Energy Northwest; Columbia Generating Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact, 89049-89052 [2024-26109]
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khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2024 / Notices
training plan for the mine as responsible
for health and safety training, that states
‘‘I certify that the above training has
been completed.’’
Under 30 CFR 46.9(f), when a miner
leaves the operator’s employment, the
operator must provide each miner with
a copy of his or her training records and
certificates upon request.
Under 30 CFR 46.9(g), the operator
must make available at the mine a copy
of each miner’s training records and
certificates for inspection by MSHA and
for examination by miners and their
representatives. If training certificates
are not maintained at the mine, the
operator must be able to provide the
certificates upon request to MSHA,
miners, or their representatives.
Under 30 CFR 46.9(h), the operator
must maintain copies of training
certificates and training records for each
currently employed miner during his or
her employment, except for records and
certificates of annual refresher training
which must be maintained for only two
years. The operator must maintain
copies of training certificates and
training records for at least 60 calendar
days after a miner terminates
employment.
Under 30 CFR 46.9(i), the operator is
not required to make records of sitespecific hazard awareness training to
persons who are not miners. However,
the operator, must be able to provide
evidence to MSHA, upon request, that
the training was provided, such as the
training materials that are used; copies
of written information distributed to
persons upon their arrival at the mine,
or visitor log books that indicate that
training has been provided.
The information collection request
under a currently approved OMB
Control Number 1219–0009, Certificate
of Training, covers the mandatory
requirements for submitting and
obtaining approval of programs for
training and retraining miners working
in underground mines (30 CFR part 48
Subpart A). The request also covers
similar requirements for miners working
at surface mines and surface areas of
underground mines (30 CFR part 48
Subpart B). That information collection
request under does not apply to training
and retraining of miners at shell
dredging, sand, gravel, surface stone,
surface clay, colloidal phosphate, and
surface limestone mines. The provisions
of 30 CFR part 46 set forth the
mandatory requirements for training
and retraining miners and other persons
for these miners.
II. Desired Focus of Comments
MSHA is soliciting comments
concerning the proposed information
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collection related to Training Plans,
New Miner Training, Newly-Hired
Experienced Miner Training. MSHA is
particularly interested in comments
that:
• Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information has practical utility;
• Evaluate the accuracy of MSHA’s
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
• Suggest methods to enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
• Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
The information collection request
will be available on https://
www.regulations.gov. MSHA cautions
the commenter against providing any
information in the submission that
should not be publicly disclosed. Full
comments, including personal
information provided, will be made
available on https://
www.regulations.gov and https://
www.reginfo.gov.
The public may also examine publicly
available documents at DOL–MSHA,
Office of Standards, Regulations and
Variances, 201 12th Street South, 4th
Floor West, Arlington, VA 22202–5452.
Sign in at the receptionist’s desk on the
4th Floor via the West elevator. Before
visiting MSHA in person, call 202–693–
9455 to make an appointment.
Questions about the information
collection requirements may be directed
to the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
III. Current Actions
This information collection request
concerns provisions for Training Plans,
New Miner Training, Newly-Hired
Experienced Miner Training. MSHA has
updated the data with respect to the
number of respondents, responses, time
burden, and burden costs supporting
this information collection request from
the previous information collection
request.
Type of Review: Extension, without
change, of a currently approved
collection.
Agency: Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
OMB Number: 1219–0131.
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89049
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit.
Number of Annual Respondents:
10,872.
Frequency: On occasion.
Number of Annual Responses:
2,275,623.
Annual Time Burden: 157,458 hours.
Annual Other Burden Costs:
$351,967.
MSHA Form: Electronic Training Plan
Advisor.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and
included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval of the
proposed information collection
request; they will become a matter of
public record and be available at https://
www.reginfo.gov.
