[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22620-22622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11278]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 40-8964]


Rio Algom Mining Corp.

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Final finding of no significant impact; Notice of opportunity 
for hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to renew 
NRC Source Material License SUA-1548 to authorize the licensee, Rio 
Algom Mining Corporation (RAMC), to continue commercial operations of 
its in situ leach (ISL) Rio Algom Smith Ranch Uranium Recovery Project 
in Converse County, Wyoming. This license currently authorizes RAMC to 
receive, acquire, possess, and transfer uranium at the Rio Algom Smith 
Ranch Project, which is located approximately 17 miles (27 Kilometers) 
Northeast of Glenrock, Wyoming. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was 
performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of RAMC renewal 
request, in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. The 
conclusion of the Environmental Assessment is a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed licensing action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John H. Lusher, Fuel Cycle 
Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office 
of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Mail Stop T8-A33, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone 301/415-
7694.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    At the Rio Algom Smith Ranch Facility, ISL uranium recovery method 
involves: (1) The injection of native groundwater, with added sodium 
carbonate/bicarbonate and oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, into uranium-
bearing orebody through injection wells; (2) the chemical mobilization 
of the uranium through oxidation and then complexation with the 
carbonate species; and (3) the extraction of the uranium-bearing 
solution from the subsurface through a pattern of pumping wells. The 
uranium is separated from the leach solution by conventional ion 
exchange methods in the processing facility. The resulting uranium-poor 
solution is recharged with carbonate and oxygen and returned to the 
leaching zone for additional uranium recovery. This cycle continues 
until the ore zone is depleted or recovery of uranium is no longer 
economically feasible.
    The recovered uranium solution is processed further by using 
ammonia or hydrogen peroxide to precipitate the uranium into a slurry. 
The resulting slurry is thickened by gravity settling, and then washed 
and de-watered in a filter press to about 50 percent solids. The filter 
press solids (cake) are then dried in a natural gas heated oil vacuum 
dryer, to produce uranium oxide, which is commonly known as 
``yellowcake.'' The dried yellowcake is packaged in 55-gallon (208-
liter) steel drums for storage and eventual shipment to a fuel 
processing facility.
    RAMC conducts uranium recovery operations within designated areas 
(wellfield units) of the Rio Algom Smith Ranch site. These wellfield 
units consist of about 50 acres (20 hectars) in size. A number of well 
patterns are installed in each wellfield unit, with each pattern 
typically including four injection wells laid out in a roughly 
rectangular shape and one centrally-located pumping (production) well. 
Currently, RAMC is conducting uranium recovery operations in three 
wellfield units.

[[Page 22621]]

Summary of the Environmental Assessment

    The NRC staff performed an appraisal of the environmental impacts 
associated with the continued operation of the Rio Algom Smith Ranch 
ISL facility, in accordance with 10 CFR part 51, Licensing and 
Regulatory Policy Procedures for Environmental Protection. In 
conducting its appraisal, the NRC staff considered the following 
information: (1) RAMC's license renewal application, as amended; (2) 
previous environmental evaluations of the RAMC facility; (3) RAMC's 
amendment request submitted subsequent to its renewal application, and 
NRC staff approval of such request; (4) data contained in required 
environmental monitoring reports; (5) results of NRC staff site visits 
and inspections of the RAMC facility; and (6) consultations with the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and 
the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer. The results of the 
staff's appraisal are documented in an Environmental Assessment. The 
safety aspects for the continued operation are discussed separately in 
a Safety Evaluation Report (SER).
    The license renewal would authorize RAMC to continue operating the 
Rio Algom Smith Ranch ISL facility, such that the plant and satellite 
facilities throughput does not exceed a flow rate of 12,000 gallons 
(45,420 liters) per minute, exclusive of the flow involved in restoring 
the depleted wellfield units. Annual yellowcake production will not be 
authorized to exceed 3.5 million pounds (1,587,565 kilograms).
    All conditions in the renewal license and commitments presented in 
the renewal application are subject to NRC inspection. Violation of the 
license may result in enforcement action.

