[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 50840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24380]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-245, 50-336, and 50-423]
Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), et al., Millstone
Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Environmental Assessment
and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of exemptions from Facility Operating License Nos.
DPR-21, DPR-65, and NPF-49, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company
(NNECO/the licensee), for operation of Millstone Nuclear Power Station,
Units 1, 2, and 3 (Millstone), located in New London County,
Connecticut.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements
of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Item IV.F.2.c regarding conduct of a
full participation exercise of the offsite emergency plan every 2
years. Under the proposed exemption, the licensee would reschedule the
Federally-observed full-participation emergency exercise from September
1999 to March 2000 and all future Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)--
and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)--evaluated exercises
would occur biennially from the year 2000.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated August 3, 1999.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulation, (10 CFR) Part 50,
Appendix E, Item IV.F.2.c requires each licensee at each site to
conduct an exercise of its offsite emergency plan biennially. The NRC
and FEMA observe these exercises and evaluate the performance of the
licensee, State and local authorities having a role under the emergency
plan.
The licensee had initially planned to conduct an exercise of its
onsite and offsite emergency plans in September 1999, which is at the
end of the required interval. To support the efficient and effective
use of Federal resources, as discussed during the annual NRC Region I
and FEMA (Regions I, II, and III) exercise scheduling meeting held in
White Plains, New York, in December 1998, the planned September 1999
exercise for Millstone was shifted to March 2000, which is beyond the
required interval.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the proposed action involves an administrative
activity (a schedular change in conducting an exercise) unrelated to
plant operations.
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 Related to
the Continuation of Construction of Unit 2 and the Operation of Units 1
and 2, Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Millstone Point Company,''
dated June 1973 or ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the
Operation of Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3,'' dated
December 1984 (NUREG-1064).
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on August 5, 1999, the staff
consulted with the Connecticut State official, Mr. Fred Scheuritzel of
the Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments. In
addition, by letter dated July 14, 1999, from Ms. Vanessa Quinn, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated support for rescheduling
the exercise.
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 August 3, 1999, 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 rooms located at the Learning Resources Center, Three Rivers
Community-Technical College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich,
Connecticut, and the Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road,
Waterford, Connecticut.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of September 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John A. Nakoski,
Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-24380 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P