[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14918]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 20, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-029]
Yankee Atomic Electric Co., Yankee Nuclear Power Station,
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR
Sec. 140.11(a)(4) to Facility Operating License (Possession Only) No.
DPR-3, issued to the Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC or the
licensee), for the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (YNPS or plant) located
at the licensee site in Franklin County, Massachusetts.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements
of 10 CFR Sec. 140.11(a)(4) to the extent that primary financial
protection in the amount of $100 million (reduced from the current
level of $200 million) shall be maintained and an exemption from
participation in the industry retrospective rating plan (secondary
level financial protection) should be granted for the YNPS. The
licensee requested an amendment to the facility Indemnity Agreement No.
B-17 in a letter dated September 28, 1992, as supplemented by letter
dated January 19, 1993. However, the staff has determined that an
exemption to 10 CFR Sec. 140.11(a)(4) is required before the licensee
Indemnity Agreement may be amended as provided by the proposed
exemption.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The plant was permanently shut down on October 1, 1991, and
defueled during February 1992. The NRC in license Amendment No. 142,
dated August 5, 1992, modified Facility Operating License No. DPR-3 to
possession only status. The license is conditioned so that YAEC is not
authorized to operate or place fuel in the reactor vessel, thus
formalizing the licensee commitment to permanently cease power
operations. The plant has not operated for more than two years and
eight months, and radioactive decay has significantly reduced the
radioactive nuclide inventory and decay heat of the spent fuel.
Sufficient time has elapsed so as to significantly reduce the potential
consequences of postulated accidents, in view of the low density
storage of the fuel in the pool. The proposed exemption addresses two
areas for relief of financial protection requirements: (1) a reduction
in the primary financial protection coverage requirements from $200
million to $100 million and (2) withdrawal from participation in the
industry retrospective rating plan (secondary level). As the YNPS no
longer contributes risk to the industry retrospective rating plan as an
operating plant, the reduction in risk associated with its current
status should be reflected in the indemnification requirements to which
the licensee is subject. The issuance of this exemption would allow a
more equitable allocation of financial risk.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action
The proposed action does not involve any environmental impacts. The
proposed exemption is in a subject area (changes in surety, insurance
and/or indemnity requirements) for which the Commission in 10 CFR
Sec. 51.22(c)(10) has determined that a license amendment would meet
the criteria for categorical exclusion from the need for either an
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. However,
the Commission has nonetheless decided to prepare an environmental
assessment for this specific action.
Since the proposed action does not involve a change in plant
operation or configuration, (1) there is reasonable assurance that the
proposed action would not increase the probability or the consequences
of an accident or reduce the margin of safety, (2) no changes would be
made in the types or quantities of effluents that may be released
offsite, and (3) there would be no significant increase in the
allowable individual or cumulative radiation exposures.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action
would result in no significant radiological environmental impact.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no
other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that
there are no significant non-radiological impacts associated with the
proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded that there are no measurable
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the action. This would
not reduce the environmental impacts associated with the plant and
would not enhance protection of the environment or public health and
safety.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of resources not previously
considered for the YNPS.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with a representative of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts regarding the environmental impact of the proposed
action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental
impact statement for the proposed exemption.
Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the Commission
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect
on the quality of the human environment.
For further details with respect to this action, see the YAEC
application dated September 28, 1992, and supplemental letter dated
January 19, 1993, which are available for public inspection at the
Commission Public Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20555, and at the Local Public Document Room for the
YNPS at the Greenfield Community College, 1 College Drive, Greenfield,
Massachusetts 01301.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of June 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Singh S. Bajwa,
Acting Direction, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project
Directorate, Division of Operating Reactor Support, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-14918 Filed 6-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
