41998 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 4, 2021 / Notices 

Cammenga and Associates, LLC 

(Denial of License Amendment 

Requests) 

This Board is being established 

pursuant to a filing titled ‘‘Hearing 

Request’’ submitted by Cammenga and 

Associates, LLC (Cammenga). The filing 

challenges the NRC Staff’s decision in a 

July 1, 2021 letter denying Cammenga’s 

request for amendments to License No. 

21–26460–03E and Sealed Source and 

Device Registration Certificate NR– 

0210–D–101–E. 

The Board is comprised of the 

following Administrative Judges: 

Ronald M. Spritzer, Chairman, 

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board 

Panel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission, Washington, DC 20555– 

0001. 

Dr. Gary S. Arnold, Atomic Safety and 

Licensing Board Panel, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 

20555–0001. 

Nicholas G. Trikouros, Atomic Safety 

and Licensing Board Panel, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 

20555–0001. 

All correspondence, documents, and 

other materials shall be filed in 

accordance with the NRC E-Filing rule. 

See 10 CFR 2.302. 

Rockville, Maryland. 

Dated: July 29, 2021. 

Edward R. Hawkens, 

Chief Administrative Judge, Atomic Safety 

and Licensing Board Panel. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16543 Filed 8–3–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[Docket No. 50–223; NRC–2018–0053] 

University of Massachusetts Lowell; 

University of Massachusetts Lowell 

Research Reactor 

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Environmental assessment and 

finding of no significant impact; 

issuance. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) is considering 

renewal of Facility Operating License 

No. R–125, held by the University of 

Massachusetts Lowell (UML, the 

licensee), which would authorize 

continued operation of the UML 

Research Reactor (UMLRR) at a 

maximum steady-state thermal power of 

1.0 megawatt (MW). The UMLRR is a 

plate-type-fueled research reactor 

located on the campus of UML, in 

Lowell, Middlesex County, 

Massachusetts. If approved, the renewed 

license would authorize UML to 

continue to operate the UMLRR for an 

additional 20 years from the date of 

issuance of the renewed license. The 

NRC has prepared this environmental 

assessment (EA) and finding of no 

significant impact (FONSI) to consider 

the impacts associated with the renewal 

of the operating license. 

DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in 

this notice are available on August 4, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID 

NRC–2018–0053 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–2018–0053. 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 notice. 

• 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, the ADAMS accession numbers 

are provided in a table in the 

‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section of 

this notice. 

• Attention: The PDR, where you may 

examine and order copies of public 

documents, is currently closed. You 

may submit your request to the PDR via 

email at pdr.resource@nrc.gov or call 1– 

800–397–4209 or 302–415–4737, 

between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (ET), 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Edward Helvenston, Office of Nuclear 

Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission, Washington, 

DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415– 

4067; email: Edward.Helvenston@

nrc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction 

The NRC is considering renewal of 

Facility Operating License No. R–125, 

which authorizes the licensee to operate 

the UMLRR, located on the campus of 

UML in Lowell, Middlesex County, 

Massachusetts, at a maximum steadystate thermal power of 1.0 MW. The 

renewed license would authorize 

continued operation of UMLRR for an 

additional 20 years from the date of 

issuance of the renewed license. UML 

submitted its renewal application by 

letter dated October 20, 2015. UML 

subsequently supplemented its renewal 

application as described under 

‘‘Identification of the Proposed Action’’ 

in Section II of this notice. Therefore, as 

required by section 51.21 of title 10 of 

the Code of Federal Regulations (10 

CFR), ‘‘Criteria for and identification of 

licensing and regulatory actions 

requiring environmental assessments,’’ 

the NRC prepared this EA. Based on the 

results of the EA, the NRC did not 

identify any significant impacts from 

the proposed action (i.e., license 

renewal) and is, therefore, issuing a 

FONSI in accordance with 10 CFR 

51.32, ‘‘Finding of no significant 

impact.’’ 

II. Environmental Assessment 

Facility Site and Environs 

The UMLRR is a heterogeneous open 

pool non-power reactor that has been in 

operation since January 1975 for 

teaching and research purposes. The 

reactor is licensed to operate at a 

thermal power of 1.0 MW, and is 

located on the North Campus of UML, 

which includes classrooms, offices, and 

other facilities in an area just north of 

the Middlesex River. 

