[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57603-57604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28310]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-298]
Nebraska Public Power District
Cooper Nuclear Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering the issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of
its regulations to Facility Operating License Number DPR-46. This
license was issued to the Nebraska Public Power District (the licensee)
for operation of the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) located in Nemaha
County, Nebraska.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed exemption would allow the licensee to reschedule the
licensed operator requalification examinations at CNS until after the
current refueling outage. The requested exemption would extend the
completion date for the examinations from December 22, 1995, until
March 15, 1996. In the letter, the licensee indicated that licensed
operators will continue to participate in the ongoing requalification
training program, and that by assigning licensed operators to the
outage organization, a reduction in overall shutdown risk could be
realized.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated October 16, 1995, for an exemption from the
requirements of 10 CFR 55.59.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The schedular exemption requested would extend the completion date
for the administration of licensed operator examinations for the CNS
requalification program from December 22, 1995, to March 15, 1996. This
would move the examination period outside the current refueling outage,
thereby allowing the assignment of licensed operators to refueling
outage organization positions. The increased oversight of outage
activities provided by the licensed operators would result in better
shutdown risk management and provide a net benefit with regard to plant
safety.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the licensee's
request. The proposed exemption does not change the requirements for
licensed operator training, as licensed operators at CNS will continue
to participate in the ongoing requalification training program
throughout the extension period. The affected licensed operators will
continue to demonstrate and possess the required levels of knowledge,
skills, and abilities needed to safely operate the plant. The proposed
exemption would not change the existing CNS safety limits, safety
settings, power operations, or effluent limits. The proposed exemption
would allow increased oversight by licensed operators of outage
activities with a resulting net benefit to safety.
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
[[Page 57604]]
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 proposed
action does involve features located entirely within the restricted
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological
plant effluents and has 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 that there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with 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 requested exemption. 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, but the proposed action could also result in a reduction
in overall shutdown risk at CNS.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the
Cooper Nuclear Station dated February 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 3, 1995, the
staff consulted with the Nebraska State official, Ms. Cheryl Rogers,
Nebraska Department of Health, 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 this action, see the licensee's
request for an exemption dated October 16, 1995, which is 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 Auburn Public Library, 118 15th Street,
Auburn, Nebraska 68305.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of November, 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James R. Hall,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor
Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-28310 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]
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