[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46422-46423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22029]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-344]


Portland General Electric, Trojan Nuclear Plant; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-1 issued to Portland General Electric (PGE), the licensee, for 
operation of the Trojan Nuclear Plant located in Prescott, Oregon and a 
concurrent exemption from10 CFR 50.54 and 10 CFR 73.55.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt PGE from the security requirements 
of 10 CFR 50.54(p) and 10 CFR 73.55 and delete the requirements for a 
security plan from the 10 CFR part 50 licensed portion of the site 
after the spent nuclear fuel is transferred to the part 72 licensed 
Trojan independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI).
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for a license amendment and exemption dated January 29, 
1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Sections 50.54 and 73.55 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations require that licensees establish and maintain physical 
protection and security for activities involving nuclear fuel within 
the 10 CFR part 50 licensed area of a facility. The proposed action is 
needed because there will no longer be any nuclear fuel on the 10 CFR 
part 50 licensed facility to protect against radiological sabotage or 
diversion after the transfer of the spent nuclear fuel to the Trojan 
ISFSI. Subpart H of 10 CFR part 72 establishes physical protection and 
relies on 10 CFR 73.51 to define the

[[Page 46423]]

requirements for physical protection of spent nuclear fuel stored under 
a specific license issued pursuant to 10 CFR part 72. The Trojan ISFSI 
has an NRC-approved security plan to protect the spent nuclear fuel 
stored there from radiological sabotage and diversion as promulgated 
under 10 CFR part 72, subpart H. The proposed action will allow the 
licensee to conserve resources for decommissioning activities.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that exempting the plant from security requirements will 
not have any adverse environmental impact. There will be very minor 
savings of energy and vehicular use associated with the security force 
no longer performing patrols, checks, and normal security functions.
    The proposed action will not increase the probability or 
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
any effluents that may be released off site, and there is no 
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. 
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
Denial of the application would result in no change in current 
environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Trojan Plant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 19, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the Oregon State official, Adam Bless of the Oregon 
Office of Energy, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed 
action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the Commission 
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission 
has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated January 29, 1998, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public 
document room located at the Branford Price Millar Library, Portland 
State University, 934 S.W. Harrison Street, Portland, Oregon 92707.

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 16th day of August 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Louis L. Wheeler,
Acting Chief, Decommissioning Section, Project Directorate IV and 
Decommissioning, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-22029 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P