The UMLRR is housed in a steelreinforced concrete building. The 

reactor itself is situated in an open pool, 

which serves as part of the primary 

coolant loop as well as moderator, 

coolant, and shielding. The reactor will 

be fueled with uranium-silicide and 

uranium-aluminide low-enriched 

uranium fuel elements. Waste heat is 

dissipated via forced-convection cooling 

at full power, although the reactor can 

also be cooled via natural convection at 

lower power levels. A double loop 

coolant system transfers waste heat from 

the reactor to the atmosphere via the 

primary coolant system, heat exchanger, 

a secondary cooling system, and a 

cooling tower. Makeup water is 

provided through municipal water 

supply (city of Lowell). An Area 

Radiation Monitoring System 

continuously monitors gamma and beta 

radiation levels at locations in the 

UMLRR facility. A Stack Radiation 

Monitoring System continuously 

monitors air exiting the facility through 

the ventilation system exhaust stack for 


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airborne radioactivity (gaseous and 

particulate). Airborne discharges are 

limited by the UMLRR’s technical 

specifications to ensure that exposure to 

the general public will not exceed the 

limits of 10 CFR part 20, ‘‘Standards for 

Protection against Radiation.’’ 

A detailed description of the reactor 

can be found in the UMLRR safety 

analysis report (SAR) submitted by the 

UML with its renewal application. 

Identification of the Proposed Action 

The proposed action would renew 

Facility Operating License No. R–125 

for a period of 20 years from the date of 

issuance of the renewed license. The 

proposed action is in accordance with 

UML’s application dated October 20, 

2015, as supplemented by letters dated 

March 16, 2016, November 30, 2016, 

March 31, 2017, July 11, 2017, August 

7, 2017, September 13, 2017, January 6, 

2018, February 1, 2018, March 5, 2019, 

April 10, 2019, October 18, 2019, 

October 24, 2019, December 19, 2019, 

December 20, 2019, February 24, 2020, 

September 30, 2020, January 30, 2021, 

February 16, 2021, April 5, 2021, and 

April 20, 2021 (collectively referred to 

as ‘‘the renewal application’’). In 

accordance with 10 CFR 2.109, ‘‘Effect 

of timely renewal application,’’ the 

existing license remains in effect until 

the NRC takes final action on the 

renewal application. As described in the 

renewal application, UML has also 

requested NRC review and approval of 

certain facility changes, and associated 

changes to the license, in conjunction 

with the renewal of the license. These 

include the use of uranium-aluminide 

fuel elements in addition to the similar 

uranium-silicide elements currently in 

use, instrumentation and control 

upgrades, and re-designation of the 

reactor containment building as a 

confinement building. 

Need for the Proposed Action 

The proposed action is needed to 

allow the continued operation of the 

UMLRR, which is used for teaching and 

research to support the mission of UML, 

for a period of 20 years from the date of 

issuance of the renewed license. 

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed 

Action 

UML has requested approval of 

certain facility and license changes in 

conjunction with license renewal, as 

previously discussed. However, the 

proposed action will not require any 

major physical changes to the facility, or 

any changes that would significantly 

affect the operation of the facility, and 

the operational impacts would be 

similar to those that have occurred 

during the current license term. As 

discussed further, the proposed action 

will not have a significant 

environmental impact. 

Radiological Impacts 

Environmental Effects of Reactor 

Operations 

Gaseous radioactive effluents 

resulting from the routine operation of 

the UMLRR are Argon-41 (Ar-41) and 

Nitrogen-16 (N-16). These nuclides are 

released to the environment from the 

reactor building via an exhaust stack on 

the roof that combines the ventilation 

exhausts from both the reactor building 

interior and all attached systems. The 

UMLRR stack discharge length is 100 

feet (30.5 meters) and has an airflow rate 

of 15,000 cubic feet (7.1 cubic meters) 

per minute. Because the half-life of 

N-16 is approximately 7 seconds, the 

release from the reactor stack is 

insignificant because most of the N-16 

produced in the reactor coolant would 

decay before reaching the stack. Ar-41 is 

by far the most significant radionuclide 

released as a gaseous effluent during 

normal reactor operations. The 

maximum release of Ar-41 would occur 

from continuous operation at full 

power. UML measured the Ar-41 

concentration to be 2.28 × 10¥6

microcuries per milliliter exiting the 

exhaust stack under full power 

operations. The annual release of Ar-41 

under these conditions would be 495 

curies (Ci) per year. From this 

information, UML calculated the 

maximum annual dose to a member of 

the public using the ARCON96 

computer code to be 14.5 millirem 

(mrem). This meets the 100 mrem per 

year (mrem/yr) dose equivalent to the 

maximally exposed individual in 10 

CFR 20.1301, ‘‘Dose limits for 

individual members of the public.’’ 

