[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14918]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 20, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-029]

 

Yankee Atomic Electric Co., Yankee Nuclear Power Station, 
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 
Sec. 140.11(a)(4) to Facility Operating License (Possession Only) No. 
DPR-3, issued to the Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC or the 
licensee), for the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (YNPS or plant) located 
at the licensee site in Franklin County, Massachusetts.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements 
of 10 CFR Sec. 140.11(a)(4) to the extent that primary financial 
protection in the amount of $100 million (reduced from the current 
level of $200 million) shall be maintained and an exemption from 
participation in the industry retrospective rating plan (secondary 
level financial protection) should be granted for the YNPS. The 
licensee requested an amendment to the facility Indemnity Agreement No. 
B-17 in a letter dated September 28, 1992, as supplemented by letter 
dated January 19, 1993. However, the staff has determined that an 
exemption to 10 CFR Sec. 140.11(a)(4) is required before the licensee 
Indemnity Agreement may be amended as provided by the proposed 
exemption.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The plant was permanently shut down on October 1, 1991, and 
defueled during February 1992. The NRC in license Amendment No. 142, 
dated August 5, 1992, modified Facility Operating License No. DPR-3 to 
possession only status. The license is conditioned so that YAEC is not 
authorized to operate or place fuel in the reactor vessel, thus 
formalizing the licensee commitment to permanently cease power 
operations. The plant has not operated for more than two years and 
eight months, and radioactive decay has significantly reduced the 
radioactive nuclide inventory and decay heat of the spent fuel. 
Sufficient time has elapsed so as to significantly reduce the potential 
consequences of postulated accidents, in view of the low density 
storage of the fuel in the pool. The proposed exemption addresses two 
areas for relief of financial protection requirements: (1) a reduction 
in the primary financial protection coverage requirements from $200 
million to $100 million and (2) withdrawal from participation in the 
industry retrospective rating plan (secondary level). As the YNPS no 
longer contributes risk to the industry retrospective rating plan as an 
operating plant, the reduction in risk associated with its current 
status should be reflected in the indemnification requirements to which 
the licensee is subject. The issuance of this exemption 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 
Sec. 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. However, 
the Commission has nonetheless decided to prepare an environmental 
assessment for this specific action.
    Since the proposed action does not involve a change in plant 
operation or configuration, (1) 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, (2) no changes would be 
made in the types or quantities of effluents that may be released 
offsite, and (3) there would be no significant increase in the 
allowable individual or cumulative radiation exposures.
    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 the environmental impacts associated with the plant and 
would not enhance protection of the environment or public health and 
safety.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered for the YNPS.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with a representative of the Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts 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 YAEC 
application dated September 28, 1992, and supplemental letter dated 
January 19, 1993, which are 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 for the 
YNPS at the Greenfield Community College, 1 College Drive, Greenfield, 
Massachusetts 01301.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of June 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Singh S. Bajwa,
Acting Direction, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project 
Directorate, Division of Operating Reactor Support, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-14918 Filed 6-17-94; 8:45 am]
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