Song-ae Aromie Noe,
Certifying Officer, Mine Safety and Health
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024–26113 Filed 11–8–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–43–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50–397; NRC–2024–0160]
Energy Northwest; Columbia
Generating Station; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice; issuance.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Renewed
Facility Operating License No. NPF–21,
issued on May 22, 2012, held by Energy
Northwest for the operation of Columbia
Generating Station (Columbia) located
in Benton County, Washington, on land
leased from the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE). The proposed
amendment would revise the Columbia
Emergency Plan by changing the
emergency response organization (ERO)
staffing plan. The NRC staff evaluated
the potential environmental effects of
the proposed action (license amendment
request) and is issuing an environmental
assessment (EA) and finding of no
significant impact (FONSI).
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in
this document are available on
November 12, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
NRC–2024–0160 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of
information regarding this document.
You may obtain publicly available
SUMMARY:
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89050
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2024 / Notices
information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for Docket ID NRC–2024–0160. Address
questions about Docket IDs in
Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301–415–0624; email:
Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical
questions, contact the individual listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document.
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly
available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
adams.html. To begin the search, select
‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For
problems with ADAMS, please contact
the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, at
301–415–4737, or by email to
PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. For the
convenience of the reader, information
for obtaining materials referenced in
this document are provided in the
‘‘Availability of Documents’’ section.
• NRC’s PDR: The PDR, where you
may examine and order copies of
publicly available documents, is open
by appointment. To make an
appointment to visit the PDR, please
send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov
or call 1–800–397–4209 or 301–415–
4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern
time (ET), Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mahesh L. Chawla, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–
8371; email: Mahesh.Chawla@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
I. Introduction
By letter dated January 30, 2024, as
supplemented by letters dated March
20, September 10, and September 24,
2024, Energy Northwest submitted a
request to amend Renewed Facility
Operating License No. NPF–21, issued
to Energy Northwest, for the operation
of Columbia Generating Station
(Columbia), which is located in Benton
County, Washington, on land leased
from the DOE. If approved, the proposed
amendment would revise the emergency
plan to be consistent with the guidance
of the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) Radiological Emergency
Preparedness (REP) document in
NUREG–0654/FEMA–REP–1, ‘‘Criteria
for Preparation and Evaluation of
Radiological Emergency Response Plans
and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear
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Power Plants,’’ Revision 2, December
2019. The proposed changes would
revise the Columbia Emergency Plan by
changing the ERO staffing plan to align
staff functions and major task
delineations, specifically, the on-shift
and augmenting positions assigned
within certain functional areas and
remove references to non-minimum
augmented ERO positions from the
Columbia Emergency Plan while
retaining appropriate positions in the
applicable implementing procedures.
Each licensee for a nuclear power
plant is required to establish an
emergency plan to be implemented in
the event of an accident in accordance
with part 50, ‘‘Domestic Licensing of
Production and Utilization Facilities,’’
section 50.47, ‘‘Emergency plans,’’ and
appendix E, ‘‘Emergency Planning and
Preparedness for Production and
Utilization Facilities,’’ of title 10 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR).
The emergency plan covers preparation
for evacuation, sheltering, and other
actions to protect people living near the
nuclear power plant in the event of an
accident. An effective emergency
preparedness program decreases the
likelihood of an initiating event at a
nuclear facility proceeding to a severe
accident. Emergency preparedness
cannot affect the probability of the
initiating event, but a high level of
emergency preparedness increases the
probability of accident mitigation if the
initiating event proceeds beyond the
need for initial operator actions.
The regulations in 10 CFR 50.54(q)(2)
require licensees for nuclear power
plants to follow and maintain the
effectiveness of an emergency plan that
meets the standards in 10 CFR 50.47(b)
and the requirements in 10 CFR part 50,
appendix E. Sections 50.54(q)(3) and (4)
of 10 CFR specify the process by which
a licensee may make changes to its
emergency plan. In accordance with 10
CFR 50.54(q)(4), Energy Northwest
submitted the January 30, 2024, license
amendment request, pursuant to 10 CFR
50.90, to obtain NRC approval of the
proposed changes to the Columbia
Emergency Plan prior to
implementation.
