Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption From Certain Requirements for the Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, License DPR-039 and DPR-048, Lake County, IL, 65541-65542 [2011-27332]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2011 / Notices
Dated: October 18, 2011.
P. Diane Rausch,
Advisory Committee Management Officer,
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–27311 Filed 10–20–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510–13–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[NRC–2009–0263]
Assuring the Availability of Funds for
Decommissioning Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Regulatory guide; issuance.
AGENCY:
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(ML1029805650). Because of the nature
of the changes, the draft guide was
reissued for comment on January 13,
2011 (76 FR 2425). The NRC staff’s
responses to the public comments on
DG–1229 are available under ADAMS
Accession Number ML112160035.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day
of October, 2011.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Harriet Karagiannis,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Guide Development
Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of
Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 2011–27338 Filed 10–20–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC or Commission) is
issuing a revision to Regulatory Guide
1.159, ‘‘Assuring the Availability of
Funds for Decommissioning Nuclear
Reactors.’’ This guide provides guidance
to applicants and licensees of nuclear
power, research, and test reactors
concerning methods acceptable to the
staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) for complying with
requirements in the rules regarding the
amount of funds for decommissioning.
It also provides guidance on the content
and form of the financial assurance
mechanisms in those rule amendments.
ADDRESSES: You can access publicly
available documents related to this
regulatory guide using the following
methods:
• NRC’s Public Document Room
(PDR): The public may examine and
have copied, for a fee, publicly available
documents at the NRC’s PDR, O1–F21,
One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System
(ADAMS): Publicly available documents
created or received at the NRC are
available online in the NRC Library at
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
adams.html. From this page, the public
can gain entry into ADAMS, which
provides text and image files of the
NRC’s public documents. If you do not
have access to ADAMS or if there are
problems in accessing the documents
located in ADAMS, contact the NRC’s
PDR reference staff at 1–800–397–4209,
301–415–4737, or by e-mail to
pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The regulatory
guide is available electronically under
ADAMS Accession Number
ML112160012. The regulatory analysis
may be found in ADAMS under
Accession Number ML112160013.
• Federal Rulemaking Web Site:
Public comments and supporting
SUMMARY:
materials related to this notice can be
found at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching on Docket ID NRC–2009–
0263.
Regulatory guides are not
copyrighted, and NRC approval is not
required to reproduce them.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Edward O’Donnell, Regulatory Guide
Development Branch, Division of
Engineering, Office of Nuclear
Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555–0001, telephone: 301–251–
7655; e-mail:
Edward.Odonnell@nrc.gov.
65541
The NRC is issuing a revision to an
existing guide in the NRC’s ‘‘Regulatory
Guide’’ series. This series was
developed to describe and make
available to the public information such
as methods that are acceptable to the
NRC staff for implementing specific
parts of the agency’s regulations,
techniques that the staff uses in
evaluating specific problems or
postulated accidents, and data that the
staff needs in its review of applications
for permits and licenses.
As a guidance document, this
regulatory guide and its provisions are
not designed to be restrictive or to
represent binding requirements. The
guide presents methods acceptable to
the NRC staff for complying with the
decommissioning regulations. The NRC
staff recognizes that, in certain
circumstances (e.g., to meet
requirements established by Federal or
state economic regulatory agencies or to
comply with other applicable laws),
other approaches may be necessary. As
a point of clarification, it is the NRC’s
position that licensees who have
existing license conditions relating to
topics covered by the final rule,
‘‘Decommissioning Trust Provisions,’’
dated December 24, 2002 (67 FR 78332),
will have the option of maintaining
their existing license conditions or
submitting to the new requirements.
II. Further Information
Revision 2 of Regulatory Guide 1.159
was issued with a temporary
identification as Draft Regulatory Guide,
DG–1229. DG–1229, was published in
the Federal Register on June 30, 2009
(74 FR 31317) for a 60 days public
comment period. The public comment
period closed on September 9, 2009.
