[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 65520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31215]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-219]
AmerGen Energy Company, LLC; Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating
Station 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.
DPR-16, issued to AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (AmerGen or the
licensee), for operation of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating
Station, located in Ocean County, New Jersey.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action is a one-time exemption from the requirements
of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 50,
Appendix E, Items IV.F.2.b and c regarding conduct of a full
participation exercise of the onsite and offsite emergency plans every
2 years. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for an exemption dated October 8, 2001. Under the proposed
exemption, AmerGen would reschedule the exercise originally scheduled
for October 16, 2001, and complete the exercise requirements in
calendar year 2002. However, the next full participation exercise will
continue to be scheduled biennially from 2001. The licensee requested
relief from section IV.F.2.c of Appendix E to 10 CFR part 50. Although
the intent of the request is clear, i.e., the need to postpone the
biennial exercise, the citation of regulations to accomplish that
intent may not be complete. Section IV.F.2.b of Appendix E to 10 CFR
part 50 may also be cited for completeness. The analysis in the
Commission's Safety Evaluation encompassed the technical issues
necessary to grant a schedular exemption from sections IV.F.2.b and c
for the conduct of the biennial exercise.
The Need for the Proposed Action
10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, Items IV.F.2.b and c require each
licensee at each site to conduct an exercise of its onsite and offsite
emergency plan every 2 years. Federal agencies (the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission for the onsite exercise portion and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency for the offsite exercise portion) observe these
exercises and evaluate the performance of the licensee and 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 plan on October 16, 2001, within the
required 2-year interval. However, AmerGen has decided to postpone the
exercise as a result of the ongoing national security threat in the
United States, and the response, recovery, and other continuing offsite
agency activities associated with the September 11, 2001, attacks on
the World Trade Center.
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 scheduler 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 offsite, 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 dated
December 1974 for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 8, 2001, the
staff consulted with the New Jersey State official, Rich Pinney of the
New Jersey Department of Environment and Natural Resources, regarding
the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had
no comments. In addition, by letter dated September 27, 2001, 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 October 8, 2001, which is available for public
inspection at the Commission'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 13th day of December, 2001.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Helen N. Pastis,
Senior Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate 1, Division of
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 01-31215 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P