Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption From Certain Requirements for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 1 License DPR-002, Grundy County, IL, 28480-28481 [2011-12039]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 17, 2011 / Notices
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[NRC–2011–0108]; Docket No. 50–010
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Exemption From Certain
Requirements for the Dresden Nuclear
Power Station, Unit No. 1 License
DPR–002, Grundy County, IL
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 20555–00001.
Telephone: 301–415–3017; e-mail:
John.Hickman@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) staff is considering a
request dated December 3, 2010, by
Exelon Nuclear (Exelon, the licensee)
requesting exemptions from the security
requirements in 10 CFR Part 73 and 10
CFR 50.54(p) for the Dresden Nuclear
Power Station (DNPS) Unit 1.
This Environmental Assessment (EA)
has been developed in accordance with
the requirements of 10 CFR 51.21.
Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
II. Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would eliminate
the security plan requirements from the
10 CFR Part 50 licensed site because the
DNPS Unit 1 spent nuclear fuel has
been transferred to either the Dresden
Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installation (ISFSI) site or to the DNPS
Unit 3 spent fuel pool, both located
within the protected area of Units 2 and
3. There is no longer any special nuclear
material (SNM) located within DNPS
Unit 1 other than that contained in plant
systems as residual contamination.
Part of this proposed action meets the
categorical exclusion provision in 10
CFR 51.22(c)(25), as part of this action
is an exemption from the requirements
of the Commission’s regulations and (i)
there is no significant hazards
consideration; (ii) there is no significant
change in the types or significant
increase in the amounts of any effluents
that may be released offsite; (iii) there is
no significant increase in individual or
cumulative public or occupational
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:21 May 16, 2011
Jkt 223001
radiation exposure; (iv) there is no
significant construction impact; (v)
there is no significant increase in the
potential for or consequences from
radiological accidents; and (vi) the
requirements from which an exemption
is sought involve safeguard plans.
Therefore, this part of the action does
not require either an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact
statement. This environmental
assessment was prepared for the part of
the proposed action not involving
safeguards plans.
Need for 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 SNM
within the 10 CFR Part 50 licensed area
of a facility. The proposed action is
needed because there is no longer any
nuclear fuel in the 10 CFR Part 50
licensed facility that requires protection
against radiological sabotage or
diversion. The proposed action will
allow the licensee to conserve resources
for decommissioning activities.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation
of the proposed action and concludes
that exempting the facility from
physical protection 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.
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.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that
there are no significant environmental
impacts associated with the proposed
action.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Environmental Impacts of the
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The alternative is the no-action
alternative, under which the staff would
deny the exemption request. This denial
of the request would result in no change
in current environmental impacts. The
environmental impacts of the proposed
action and the no-action alternative are
similar, therefore the no-action
alternative is not further considered.
Conclusion
The NRC staff has concluded that the
proposed action will not significantly
impact the quality of the human
environment, and that the proposed
action is the preferred alternative.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy,
on April 6, 2011, the staff consulted
with the Illinois State official, Joseph G.
Klinger of the Division of Nuclear
Safety, Illinois Emergency Management
Agency, regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action. The State
official had no comments.
The NRC staff has determined that the
proposed action is of a procedural
nature, and will not affect listed species
or critical habitat. Therefore, no further
consultation is required under Section 7
of the Endangered Species Act. The
NRC staff has also determined that the
proposed action is not the type of
activity that has the potential to cause
effects on historic properties. Therefore,
no further consultation is required
under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared this EA as
part of its review of the proposed action.
On the basis of this EA, the NRC finds
that there are no significant
environmental impacts from the
proposed action, and that preparation of
an environmental impact statement is
not warranted. Accordingly, the NRC
has determined that a Finding of No
Significant Impact is appropriate.
IV. Further Information
For further details with respect to the
proposed action, see the licensee’s letter
dated December 3, 2010, [ADAMS
Accession Number ML103400572].
Documents related to this action,
including the application and
supporting documentation, are available
online in the NRC Library at https://
www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
From this site, you can access the NRC’s
Agencywide Document Access and
Management System (ADAMS), which
provides text and image files of NRC’s
public documents.
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 95 / Tuesday, May 17, 2011 / Notices
If you do not have access to ADAMS,
or if there are problems in accessing the
documents located in ADAMS, contact
the NRC Public Document Room (PDR)
Reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, 301–
415–4737, or by e-mail to
pdr.resource@nrc.gov. These documents
may also be viewed electronically on
the public computers located at the
NRC’s PDR, O 1 F21, One White Flint
North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,
MD 20852. The PDR reproduction
contractor will copy documents for a
fee.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day
of May, 2011.
