Materials Environmental Reviews

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires all Federal agencies to evaluate the impacts of proposed major actions on the human environment. The NRC complies with NEPA through its regulations in 10 CFR Part 51.

The Environmental Center of Expertise in the NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) conducts environmental reviews in support of NMSS regulatory and licensing actions. The Environmental Center of Expertise considers the environmental effects of the proposed action on land use, water quality and use, ecological resources, noise, public and occupational health, socioeconomics, air quality, and environmental justice to name a few.

On this page:

• Projects
• Public Involvement

Projects

The Environmental Center of Expertise develops all environmental impact statements (EISs) and complex environmental assessments (EAs) for decommissioning activities, uranium recovery licensing, fuel cycle licensing, spent fuel and transportation licensing, and rulemaking actions. The Environmental Center of Expertise also reviews and coordinates with other Federal and State agencies; develops environmental guidance; and provides assistance, training, and support in the environmental review areas.

The following table presents a list of current NEPA reviews.

Facility	Facility Type	Application Type	NEPA Document
Cimarron	Decommissioning Materials Site (former Fuel Fabrication Facility)	License Termination Plan	Environmental Assessment
Church Rock	Decommissioning Material Site	License Amendment	Environmental Impact Statement
HI-STORE (Holtec)	Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation	New License Application	Environmental Impact Statement
Interim Storage Partners	Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation	New License Application	Environmental Impact Statement
Rio Algom	Decommissioning Material Site	Partial Site Release	Environmental Assessment
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility)	Uranium Fuel Fabrication	License Renewal	Environmental Impact Statement
West Valley (NRC is a cooperating agency)	Decommissioning material site	West Valley Demonstration Project	Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
GEH Morris	Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation	License Renewal	Environmental Assessment
Split Rock UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site Long-Term Surveillance Plan	Uranium Mill Tailings/Uranium Recovery	Long-Term Surveillance Plan	Environmental Assessment
Durita UMTRCA Title II Disposal Site Long-Term Surveillance Plan	Uranium Mill Tailings/Uranium Recovery	Long-Term Surveillance Plan	Environmental Assessment

Public Involvement

The environmental review process under NEPA provides an opportunity for the public to provide input into the NRC's review, whether it is through scoping, or submitting comments on a draft EIS. See Documents for Comment for a list of NEPA documents available for comment.

 

In addition to NEPA, the NRC's regulatory process provides a variety of opportunities for the public to participate. The NRC announces upcoming public meetings to enable interested members of the public to participate. NRC also encourages public involvement in rulemaking, uranium recovery, fuel cycle programs, spent fuel storage topics, and decommissioning. In addition, the NRC provides notices of major licensing applications to inform the public about hearings and opportunities to intervene.