UML’s annual reports for the 5 years of 

operation from 2015 through 2019 show 

that the maximum actual recorded 

release of Ar-41 was 6.27 Ci in 2015, 

which the report stated would result in 

a conservative estimated dose of 0.2 

mrem/yr to a member of the public, 

which is well below the 100 mrem/yr 

limit specified in 10 CFR 20.1301. This 

radiation dose of 0.2 mrem/yr also 

demonstrates compliance with the as 

low as is reasonably achievable 

(ALARA) air emissions dose constraint 

of 10 mrem specified in 10 CFR 20.1101, 

‘‘Radiation protection programs,’’ 

paragraph (d). 

Liquid radioactive wastes produced as 

part of the normal operation of the 

UMLRR are stored in the liquid 

radioactive waste storage room. From 

there they are released to the 

environment via the city of Lowell 

sanitary sewer system in accordance 

with 10 CFR 20.2003, ‘‘Disposal by 

release into sanitary sewerage.’’ The 

water is treated at the Lowell 

wastewater treatment facility, after 

which it is discharged to the Merrimack 

River. The annual reports for the 5 years 

of operation from 2015 through 2019 

show that UML properly disposed of 

liquid radioactive waste by release into 

the sanitary sewer system. Based on 

information presented in the annual 

reports, radionuclide releases were 

within the allowable limits specified in 

10 CFR part 20, Appendix B, ‘‘Annual 

Limits on Intake (ALIs) and Derived Air 

Concentrations (DACs) of Radionuclides 

for Occupational Exposure; Effluent 

Concentrations; Concentrations for 

Release to Sewerage,’’ for liquid 

effluents. 

Low-level solid radioactive waste 

generated from reactor operations at the 

UMLRR are primarily demineralizer 

resins, paper, disposable clothing, 

gloves, and other miscellaneous 

contaminated items. These wastes are 

held to allow for decay and then 

released for disposal as regular solid 

wastes if they do not exceed background 

activity. Otherwise, the wastes are sent 

to a low-level radioactive waste broker 

for proper disposal of the wastes 

containing long-lived radionuclides. 

The last low-level radioactive waste 

shipment offsite discussed in the UML 

annual reports was in May 2017; the 

shipment consisted of 106 cubic feet (3 

cubic meters) of contaminated materials 

from the reactor as well as other UML 

campus labs. Once transferred, the lowlevel waste broker ships and disposes of 

the waste in accordance with all 

applicable regulations for radioactive 

materials. To comply with the Nuclear 

Waste Policy Act of 1982, UML has 

entered into a contract with the U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE) that 

provides that DOE retains title to the 

fuel utilized at UMLRR and that DOE is 

obligated to take the fuel from the site 

for final disposition. 

As described in Chapter 11 of the 

UMLRR SAR, and verified through NRC 

staff review of the UML annual reports 

for the 5 years of operation from 2015 

through 2019, personnel exposures are 

well within the limits set by 10 CFR 

20.1201, ‘‘Occupational dose limits for 

adults,’’ and are ALARA in accordance 

with 10 CFR 20.1101(b). UML tracks 

exposures of personnel monitored with 

dosimeters, and the annual reports for 

the 5 years of operation from 2015 

through 2019 show that the personnel 

doses were usually less than 10 percent 

of the occupational limit of 50 

milliSieverts (5,000 mrem) per year. 


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Area thermo-luminescent dosimeter 

monitors mounted in the control room 

and the reactor bay provide an 

additional monthly measurement of 

total radiation exposures at those 

locations. No changes in reactor 

operation that would lead to an increase 

in occupational dose are expected or 

proposed as a result of the proposed 

action. 

