[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47531-47532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24009]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-346]
Toledo Edison Company, Centerior Service Company and The
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power
Station, Unit 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering the issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the
transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-3, issued to the Toledo
Edison Company, Centerior Service Company, and The Cleveland Electric
Illuminating Company (the licensees) for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power
Station, Unit 1, located in Ottawa County, Ohio, with respect to
operating authority under the license, and considering issuance of a
conforming amendment under 10 CFR 50.90.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would approve the transfer of operating
authority under the license to a new company, FirstEnergy Nuclear
Operating Company (FENOC), to allow it to use and operate Davis-Besse
and to possess and use related licensed nuclear materials in accordance
with the same conditions and authorizations included in the current
operating license. The proposed action would also approve issuance of a
license amendment reflecting the transfer of operating authority. FENOC
would be formed by FirstEnergy Corporation to become the licensed
operator for Davis-Besse and would have exclusive control over the
operation and maintenance of the facility.
Under the proposed arrangement, ownership of Davis-Besse will
remain unchanged with each owner retaining its current ownership
interest. FENOC will not own any portion of Davis-Besse. Likewise, the
owners' entitlement to capacity and energy from Davis-Besse
[[Page 47532]]
will not be affected by the proposed change in operating responsibility
for Davis-Besse. The owners will continue to provide all funds for the
operation, maintenance, and decommissioning by FENOC of Davis-Besse.
The responsibility of the owners will include funding for any emergency
situations that might arise at Davis-Besse.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees'
application dated June 29, 1998, as supplemented by letter dated July
14, 1998, for approval of the transfer of the license and issuance of a
conforming amendment.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to enable the licensees to transfer
operating authority to FENOC as discussed above. The licensees have
submitted that this will enable them to enhance the already high level
of public safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effective operations
at Davis-Besse.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that there will be no physical or operational changes to
Davis-Besse. The technical qualifications of FENOC to carry out its
responsibilities under the operating license for Davis-Besse will be
equivalent to the present technical qualifications of the current
operators. FENOC will assume responsibility for, and control over,
operation and maintenance of the facility. The present plant
organization, the oversight organizations, and the engineering and
support organizations will be transferred essentially intact to FENOC.
The technical qualifications of the FENOC organization, therefore, will
be at least equivalent to those of the existing organization.
The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the
proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences
of accidents would not be increased and that post-accident radiological
releases would not be greater than previously determined. Further, the
Commission has determined that the proposed action would not affect
routine radiological plant effluents and would not increase
occupational 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have
no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Alternative to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission concluded that there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff
considered denial of the requested 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 identical.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to
the Operation of Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1,'' dated
October 1975.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on July 21, 1998, the staff
consulted with the State official of the Ohio Emergency Management
Agency 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
licensees' application dated June 29, 1998, as supplemented by letter
dated July 14, 1998, which are 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 University of Toledo, William Carlson Library, Government Documents
Collection, 2801 West Bancroft Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of September 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ronald R. Bellamy,
Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-24009 Filed 9-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P