[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58685-58686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28979]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301]
Wisconsin Electric Power Company; Point Beach Nuclear Plant
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from certain technical
requirements of Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50 for operation of the Point
Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Manitowoc County,
Wisconsin (Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-24 and DPR-27,
respectively, issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, the
licensee).
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements
of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.2., for annually exercising
the onsite Emergency Plan at the Point Beach Nuclear Plant in the year
1995.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated October 6, 1995, as supplemented
November 3, 1995.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow the licensee to begin
loading dry cask storage containers in December 1995 in order to
minimize the time that Point Beach will not have the capacity for a
full-core offload. The licensee has stated that emergency response
personnel who would be involved in the emergency exercise will be
involved in oversight of the process for loading the dry cask storage
containers. Therefore, the licensee anticipates the 1995 emergency
exercise to have a negative impact on the oversight of the storage of
spent fuel in the independent spent fuel storage installation at the
Point Beach plant.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the one-time action is acceptable because the
licensee has demonstrated excellent performance in the emergency
preparedness area during the last two Systematic Assessment of Licensee
Performance (SALP) periods and has performed an emergency drill in
August 1995 involving major elements of the Point Beach Emergency Plan
with no significant deficiencies.
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 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 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 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 Statement for Point
Beach.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 3, 1995, the
staff consulted with the Wisconsin State official, Ms. Sarah Jenkins,
of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, 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 October 6, 1995, as supplemented by letter
dated November 3, 1995, which are available for public inspection at
the
[[Page 58686]]
Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street,
NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at
the Joseph P. Mann Library, 1516 Sixteenth Street, Two Rivers,
Wisconsin 54241.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day of November 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gail H. Marcus,
Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-28979 Filed 11-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
