[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 237 (Friday, December 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 69297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32058]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-440]


FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company; Perry Nuclear Power Plant, 
Unit 1 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. NPF-58, 
issued to the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1, located in Lake 
County, Ohio.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would eliminate the requirement in the 
Environmental Protection Plan to perform semi-annual (late spring and 
early fall) sampling of Lake Erie sediment in the Perry and Eastlake 
Plant area for Corbicula (i.e., Asiatic clams).
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated September 9, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The Perry Environmental Protection Plan was modified in 1988 to 
require semi-annual (late spring and early fall) sampling of areas at 
Perry and the licensee's Eastlake Plant to detect the presence of 
Corbicula. The purpose of the monitoring program is to provide for 
sufficient time to prepare for prevention and control programs, should 
Corbicula be detected at the Perry site. Corbicula, which have been 
detected in Lake Erie at the Eastlake Plant since June 1987, have not 
been detected at the Perry site. Zebra Mussels have been detected at 
the Perry site since 1987 and an effective control program has been 
implemented to suppress their growth and minimize the potential for 
system biofouling. The licensee has concluded that the control program 
used for Zebra Mussels at the Perry site would be equally effective 
against Corbicula. Therefore, since adequate control programs have 
already been implemented at the Perry site, there would be no apparent 
benefit in requiring the licensee to perform semi-annual sampling for 
their detection. The proposed action is needed to eliminate the 
sampling program in the Environmental Protection Plan. The elimination 
of the sampling program will result in savings of about $22,000 per 
year.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that it is acceptable because the control program currently 
implemented to monitor and mitigate potential biofouling by Zebra 
Mussels would be equally effective for Corbicula.
    The proposed action will not significantly 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 nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect 
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the NRC 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 
Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 27, 1999, the 
staff consulted with the Ohio State official, Carol O'Claire, of the 
Ohio Emergency Management Agency, 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 NRC concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 September 9, 1999, which is available for 
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC. Publicly available 
records will be accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library 
component on the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic 
Reading Room).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of December 1999.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Douglas V. Pickett,
Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate III, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-32058 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P