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. 2011–12039 Filed 5–16–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50–325 and 50–324; NRC–
2011–0107]
Carolina Power & Light Company;
Brunswick Steam Electric Plant, Units
1 and 2; Environmental Assessment
and Finding of No Significant Impact
Emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an exemption, pursuant to
Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR) 26.9, ‘‘Specific
exemptions,’’ from paragraphs (c) and
(d) of 10 CFR 26.205, ‘‘Work hours,’’ for
Facility Operating License Nos. DPR 71
and DPR–62, issued to Carolina Power
& Light Company (the licensee), for
operation of the Brunswick Steam
Electric Plant (BSEP), Units 1 and 2,
located in Brunswick County, North
Carolina.
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.21,
‘‘Criteria for and identification of
licensing and regulatory actions
requiring environmental assessments,’’
the NRC performed an environmental
assessment and concluded that the
proposed action will have no significant
environmental impact.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would consider
approval of an exemption for BSEP,
Units 1 and 2 from certain requirements
of 10 CFR part 26, ‘‘Fitness for duty
programs.’’ Specifically, the licensee
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:21 May 16, 2011
Jkt 223001
requested approval of an exemption
from the requirements of 10 CFR
26.205(c), ‘‘Work hours scheduling,’’ and
(d), ‘‘Work hour controls,’’ during
declaration of severe weather conditions
involving tropical storm or hurricane
force winds. The licensee in its request
stated that during these conditions,
adherence to all work hour control
requirements could impede the ability
to respond to a plant emergency and
ensure that the plant reaches and
maintains a safe and secure status.
The licensee specifically stated that
the exemption would only apply to
severe weather conditions where
tropical storm or hurricane force winds
are predicted onsite; requiring the
sequestering of the BSEP personnel.
The proposed exemption will allow
the licensee to not meet the
requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(c) and
(d), during the period of time defined by
the entry condition until the exit
condition. The licensee needs the
proposed exemption to support effective
response to severe weather conditions
when travel to and from the BSEP site
may not be safe or even possible. During
these times, the licensee sequesters
sufficient individuals, including
covered workers, to staff two 12-hour
shifts to maintain the safe and secure
operation of the facility.
The exemption would only apply to
individuals designated as the storm
crew who perform duties specified in 10
CFR 26.4(a)(1) through (a)(5), namely,
(1) Operating or onsite directing of the
operation of structures, systems and
components (SSCs) that a risk-informed
evaluation process has shown to be
significant to public health and safety;
(2) performing health physics or
chemistry duties required as a member
of the onsite emergency response
organization minimum shift
complement; (3) performing the duties
of a fire brigade member who is
responsible for understanding the
effects of fire and fire suppressants on
safe shutdown capability; (4) performing
maintenance or onsite directing of the
maintenance of SSCs that a riskinformed evaluation process has shown
to be significant to public health and
safety; and (5) performing security
duties as an armed security force officer,
alarm station operator, response team
leader, or watchperson. When storm
crew sequestering exit conditions are
met, full compliance with 10 CFR
26.205(c) and (d) will be required.
Since 10 CFR 26.207(d), ‘‘Plant
emergencies,’’ already provides an
exception for the time period associated
with a declared emergency, the
exemption requested per 10 CFR 26.9
only applies to the applicable time
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
28481
periods prior to and following the 10
CFR 26.207(d) exception, requiring the
sequestering storm crew at BSEP, Units
1 and 2.
The proposed action does not involve
any physical changes to the reactor,
fuel, plant, structures, support
structures, water, or land at the BSEP,
Units 1 and 2, site.
The proposed action is in accordance
with the licensee’s application dated
December 16, 2010, as supplemented by
letters dated January 27, March 7, and
April 13, 2011.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed
because the licensee is unable to meet
the requirements of 10 CFR 26.205(c)
and (d) during declarations of severe
weather conditions that could result due
to prevailing tropical storm or hurricane
force winds impacting the facility.
Compliance with work hour control
requirements could impede the
licensee’s ability to use whatever staff
resources may be necessary to respond
to a plant emergency and ensure that the
plant reaches and maintains a safe and
secure status.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation
of the proposed action and concludes
that there are no environmental impacts
associated with the proposed
exemption. The details of the staff’s
safety evaluation will be provided in the
exemption, if approved by the NRC, that
will be issued as part of the letter to the
licensee approving the exemption to the
regulation.
