[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58685-58686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28979]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301]


Wisconsin Electric Power Company; Point Beach Nuclear Plant 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain technical 
requirements of Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50 for operation of the Point 
Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Manitowoc County, 
Wisconsin (Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-24 and DPR-27, 
respectively, issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, the 
licensee).

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an exemption from the requirements 
of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.2., for annually exercising 
the onsite Emergency Plan at the Point Beach Nuclear Plant in the year 
1995.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated October 6, 1995, as supplemented 
November 3, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to allow the licensee to begin 
loading dry cask storage containers in December 1995 in order to 
minimize the time that Point Beach will not have the capacity for a 
full-core offload. The licensee has stated that emergency response 
personnel who would be involved in the emergency exercise will be 
involved in oversight of the process for loading the dry cask storage 
containers. Therefore, the licensee anticipates the 1995 emergency 
exercise to have a negative impact on the oversight of the storage of 
spent fuel in the independent spent fuel storage installation at the 
Point Beach plant.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the one-time action is acceptable because the 
licensee has demonstrated excellent performance in the emergency 
preparedness area during the last two Systematic Assessment of Licensee 
Performance (SALP) periods and has performed an emergency drill in 
August 1995 involving major elements of the Point Beach Emergency Plan 
with no significant deficiencies.
    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 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 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 proposed action. 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.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Point 
Beach.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 3, 1995, the 
staff consulted with the Wisconsin State official, Ms. Sarah Jenkins, 
of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, 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 the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated October 6, 1995, as supplemented by letter 
dated November 3, 1995, which are available for public inspection at 
the 

[[Page 58686]]
Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at 
the Joseph P. Mann Library, 1516 Sixteenth Street, Two Rivers, 
Wisconsin 54241.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day of November 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gail H. Marcus,
Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-28979 Filed 11-27-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P