[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 53423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25577]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-295 and 50-304]
Commonwealth Edison Company; Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 1
and 2 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its
regulations for Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-39 and DPR-48,
issued to Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd or the licensee) for the
Zion Nuclear Power Station (ZNPS) Units 1 and 2, located in Lake
County, Illinois.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed exemption would modify security requirements to
eliminate certain equipment, to relocate certain equipment, to modify
certain procedures, and reduce the number of armed responders, due to
the permanently shutdown and defueled status of the Zion Nuclear Power
Station.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated July 30, 1999. The requested action would grant an
exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, ``Requirements for
physical protection of licensed activities in nuclear power plant
reactors against radiological sabotage.''
The Need for the Proposed Action
ZNPS was shut down permanently in February 1997. ComEd certified
the permanent shutdown on February 13, 1998, and, on March 9, 1998,
certified that all fuel had been removed from the reactor vessels. In
accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), upon docketing of the
certifications, the facility operating license no longer authorizes
ComEd to operate the reactor or to load fuel into the reactor vessel.
In this permanently shutdown condition, the facility poses a reduced
risk to public health and safety. Because of this reduced risk, certain
requirements of 10 CFR 73.55 are no longer required. An exemption is
required from portions of 10 CFR 73.55(a), (c)(6), (e)(1), (f)(4) and
(h)(3) to allow the licensee to implement a revised defueled physical
security plan (DPSP) that is appropriate for the permanently shutdown
and defueled ZNPS.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the granting of the exemption will not increase the
probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in
the types of 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 resources not previously
considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Zion Nuclear
Power Station, Units 1 and 2, dated December 1972.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on September 22, 1999, the
staff consulted with the Illinois State official, Mr. Gary Wright, of
the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (IDNS) 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 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 July 30, 1999, which is available for public
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman
Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C., and at the local public
document room located at the Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County
Street, Waukegan, Illinois 60085.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of September 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Dino C. Scaletti,
Project Manager, Decommissioning Section, Project Directorate IV &
Decommissioning, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-25577 Filed 9-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
