[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 4, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41998-42003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16590]


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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.

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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:
    <bullet> 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4a193e2b2933641929223f272b24240a243829642d253c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bae9cedbd9c394e9d9d2cfd7dbd4d4fad4c8d994ddd5cc">[email protected]</span></a>. For technical 
questions, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section of this notice.
    <bullet> 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cdbda9bfe3bfa8bea2b8bfaea88da3bfaee3aaa2bb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2b2a6b0ecb0a7b1adb7b0a1a782acb0a1eca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a>. For the convenience of the reader, 
the ADAMS accession numbers are provided in a table in the 
``Availability of Documents'' section of this notice.
    <bullet> 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82f2e6f0acf0e7f1edf7f0e1e7c2ecf0e1ace5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f0809482de8295839f85829395b09e8293de979f86">[email protected]</span></a> 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: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d194b5a6b0a3b5ff99b4bda7b4bfa2a5bebf91bfa3b2ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e1a48596809385cfa9848d97848f92958e8fa18f9382cf868e97">[email protected]</span></a>.

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 
steady-state 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 steel-reinforced 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

[[Page 41999]]

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 x 10<SUP>-</SUP>\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 low-level 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.

[[Page 42000]]

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

[[Page 42001]]

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 low-income 
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

[[Page 42002]]

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.

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                Document                       ADAMS Accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML16042A015 (Package).
 Request for Renewal of Facility
 Operating License R-125 and SAR, dated
 October 20, 2015.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML16076A405 (Package).
 Submittal of Revision 2 to Operator
 Requalification Program, dated March
 16, 2016.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML16335A327 (Package).
 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.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML17090A348 (Package).
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information for License Renewal, dated
 March 31, 2017.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML17192A428 (Package).
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information Regarding Financial
 Qualifications for License Renewal,
 dated July 11, 2017.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML17222A071.
 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.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML17261A211.
 Submittal of Revision 9 to Physical
 Security Plan, dated September 13,
 2017.

[[Page 42003]]

 
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML18006A003 (Package).
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information for License Renewal, dated
 January 6, 2018.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML18032A534 (Package).
 Additional Clarifying Information for
 License Renewal, dated February 1,
 2018.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19064B373 (Package).
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information Primarily Related to
 Technical Specifications, dated March
 5, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19100A273.
 Submittal of Revised SAR Section
 7.4.1.2, dated April 10, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19291C293.
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information Primary Related to
 Instrumentation and Controls, dated
 October 18, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19297F433.
 Supplement to October 18, 2019,
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information, dated October 24, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19353C523.
 Second Supplement to October 18, 2019,
 Response to NRC Request for Additional
 Information, dated December 19, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19354A610.
 Supplement to December 19, 2019,
 Letter, dated December 20, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML20055F604.
 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.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML20274A248 (Package).
 Supplemental Information Provided in
 Response to Audit, dated September 30,
 2020.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML21030A004 (Package).
 Supplemental Information Provided in
 Response to Audit, dated January 30,
 2021.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML21047A245.
 Supplemental Information Provided in
 Response to Audit, dated February 16,
 2021.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML21095A245.
 Request for Additional Language in
 Proposed License Conditions, dated
 April 5, 2021.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML21110A053.
 Review of Renewal License Conditions,
 dated April 20, 2021.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML16224A326.
 2015-2016 Annual Operating Report,
 dated August 11, 2016.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML17209A491.
 2016-2017 Annual Operating Report,
 dated July 28, 2017.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML18227A980 (Package).
 2017-2018 Annual Operating Report,
 dated August 15, 2018.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML19248C113 (Package).
 2018-2019 Annual Operating Report,
 dated August 30, 2019.
University of Massachusetts Lowell,      ML20238C002.
 2019-2020 Annual Operating Report,
 dated August 25, 2020.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,          ML16120A505.
 Endangered Species Consultations
 Frequently Asked Questions, dated July
 15, 2013.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,      ML18320A135 (Package).
 Letter to Massachusetts State Historic
 Preservation Officer, dated November
 26, 2018.
Massachusetts Historical Commission,     ML19011A400.
 Massachusetts State Historical
 Preservation Officer Concurrence,
 dated January 2, 2019.
Massachusetts Emergency Management       ML21111A358.
 Agency, Electronic Mail Indicating No
 Comments, dated April 20, 2021.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    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


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