[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18508]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 29, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-320]
General Public Utilities Nuclear Corporation, Three Mile Island
Nuclear Station, Unit 2; 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
140.11(a)(4) to Facility Operating License No. DPR-73, a possession-
only license held by the General Public Utilities Nuclear Corporation
(GPU or the licensee). The exemption would apply to the Three Mile
Island Nuclear Station, Unit 2 (TMI-2), a permanently shutdown plant
located at the GPU site in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements
of 10 CFR 140.11(a)(4) to the extent that TMI-2 would be exempted from
participation in the industry retrospective rating plan (secondary
level financial protection). The licensee requested the elimination of
its required participation in a letter dated October 28, 1993.
The Need for the Proposed Action
TMI-2 ceased power operations in March 1979 and is currently in
long-term storage, termed Post-Defueling Monitored Storage. Fuel has
been removed from the reactor and the site. License No. DPR-73 was
modified by Amendment No. 48 (December 28, 1993) which extensively
altered TMI-2 Technical Specifications to be consistent with post-
defueling monitored storage.
Since TMI-2 no longer contributes as great a risk to the
retrospective rating plan participants as does an operating plant, this
reduction in risk should be reflected in the indemnification
requirements to which the licensee is subject. Approval of this request
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
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, there is reasonable assurance that (1) 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 exposure.
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 environmental 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 the 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 in the Final Programmatic Environmental Statement for TMI-2,
dated March 1981, as supplemented.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with a representative of the State of
Pennsylvania regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
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; therefore, the Commission has
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the
proposed exemption.
For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee
application request for exemption from the Price-Anderson Act Coverage,
dated October 28, 1993, and SECY-93-127, ``Financial Protection
Required of Licensees of Large Nuclear Power Plants During
Decommissioning,'' dated May 10, 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 at the Government Publications Section, State Library of
Pennsylvania, Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Box 1601,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Marvin M. Mendonca,
Acting Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project
Directorate, Division of Operating Reactor Support, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-18508 Filed 7-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
