96-29460. Houston Lighting and Power Company; City Public Service Board of San Antonio; Central Power and Light Company; City of Austin, Texas and South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Absessment and Finding of No Significant Impact  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 223 (Monday, November 18, 1996)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 58710-58711]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-29460]
    
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    
    [Docket Nos. 50-489 AND 50-499]
    
    
    Houston Lighting and Power Company; City Public Service Board of 
    San Antonio; Central Power and Light Company; City of Austin, Texas and 
    South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Absessment and 
    Finding of No Significant Impact
    
        The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
    considering approval under 10 CFR 50.80 of the transfer of Facility 
    Operating License Nos. NPF-76 and NPF-80, issued to Houston Lighting & 
    Power Company, et al., (HL&P, the licensee) with respect to operating 
    authority thereunder for the South Texas Project, located in Matagorda 
    County, Texas, and considering issuance of conforming amendments under 
    10 CFR 50.90.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of the Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action would approve the transfer of operating 
    authority under the licenses to a new operating company to allow it to 
    use and operate South Texas Project Units 1 and 2 (STP) and to possess 
    and use related licensed nuclear materials in accordance with the same 
    conditions and authorizations included in the current operating 
    licenses. The proposed action would also approve issuance of license 
    amendments reflecting the transfer of operating authority. The 
    operating company would be formed by the owners to become the licensed 
    operator for STP and would have exclusive control over the operation 
    and maintenance of the facility.
        Under the proposed arrangement, ownership of STP will remain 
    unchanged with each owner retaining its current ownership interest. The 
    new operating company will not own any portion of STP. Likewise, the 
    owners' entitlement to capacity and energy from STP will not be 
    affected by the proposed change in operating responsibility for STP 
    from HL&P to the new operating company. The owners will continue to 
    provide all funds for the operation, maintenance, and decommissioning 
    by the operating company of STP. The
    
    [[Page 58711]]
    
    responsibility of the owners will include funding for any emergency 
    situations that might arise at STP.
        The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
    application dated August 23, 1996, as supplemented by letters dated 
    October 1 and 15, 1996, for approval of transfer of licenses and 
    conforming amendments.
    
    Need for the Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action is needed to enable HL&P to transfer operating 
    authority to an operating company as discussed above. HL&P has 
    submitted that this will enable it to enhance the already high level of 
    public safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effective operations at 
    STP.
    
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
    
        The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
    and concludes that there will be no physical or operational changes to 
    STP. The technical qualifications of the new operating company to carry 
    out its responsibilities under the Operating Licenses for STP, as 
    amended, will be equivalent to the present technical qualifications of 
    HL&P. The operating company will assume responsibility for, and control 
    over, operation and maintenance of the facility. The present plant 
    organization, the oversight organizations, and the engineering and 
    support organizations will be transferred essentially intact from HL&P 
    to the new operating company. The technical qualifications of the 
    proposed operating company organization, therefore, will be at least 
    equivalent to those of the existing organization.
        The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the 
    proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences 
    of accidents would not be increased and that post-accident radiological 
    releases would not be greater than previously determined. Further, the 
    Commission has determined that the proposed action would not affect 
    routine radiological plant effluents and would not increase 
    occupational radiological 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have 
    no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
    there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts 
    associated with the proposed action.
    
    Alternative to the Proposed Action
    
        Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
    environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any 
    alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be 
    evaluated.
        The principal alternative would be to deny the requested 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 identical.
    
    Alternative Use of Resources
    
        This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
    previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement related to 
    the operation of South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2,'' dated August 
    1986.
    
    Agencies and Persons Contacted
    
        In accordance with its stated policy, on October 17, 1996, the 
    staff consulted with the Texas State official, Arthur C. Tate, of the 
    Bureau of Radiation Control, Texas 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 the proposed action, see the 
    licensee's letter dated August 23, 1996, as supplemented by letters 
    dated October 1 and 15, 1996, 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 Wharton County Junior College, J. M. Hodges Learning 
    Center, 911 Boling Highway, Wharton, Texas 77488.
    
        Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of November 1996.
    
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Thomas W. Alexion,
    Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor 
    Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 96-29460 Filed 11-15-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
11/18/1996
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
96-29460
Pages:
58710-58711 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket Nos. 50-489 AND 50-499
PDF File:
96-29460.pdf