[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10529]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-206]

 

Southern California Edison Co. San Onofre Nuclear Generating 
Station, Unit 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
140.11(a)(4) to Facility Operating License No. DPR-13, a possession-
only license held by the Southern California Edison Company (SCE or the 
licensee). The exemption would apply to the San Onofre Nuclear 
Generating Station, Unit 1 (SONGS 1), a permanently shutdown plant 
located at the SCE site in San Diego County, California.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements 
of 10 CFR 140.11(a)(4) to the extent that SONGS 1 would be exempted 
from participation in the industry retrospective rating plan (secondary 
level financial protection). The licensee requested the elimination of 
its required participation in a letter dated February 2, 1993.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    SONGS 1 was permanently shut down in November 1992, and defueling 
of the reactor completed in March 1993. Upon licensee certification of 
the defueling on March 9, 1993, Amendment No. 150 to Facility Operating 
License No. DPR-13 became effective, changing the license to a 
possession-only license. The exemption addresses withdrawal from 
participation in the industry retrospective rating plan.
    Since SONGS 1 no longer contributes as great a risk to the 
retrospective rating plan participants as does an operating plant, this 
reduction in risk should be reflected in the indemnification 
requirements to which the licensee is subject. Approval of this request 
would allow a more equitable allocation of financial risk.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action does not involve any environmental impacts. The 
proposed exemption is in a subject area, changes in surety, insurance 
and/or indemnity requirements, for which the Commission in 10 CFR 
51.22(c)(10) has determined that a license amendment would meet the 
criteria for categorical exclusion from the need for either an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.
    Since the proposed action does not involve a change in plant 
operation or configuration, there is reasonable assurance that the 
proposed action would not increase the probability or the consequences 
of an accident or reduce the margin of safety, no changes would be made 
in the types or quantities of effluents that may be released offsite, 
and there would be no significant increase in the allowable individual 
or cumulative radiation exposure.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action 
would result in no significant radiological environmental impact.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no 
other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
there are no significant non-radiological impacts associated with the 
proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded that there are no measurable 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, any 
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be 
evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the action. This would 
not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and would not 
enhance the protection of the environment nor public health and safety.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in the Environmental Assessment related to the conversion of 
the Provisional Operating License to a Full Term Operating License 
issued to Southern California Edison Company for the San Onofre Nuclear 
Generating Station, Unit 1, on September 16, 1991.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with a representative of the State of 
California regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the proposed exemption.
    Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the Commission 
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee 
application to amend Indemnity Agreement No. B-31, dated February 2, 
1993, which is available for public inspection at the Commission Public 
Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC 
20555, and at the Local Public Document Room at the Main Library, 
University of California, Post Office Box 19557, Irvine, California 
92713.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of April 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 
Division of Operating Reactor Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-10529 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M