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.21,
‘‘Criteria for and identification of
licensing and regulatory actions
requiring environmental assessments,’’
the NRC prepared the following
environmental assessment (EA) that
analyzes the environmental impacts of
the proposed licensing action. Based on
the results of this EA, and in accordance
with 10 CFR 51.31(a), the NRC has
determined not to prepare an
environmental impact statement for the
proposed licensing action and is issuing
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a finding of no significant impact
(FONSI).
In addition to this EA, the NRC is
conducting a safety evaluation of Energy
Northwest’s proposed changes to the
Columbia Emergency Plan, which will
be documented separately. The safety
evaluation of the proposed changes to
the emergency plan will determine
whether Columbia would continue to
meet the requirements in 10 CFR
50.47(b) and the requirements in 10 CFR
part 50, appendix E with the requested
amendment.
II. Environmental Assessment
Description of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would revise the
ERO staffing plan identified in the
Columbia Emergency Plan, including
the on-shift and augmenting ERO
staffing requirements. The proposed
revisions would remove reference to
non-minimum augmenting ERO
positions from the Columbia Emergency
Plan while retaining appropriate
positions in implementing procedures.
The proposed action would also align
the ERO staffing plan with the functions
and major task delineations related to
on-shift and augmenting ERO positions
assigned within certain functional areas.
The NRC staff notes that Energy
Northwest’s request referred to on-shift
and minimum augmenting ERO
positions. Although NUREG–0654/
FEMA–REP–1 does not refer to
minimum augmenting ERO positions,
the NRC staff understands phrases like
minimum augmenting ERO positions to
refer to those positions described in
NUREG–0654/FEMA–REP–1. Similarly,
the NRC staff understands phrases like
non-minimum augmented ERO
positions to refer to positions described
by the Columbia Emergency Plan
beyond those described in NUREG–
0654/FEMA–REP–1. For clarity, this
environmental assessment will refer to
augmenting ERO positions instead of
minimum augmenting ERO positions
when discussing the positions described
in NUREG–0654/FEMA–REP–1 but will
refer to non-minimum augmenting ERO
positions when discussing positions
beyond those described in NUREG–
0654/FEMA–REP–1.
The proposed action is in accordance
with Energy Northwest’s request for a
license amendment, to revise the
Columbia Emergency Plan dated
January 30, 2024, notice of which the
NRC published in the Federal Register
(89 FR 49238).
Need for the Proposed Action
If granted, the proposed action would
align the Columbia Emergency Plan
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2024 / Notices
with the NRC’s guidance for EROs in
NUREG–0654/FEMA–REP–1, Revision
2. The application states that Energy
Northwest shared the proposed
Columbia Emergency Plan changes with
offsite response organizations for the
State of Washington, Benton County,
and Franklin County, and these
organizations had no concerns.
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Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
Action
The proposed action consists of
changes related to staffing positions,
position descriptions, titles, duties, duty
locations, and response times specified
in the Columbia Emergency Plan. The
on-shift and augmenting ERO staffing
requirements listed in the emergency
plan would be revised. The proposed
revisions include eliminating ERO
positions; adding ERO positions;
changing position descriptions, titles,
duties, and duty locations; changing
response times, and relocating certain
position descriptions to other parts of
the emergency plan or to implementing
procedures.
The proposed changes would have no
direct impacts on land use or water
resources, including terrestrial and
aquatic biota, as the proposed action
involves no new construction, ground
disturbing activities, or modification of
nuclear power plant operational
systems. For the same reasons, there
would also be no changes to the quality
or quantity of non-radiological effluents
and no changes to the nuclear plant’s
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System permits. Overall
staffing levels are not expected to
increase; therefore, worker vehicle air
emissions are not expected to increase.
In addition, for the reasons stated
previously in this notice, there would be
no noticeable effect on socioeconomic
conditions in the region, no
environment justice impacts, and no
impacts to historic properties and
cultural resources from the proposed
licensing action. Therefore, there would
be no significant non-radiological
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed agency action.
