[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46422-46423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22029]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-344]
Portland General Electric, Trojan Nuclear Plant; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No.
NPF-1 issued to Portland General Electric (PGE), the licensee, for
operation of the Trojan Nuclear Plant located in Prescott, Oregon and a
concurrent exemption from10 CFR 50.54 and 10 CFR 73.55.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would exempt PGE from the security requirements
of 10 CFR 50.54(p) and 10 CFR 73.55 and delete the requirements for a
security plan from the 10 CFR part 50 licensed portion of the site
after the spent nuclear fuel is transferred to the part 72 licensed
Trojan independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI).
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for a license amendment and exemption dated January 29,
1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Sections 50.54 and 73.55 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations require that licensees establish and maintain physical
protection and security for activities involving nuclear fuel within
the 10 CFR part 50 licensed area of a facility. The proposed action is
needed because there will no longer be any nuclear fuel on the 10 CFR
part 50 licensed facility to protect against radiological sabotage or
diversion after the transfer of the spent nuclear fuel to the Trojan
ISFSI. Subpart H of 10 CFR part 72 establishes physical protection and
relies on 10 CFR 73.51 to define the
[[Page 46423]]
requirements for physical protection of spent nuclear fuel stored under
a specific license issued pursuant to 10 CFR part 72. The Trojan ISFSI
has an NRC-approved security plan to protect the spent nuclear fuel
stored there from radiological sabotage and diversion as promulgated
under 10 CFR part 72, subpart H. The proposed action will allow the
licensee to conserve resources for decommissioning activities.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that exempting the plant from security requirements will
not have any adverse environmental impact. There will be very minor
savings of energy and vehicular use associated with the security force
no longer performing patrols, checks, and normal security functions.
The proposed action will not 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 non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental
impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the Commission 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 the
Trojan Plant.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on July 19, 1999, the staff
consulted with the Oregon State official, Adam Bless of the Oregon
Office of Energy, 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 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
licensee's letter dated January 29, 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 Branford Price Millar Library, Portland
State University, 934 S.W. Harrison Street, Portland, Oregon 92707.
Dated at Rockville, MD, this 16th day of August 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Louis L. Wheeler,
Acting Chief, Decommissioning Section, Project Directorate IV and
Decommissioning, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-22029 Filed 8-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
