[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 24661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11365]



[[Page 24661]]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-155]


Consumers Power Co.; Receipt of Decommissioning Plan and 
Decommissioning Environmental Report and Opportunity for Public 
Comments; Big Rock Point Nuclear Plant

    By letters dated February 27, 1995, the Consumers Power Company 
(CPCo or the licensee) submitted a proposed Decommissioning Plan 
supported by an Environmental Report and Decommissioning Cost Study 
which describe the future decommissioning of the Big Rock Point nuclear 
plant (BRP or the plant). The plant received a provisional operating 
license on August 30, 1962, and first went critical on September 23, 
1962. Facility Operating License No. DPR-6 was subsequently issued on 
May 1, 1964. The licensee plans to continue plant operations until the 
expiration of the current operating license on May 31, 2000. The plant 
is located on the east shore of Lake Michigan about four miles 
northeast of Charlevoix, Michigan.
    The licensee chose its decommissioning alternative from the 
alternatives provided in the NRC NUREG-0586, ``Final Generic 
Environmental Impact Statement.'' These alternatives included DECON 
(immediate dismantlement), SAFSTOR (a period of safe storage followed 
by dismantlement), and ENTOMB (entombment). Consumers Power Company 
selected the SAFSTOR alternative with a 27-year safe storage period. 
The primary consideration in selecting the extended 27-year safe 
storage period is the current lack of an available low level waste 
repository. Following the safe storage period, the plant will be 
dismantled and the site will be restored to a ``green field'' 
condition.
    The Decommissioning Plan provides a summary of the plan followed by 
a discussion of decommissioning alternatives and a facility description 
that identifies and dispositions plant structures, systems, and 
components. Subsequent sections of the Decommissioning Plan provide the 
facility radiological status, waste management plan, decommissioning 
safety analysis, cost estimate and funding plan, and administration.
    A decommissioning trust fund has been established for the Big Rock 
Point Nuclear Plant since 1987. The estimated cost for decommissioning 
the Big Rock Point Nuclear plan utilizing the SAFSTOR alternative, with 
a 27-year safe storage period, is approximately $290.1 million in 1994 
constant dollars. These costs include preparation for decommissioning, 
the 27-year safe storage period, plant decontamination and 
dismantlement, and final site restoration.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(e), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
(NRC) is providing this notice to interested persons prior to approval 
of the Decommissioning Plan. The Decommissioning Plan does not contain 
any requests for amendments to the BRP Operating License. Therefore, an 
opportunity for a formal hearing under 10 CFR part 2 of Commission 
regulations is not being offered by this notice. Hearing opportunities 
for any license amendments needed in connection with the proposed 
Decommissioning Plan will be noticed separately.
    Interested persons may submit written comments on the 
Decommissioning Plan or Environmental Report. The scope of any written 
comments should be limited to the contents of the Decommissioning Plan, 
Environmental Report, or Decommissioning Cost Study.
    The staff will review and consider all written comments that are 
received before taking final action on the proposed Decommissioning 
Plan. Written comments should be submitted within 30 days of the 
publication date of this notice and addressed to: Richard F. Dudley, 
mail Stop OWFN 11-B-20, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.
    In addition, the NRC will hold a public meeting in Charlevoix, 
Michigan to describe the NRC decommissioning review process for the Big 
Rock Point decommissioning plan and to receive public comments on the 
decommissioning plan. The licensee will present a summary report of the 
decommissioning plan at the meeting. There will also be a question and 
answer period to address any public concerns related to the Big Rock 
Point decommissioning plan and its review by the NRC. The meeting will 
be held on Thursday, May 11, 1995, at 7 pm in the Charlevoix Township 
Hall (Stroud Hall), 12491 Waller Road, Charlevoix, Michigan.
    Copies of the Decommissioning Plan, Environmental Report and 
Decommissioning Cost Study have been available since early March 1995 
at the NRC Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW, Washington, DC, and at the Local Public Document Room located at 
the North Central Michigan College, 1515 Howard Street, Petoskey, 
Michigan 49770.

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 1st day of May 1995.

    For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 
Division of Project Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-11365 Filed 5-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M