The radiation monitoring systems 

associated with reactor operations at 

UMLRR are provided and maintained as 

a means of ensuring compliance with 

radiation limits established under 10 

CFR part 20. The UMLRR radiation 

monitoring systems consist of area 

monitors, continuous air monitors, 

portable radiation survey instruments, 

personnel monitors, and stack 

particulate and gas monitors. The stack 

particulate and gas monitoring systems 

measure the beta-gamma activity 

emitted by radioactive particulates and 

the activity of gaseous radioactive 

nuclides, respectively, that are 

exhausted through the UMLRR exhaust 

stack. Perimeter monitoring at UMLRR 

consists of dosimeters that detect X-ray 

and gamma radiation. 

UML conducts an environmental 

monitoring program to record and track 

the radiological impact of UMLRR 

operation on the surrounding 

unrestricted area. The environment 

outside the reactor building is 

monitored by passive optically 

stimulated luminescence dosimeters, 

which are changed out quarterly. These 

dosimeters are located at strategic 

locations in and around the Pinanski 

building, which is attached to the 

reactor building. The UML Radiation 

Safety Office analyzes the results to 

ensure that the reported doses are below 

10 CFR part 20 limits, and to monitor 

for trends that would indicate unusual 

or elevated exposures. UML states that 

it has determined that the numbers and 

placement of environmental dosimeters 

is sufficient based upon historical data 

accumulated and analyzed from other 

dosimetry locations that were part of a 

previous comprehensive background 

study of areas around the UML campus. 

The renewal application provided total 

annual environmental monitoring dose 

results from 2009 through 2013 for 

dosimeters located in the first and third 

floor airlocks, and 2 locations within the 

Pinanski building. For each year and 

location, the measured doses were 

below 10 mrem and well below the 

limits to the public as required by 10 

CFR part 20. Year-to-year trends in 

exposures are consistent between 

monitoring locations. Also, no 

correlation exists between total annual 

reactor operation and annual exposures 

measured at the monitoring locations. 

Based on its review of monitoring 

data in the renewal application, the 

NRC staff concludes that operation of 

the UMLRR does not have any 

significant radiological impact on the 

surrounding environment. No changes 

in reactor operation that would affect 

normal off-site radiation levels are 

expected or proposed as a result of the 

proposed action. Therefore, the 

proposed action would not have a 

significant radiological impact. 

Environmental Effects of Accidents 

Accident scenarios are discussed in 

Chapter 13 of the UMLRR SAR. The 

accidents analyzed in Chapter 13 range 

from anticipated events to a postulated 

fission product release with radiological 

consequences that exceed those of any 

accident considered to be credible. This 

limiting accident is referred to as the 

maximum hypothetical accident (MHA). 

UML considers the uncontrolled release 

of the volatile gaseous fission products 

to be the MHA for UMLRR. This 

accident would involve the removal of 

the cladding from one side of one fuel 

plate while the fuel is in the reactor 

pool. From there, the release would 

continue to the reactor confinement 

building and into the environment. 

UML uses this scenario to calculate the 

maximum concentration of fission 

products that might be present in the 

reactor room air following the MHA. 

From its calculations, UML concluded 

that individual worker exposures from 

the MHA would not exceed 10 CFR part 

20 dose limits and that all effluent 

releases to the environment resulting 

from the MHA would also meet 10 CFR 

part 20 dose limits. 

Separate from this EA, the NRC staff 

is reviewing UML’s MHA analyses of 

the potential radiological consequences 

that may result from the proposed 

license renewal. The results of the NRC 

staff’s safety review will be documented 

in a safety evaluation report that will be 

made publicly available. If the NRC 

concludes that the radiological 

consequences of the MHA are within 10 

CFR part 20 dose limits, then the MHA 

and the proposed action would not have 

a significant impact with respect to the 

radiological consequences of the MHA. 

Conclusions 

Because, in the renewal application, 

UML has not proposed any physical 

changes to the reactor facility design, or 

changes to facility operating conditions, 

that would significantly affect facility 

operation, there would be no changes in 

the types or quantities of routine 

effluents that may be released off site. 

