[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 221 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57603-57604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28310]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-298]

Nebraska Public Power District


Cooper Nuclear Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering the issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of 
its regulations to Facility Operating License Number DPR-46. This 
license was issued to the Nebraska Public Power District (the licensee) 
for operation of the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) located in Nemaha 
County, Nebraska.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption would allow the licensee to reschedule the 
licensed operator requalification examinations at CNS until after the 
current refueling outage. The requested exemption would extend the 
completion date for the examinations from December 22, 1995, until 
March 15, 1996. In the letter, the licensee indicated that licensed 
operators will continue to participate in the ongoing requalification 
training program, and that by assigning licensed operators to the 
outage organization, a reduction in overall shutdown risk could be 
realized.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated October 16, 1995, for an exemption from the 
requirements of 10 CFR 55.59.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The schedular exemption requested would extend the completion date 
for the administration of licensed operator examinations for the CNS 
requalification program from December 22, 1995, to March 15, 1996. This 
would move the examination period outside the current refueling outage, 
thereby allowing the assignment of licensed operators to refueling 
outage organization positions. The increased oversight of outage 
activities provided by the licensed operators would result in better 
shutdown risk management and provide a net benefit with regard to plant 
safety.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the licensee's 
request. The proposed exemption does not change the requirements for 
licensed operator training, as licensed operators at CNS will continue 
to participate in the ongoing requalification training program 
throughout the extension period. The affected licensed operators will 
continue to demonstrate and possess the required levels of knowledge, 
skills, and abilities needed to safely operate the plant. The proposed 
exemption would not change the existing CNS safety limits, safety 
settings, power operations, or effluent limits. The proposed exemption 
would allow increased oversight by licensed operators of outage 
activities with a resulting net benefit to safety.
    The change will not increase the probability or consequences of 
accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that 
may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in the 
allowable 

[[Page 57604]]
individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. Accordingly, 
the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does involve features located entirely within the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological 
plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded that there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff 
considered denial of the requested exemption. Denial of the application 
would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action 
are similar, but the proposed action could also result in a reduction 
in overall shutdown risk at CNS.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Cooper Nuclear Station dated February 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 3, 1995, the 
staff consulted with the Nebraska State official, Ms. Cheryl Rogers, 
Nebraska Department of Health, regarding the environmental impact of 
the proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has 
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
request for an exemption dated October 16, 1995, which is available for 
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public 
document room located at the Auburn Public Library, 118 15th Street, 
Auburn, Nebraska 68305.


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of November, 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James R. Hall,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-28310 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am]
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