Urenco USA EA

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED LOUISIANA ENERGY SERVICES, URENCO USA URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY CAPACITY EXPANSION IN LEA COUNTY, NEW MEXICO DOCKET NO. 70-3103 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS DIVISION OF FUEL CYCLE SAFETY, SAFEGUARDS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW March 2015 This page deliberately left blank. Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... xi 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................................1 1.2 The Proposed Action....................................................................................................2 1.3 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ................................................................. 4 1.3.1 Need for Enriched Uranium in the U.S. ............................................................ 4 1.3.2 Sources of Enriched Uranium .......................................................................... 5 1.3.3 Conclusion ......................................................................................................6 1.4 Scope of This Environmental Analysis ......................................................................... 7 1.5 Applicable Statutory and Regulatory Requirements ..................................................... 7 1.5.1 Applicable State of New Mexico Laws and Regulations ................................... 7 1.5.2 Permit and Approval Status ............................................................................. 7 1.5.3 Cooperating Agencies ..................................................................................... 9 1.5.4 Consultations ..................................................................................................9 1.5.4.1 Endangered Species Act of 1973 Consultation ................................. 9 1.5.4.2 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Section 106 Consultation ..................................................................................... 9 2 Proposed Action and Alternatives........................................................................................13 2.1 Proposed Action ......................................................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Site Location and Vicinity ............................................................................... 13 2.1.2 Current Facility Description ........................................................................... 14 2.1.2.1 Major Facility Buildings and Structures ........................................... 15 2.1.2.2 Facility Operation ........................................................................... 17 2.1.2.3 Waste Management ....................................................................... 18 2.1.2.4 Utilities ........................................................................................... 19 2.1.2.5 Monitoring Program ........................................................................ 19 2.1.2.6 Mitigation Program ......................................................................... 22 2.1.3 Description of the Proposed Action ............................................................... 22 2.1.3.1 Preconstruction and Construction of the Expanded Facility ............ 28 2.1.3.2 Operation of the Expanded Facility ................................................. 29 2.1.4 Decommissioning .......................................................................................... 31 2.2 Alternatives to the Proposed Action ........................................................................... 31 2.2.1 No-Action Alternative ..................................................................................... 31 2.2.2 Alternatives Eliminated from Detailed Consideration ..................................... 31 2.2.2.1 Alternative Sites ............................................................................. 31 2.2.2.2 Alternative Technologies ................................................................ 32 3 Affected Environment ..........................................................................................................35 3.1 Land Use ................................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Historic and Cultural Resources ................................................................................. 36 3.2.1 Cultural History .............................................................................................. 36 3.2.2 Historic and Cultural Resources on the UUSA Property ................................ 37 March 2015 iii Table of Contents (Cont.) 3.2.3 Section 106 Consultation ............................................................................... 37 3.3 Visual and Scenic Resources ..................................................................................... 38 3.4 Climatology, Meteorology, and Air Quality .................................................................. 38 3.4.1 Climatology and Meteorology ........................................................................ 38 3.4.2 Air Quality ..................................................................................................... 41 3.5 Geology, Minerals, and Soil ....................................................................................... 46 3.5.1 Regional and Site Geology, Seismicity .......................................................... 46 3.5.2 Mineral and Energy Resources ..................................................................... 47 3.5.3 Site Soils ....................................................................................................... 47 3.6 Water Resources ....................................................................................................... 49 3.6.1 Surface-Water Resources ............................................................................. 49 3.6.2 Ground-Water Resources .............................................................................. 49 3.6.2.1 Site and Regional Hydrology .......................................................... 49 3.6.2.2 Ground-Water Use ......................................................................... 50 3.7 Ecological Resources ................................................................................................. 50 3.7.1 Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology ..................................................................... 50 3.7.2 Threatened and Endangered Species ........................................................... 51 3.8 Socioeconomics ......................................................................................................... 51 3.8.1 Demographics ............................................................................................... 52 3.8.2 Employment Information................................................................................ 55 3.8.3 Income .......................................................................................................... 56 3.9 Environmental Justice ................................................................................................ 57 3.10 Noise .........................................................................................................................57 3.11 Transportation ............................................................................................................ 59 3.11.1 Roads ............................................................................................................ 59 3.11.2 Railroads ....................................................................................................... 59 3.11.3 Airports .......................................................................................................... 60 3.11.4 Current UUSA Facility-Related Transportation .............................................. 62 3.11.4.1 Worker Commutes ......................................................................... 63 3.11.4.2 Non-Radiological Shipments .......................................................... 63 3.11.4.3 Radiological Shipments .................................................................. 63 3.12 Public and Occupational Health ................................................................................. 64 3.12.1 Occupational Injuries ..................................................................................... 64 3.12.2 Radiological Exposure ................................................................................... 64 3.12.2.1 Regulatory Requirements for Public and Occupational Exposure ... 64 3.12.2.2 General Background Radiation....................................................... 65 3.12.2.3 Radiological Exposure from Existing UUSA Facility Operations ..... 66 3.12.2.4 Health Effects from Radiological Exposure ..................................... 70 3.12.3 Chemical Exposure ....................................................................................... 71 3.13 Waste Management ................................................................................................... 73 4 Environmental Impacts ........................................................................................................81

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