Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Issuance of Exemption for the Humboldt Bay Power Plant Unit 3, License DPR-007, Humboldt, California, 25050-25051 [E8-9937]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 88 / Tuesday, May 6, 2008 / Notices
Brief description of amendment: The
proposed amendment would add a new
reference to Technical Specification
6.9.1.14.a, which lists documents that
have been approved by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission for use in
determining the core operating limits.
The new reference is the Areva NP, Inc.,
Topical Report EMF–2103P–A,
‘‘Realistic Large Break LOCA [Loss-OfCoolant Accident] Methodology for
Pressurized Water Reactors.’’
Date of issuance: April 10, 2008.
Effective date: As of the date of
issuance and shall be implemented
within 45 days.
Amendment No. 311.
Facility Operating License No. DPR–
79: Amendment revises the technical
specifications.
Date of initial notice in Federal
Register: August 28, 2007 (72 FR
49583). The supplemental letters dated
October 3 and December 21, 2007, and
February 29, 2008, provided additional
information that clarified the
application, did not expand the scope of
the application as originally noticed,
and did not change the staff’s original
proposed no significant hazards
consideration determination as
published in the Federal Register.
The Commission’s related evaluation
of the amendment is contained in a
Safety Evaluation dated April 10, 2008.
No significant hazards consideration
comments received: No.
Previously Published Notices of
Consideration of Issuance of
Amendments to Facility Operating
Licenses, Proposed No Significant
Hazards Consideration Determination,
and Opportunity for a Hearing
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
The following notices were previously
published as separate individual
notices. The notice content was the
same as above. They were published as
individual notices either because time
did not allow the Commission to wait
for this biweekly notice or because the
action involved exigent circumstances.
They are repeated here because the
biweekly notice lists all amendments
issued or proposed to be issued
involving no significant hazards
consideration.
For details, see the individual notice
in the Federal Register on the day and
page cited. This notice does not extend
the notice period of the original notice.
Arizona Public Service Company, et al.,
Docket No. STN 50–529, Palo Verde
Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 2,
Maricopa County, Arizona
Date of amendment request: April 10,
2008.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:11 May 05, 2008
Jkt 214001
Brief Description of amendment
request: The proposed amendment
would revise Technical Specification
(TS) 3.5.5, Refueling Water Tank (RWT)
to increase the minimum required RWT
level indications and the corresponding
borated water volumes in TS Figure
3.5.5–1, ‘‘Minimum Required RWT
Volume,’’ by 3 percent. This change will
ensure that there is adequate water
volume available in the RWT to ensure
that the engineered safety feature pumps
and the new containment recirculation
sump strainers will meet their design
functions during loss-of-coolant
accidents.
Date of publication of individual
notice in Federal Register: April 17,
2008 (73 FR 20961).
Expiration date of individual notice:
May 1, 2008.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 28th day
of April, 2008.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Catherine Haney,
Director, Division of Operating Reactor
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation.
[FR Doc. E8–9679 Filed 5–5–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50–133]
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Issuance of Exemption for
the Humboldt Bay Power Plant Unit 3,
License DPR–007, Humboldt,
California
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact.
AGENCY:
John
Hickman, Division of Waste
Management and Environmental
Protection, Office of Federal and State
Materials and Environmental
Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop:
T8F5, Washington, DC 20555–0001.
Telephone: (301) 415–3017; e-mail
john.hickman@nrc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) staff is considering a
request dated November 5, 2007, by the
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E or the Licensee), to approve a
request for exemption from the
requirements set forth in 10 CFR
PO 00000
Frm 00113
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50.54(p) and 10 CFR Part 73. The
requested exemptions from the security
requirements for Humboldt Bay Power
Plant (HBPP) would be effective after
the spent fuel has been removed from
the reactor site by the licensee and
relocated to the new Independent Spent
Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).
This Environmental Assessment (EA)
has been developed in accordance with
the requirements of 10 CFR 51.21.
II. Environmental Assessment
Background
HBPP was permanently shut down in
July 1976, and until recently was in safe
storage condition (SAFSTOR).
SAFSTOR is defined as a method of
decommissioning in which the nuclear
facility is placed and maintained in safe
condition for an extended period of time
to permit radioactive material to decay
to levels that facilitate subsequent
decontamination and decommissioning
of the facility. A decommissioning plan
was approved in July 1988. Subsequent
to the 1997 decommissioning rule, the
licensee converted its decommissioning
plan into its Defueled Safety Analysis
Report which is updated every two
years. A Post Shutdown
Decommissioning Activities Report was
issued by the licensee in February 1998.