UML has systems in place for 

controlling the release of radiological 

effluents and implements a radiation 

protection program to monitor 

personnel exposures and releases of 

radioactive effluents. Accordingly, there 

would be no increase in routine 

occupational or public radiation 

exposure as a result of the proposed 

action. As previously discussed, a 

separate safety evaluation is being 

conducted by the NRC staff to determine 

the probability and consequences of 

accidents that could result from the 

proposed action. If the safety evaluation 

finds that the probability and 

consequences of accidents are within 

NRC regulatory requirements, then the 

proposed action would have no 

significant environmental impact with 

respect to accidents. 

License renewal would not 

significantly change reactor operations. 

As previously discussed, information in 

the renewal application and data 

reported to the NRC by UML for the last 

5 years of reactor operations were 

evaluated to determine the radiological 

impact of reactor operations. The NRC 

staff found that releases of radioactive 

material and personnel exposures were 

all well within applicable regulatory 

limits. Based on this evaluation, the 

proposed action would have no 

significant radiological impacts. 

Non-Radiological Impacts 

The proposed action does not involve 

any significant change in the operation 

of the reactor, change in the emissions 

or heat load dissipated to the 

environment, or involve construction or 

other land disturbance activities. The 

proposed action would not result in any 

land use changes or increases in noise 

or air emissions and would not have a 

significant impact on air quality, noise, 

or visual resources. Water is supplied 

through the city water utility and UML 

proposes no increase in water use or 

effluent discharge. Thus, the proposed 

action would not incrementally affect 

surface water or groundwater resources. 

There is no potential for the proposed 

action to affect aquatic or terrestrial 

resources, or any other environmental 

resource conditions. Therefore, the 

proposed action would have no 

significant non-radiological impacts. 

Other Applicable Environmental Laws 

In addition to the National 

Environmental Policy Act, which 

requires Federal agencies to consider 

the environmental impacts of proposed 

actions, the NRC has responsibilities 

that are derived from other 

environmental laws and policy 

directives, which include the 


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Endangered Species Act (ESA), Coastal 

Zone Management Act (CZMA), Fish 

and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA), 

National Historic Preservation Act 

(NHPA), and Executive Order 12898, 

‘‘Federal Actions To Address 

Environmental Justice in Minority 

Populations and Low-Income 

Populations’’ (59 FR 7629). The 

following presents a summary of 

impacts associated with resources 

protected by these laws and related 

requirements. 

Endangered Species Act 

The ESA was enacted to prevent 

further decline of endangered and 

threatened species and 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 vicinity of the UMLRR using the 

FWS’s Environmental Conservation 

Online System. Three federally listed 

species occur in Middlesex County, 

Massachusetts: The red knot (Calidris 

canutus rufa), small whorled pogonia 

(Isotria medeoloides), and northern 

long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). 

However, none of these species are 

likely to occur near the UMLRR because 

it is located on the UML campus. The 

campus does not provide suitable 

habitat for federally listed species 

because it has been developed and in 

use for research and educational 

purposes for many decades. 

Additionally, operation of the UMLRR 

has no direct nexus to the natural 

environment that would otherwise 

affect federally listed species. 

Accordingly, the proposed action would 

have no effect on federally listed species 

or critical habitats. Federal agencies are 

not required to consult with 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 UMLRR 

license renewal, and the NRC considers 

its obligations under ESA Section 7 to 

be fulfilled for the proposed action. 

Coastal Zone Management Act 

The CZMA, in part, encourages States 

to preserve, protect, develop, and 

restore coastal resources. Applicants for 

Federal licenses to conduct an activity 

that affects any land or water use or 

natural resource of the coastal zone of 

a State must provide a certification 

stating that the proposed activity 

complies with the State’s approved 

coastal zone management program and 

that the applicant will conduct activities 

consistent with that program. 

Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 

does not contain any coastal zones. 

Because the UMLRR is not located 

within or near any managed coastal 

zones, the proposed action would not 

affect any coastal zones and CZMA 

consistency certification does not apply. 

Therefore, UML does not need to 

provide a certification under the CZMA. 

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 

The FWCA requires Federal agencies 

that license water resource development 

projects to consult with the FWS (or 

NMFS, when applicable) and the State 

wildlife resource agencies regarding the 

potential impacts of the project on fish 

and wildlife resources. 

The proposed action does not involve 

any water resource development 

projects, including any modifications 

relating to impounding a body of water, 

damming, diverting a stream or river, 

deepening a channel, irrigation, or 

altering a body of water for navigation 

or drainage. Therefore, no coordination 

with other agencies pursuant to the 

FWCA is required for the proposed 

action. 

