98-24009. 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  

  • [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
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/08/1998
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-24009
Pages:
47531-47532 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 50-346
PDF File:
98-24009.pdf