[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76311-76312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31099]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-397]


Energy Northwest; WNP-2; 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-21, 
issued to Energy Northwest (the licensee), for operation of WNP-2 
located in Benton County, Washington.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would change the name of the facility from WNP-
2 to Columbia Generating Station in all applicable locations of the 
Facility Operating License including the licensee's technical 
specifications (TS). In addition, the proposed action would make 
editorial changes to TS Figure 4.1-1, ``Site Area Boundary'' modifying 
or deleting text associated with references to WNP-2. TS Figure 4.1-1 
also identifies a building as both the ``Plant Support Facility'' and 
the ``Emergency Operations Facility.'' The licensee has proposed a 
change to delete the name ``Plant Support Facility'' from the figure.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated October 12, 2000.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to change the operating license to 
accurately reflect the name change of the facility from WNP-2 to 
Columbia Generating Station and to identify the building in TS Figure 
4.1-1 with only the name ``Emergency Operations Facility.''

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that the name change is administrative in nature and will not 
affect the operation of WNP-2.
    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 regards 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

[[Page 76312]]

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 WNP-2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 1, 2000, the 
staff consulted with the Washington State official, Mr. Richard Crowley 
of the Division of Radiation Protection, 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 October 12, 2000. Documents may be examined, 
and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at 
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland. 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 30th day of November 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stephen Dembek,
Chief, Section 2, Project Directorate IV & Decommissioning, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-31099 Filed 12-5-00; 8:45 am]
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