[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55313-55314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26489]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-155]
Consumers Energy Company; Big Rock Point Plant; 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-6, issued to Consumers Energy Company (the licensee). The amendment
would revise Appendix A Technical Specifications (TSs) for the Big Rock
Point (BRP) Plant, a permanently shutdown nuclear reactor facility
located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would make changes to the TSs by deleting (1)
the definition Site Boundary and its use throughout the TSs, (2) Figure
5.1-1, the BRP site map, (3) TS 5.1.1 paragraph numbering, and (4)
other site-specific information describing the site and site boundary.
The proposed action would also make editorial or administrative changes
to TSs 6.6.2.5.g, h, and j and 6.6.2.6.b for the above four changes.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application
for amendment dated May 11, 1999, as supplemented by letters dated June
3 and July 28, 1999.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action would, for item (1) above, remove from the TSs
a definition that is not needed because Site Boundary is defined in 10
CFR Part 20. The TSs and Part 20 definitions are equivalent. For item
(2), TS Figure 5.1-1, the BRP site map, is equivalently represented in
the licensee-controlled Final Hazards Summary Report (FHSR) and this
type of site-specific information is not required to be in TSs under 10
CFR 50.36a requirements. Furthermore, this change to the TSs is
consistent with NRC guidance in NUREG-1433, ``Standard Technical
Specifications, General Electric Plants, BWR/4.'' In concert with
Section 50.36a requirements, NUREG-1433 provides guidance in
determining a minimum set of standard requirements for permanently
shutdown reactor facilities. Item (3) is administrative in nature in
that it removes TS paragraph numbering due to the removal of site-
specific information as described in Item (4). Item (4) would delete
certain site-specific information from the TS description of the BRP
site. Most of this site-specific information is already contained in
the licensee's FHSR. This information includes distances from the
reactor centerline to the nearest site boundary. The information that
is not currently in the FHSR will be placed in the FHSR as committed by
the licensee in its letter of July 28, 1999. Regarding the last item,
editorial and administrative changes were necessary as a result of the
four changes made above.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
amendment to the BRP TSs and concludes that issuance of the proposed
amendment will not have an environmental impact. The proposed change in
TS site-specific information is consistent with the regulations and
regulatory guidance and is considered editorial and administrative in
nature. The licensee does not propose any disposal or relocation of
nuclear fuel or any changes to structures, systems, components, or site
boundaries.
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 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 historical 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 environmental reviews for the BRP plant.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on June 7 and August 9, 1999,
the staff consulted with the State of Michigan official, Mr. David W.
Minnaar, Chief, Radiological Protection Section, Drinking Water and
Radiological Protection Division, Michigan
[[Page 55314]]
Department of Environmental Quality, 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 May 11, 1999, as supplemented by letters dated
June 3 and July 28, 1999, 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 Commission's local public
document room located in the North Central Michigan College Library,
1515 Howard Street, Petoskey, Michigan 49770.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 4th day of October, 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Michael T. Masnik,
Chief, Decommissioning Section, Project Directorate IV &
Decommissioning, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-26489 Filed 10-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
