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Materials Environmental Reviews Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires all Federal agencies to evaluate the impacts of proposed major actions on the human environment. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) complies with NEPA through regulations in Title 10, Part 51, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 51).

To learn more about the NRC’s environmental review process, please see Frequently Asked Questions About NRC's Role Under the National Environmental Policy Act and NUREG-1748, "Environmental Review Guidance for Licensing Actions Associated with NMSS Programs." For information regarding current and completed materials environmental reviews, see the following topics on this page:

Current Projects

The Environmental Review Branch in the NRC's Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs (FSME) serves as the Center of Excellence for the environmental reviews conducted by FSME and the NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS). Toward that end, the staff develops all environmental impact statements for licensing and rulemaking actions; reviews or develops environmental assessments; and provides environmental guidance, training, and support.

On November 30, 2009, the Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Office Director signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the NRC. This MOU defines the cooperative working relationship that will support the agencies' common goals in preparing NEPA documents related to the extraction of uranium and thorium at uranium recovery facilities on public lands administered by the BLM. Toward that end, the MOU is designed to improve interagency communications; facilitate the sharing of special expertise and information; and coordinate the preparation of studies, reports, and environmental NEPA documents.

The following table contains a list of NEPA reviews that are currently underway. The entries in this table will be updated as new information becomes available and as NEPA reviews are initiated and completed.

Facility Type Facility Location Review Type Application & Environmental Review Information
Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment AREVA Enrichment Services, LLC, Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility Idaho Falls, ID Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
Laser Separation Uranium Enrichment General Electric – Hitachi Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) Commercial Facility Wilmington, NC Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
In Situ Recovery (ISR) Christensen Ranch/Irigaray Johnson & Campbell Counties, WY Environmental Assessment (License Renewal)
Crow Butte Chadron, NE Environmental Assessment (40-Year License Renewal)
Crow Butte North Trend Expansion Dawes County, NE Environmental Assessment (Expansion)
Dewey-Burdock Fall River & Custer Counties, SD Site-Specific Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
JAB & Antelope Sweetwater County, WY Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
Lost Creek Sweetwater County, WY Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
Moore Ranch Converse County, WY Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
Nichols Ranch Campbell & Johnson Counties, WY Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (New Facility Licensing)
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) Prairie Island ISFSI 28 MI SE of Minneapolis, MN Environmental Assessment (License Amendment)
Decommissioning
(Metal and Metal Alloy Manufacturing)
Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corp. (SMC)

[Also see the SMC Decommissioning Plan for information regarding environmental review]
Newfield, NJ Environmental Impact Statement (Long-Term Control)

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Completed Projects

The following table contains a list of completed NEPA reviews. The entries in this table will be updated as additional NEPA reviews are completed.

Facility Type Facility Location Review Type Application & Environmental Review Documents
Fuel Fabrication AREVA NP Inc. Richland, WA Environmental Assessment (40-Year License Renewal)
Global Nuclear Fuel – Americas LLC Wilmington, NC Environmental Assessment (40-Year License Renewal)
Uranium Conversion Sequoyah Fuels Corporation Gore, OK Environmental Impact Statement for Site Reclamation (Decommissioning)
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) Oconee Nuclear Station ISFSI Oconee County, SC Environmental Assessment (License Renewal)

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Public Involvement

The NRC has a long-standing practice of conducting its regulatory responsibilities in an open manner, and keeping the public informed of the agency's regulatory, licensing, and oversight activities. For that reason, the NRC is committed to informing the public about its materials environmental reviews, and providing opportunities for the public to participate in the agency’s decisionmaking process. To learn about future meetings, see our Public Meeting Schedule (the Current Projects table, above, identifies projects for which the NRC is currently hosting public meetings). See Public Meetings and Involvement, Hearing Opportunities and License Applications, and NUREG/BR-0215, "Public Involvement in the Regulatory Process," for general information about the available opportunities for public involvement in NRC activities. For information regarding past meetings, please see the topic-specific Public Involvement pages listed under Related Information, below.

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Related Information

If you have questions or need additional information, Contact Us About NEPA Reviews, or see the following related pages:

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009