National Historic Preservation Act 

The NHPA requires Federal agencies 

to consider the effects of their 

undertakings on historic properties. As 

stated in the Act, historic properties are 

any prehistoric or historic district, site, 

building, structure, or object included 

in, or eligible for inclusion in the 

National Register of Historic Places 

(NRHP). The NRHP lists several historic 

properties in Middlesex County within 

0.6 miles (1 kilometer) of the UMLRR. 

Operation of the UMLRR has not likely 

had any impact on any of these 

properties. The nearest historic 

property, which is located about 0.3 

miles (0.5 kilometers) from the UMLRR, 

is the St. Joseph’s Convent and School 

(National Register Listing No. 

02000789). The location of this historic 

property is completely surrounded by 

development, and the view towards the 

UMLRR is obstructed by commercial 

and industrial properties. Based on this 

information, the proposed action would 

have no adverse effect on historic 

properties in the vicinity of the UMLRR. 

By letter dated November 26, 2018, the 

NRC staff contacted the Massachusetts 

State Historic Preservation Officer 

(SHPO) and discussed the proposed 

action. On January 2, 2019, the SHPO 

indicated concurrence with the NRC 

staff’s determination that the proposed 

action would have no adverse effect on 

historic properties. 

Executive Order 12898—Environmental 

Justice 

Executive Order 12898 directs Federal 

agencies to identify and address the 

disproportionately high and adverse 

human health or environmental effects 

of their actions on minority and lowincome populations to the greatest 

extent practicable and permitted by law. 

The environmental justice impact 

analysis evaluates the potential for 

disproportionately high and adverse 

human health or environmental effects 

on minority and low-income 

populations that could result from the 

proposed action. Such effects may 

include human health, biological, 

cultural, economic, or social impacts. 

Minority and low-income populations 

are subsets of the general public 

residing around the UMLRR, and all are 

exposed to the same health and 

environmental effects generated from 

activities at the UMLRR. 

Minority Populations in the Vicinity 

of the UMLRR—According to the U.S. 

Census Bureau’s 2010 Census, 

approximately 31 percent of the total 

population (approximately 505,000 

individuals) residing within a 10-mile 

(16-kilometer) radius of the UMLRR 

identified themselves as minorities. The 

largest minority populations were 

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin of 

any race (approximately 90,000 or 18 

percent) followed by Asian 

(approximately 43,000 or 8.5 percent). 

According to the 2010 Census, 23.5 

percent of the Middlesex County 

population identified themselves as 

minorities, with persons of Asian and 

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin of 

any race comprising the largest minority 

populations (9.3 percent and 6.5 

percent, respectively). According to the 

U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American 

Community Survey 1-year Estimates, 

the minority population of Middlesex 

County, as a percent of the total 

population, had increased to about 30 

percent. 

Low-Income Populations in the 

Vicinity of the UMLRR—According to 

the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015–2019 

American Community Survey 5-Year 

Estimates, approximately 54,000 

persons and 10,000 families 

(approximately 10 and 7 percent, 

respectively) residing within a 10-mile 

(16-kilometer) radius of the UMLRR 

were identified as living below the 

Federal poverty threshold. The 2019 

Federal poverty threshold was $26,172 

for a family of four. 

According to the U.S. Census 

Bureau’s 2019 American Community 


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Survey Census 1-Year Estimates, the 

median household income for 

Massachusetts was $85,843 while 

approximately 6 percent of families and 

9 percent of the State population were 

found to be living below the Federal 

poverty threshold. Middlesex County 

had a higher median household income 

average ($107,056) and a lower 

percentage of families (4 percent) and 

persons (7 percent) living below the 

poverty level. 

Impact Analysis—Potential impacts to 

minority and low-income populations 

would mostly consist of radiological 

effects; however, radiation doses from 

continued operations associated with 

the license renewal are expected to 

continue at current levels and would be 

well below regulatory limits. 

Based on this information and the 

analysis of human health and 

environmental impacts presented in this 

EA, the proposed license renewal action 

would not have disproportionately high 

and adverse human health or 

environmental effects on minority and 

low-income populations residing near 

the UMLRR. 