In addition, the proposed licensing
action would not have a significant
effect on the probability or
consequences of radiological accidents
because the emergency plan must
continue to meet the standards of 10
CFR 50.47(b) and the requirements in 10
CFR part 50, appendix E. For the same
reasons there would be no change to the
types or amounts of non-radioactive
effluents, there would also be no change
to the types or amounts of radioactive
effluents released into the environment
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and, therefore, no change in
occupational or public radiation
exposure from the proposed changes.
Therefore, there would be no significant
radiological impacts associated with the
proposed agency action.
The NRC staff therefore concludes
that the proposed licensing action
would not significantly affect plant
safety and would not have a significant
adverse effect on the probability of or
consequences from an accident.
Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes
that the proposed agency action would
have no significant environmental effect
on the quality of the human
environment.
Environmental Impacts of the
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed
action, the NRC staff considered denial
of the license amendment request (i.e.,
the ‘‘no-action’’ alternative). Denial of
the license amendment request would
result in no change in current
environmental impacts at Columbia. As
determined above, the proposed action
would have no significant
environmental effect on the quality of
the human environment. Accordingly,
the environmental impacts of the
proposed action and the no action
alternative would be similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
There are no unresolved conflicts
concerning alternative uses of available
environmental resources under the
proposed action.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
No additional agencies or persons
were consulted regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed
action. Because the proposed action is
not a type of activity that has the
potential to cause effects on historic
properties, the NRC has no further
obligations under section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act.
Similarly, the proposed action would
not affect threatened or endangered
species. Therefore, consultation under
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
is not required. However, in accordance
with 10 CFR 50.91(b), the licensee
provided copies of its application to the
State of Washington, and the NRC staff
will consult with the State prior to
issuance of the amendment.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
Energy Northwest has requested a
license amendment pursuant to 10 CFR
50.90, consistent with the requirements
of 10 CFR 50.54(q), ‘‘Emergency plans,’’
to revise the Columbia Emergency Plan
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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89051
by removing references to nonminimum augmenting ERO positions
from the Emergency Plan while
retaining appropriate positions in
implementing procedures. The
amendment would also revise the
Columbia Emergency Plan by changing
ERO staffing requirements to align staff
functions and major task delineations,
specifically, the on-shift and
augmenting positions assigned within
certain functional areas.
The environmental effects of the
proposed license request are described
in the EA, presented in Section II of this
notice, and incorporated by reference in
this FONSI. In the EA, the NRC staff
determined the proposed licensing
action would not have a significant
adverse effect on the probability of or
consequences from an accident, and
would not have any significant
radiological or non-radiological
environmental effects. Based on
information presented in the EA, the
NRC concludes that the proposed
agency action would not have a
significant impact on the quality of the
human environment. Accordingly, there
is no need to prepare an environmental
impact statement for this proposed
action.
As required by 10 CFR 51.32(a)(5), the
most recent document describing the
environmental effects of ongoing reactor
operations and a description of
environmental conditions at Columbia
is the ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for License Renewal of
Nuclear Plants: Regarding Columbia
Generating Station, Final Report,’’
NUREG–1437, Supplement 47, April
2012.
This FONSI and other related
documents may be examined, and/or
copied for a fee, at the NRC’s PDR,
located at One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland
20852. Publicly available records are
accessible electronically from ADAMS
Public Electronic Reading Room on the
internet at the NRC’s website: https://
www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
Persons who do not have access to
ADAMS or who encounter problems in
accessing the documents located in
ADAMS should contact the NRC’s PDR
Reference staff by telephone at 1–800–
397–4209 or 301 415 4737, or by email
to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov.
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the
following table are available to
interested persons through ADAMS.
