[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 24576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11728]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-423]
Central Maine Power Co; Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 3;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering approval under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(10 CFR) Sec. 50.80, by issuance of an Order, of the transfer of
control of Facility Operating License No. NPF-49, to the extent held by
Central Maine Power Company (CMP), which holds a partial ownership
interest in the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 3, located in New
London County, Connecticut.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would consent to the transfer of control of the
license, to the extent effected by a proposed restructuring of CMP.
Under the restructuring, CMP would become a wholly owned subsidiary of
a newly created holding company but would continue to hold a partial
ownership interest in Millstone Unit 3. No direct transfer of the
license would occur. Northeast Nuclear Energy Company would continue to
be the licensed operator for Millstone Unit 3, and is not involved in
the proposed transaction. The proposed action is in accordance with the
submittal, dated March 4, 1998, from Central Maine Power Company, by
and through its counsel, Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius.
The proposed action is needed, to the extent the proposed
restructuring of CMP will effect a transfer of control of the license
as held by CMP, to permit the restructuring to occur. CMP has stated
that the proposed restructuring will provide long-term advantages
through increased management and financial flexibility that will better
position CMP and its existing nonutility subsidiaries to compete
effectively in a changing commercial and regulatory environment. CMP
has also stated that this structure will also serve to insulate CMP's
utility business from business risks associated with the activities of
the nonutility subsidiaries and be consistent with the corporate
structure used by many other utilities in the United States.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
corporate restructuring and concludes that there will be no physical or
operational changes to Millstone Unit 3. The corporate restructuring
will not affect the qualifications or organizational affiliation of the
personnel who operate or maintain the facility, as Northeast Nuclear
Energy Company, which is not involved in the proposed restructuring of
CMP, will continue to be exclusively responsible for the operation and
maintenance of Millstone Unit 3.
The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the
proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences
of accidents will not be increased by the proposed action, and that
post-accident radiological releases will not be greater than previously
determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the proposed
action will not affect routine 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 does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other
environmental impact. Therefore, 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
alternative with equal or greater environmental impact need not be
evaluated.
As an alternative to the proposed requested 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
Millstone Unit 3, dated December 1984.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on April 20, 1998, the staff
consulted with the Connecticut State Official, Kevin T. A. McCarthy, of
the Monitoring and Radiation Division, Department of Environmental
Protection, 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
application dated March 4, 1998, 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 Learning Resources Center, Three Rivers
Community-Technical College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich,
Connecticut, and at the Waterford Library, ATTN: Vince Juliano, 49 Rope
Ferry Road, Waterford, Connecticut.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of April 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Phillip F. McKee,
Deputy Director for Licensing, Special Projects Office, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-11728 Filed 5-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
