waste 

(LLW) including the slightly 

contaminated sediments from Columbia. 

In considering this alternative, the 

potential environmental impacts of 

loading and transporting the 

contaminated sediments from Columbia 

to any licensed, offsite disposal facility 

would be greater than those associated 

with the proposed action. As discussed 

in IN 83–05, the NRC has recognized 

that onsite disposal of LLW can 

minimize the quantity of waste shipped 

to radioactive waste disposal facilities 

and can provide a reasonable alternative 

to the high costs associated with 

disposal at radioactive waste disposal 

facilities. Therefore, disposal at an 

offsite location would not result in a 

compensating improvement in the 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2022 / Notices 13773 

environmental impacts, as there would 

be additional transportation related 

impacts associated with transporting the 

contaminated sediments offsite. 

Alternative Use of Resources 

The proposed action does not involve 

the use of any different resources or 

significant quantities of resources 

beyond those previously considered and 

associated with past onsite disposals of 

sediments from Columbia’s cooling 

system. Further, the proposed disposal 

activities are consistent with the 

proposed action (Columbia license 

renewal and 20 years of continued 

operations) considered in NUREG–1437, 

Supplement 47. 

Agencies and Persons Consulted 

The NRC notified the representative 

from the State of Washington on 

October 28, 2021, of the EA and FONSI, 

and was informed on February 4, 2022, 

that the State of Washington does not 

have any comments on this action. No 

additional agencies or persons were 

consulted regarding the environmental 

impact of the proposed action. The NRC 

staff determined that the proposed 

action would have no effect on 

Federally listed threatened and 

endangered species that could occur on 

or near the proposed disposal area. As 

well, the proposed action would have 

no potential to cause effects on historic 

properties. Therefore, consultation was 

not required under Section 7 of the ESA 

or under Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act. 

III. Finding of No Significant Impact 

Energy Northwest has requested 

onsite disposal of up to 1,116 m3

(39,420 ft3) of sediments containing very 

low levels of radioactive materials at 

Columbia in accordance with 10 CFR 

20.2022. Based on the EA, included in 

Section II of this document, the NRC 

staff has concluded that the proposed 

action will not have a significant impact 

on the quality of the human 

environment. Consistent with 10 CFR 

51.21, the NRC conducted an 

environmental review of the proposed 

action, and this FONSI incorporates by 

reference the EA in Section II. 

Accordingly, the NRC has determined 

not to prepare an environmental impact 

statement for the proposed action. 

IV. Availability of Documents 

The documents identified in the 

following table are available to 

interested persons through one or more 

of the following methods, as indicated. 

Document ADAMS Accession No. 1/web link 

Energy Northwest, ‘‘Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397 On-Site Cooling System 

Sediment Disposal,’’ dated December 21, 2020.

ADAMS Accession No. ML20356A172. 

Energy Northwest, ‘‘Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397 Response to Request for 

Additional Information Related to On-Site Cooling System Sediment Disposal,’’ dated June 

23, 2021.

ADAMS Accession No. ML21174A151. 

State of Washington, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC 2014). National Pollutant 

Discharge Elimination System Waste Discharge Permit No. WA0002515–1, Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station, dated September 30, 2014.

https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/columbia-generating-station/columbia-generating-station-permits (date accessed August 

17, 2021). 

Energy Northwest, ‘‘Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397 Independent Spent Fuel 

Storage Installation, Docket No. 72–35 2019 Annual Radiological Environmental Operating 

Report,’’ dated May 13, 2020.

ADAMS Accession No. ML20134J113. 

State of Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC 2019). Letter from Sonia 

Bumpus, EFSEC, to S. Khounnala, Energy Northwest Environmental and Regulatory Programs Manager. Subject: Columbia Generating Station, Energy Northwest (EN) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. WA002515–1 Extension of NPDES 

Permit, dated September 13, 2019.

https://www.efsec.wa.gov/energy-facilities/columbia-generating-station/columbia-generating-station-permits (accessed January 19, 

2022). 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 2021). Washington Nonattainment/Maintenance 

Status for Each County by Year for All Criteria Pollutants,’’ data is current as of January 31, 

2022.

https://www3.epa.gov/airquality/greenbook/ 

anayo_wa.html (date accessed August 16, 

2021). 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office. (FWS 2021). ‘‘Pygmy Rabbit (Columbia Basin DPS).’’.https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1126. 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended .............................................................................. 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia Onsite Disposal 20.2002 Exemption Request, ‘‘List of 

threatened and endangered species that may occur in your proposed project location or may 

be affected by your proposed project,’’ dated August 17, 2021.

ADAMS Accession No. ML21229A180. 

National Historic Preservation Act, as amended ............................................................................. 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq. 

Missouri Census Data Center Circular Area Profiling System (MCDCCAPS 2021). Summary 

Report, U.S. Census 2010 Summary File 1 (SF1) and Aggregated 2015–2019 American 

Community Survey Data Estimates in a 10-mile radius around the proposed disposal site at 

Columbia (46.471111 Lat., –119.333889 Long.).

Summary Report, U.S. Census 2010 Summary 

File 1: https://mcdc.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/ 

broker?_PROGRAM=apps.caps2010.sas&_

debug=&latitude=46.471111&longitude=- 

119.333889&radii=10&sitename=&units=bgs 

(accessed January 19, 2022). 