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89052
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 218 / Tuesday, November 12, 2024 / Notices
Document description
ADAMS accession No.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397, License Amendment Request to Revise
Columbia Generating Station Emergency Plan, dated January 30, 2024.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397, Supplement to License Amendment Request to Revise Columbia Generating Station Emergency Plan, dated March 20, 2024.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397, Response to Request for Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request to Revise Columbia Emergency Plan, dated September 10,
2024.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating Station, Docket No. 50–397, Supplement to Response to Request for
Additional Information Regarding License Amendment Request to Revise Columbia Emergency Plan, dated
September 24, 2024.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency, ‘‘Criteria for Preparation
and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency Response Plans and Preparedness,’’ NUREG–0654/FEMA–REP–1,
Revision 2, dated December 2019.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, letter to Nuclear Energy Institute, ‘‘Alternative Guidance for Licensee
Emergency Response Organizations,’’ dated June 12, 2018.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear
Plants: Regarding Columbia Generating Station,’’ NUREG–1437, Supplement 47, Volume 1, dated April 2012.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear
Plants: Regarding Columbia Generating Station,’’ NUREG–1437, Supplement 47, Volume 2, dated April 2012.
Dated: November 5, 2024.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mahesh Chawla,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch IV,
Division of Operating Reactor Licensing,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2024–26109 Filed 11–8–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50–352; 50–353; NRC–2024–
0194]
Constellation Energy Generation LLC;
Limerick Generating Station, Units 1
and 2; Exemption
Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice; issuance.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is issuing an
exemption in response to letter dated
February 17, 2023, as supplemented by
letters dated July 21, 2023, July 31,
2023, August 16, 2023, and May 28,
2024. Constellation Energy Generation
LLC (Constellation, the licensee) has
requested exemption from specific
requirements for reduction of risk from
anticipated transients without scram
(ATWS) events for light-water-cooled
nuclear power plants. Constellation is
the holder of the Renewed Facility
Operating License Nos. NPF–39 and
NPF–85, which authorize the operation
of Limerick Generating Station, Units 1
and 2 (Limerick).
DATES: This document was published in
the Federal Register on November 12,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
NRC–2024–0194 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:35 Nov 08, 2024
Jkt 265001
information regarding this document.
You may obtain publicly available
information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
• Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov and search
for Docket ID NRC–2024–0194. Address
questions about Docket IDs in
Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301–415–0624; email:
Stacy.Schumann@nrc.gov. For technical
questions, contact the individual listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document.
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents
Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly
available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at
https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/
adams.html. To begin the search, select
‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.’’ For
problems with ADAMS, please contact
the NRC’s Public Document Room (PDR)
reference staff at 1–800–397–4209, at
301–415–4737, or by email to
PDR.Resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS
accession number for each document
referenced (if it is available in ADAMS)
is provided the first time that it is
mentioned in this document.
• NRC’s PDR: The PDR, where you
may examine and order copies of
publicly available documents, is open
by appointment. To make an
appointment to visit the PDR, please
send an email to PDR.Resource@nrc.gov
or call 1–800–397–4209 or 301–415–
4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern
time (ET), Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Marshall, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555–0001, telephone: 301–415–
2871; email: Michael.Marshall@nrc.gov.
PO 00000
Frm 00103
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ML24030A844.
ML24081A193.
ML24254A366.
ML24269A254.
ML19347D139.
ML18022A352.
ML12096A334.
ML12096A336 (Package).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Constellation is the holder of the
Renewed Facility Operating License
Nos. NPF–39 and NPF–85, which
authorize the operation of Limerick
Generating Station, Units 1 and 2. The
facilities consist of boiling water
reactors (BWRs) located in Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania and is located
next to the Schuylkill River.
By letter dated February 17, 2023, as
supplemented by letters dated July 21,
2023, July 31, 2023, August 16, 2023,
and May 28, 2024, Constellation has
requested exemption from specific
requirements of section 50.62 of title 10
of the Code of Federal Regulations (10
CFR), ‘‘Requirements for reduction of
risk from anticipated transients without
scram (ATWS) events for light-watercooled nuclear power plants.’’ A
publicly available version of each letter
is in ADAMS under Accession Nos.
ML23052A023, ML23202A219,
ML23212B105, ML23228A094, and
ML24149A211, respectively.