The proposed action will not
significantly increase the probability or
consequences of accidents. No changes
are being made in the types of effluents
that may be released offsite. There is no
significant increase in the amount of
any effluent released offsite. 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
nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action does not have any foreseeable
impacts to land, air, or water resources,
including impacts to biota. In addition,
there are also no known socioeconomic
or environmental justice impacts
associated with such proposed action.
Therefore, there are no significant
nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that
there are no significant environmental
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
17MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28480-28481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12039]
[[Page 28480]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[NRC-2011-0108]; Docket No. 50-010
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Exemption From Certain Requirements for the Dresden Nuclear
Power Station, Unit No. 1 License DPR-002, Grundy County, IL
AGENCY: 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 20555-00001.
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 December 3, 2010, by Exelon Nuclear (Exelon, the
licensee) requesting exemptions from the security requirements in 10
CFR Part 73 and 10 CFR 50.54(p) for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station
(DNPS) Unit 1.
This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been developed in accordance
with the requirements of 10 CFR 51.21.
II. Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would eliminate the security plan requirements
from the 10 CFR Part 50 licensed site because the DNPS Unit 1 spent
nuclear fuel has been transferred to either the Dresden Independent
Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) site or to the DNPS Unit 3
spent fuel pool, both located within the protected area of Units 2 and
3. There is no longer any special nuclear material (SNM) located within
DNPS Unit 1 other than that contained in plant systems as residual
contamination.
Part of this proposed action meets the categorical exclusion
provision in 10 CFR 51.22(c)(25), as part of this action is an
exemption from the requirements of the Commission's regulations and (i)
there is no significant hazards consideration; (ii) there is no
significant change in the types or significant increase in the amounts
of any effluents that may be released offsite; (iii) there is no
significant increase in individual or cumulative public or occupational
radiation exposure; (iv) there is no significant construction impact;
(v) there is no significant increase in the potential for or
consequences from radiological accidents; and (vi) the requirements
from which an exemption is sought involve safeguard plans. Therefore,
this part of the action does not require either an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact statement. This environmental
assessment was prepared for the part of the proposed action not
involving safeguards plans.
Need for 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 SNM within the 10 CFR
Part 50 licensed area of a facility. The proposed action is needed
because there is no longer any nuclear fuel in the 10 CFR Part 50
licensed facility that requires protection against radiological
sabotage or diversion. The proposed action will allow the licensee to
conserve resources for decommissioning activities.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that exempting the facility from physical protection 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.
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 NRC concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
The alternative is the no-action alternative, under which the staff
would deny the exemption request. This denial of the request would
result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental
impacts of the proposed action and the no-action alternative are
similar, therefore the no-action alternative is not further considered.
Conclusion
The NRC staff has concluded that the proposed action will not
significantly impact the quality of the human environment, and that the
proposed action is the preferred alternative.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on April 6, 2011, the staff
consulted with the Illinois State official, Joseph G. Klinger of the
Division of Nuclear Safety, Illinois Emergency Management Agency,
regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State
official had no comments.
The NRC staff has determined that the proposed action is of a
procedural nature, and will not affect listed species or critical
habitat. Therefore, no further consultation is required under Section 7
of the Endangered Species Act. The NRC staff has also determined that
the proposed action is not the type of activity that has the potential
to cause effects on historic properties. Therefore, no further
consultation is required under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has prepared this EA as part of its review of the
proposed action. On the basis of this EA, the NRC finds that there are
no significant environmental impacts from the proposed action, and that
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not warranted.
Accordingly, the NRC has determined that a Finding of No Significant
Impact is appropriate.
IV. Further Information
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated December 3, 2010, [ADAMS Accession Number
ML103400572]. Documents related to this action, including the
application and supporting documentation, are available online in the
NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this
site, you can access the NRC's Agencywide Document Access and
Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRC's
public documents.
[[Page 28481]]
If you do not have access to ADAMS, or if there are problems in
accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public
Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or
by e-mail to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. These documents may also be viewed
electronically on the public computers located at the NRC's PDR, O 1
F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852.
The PDR reproduction contractor will copy documents for a fee.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of May, 2011.
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. 2011-12039 Filed 5-16-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
