[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 136 (Monday, July 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17333]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 18, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-322]

 

Long Island Power Authority; Shoreham Nuclear Power Station; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering issuance of 
an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 140.11(a)(4) to Facility 
Operating License No. NPF-82, issued to the Long Island Power Authority 
(LIPA or the licensee), for the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station (SNPS), 
Unit 1 at Wading River, New York.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements 
from 10 CFR 140.11(a)(4) to the extent that primary financial 
protection in the amount of $100,000,000 shall be maintained and an 
exemption from participation in the industry retrospective rating plan 
(secondary level financial protection) for SNPS. The licensee requested 
the exemption in a letter dated January 20, 1994.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    SNPS was permanently shut down on February 28, 1989, and all spent 
fuel has been shipped offsite to Philadelphia Electric Company. On July 
19, 1991, the NRC modified Facility Operating License No. NPF-82 to a 
Possession-Only License (POL). The SNPS is being dismantled in 
accordance with the approved SNPS Decommissioning Plan. The requested 
exemption addresses two areas for relief in financial protection 
requirements: (1) A reduction in the primary financial protection 
coverage requirements from $200,000,000 to $100,000,000; and (2) 
withdrawal from participation in the industry retrospective rating 
plan.
    Since LIPA 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 NRC 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. 
Further, there would be no significant increase in the allowable 
individual or cumulative radiation exposure.
    Accordingly, the NRC 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 NRC concludes that there are 
no significant non-radiological impacts associated with the proposed 
action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the NRC 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.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in the Supplement to the Environmental report for the SNPS.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The license initiated this exemption. The NRC staff reviewed the 
request. The NRC staff consulted with a representative of the State of 
New York regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action, and 
the State did not provide comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon this environmental assessment, the staff concludes that 
the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality 
of the human environment. Therefore, the NRC has determined not to 
prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed exemption.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee 
application for exemption dated April 29, 1991, and January 20, 1994, 
which is available for public inspection at the Commission Public 
Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20555 and at the Shoreham Wading River Public Library, Shoreham Wading 
River High School, Route 25A, Shoreham, NY 11792.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of July, 1994.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John H. Austin,
Chief, Low-Level Waste and Decommissioning Projects Branch, Division of 
Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 94-17333 Filed 7-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M