Constellation specifically requests an
exemption from the requirements of 10
CFR 50.62(c)(3) and the automatic
activation requirements of 10 CFR
50.62(c)(4) and (c)(5) for a period of 30
days before the calendar year 2027
refueling outage for Unit 2 and for a
period of 30 days before the calendar
year 2026 refueling outage for Unit 1. In
conjunction with this exemption request
the licensee submitted an associated
license amendment request (ADAMS
Accession No. ML23052A023) to add
operational constraints to the limiting
conditions of operations in the technical
specifications (TSs) for each Limerick
unit to be in effect during each
respective exemption period to ensure
that there is no increase in the potential
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 89049-89052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26109]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-397; NRC-2024-0160]
Energy Northwest; Columbia Generating Station; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice; issuance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility Operating License No. NPF-
21, issued on May 22, 2012, held by Energy Northwest for the operation
of Columbia Generating Station (Columbia) located in Benton County,
Washington, on land leased from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
The proposed amendment would revise the Columbia Emergency Plan by
changing the emergency response organization (ERO) staffing plan. The
NRC staff evaluated the potential environmental effects of the proposed
action (license amendment request) and is issuing an environmental
assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI).
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on
November 12, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2024-0160 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may obtain publicly available
[[Page 89050]]
information related to this document using any of the following
methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2024-0160. Address
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann;
telephone: 301-415-0624; email: [email protected]. For technical
questions, contact the individual listed in the For Further Information
Contact section of this document.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS
Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, at 301-415-4737,
or by email to [email protected]. For the convenience of the reader,
information for obtaining materials referenced in this document are
provided in the ``Availability of Documents'' section.
NRC's PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies
of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an
appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to
[email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mahesh L. Chawla, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-8371; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
By letter dated January 30, 2024, as supplemented by letters dated
March 20, September 10, and September 24, 2024, Energy Northwest
submitted a request to amend Renewed Facility Operating License No.
NPF-21, issued to Energy Northwest, for the operation of Columbia
Generating Station (Columbia), which is located in Benton County,
Washington, on land leased from the DOE. If approved, the proposed
amendment would revise the emergency plan to be consistent with the
guidance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Radiological
Emergency Preparedness (REP) document in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1,
``Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency
Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants,''
Revision 2, December 2019. The proposed changes would revise the
Columbia Emergency Plan by changing the ERO staffing plan to align
staff functions and major task delineations, specifically, the on-shift
and augmenting positions assigned within certain functional areas and
remove references to non-minimum augmented ERO positions from the
Columbia Emergency Plan while retaining appropriate positions in the
applicable implementing procedures.
Each licensee for a nuclear power plant is required to establish an
emergency plan to be implemented in the event of an accident in
accordance with part 50, ``Domestic Licensing of Production and
Utilization Facilities,'' section 50.47, ``Emergency plans,'' and
appendix E, ``Emergency Planning and Preparedness for Production and
Utilization Facilities,'' of title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR). The emergency plan covers preparation for
evacuation, sheltering, and other actions to protect people living near
the nuclear power plant in the event of an accident. An effective
emergency preparedness program decreases the likelihood of an
initiating event at a nuclear facility proceeding to a severe accident.
Emergency preparedness cannot affect the probability of the initiating
event, but a high level of emergency preparedness increases the
probability of accident mitigation if the initiating event proceeds
beyond the need for initial operator actions.
The regulations in 10 CFR 50.54(q)(2) require licensees for nuclear
power plants to follow and maintain the effectiveness of an emergency
plan that meets the standards in 10 CFR 50.47(b) and the requirements
in 10 CFR part 50, appendix E. Sections 50.54(q)(3) and (4) of 10 CFR
specify the process by which a licensee may make changes to its
emergency plan. In accordance with 10 CFR 50.54(q)(4), Energy Northwest
submitted the January 30, 2024, license amendment request, pursuant to
10 CFR 50.90, to obtain NRC approval of the proposed changes to the
Columbia Emergency Plan prior to implementation.
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.21, ``Criteria for and identification
of licensing and regulatory actions requiring environmental
assessments,'' the NRC prepared the following environmental assessment
(EA) that analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed licensing
action. Based on the results of this EA, and in accordance with 10 CFR
51.31(a), the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact
statement for the proposed licensing action and is issuing a finding of
no significant impact (FONSI).