Conclusions

    The NRC staff has re-examined actual and potential impacts 
associated with continued commercial operation of the Rio Algom Smith 
Ranch ISL facility, and has determined that the renewal of Source 
Material License SUA-1548 will: (1) Be consistent with requirements of 
10 CFR Part 40, (2) not be inimical to the public health and safety; 
and (3) not have long-term detrimental impacts on the environment. The 
following statements summarize the conclusions resulting from the 
staff's environmental assessment, and support the FONSI:
    1. The proposed ground water monitoring program is sufficient to 
detect excursions (vertical and horizontal) of recovery solutions. 
Furthermore, aquifer testing and previous operations indicate that the 
production zone is adequately confined, thereby assuring hydrological 
control of recovery solutions;
    2. Liquid process waste will be disposed in accordance with 
approved waste disposal options. Monitoring programs are in place to 
ensure appropriate operation of the deep disposal wells and to detect 
potential leakage from the evaporation ponds;
    3. An acceptable environmental and effluent monitoring program is 
in place to monitor effluent releases and to detect if applicable 
regulatory limits are exceeded. Radiological effluents from facility 
operation have been and are expected to remain below the regulatory 
limits;
    4. All radioactive waste generated by facility operations will be 
disposed offsite at a licensed 11e.(2) byproduct disposal site;
    5. Groundwater impacted by recovery operations will be restored to 
baseline conditions on a wellfield unit average, as a primary goal. If 
baseline conditions cannot be reasonably achieved, the R&D operations 
have demonstrated that groundwater can be restored to applicable class-
of-use standards; and
    6. Because the staff has determined that there will be no 
significant impacts associated with approval of the license renewal, 
there can be no disproportionally high and adverse effects or impacts 
on minority and low-income populations. Consequently, further 
evaluation of Environmental Justice concerns, as outlined in Executive 
Order 12898 and NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards 
Policy and Procedures Letter 1-50, Revision 1, is not warranted.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to renew NRC Source Material License SUA-
1548, for continued operation of the Rio Algom Smith Ranch ISL facility 
as requested by RAMC. Therefore, the principal alternatives available 
to NRC are to:
    (1) Renew the license with such conditions as are considered 
necessary or appropriate to protect public health and safety and the 
environment; or
    (2) Renew the license with such conditions as are considered 
necessary or appropriate to protect public health and safety and the 
environment, but not allow RAMC to expand its operations beyond those 
previously approved; or
    (3) Deny the renewal of the license.
    Based on its review, the NRC staff has concluded that the 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action do not 
warrant either the limiting of RAMC's future operations or the denial 
of the license renewal. Additionally, in the SER prepared for this 
action, the staff has reviewed the licensee's proposed action with 
respect to the criteria for license issuance, specified in 10 CFR part 
40, Sec. 40.32, and has no basis for denial of the proposed action. 
Therefore, the staff considers that Alternative 1 is the appropriate 
alternative for selection.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The NRC staff has prepared an EA for the proposed renewal of NRC 
Source Material License SUA-1548, On the basis of this assessment, the 
NRC staff has concluded that the environmental impacts that may result 
from the proposed action would not be significant, and therefore, 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted.
    The EA and other documents related to this proposed action are 
available for public inspection and copying at the NRC Public Document 
Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.

Notice of Opportunity for Hearing

    The Commission hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on 
an application for a licensing action falling within the scope of 10 
CFR part 2, subpart L, ``Informal Hearing Procedures for Adjudications 
in Materials and Operators Licensing Proceedings,'' of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings and Issuance of 
Orders. Pursuant to Sec. 2.1205(a), any person whose interest may be 
affected by this proceeding may file a request for a hearing. In 
accordance with Sec. 2.1205(d), a request for a hearing must be filed 
within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this Federal 
Register notice. The request for a hearing must be filed with the 
Office of the Secretary either:
    (1) By delivery to the Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff of the 
Office of the Secretary at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, MD 20852; or (2) By mail or telegram addressed to the 
Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, 
Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. In accordance with 10 
CFR 2.1205(f), each request for a hearing must also be served, by 
delivering it personally or by mail to:
    (1) The applicant, Rio Algom Mining Corporation, 6305 Waterford 
Blvd, Suite 325, Oklahoma City, OK 73118;
    (2) The NRC staff, by delivery to the General Consel, One White 
Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, or

[[Page 22622]]

    (3) By mail addressed to the Executive Director for Operations, 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
    In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR part 
2 of the Commission's regulations, a request for a hearing filed by a 
person other than an applicant must describe in detail:
    (1) The interest of the requestor in the proceeding;
    (2) How that interest may be affected by the results of the 
proceeding, including the reasons why the requestor should be permitted 
a hearing, with particular reference to the factors set out in 
Sec. 2.1205(h);
    (3) The requestor's areas of concern about the licensing activity 
that is the subject matter of the proceeding; and
    (4) The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing 
is timely in accordance with Sec. 2.1205(d).
    Any hearing that is requested and granted will be held in 
accordance with the Commission's ``Informal Hearing Procedures for 
Adjudications in Materials and Operator Licensing Proceedings'' in 10 
CFR part 2, subpart L.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of April 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Daniel M. Gillen,
 Acting Chief, Fuel Cycle Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle 
Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-11278 Filed 5-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P