Environmental Impacts of the 

Alternatives to the Proposed Action 

As an alternative to license renewal, 

the NRC considered denying the 

proposed action (i.e., the ‘‘no-action’’ 

alternative). If the NRC denied the 

renewal application, reactor operations 

would cease, and decommissioning 

would be required sooner than if a 

renewed license were issued. The NRC 

notes that, even with a renewed license, 

UMLRR will eventually be 

decommissioned, at which time the 

environmental effects of 

decommissioning would occur. 

Decommissioning would be conducted 

in accordance with an NRC-approved 

decommissioning plan, which would 

require a separate environmental review 

under 10 CFR 51.21. Cessation of reactor 

operations would reduce or eliminate 

radioactive effluents. However, as 

previously discussed in this EA, 

radioactive effluents from reactor 

operations constitute a small fraction of 

the applicable regulatory limits. 

Therefore, the environmental impacts of 

license renewal and the denial of the 

renewal application would be similar. 

In addition, denying the renewal 

application would eliminate the benefits 

of teaching, research, and services 

provided by the UMLRR. 

Alternative Use of Resources 

There are no unresolved conflicts 

concerning alternative uses of available 

resources under the proposed action. 

Further, the proposed action does not 

involve the use of any different 

resources or significant quantities of 

resources beyond those previously 

considered in the renewal of Facility 

Operating License No. R–125 for the 

UMLRR in November 1985, which 

previously renewed the UMLRR license 

for a period of 30 years. 

Agencies and Persons Consulted 

As discussed previously, the NRC 

staff consulted with the Massachusetts 

SHPO regarding the proposed action. 

Additionally, in accordance with NRC 

policy, the NRC staff consulted with the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 

Liaison Officer on March 17 and March 

26, 2021, regarding the environmental 

impact of the proposed action, and 

explained the environmental reviews 

and forwarded a draft of this EA. On 

April 20, 2021, the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts official indicated, by 

electronic mail, that they had no 

comments regarding the proposed 

action. 

III. Finding of No Significant Impact 

The NRC is considering renewal of 

Facility Operating License No. R–125, 

held by UML, which would authorize 

the continued operation of the UMLRR 

for an additional 20 years from the date 

of issuance of the renewed license. 

On the basis of the EA included in 

Section II of this notice and 

incorporated by reference in this 

finding, the NRC concludes that the 

proposed action will not have a 

significant effect on the quality of the 

human environment, and will not 

significantly affect the environment 

surrounding the UMLRR. This is 

because the proposed action will result 

in no significant radiological impacts 

from continued operations as the types 

or quantities of effluents that may be 

released off site would not change. No 

changes in land use would occur or 

increases in noise or air emissions. 

Continued operations under the 

proposed action would have no 

significant impacts on air quality, noise, 

visual resources, surface water or 

groundwater resources, terrestrial or 

aquatic resources, or on any other 

environmental resource conditions. 

Additionally, the proposed action 

would have no effect on federally listed 

species or designated critical habitats, 

would not affect historic properties, and 

would not result in environmental 

justice impacts. Therefore, the NRC 

concludes that the proposed action will 

not have a significant effect on the 

quality of the human environment. 

Accordingly, the NRC has determined 

not to prepare an environmental impact 

statement for the proposed action. 

The NRC considered information 

provided in UML’s application, as 

supplemented, and the review of related 

environmental documents. Section IV of 

this notice lists the documents related to 

the proposed action and includes 

information on the availability of these 

documents. 

IV. Availability of Documents 

The following table identifies the 

references cited in this document and 

related to the NRC’s FONSI. Documents 

with an ADAMS accession number are 

available for public inspection online 

through ADAMS at https://

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

Document ADAMS 

Accession No. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Request for Renewal of Facility Operating License R–125 and SAR, dated October 20, 

2015.

ML16042A015 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Submittal of Revision 2 to Operator Requalification Program, dated March 16, 2016 ......... ML16076A405 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding the Operator Requalification Program for License Renewal and Submittal of Revision 3 to Operator Requalification Program, dated November 

30, 2016.

ML16335A327 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information for License Renewal, dated March 

31, 2017.

ML17090A348 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding Financial Qualifications 

for License Renewal, dated July 11, 2017.