In addition to this EA, the NRC is conducting a safety evaluation
of Energy Northwest's proposed changes to the Columbia Emergency Plan,
which will be documented separately. The safety evaluation of the
proposed changes to the emergency plan will determine whether Columbia
would continue to meet the requirements in 10 CFR 50.47(b) and the
requirements in 10 CFR part 50, appendix E with the requested
amendment.
II. Environmental Assessment
Description of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would revise the ERO staffing plan identified
in the Columbia Emergency Plan, including the on-shift and augmenting
ERO staffing requirements. The proposed revisions would remove
reference to non-minimum augmenting ERO positions from the Columbia
Emergency Plan while retaining appropriate positions in implementing
procedures. The proposed action would also align the ERO staffing plan
with the functions and major task delineations related to on-shift and
augmenting ERO positions assigned within certain functional areas.
The NRC staff notes that Energy Northwest's request referred to on-
shift and minimum augmenting ERO positions. Although NUREG-0654/FEMA-
REP-1 does not refer to minimum augmenting ERO positions, the NRC staff
understands phrases like minimum augmenting ERO positions to refer to
those positions described in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1. Similarly, the NRC
staff understands phrases like non-minimum augmented ERO positions to
refer to positions described by the Columbia Emergency Plan beyond
those described in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1. For clarity, this
environmental assessment will refer to augmenting ERO positions instead
of minimum augmenting ERO positions when discussing the positions
described in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1 but will refer to non-minimum
augmenting ERO positions when discussing positions beyond those
described in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1.
The proposed action is in accordance with Energy Northwest's
request for a license amendment, to revise the Columbia Emergency Plan
dated January 30, 2024, notice of which the NRC published in the
Federal Register (89 FR 49238).
Need for the Proposed Action
If granted, the proposed action would align the Columbia Emergency
Plan
[[Page 89051]]
with the NRC's guidance for EROs in NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, Revision 2.
The application states that Energy Northwest shared the proposed
Columbia Emergency Plan changes with offsite response organizations for
the State of Washington, Benton County, and Franklin County, and these
organizations had no concerns.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The proposed action consists of changes related to staffing
positions, position descriptions, titles, duties, duty locations, and
response times specified in the Columbia Emergency Plan. The on-shift
and augmenting ERO staffing requirements listed in the emergency plan
would be revised. The proposed revisions include eliminating ERO
positions; adding ERO positions; changing position descriptions,
titles, duties, and duty locations; changing response times, and
relocating certain position descriptions to other parts of the
emergency plan or to implementing procedures.
The proposed changes would have no direct impacts on land use or
water resources, including terrestrial and aquatic biota, as the
proposed action involves no new construction, ground disturbing
activities, or modification of nuclear power plant operational systems.
For the same reasons, there would also be no changes to the quality or
quantity of non-radiological effluents and no changes to the nuclear
plant's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.
Overall staffing levels are not expected to increase; therefore, worker
vehicle air emissions are not expected to increase. In addition, for
the reasons stated previously in this notice, there would be no
noticeable effect on socioeconomic conditions in the region, no
environment justice impacts, and no impacts to historic properties and
cultural resources from the proposed licensing action. Therefore, there
would be no significant non-radiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed agency action.
In addition, the proposed licensing action would not have a
significant effect on the probability or consequences of radiological
accidents because the emergency plan must continue to meet the
standards of 10 CFR 50.47(b) and the requirements in 10 CFR part 50,
appendix E. For the same reasons there would be no change to the types
or amounts of non-radioactive effluents, there would also be no change
to the types or amounts of radioactive effluents released into the
environment and, therefore, no change in occupational or public
radiation exposure from the proposed changes. Therefore, there would be
no significant radiological impacts associated with the proposed agency
action.