Aggregated 2015–2019 American Community 

Survey Data Estimates: https://

mcdc.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/broker?_

PROGRAM=apps.capsACS.sas&_

SERVICE=MCDC_long&_

debug=&latitude=46.471111&longitude=- 

119.333889&radii=10&

sitename=&dprofile=on&

eprofile=on&sprofile=on&hprofile=on&units= 

(accessed January 19, 2022). 


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13774 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2022 / Notices 

Document ADAMS Accession No. 1/web link 

U.S. Census Bureau (USCB 2021). ‘‘2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 

Table S1701—Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months, Table S1702 ‘‘Poverty Status in the 

Past 12 Months of Families,’’ and Table S1901 ‘‘Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2019 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)’’ for Benton County and the State of Washington.

Table S1701: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ 

table?q=S1701%3A%20POVERTY

%20STATUS%20IN%20THE%20PAST

%2012%20MONTHS&tid=ACSST1Y2019.

S1701 (accessed January 19, 2022). 

Table S1702: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ 

table?q=s1702&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1702 

(accessed January 19, 2022). 

Table S1901: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/ 

table?q=S1901&g=0400000US53_

0500000US53005 (accessed January 19, 

2022). 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (NRC 2012). NUREG–1437, Supplement 47, Vol.1, ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants Supplement 47 

Regarding Columbia Station,’’ dated April 2012.

ADAMS Accession No. ML12096A334. 

Dated: March 7, 2022. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Mahesh L. Chawla, 

Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch IV, 

Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. 

[FR Doc. 2022–05043 Filed 3–9–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[Docket No. 030–29146; License No. 21– 

24685–01; EA–21–146; NRC–2022–0056] 

In the Matter of Somat Engineering, 

Inc. 

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Confirmatory order; issuance. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) is issuing a 

Confirmatory Order to Somat 

Engineering, Inc. (Somat) to document 

commitments made as part of a 

settlement agreement made between the 

NRC and Somat following an alternative 

dispute resolution mediation session 

held on January 11, 2022. The 

mediation addressed three apparent 

violations involving Somat’s failure to 

secure portable moisture density gauges 

against loss or unauthorized access or 

removal. Somat has committed to 

various measures intended to improve 

its ability to track such gauges, to 

improve employee awareness of their 

responsibilities to secure such gauges 

against loss or unauthorized access, and 

to share their lessons learned with 

others in the industry. The Confirmatory 

Order is effective upon issuance. 

DATES: The confirmatory order was 

issued on March 3, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID 

NRC–2022–0056 when contacting the 

NRC about the availability of 

information regarding this document. 

You may obtain publicly available 

information related to this document 

using any of the following methods: 

• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov and search 

for Docket ID NRC–2022–0056. Address 

questions about Docket IDs in 

Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; 

telephone: 301–415–0624; email: 

Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical 

questions, contact the individual listed 

in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section of this document. 

• NRC’s Agencywide Documents 

Access and Management System 

(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly 

available documents online in the 

ADAMS Public Documents collection at 

https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ 

adams.html. To begin the search, select 

‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For 

problems with ADAMS, please contact 

the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR) 

reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301– 

415–4737, or by email to 

PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. The 

Confirmatory Order to Somat 

Engineering, Inc is available in ADAMS 

under Accession No. ML22025A039. 

• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and 

purchase copies of public documents, 

by appointment, at the NRC’s PDR, 

Room P1 B35, One White Flint North, 

11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 

Maryland 20852. To make an 

appointment to visit the PDR, please 

send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov 

or call 1–800–397–4209 or 301–415– 

4737, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

(ET), Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shelbie Lewman, Region III, U.S. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 

telephone: 630–829–9653, email: 

Shelbie.Lewman@nrc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The text of 

the Order is attached. 

Dated: March 4, 2022. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Mohammed A. Shuaibi, 

Deputy Regional Administrator, NRC Region 

III. 

Attached—Confirmatory Order 

United States of America 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

In the Matter of Somat Engineering, Inc. 

030–29146 

21–24685–01 

EA–21–146 

Confirmatory Order Modifying License 

(Effective Upon Issuance) 

I 

Somat Engineering, Inc. (Somat or the 

licensee) is the holder of Nuclear 

Materials License No. 21–24685–01 

renewed on September 24, 2021, by the 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

(NRC or Commission) pursuant to Part 

30 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (10 CFR). The license 

authorizes the operation of portable 

moisture/density gauges containing 

licensed radioactive materials for 

measuring physical properties of 

materials at temporary job sites in NRC 

jurisdiction in accordance with 

conditions specified in the license. The 

licensee’s facilities are located in Grand 

Rapids and Taylor, Michigan. 

This Confirmatory Order (CO) is the 

result of an agreement reached during 

an Alternative Dispute Resolution 

(ADR) mediation session conducted on 

January 11, 2022, in Lisle, Illinois. 

II 

On November 2, 2021, the NRC issued 

Inspection Report 03029146/ 

2021001(DNMS) to Somat, which 

documented the identification of three 

apparent violations that were being 

considered for escalated enforcement 

action in accordance with the NRC 

Enforcement Policy. The apparent 

violations concerned: (1) The loss of a 

portable moisture density gauge due to 


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