On September 2, 2005, the NRC
approved the HB ISFSI Physical
Security Plan (PSP) that PG&E
submitted on July 11, 2005. On
November 17, 2005, the NRC issued
Materials License SNM–2514 for the
HBPP ISFSI that included approval of
the HBPP ISFSI PSP. In approving the
Humboldt Bay ISFSI PSP, the NRC
found that the plan meets the security
requirements in 10 CFR Part 72 Subpart
H, ‘‘Physical Protection,’’ meets the
requirements in 10 CFR 73.51,
‘‘Requirements for the Physical
Protection of Stored Spent Nuclear Fuel
and High-Level Radioactive Waste,’’ and
provides reasonable assurance that
physical protection of the spent nuclear
fuel stored at the ISFSI will not
constitute an unreasonable risk to
public health and safety. Currently, the
licensee is maintaining the reactor
security plan consistent with the
requirements of 10 CFR Part 73 and 10
CFR 50.54(p). Contingent upon approval
of the subject exemption and associated
amendment, the ISFSI PSP will become
effective upon the complete transfer of
spent nuclear fuel from the spent fuel
pool to the ISFSI.
Proposed Action
The proposed action would eliminate
the security plan requirements for the
10 CFR Part 50 licensed site after the
E:\FR\FM\06MYN1.SGM
06MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 88 / Tuesday, May 6, 2008 / Notices
spent nuclear fuel has been transferred
to the 10 CFR Part 72 licensed ISFSI.
Need for Proposed Action
Sections 50.54(p) and Part 73 of Title
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
require that reactor 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 in the 10 CFR Part 50
licensed facility to protect against
radiological sabotage or diversion after
the transfer of the spent nuclear fuel to
the HBPP ISFSI. Subpart H of 10 CFR
Part 72 establishes the physical
protection requirements that will be
applicable here, and relies on 10 CFR
73.51 to define the requirements for
physical protection of spent nuclear fuel
stored in an ISFSI under a specific
license issued pursuant to 10 CFR Part
72. The HBPP ISFSI has a separate NRC
approved security plan to protect the
spent nuclear fuel stored there from
radiological sabotage and diversion. The
proposed action will allow the licensee
to conserve resources for
decommissioning activities.
III. Environmental Impacts of the
Proposed Action
Radiological Impacts
The NRC has completed its evaluation
of the proposed action and concludes
that exempting the facility from certain
security requirements will not have any
adverse environmental impacts. There
will be 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
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.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Non-Radiological Impacts
With regard to potential nonradiological 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.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:11 May 05, 2008
Jkt 214001
Cumulative Impacts
The NRC has determined that there
are no adverse cumulative impacts
associated with this proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The alternative to considering the
exemption request for approval is to
deny the request, which is equivalent to
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.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC contacted the California
Radiologic Health Branch in the State
Department of Health Services
concerning this request. There were no
comments, concerns or objections from
the state official.
NRC staff determined that the
proposed action is not a major
decommissioning activity and will not
affect listed or proposed endangered
species, nor critical habitat. Therefore,
no further consultation is required
under Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act. Likewise, NRC staff
determined that the proposed action is
not the type of activity that has the
potential to cause previously
unconsidered effects on historic
properties, as consultation for licensing
of the ISFSI has been conducted
previously. There are no additional
impacts to historic properties associated
with the change in security
requirements. Therefore, no
consultation is required under Section
106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
IV. Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of this EA, 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
that a finding of no significant impact is
appropriate, and that preparation of an
environmental impact statement is not
warranted.
V. Further Information
For further information with respect
to the proposed action, see the
licensee’s letter, ‘‘License Amendment
Request 07–03, Deletion of Paragraph
2.C.1 of Facility Operating License No.
DPR–7, Exemption from 10 CFR
50.54(p) and 10 CFR Part 73, and
Rescission of NRC Orders EA–02–077
and EA–03–099,’’ November 5, 2007.
(ML073120016).
The NRC Public Documents Room is
located at NRC Headquarters in
PO 00000
Frm 00114
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
25051
Rockville, Maryland, and can be
contacted at (800) 397–4209. Documents
may be examined, and/or copied for a
fee, at the NRC’s Public Document
Room (PDR), located at One White Flint
North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor),
Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available
records will be accessible electronically
from the Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System’s
(ADAMS) Public Library component on
the NRC Web site, https://www.nrc.gov
(the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Persons who do not have access to
ADAMS or who encounter problems in
accessing the documents located in
ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR
Reference staff by telephone at 1–800–
397–4209, or 301–415–4737, or by email at pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day
of April, 2008.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Keith I. McConnell,
Deputy Director, Decommissioning and
Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate,
Division of Waste Management and
Environmental Protection, Office of Federal
and State Materials and Environmental
Management Programs.
[FR Doc. E8–9937 Filed 5–5–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 030–03297]
Notice of Availability of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment to Byproduct Materials
License No. 45–00048–17, for the
Unrestricted Release of the Virginia
Commonwealth University’s
Incineration Facility in Ashland, VA
Nuclear Regulatory
Commisson.
ACTION: Issuance of Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License
Amendment.
AGENCY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Penny Lanzisera, Medical Branch,
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety,
Region I, 475 Allendale Road, King of
Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406; telephone
(610) 337–5169; fax number (610) 337–
5269; or by e-mail: pan@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering the
issuance of a license amendment to
Byproduct Materials License No. 45–
E:\FR\FM\06MYN1.SGM
06MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25050-25051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9937]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-133]
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Issuance of Exemption for the Humboldt Bay Power Plant Unit
3, License DPR-007, Humboldt, California
AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Hickman, Division of Waste
Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Federal and State
Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop: T8F5, Washington, DC 20555-0001.
