[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18508]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 29, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-320]

 

General Public Utilities Nuclear Corporation, Three Mile Island 
Nuclear Station, Unit 2; 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-73, a possession-
only license held by the General Public Utilities Nuclear Corporation 
(GPU or the licensee). The exemption would apply to the Three Mile 
Island Nuclear Station, Unit 2 (TMI-2), a permanently shutdown plant 
located at the GPU site in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

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 TMI-2 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 October 28, 1993.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    TMI-2 ceased power operations in March 1979 and is currently in 
long-term storage, termed Post-Defueling Monitored Storage. Fuel has 
been removed from the reactor and the site. License No. DPR-73 was 
modified by Amendment No. 48 (December 28, 1993) which extensively 
altered TMI-2 Technical Specifications to be consistent with post-
defueling monitored storage.
    Since TMI-2 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. 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, there is reasonable assurance that (1) 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 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 environmental 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 the 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 in the Final Programmatic Environmental Statement for TMI-2, 
dated March 1981, as supplemented.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

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

Finding of No Significant Impact

    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; therefore, the Commission 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 request for exemption from the Price-Anderson Act Coverage, 
dated October 28, 1993, and SECY-93-127, ``Financial Protection 
Required of Licensees of Large Nuclear Power Plants During 
Decommissioning,'' dated May 10, 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 at the Government Publications Section, State Library of 
Pennsylvania, Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Box 1601, 
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Marvin M. Mendonca,
Acting Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project 
Directorate, Division of Operating Reactor Support, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-18508 Filed 7-28-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M