[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 102 (Friday, May 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26225-26226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13098]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-263, 50-282, 50-306 and 72-10]
Northern States Power Co.; Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant,
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, and Prairie
Island Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering approval of the transfer of, and issuance of amendments to
Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-22, DPR-42, DPR-60, and SNM-2506
issued to Northern States Power Company, (the licensee), for operation
of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, located in Wright County,
Minnesota, and the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and
2, and the Prairie Island Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation
(ISFSI) located in Goodhue County, Minnesota.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Actions
The proposed actions would consent to the transfer of control of
the operating licenses, and amend them to reflect the transfer of
control of the licenses for the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant,
the Prairie Island Units 1 and 2 Nuclear Generating Plants, and the
Prairie Island Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation facility,
held by Northern States Power Company (NSP). Following a series of
transactions, NSP
[[Page 26226]]
will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corporation
(WEC), the parent company of Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WEPCO).
WEC will be renamed Primergy Corporation (Primergy) and will own two
operating utility subsidiaries: (1) Northern States Power Company,
which will be reincorporated in Wisconsin and merged with a newly
formed WEC/Primergy subsidiary, and (2) WEPCO, which will be named
Wisconsin Energy Company. The merged NSP will continue to operate the
same facilities above in the same locations. The proposed action is in
accordance with NSP's applications dated October 20, 1995, and December
6, 1995.
The Need for the Proposed Actions
The proposed actions are required to approve and reflect the
transfer of control of the licenses discussed above. The transfer and
amendments reflecting the transfer of control will have minimal impact
on the operation of the facilities by NSP. The transfer and amendment
will not affect the facilities' Technical Specifications or license
conditions.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
transfer of control of the licenses and related license amendments and
concludes that there will be no changes to the Monticello, Prairie
Island Units 1 and 2, and Prairie Island ISFSI facilities, or to the
environment as a result of these actions. The transfer of control of
the licenses and the associated license amendments will not affect the
qualifications or organizational affiliation of the personnel who
operate the facilities, as NSP will continue to be responsible for the
operation of the Monticello and Prairie Island facilities.
The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the
proposed actions and has determined that the probability or
consequences of accidents would not be increased by the transfer of
control and issuance of related amendments, and that post-accident
radiological releases would not be greater than previously determined.
Further, the Commission has determined that the transfer of control and
issuance of related amendments 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 actions.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the transfer of
control and related amendments 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 actions.
Alternative to the Proposed Actions
Since the Commission has concluded that the environmental effects
of the proposed actions are not significant, any alternatives with
equal or greater environmental impact need not be evaluated. The
principal alternative would be to deny the requested approvals. Denial
of the applications would result in no change in current environmental
impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed actions and the
alternative action are identical.
Alternative Use of Resources
These actions do not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statements for the
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant dated November 22, 1972, the
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant dated May 1973, and the Prairie
Island ISFSI dated April 1991.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with
the Minnesota State official, Mr. Michael McCarthy of the Department of
Public Services, on May 6, 1996, regarding the environmental impact of
the proposed actions. Mr. McCarthy had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes
that the proposed actions 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 actions.
For further details with respect to the proposed actions, see the
licensee's submittals dated October 20 and December 6, 1995, 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 Minneapolis Public
Library, Technology and Science Department, 300 Nicollet Mall,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401.
Dated at Rockville, Md., this 17 day of May 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Mark Reinhart,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-13098 Filed 5-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