Telephone: (301) 415-3017; e-mail john.hickman@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff is considering a
request dated November 5, 2007, by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E or the Licensee), to approve a request for exemption from the
requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.54(p) and 10 CFR Part 73. The
requested exemptions from the security requirements for Humboldt Bay
Power Plant (HBPP) would be effective after the spent fuel has been
removed from the reactor site by the licensee and relocated to the new
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI).
This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been developed in accordance
with the requirements of 10 CFR 51.21.
II. Environmental Assessment
Background
HBPP was permanently shut down in July 1976, and until recently was
in safe storage condition (SAFSTOR). SAFSTOR is defined as a method of
decommissioning in which the nuclear facility is placed and maintained
in safe condition for an extended period of time to permit radioactive
material to decay to levels that facilitate subsequent decontamination
and decommissioning of the facility. A decommissioning plan was
approved in July 1988. Subsequent to the 1997 decommissioning rule, the
licensee converted its decommissioning plan into its Defueled Safety
Analysis Report which is updated every two years. A Post Shutdown
Decommissioning Activities Report was issued by the licensee in
February 1998. On September 2, 2005, the NRC approved the HB ISFSI
Physical Security Plan (PSP) that PG&E submitted on July 11, 2005. On
November 17, 2005, the NRC issued Materials License SNM-2514 for the
HBPP ISFSI that included approval of the HBPP ISFSI PSP. In approving
the Humboldt Bay ISFSI PSP, the NRC found that the plan meets the
security requirements in 10 CFR Part 72 Subpart H, ``Physical
Protection,'' meets the requirements in 10 CFR 73.51, ``Requirements
for the Physical Protection of Stored Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level
Radioactive Waste,'' and provides reasonable assurance that physical
protection of the spent nuclear fuel stored at the ISFSI will not
constitute an unreasonable risk to public health and safety. Currently,
the licensee is maintaining the reactor security plan consistent with
the requirements of 10 CFR Part 73 and 10 CFR 50.54(p). Contingent upon
approval of the subject exemption and associated amendment, the ISFSI
PSP will become effective upon the complete transfer of spent nuclear
fuel from the spent fuel pool to the ISFSI.
Proposed Action
The proposed action would eliminate the security plan requirements
for the 10 CFR Part 50 licensed site after the
[[Page 25051]]
spent nuclear fuel has been transferred to the 10 CFR Part 72 licensed
ISFSI.
Need for Proposed Action
Sections 50.54(p) and Part 73 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations require that reactor 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 in
the 10 CFR Part 50 licensed facility to protect against radiological
sabotage or diversion after the transfer of the spent nuclear fuel to
the HBPP ISFSI. Subpart H of 10 CFR Part 72 establishes the physical
protection requirements that will be applicable here, and relies on 10
CFR 73.51 to define the requirements for physical protection of spent
nuclear fuel stored in an ISFSI under a specific license issued
pursuant to 10 CFR Part 72. The HBPP ISFSI has a separate NRC approved
security plan to protect the spent nuclear fuel stored there from
radiological sabotage and diversion. The proposed action will allow the
licensee to conserve resources for decommissioning activities.
III. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
Radiological Impacts
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that exempting the facility from certain security
requirements will not have any adverse environmental impacts. There
will be 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 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.
Non-Radiological Impacts
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.
Cumulative Impacts
The NRC has determined that there are no adverse cumulative impacts
associated with this proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The alternative to considering the exemption request for approval
is to deny the request, which is equivalent to 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.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC contacted the California Radiologic Health Branch in the
State Department of Health Services concerning this request. There were
no comments, concerns or objections from the state official.
NRC staff determined that the proposed action is not a major
decommissioning activity and will not affect listed or proposed
endangered species, nor critical habitat. Therefore, no further
consultation is required under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.
Likewise, NRC staff determined that the proposed action is not the type
of activity that has the potential to cause previously unconsidered
effects on historic properties, as consultation for licensing of the
ISFSI has been conducted previously. There are no additional impacts to
historic properties associated with the change in security
requirements. Therefore, no consultation is required under Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act.
IV. Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of this EA, 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 that a finding of no
significant impact is appropriate, and that preparation of an
environmental impact statement is not warranted.
V. Further Information
For further information with respect to the proposed action, see
the licensee's letter, ``License Amendment Request 07-03, Deletion of
Paragraph 2.C.1 of Facility Operating License No. DPR-7, Exemption from
10 CFR 50.54(p) and 10 CFR Part 73, and Rescission of NRC Orders EA-02-
077 and EA-03-099,'' November 5, 2007. (ML073120016).
The NRC Public Documents Room is located at NRC Headquarters in
Rockville, Maryland, and can be contacted at (800) 397-4209. Documents
may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document
Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike
(first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be
accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and
Management System's (ADAMS) Public Library component on the NRC Web
site, https://www.nrc.gov (the Public Electronic Reading Room).
Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems
in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR
Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, or 301-415-4737, or by
e-mail at pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of April, 2008.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Keith I. McConnell,
Deputy Director, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing
Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection,
Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management
Programs.
[FR Doc. E8-9937 Filed 5-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
