[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2701-2702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1108]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-410]
New York State Electric & Gas Corporation, Nine Mile Point
Nuclear Station, Unit 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering the issuance of an Order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, an
application regarding a proposed indirect transfer of control of
ownership and possessory rights held by New York State Electric & Gas
Corporation (NYSEG) under the operating license for Nine Mile Point
Nuclear Station, Unit No. 2 (NMP2). The indirect transfer would be to a
holding company, not yet named, to be created over NYSEG in accordance
with an executed ``Agreement Concerning the Competitive Rate and
Restructuring Plan of New York State Electric & Gas Corporation.''
NYSEG is licensed by the Commission to own and possess an 18-percent
interest in NMP2, located in the town of Scriba, Oswego County, New
York.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would consent to the indirect transfer of
control of the license to the extent effected by NYSEG becoming a
subsidiary of the holding company in connection with a proposed plan of
restructuring. Under the restructuring plan, the outstanding shares of
NYSEG's common stock (other than shares for which appraisal rights are
properly exercised) are to be exchanged for common stock of the holding
company on a share-for-share basis, such that the holding company will
own all of the outstanding common stock of NYSEG. NYSEG would divest
its interest in coal-fired power plants, but would continue to be an
``electric utility'' as defined in 10 CFR 50.2, engaged in the
transmission, distribution and, in the case of NMP2 and hydroelectric
facilities, the generation of electricity. NYSEG would retain its
ownership interest in NMP2 and continue to be a licensee of NMP2. No
direct transfer of the operating license or ownership interests in the
station would result from the proposed restructuring. The restructuring
of NYSEG would not involve any change to either the management
organization or technical personnel of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
(NMPC), which is responsible for operating and maintaining NMP2 and is
not involved in the restructuring of NYSEG. The proposed action is in
accordance with NYSEG's application dated September 18, 1997, as
supplemented October 20 and 27, 1997.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is required to enable NYSEG to restructure as
described above.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
corporate restructuring and concludes that there will be no physical or
operational changes to NMP2 as a result. The corporate restructuring
will not affect the qualifications or organizational affiliation of the
personnel who operate
[[Page 2702]]
and maintain the facility, as NMPC will continue to be responsible for
the maintenance and operation of NMP2 and is not involved in the
restructuring of NYSEG.
The change 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 the
allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the restructuring
would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have no
other environmental impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there are no significant
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be
evaluated.
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action. 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 Statements Related to
the Operation of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No. 2, (NUREG-
1085) dated May 1985.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on January 12, 1998, the
staff consulted with the New York State official, Mr. Jack Spath,
regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State
official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon 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
NYSEG's application dated September 18, as supplemented by letters
dated October 20 and 27, 1997, and January 6, 1998, which are 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 Reference and Documents Department,
Penfield Library, State University of New York, Oswego, New York 13126.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of January 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
S. Singh Bajwa,
Director Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-1108 Filed 1-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