The Commission approved RG 1.159
subject to changes which are spelled out
in a Staff Requirements Memorandum
dated October 25, 2010
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket Nos.: 50–295 and 50–304; NRC–
2011–0244]
Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Exemption From Certain
Requirements for the Zion Nuclear
Power Station, Units 1 and 2, License
DPR–039 and DPR–048, Lake
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, 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 2, 2010, by
ZionSolutions, LLC (ZS, the licensee)
requesting exemptions from certain
security requirements in Title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
73.55 for the Zion Nuclear Power
Station (ZNPS) Units 1 and 2.
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
certain security plan requirements from
the 10 CFR Part 50 licensed site because
the ZNPS Units 1 and 2 are permanently
shut-down and defueled.
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21OCN1
65542
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2011 / Notices
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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
The NRC revised 10 CFR 73.55
through the issuance of a final rule on
March 27, 2009 (74 FR 13926). The
revised regulation stated that it was
applicable to all Part 50 licensees. The
NRC became aware that many Part 50
licensees with facilities in
decommissioning status did not
recognize the applicability of this
regulation to their facility. Accordingly,
the NRC informed licensees with
facilities in decommissioning status and
other stakeholders that the requirements
of 10 CFR 73.55 were applicable to all
Part 50 licensees. By letter dated August
2, 2010, the NRC informed Exelon
Nuclear, the ZNPS license holder at that
time, of the applicability of the revised
rule and stated that it would have to
evaluate the applicability of the
regulation to its facility and either make
appropriate changes or request an
exemption.
Section 73.55 requires 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 the
permanently shut-down and defueled
status of the facility changes the security
that is necessary to protect 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
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that exempting the facility from certain
physical protection security
requirements will not have any adverse
environmental impacts.
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.
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 July 21, 2011, the staff consulted
with the Illinois State official 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
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
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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 2, 2010, [ADAMS
Accession Number ML103400569].
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.
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 12th day
of October, 2011.
For the U.S. 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. 2011–27332 Filed 10–20–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50–238; NRC–2011–0222]
N.S. Savannah; Exemption From
Certain Security Requirements
1.0 Background
The U.S. Department of
Transportation, Maritime
E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM
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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65541-65542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27332]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos.: 50-295 and 50-304; NRC-2011-0244]
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Related to Exemption From Certain Requirements for the Zion Nuclear
Power Station, Units 1 and 2, License DPR-039 and DPR-048, Lake 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, 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 2, 2010, by ZionSolutions, LLC (ZS, the
licensee) requesting exemptions from certain security requirements in
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 73.55 for the Zion
Nuclear Power Station (ZNPS) Units 1 and 2.
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 certain security plan
requirements from the 10 CFR Part 50 licensed site because the ZNPS
Units 1 and 2 are permanently shut-down and defueled.
[[Page 65542]]
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
The NRC revised 10 CFR 73.55 through the issuance of a final rule
on March 27, 2009 (74 FR 13926). The revised regulation stated that it
was applicable to all Part 50 licensees. The NRC became aware that many
Part 50 licensees with facilities in decommissioning status did not
recognize the applicability of this regulation to their facility.
Accordingly, the NRC informed licensees with facilities in
decommissioning status and other stakeholders that the requirements of
10 CFR 73.55 were applicable to all Part 50 licensees. By letter dated
August 2, 2010, the NRC informed Exelon Nuclear, the ZNPS license
holder at that time, of the applicability of the revised rule and
stated that it would have to evaluate the applicability of the
regulation to its facility and either make appropriate changes or
request an exemption.
Section 73.55 requires 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 the permanently shut-down and defueled status of the
facility changes the security that is necessary to protect 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 certain physical protection
security requirements will not have any adverse environmental impacts.
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 July 21, 2011, the staff
consulted with the Illinois State official 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 2, 2010, [ADAMS Accession Number
ML103400569]. 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.
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 12th day of October, 2011.
For the U.S. 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. 2011-27332 Filed 10-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P