The NRC staff therefore concludes that the proposed licensing
action would not significantly affect plant safety and would not have a
significant adverse effect on the probability of or consequences from
an accident. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that the proposed
agency action would have no significant environmental effect on the
quality of the human environment.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered
denial of the license amendment request (i.e., the ``no-action''
alternative). Denial of the license amendment request would result in
no change in current environmental impacts at Columbia. As determined
above, the proposed action would have no significant environmental
effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the
environmental impacts of the proposed action and the no action
alternative would be similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
There are no unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of
available environmental resources under the proposed action.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
No additional agencies or persons were consulted regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action. Because the proposed
action is not a type of activity that has the potential to cause
effects on historic properties, the NRC has no further obligations
under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Similarly,
the proposed action would not affect threatened or endangered species.
Therefore, consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
is not required. However, in accordance with 10 CFR 50.91(b), the
licensee provided copies of its application to the State of Washington,
and the NRC staff will consult with the State prior to issuance of the
amendment.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
Energy Northwest has requested a license amendment pursuant to 10
CFR 50.90, consistent with the requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(q),
``Emergency plans,'' to revise the Columbia Emergency Plan by removing
references to non-minimum augmenting ERO positions from the Emergency
Plan while retaining appropriate positions in implementing procedures.
The amendment would also revise the Columbia Emergency Plan by changing
ERO staffing requirements to align staff functions and major task
delineations, specifically, the on-shift and augmenting positions
assigned within certain functional areas.
The environmental effects of the proposed license request are
described in the EA, presented in Section II of this notice, and
incorporated by reference in this FONSI. In the EA, the NRC staff
determined the proposed licensing action would not have a significant
adverse effect on the probability of or consequences from an accident,
and would not have any significant radiological or non-radiological
environmental effects. Based on information presented in the EA, the
NRC concludes that the proposed agency action would not have a
significant impact on the quality of the human environment.
Accordingly, there is no need to prepare an environmental impact
statement for this proposed action.
As required by 10 CFR 51.32(a)(5), the most recent document
describing the environmental effects of ongoing reactor operations and
a description of environmental conditions at Columbia is the ``Generic
Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding Columbia Generating Station, Final Report,'' NUREG-1437,
Supplement 47, April 2012.
This FONSI and other related documents may be examined, and/or
copied for a fee, at the NRC's PDR, located at One White Flint North,
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Publicly available
records are accessible electronically from ADAMS Public Electronic
Reading Room on the internet at the NRC's website: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who
encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS should
contact the NRC's PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or
301 415 4737, or by email to [email protected].
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the following table are available to
interested persons through ADAMS.
[[Page 89052]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document description ADAMS accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating ML24030A844.
Station, Docket No. 50-397, License
Amendment Request to Revise Columbia
Generating Station Emergency Plan, dated
January 30, 2024.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating ML24081A193.
Station, Docket No. 50-397, Supplement to
License Amendment Request to Revise
Columbia Generating Station Emergency
Plan, dated March 20, 2024.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating ML24254A366.
Station, Docket No. 50-397, Response to
Request for Additional Information
Regarding License Amendment Request to
Revise Columbia Emergency Plan, dated
September 10, 2024.
Energy Northwest, Columbia Generating ML24269A254.
Station, Docket No. 50-397, Supplement to
Response to Request for Additional
Information Regarding License Amendment
Request to Revise Columbia Emergency Plan,
dated September 24, 2024.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and ML19347D139.
Federal Emergency Management Agency,
``Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation
of Radiological Emergency Response Plans
and Preparedness,'' NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1,
Revision 2, dated December 2019.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, letter ML18022A352.
to Nuclear Energy Institute, ``Alternative
Guidance for Licensee Emergency Response
Organizations,'' dated June 12, 2018.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ML12096A334.
``Generic Environmental Impact Statement
for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding Columbia Generating Station,''
NUREG-1437, Supplement 47, Volume 1, dated
April 2012.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ML12096A336 (Package).
``Generic Environmental Impact Statement
for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding Columbia Generating Station,''
NUREG-1437, Supplement 47, Volume 2, dated
April 2012.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: November 5, 2024.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mahesh Chawla,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch IV, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2024-26109 Filed 11-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
