00-17768. Northern States Power Co.; Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-22, issued to Northern States Power Company (NSP or the licensee) for operation of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, located in Wright County, Minnesota.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed action would revise Technical Specification (TS) Chapter 6 to allow use of generic titles for personnel in lieu of plant-specific titles, update the TS table of contents to reflect changes due to the amendment, and correct typographical errors.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment dated May 4, 2000.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed action would provide clarity to the TSs and remove an unnecessary NRC and licensee burden with no increase in safety when titles are changed.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the changes to the TSs are administrative in nature.

The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that may be released off site, and there is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the “no action” alternative). 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 Monticello.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy, on June 22, 2000, the staff consulted with the Minnesota State official, Ms. N. Campbell of the Department of Commerce, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 application dated May 4, 2000, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library component on the NRC Web site, http:www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of July 2000.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Carl F. Lyon,

Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate III, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.