ML17192A428 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Regarding the Physical Security 

Plan for License Renewal and Submittal of Revision 8 to Physical Security Plan, dated August 7, 2017.

ML17222A071. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Submittal of Revision 9 to Physical Security Plan, dated September 13, 2017 ................... ML17261A211. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 4, 2021 / Notices 42003 

Document ADAMS 

Accession No. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information for License Renewal, dated January 

6, 2018.

ML18006A003 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Additional Clarifying Information for License Renewal, dated February 1, 2018 .................. ML18032A534 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Primarily Related to Technical 

Specifications, dated March 5, 2019.

ML19064B373 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Submittal of Revised SAR Section 7.4.1.2, dated April 10, 2019 ......................................... ML19100A273. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information Primary Related to Instrumentation 

and Controls, dated October 18, 2019.

ML19291C293. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Supplement to October 18, 2019, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information, 

dated October 24, 2019.

ML19297F433. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Second Supplement to October 18, 2019, Response to NRC Request for Additional Information, dated December 19, 2019.ML19353C523. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Supplement to December 19, 2019, Letter, dated December 20, 2019 ............................... ML19354A610. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Response to Items 7.4.c and 7.5.a from NRC Request for Additional Information Primarily 

Related to Instrumentation and Controls, dated February 24, 2020.

ML20055F604. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Supplemental Information Provided in Response to Audit, dated September 30, 2020 ...... ML20274A248 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Supplemental Information Provided in Response to Audit, dated January 30, 2021 ........... ML21030A004 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Supplemental Information Provided in Response to Audit, dated February 16, 2021 ......... ML21047A245. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Request for Additional Language in Proposed License Conditions, dated April 5, 2021 ..... ML21095A245. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Review of Renewal License Conditions, dated April 20, 2021 ............................................. ML21110A053. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2015–2016 Annual Operating Report, dated August 11, 2016 ............................................. ML16224A326. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2016–2017 Annual Operating Report, dated July 28, 2017 .................................................. ML17209A491. 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2017–2018 Annual Operating Report, dated August 15, 2018 ............................................. ML18227A980 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2018–2019 Annual Operating Report, dated August 30, 2019 ............................................. ML19248C113 

(Package). 

University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2019–2020 Annual Operating Report, dated August 25, 2020 ............................................. ML20238C002. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Consultations Frequently Asked Questions, dated July 15, 2013 .............. ML16120A505. 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Letter to Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Officer, dated November 26, 2018 ML18320A135 

(Package). 

Massachusetts Historical Commission, Massachusetts State Historical Preservation Officer Concurrence, dated January 2, 

2019.

ML19011A400. 

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Electronic Mail Indicating No Comments, dated April 20, 2021 ..................... ML21111A358. 

Dated: July 30, 2021. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Joshua M. Borromeo, 

Chief, Non-Power Production and Utilization 

Facility Licensing Branch, Division of 

Advanced Reactors and Non-Power, 

Production and Utilization Facilities, Office 

of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16590 Filed 8–3–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY 

COMMISSION 

[NRC–2021–0039] 

Information Collection: Standards for 

Protection Against Radiation 

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of submission to the 

Office of Management and Budget; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) has recently 

submitted a proposed collection of 

information to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review. The information collection is 

entitled, ‘‘Standards for Protection 

Against Radiation.’’ 

DATES: Submit comments by September 

3, 2021. Comments received after this 

date will be considered if it is practical 

to do so, but the Commission is able to 

ensure consideration only for comments 

received on or before this date. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to https://www.reginfo.gov/ 

public/do/PRAMain. Find this 

particular information collection by 

selecting ‘‘Currently under Review— 

Open for Public Comments’’ or by using 

the search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David Cullison, NRC Clearance Officer, 

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 

Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: 

301–415–2084; email: 

Infocollects.Resource@nrc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Obtaining Information and 

Submitting Comments 

A. Obtaining Information 

Please refer to Docket ID NRC–2021– 

0039 when contacting the NRC about 

the availability of information for this 

action. You may obtain publicly 

available information related to this 

action by any of the following methods: 

• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov/ and search 

for Docket ID NRC–2021–0039. 

• 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. A copy of the collection of 

information and related instructions 

may be obtained without charge by 

accessing ADAMS Accession Nos. 

ML21207A110 and ML21207A112. The 


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