[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 66568-66569] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-31156] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Docket No. 50-344 Portland General Electric Company; Trojan Nuclear Plant; Notice of Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Final Finding of no Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering approving a Portland General Electric (PGE) proposed decommissioning plan for the Trojan Nuclear Plant (TNP) and issuing an order authorizing decommissioning of the facility. Description of the Proposed Action On January 27, 1993, PGE notified the NRC of their decision to permanently cease power operations after approximately 17 years of operation. The fuel was transferred to the spent fuel pool, and on May 5, 1993, the NRC amended the TNP Facility Operating License (NFP-1) to a Possession Only License, which allows the licensee to maintain but not operate the facility. On January 26, 1995, the licensee submitted an application to terminate the TNP Possession Only License. The application for termination of the TNP license included a proposed decommissioning plan and an supplement to the environmental report. The licensee proposes to decommission the TNP using a dismantlement (DECON) approach as defined in the ``Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities'' NUREG-0586, dated August 1988 (GEIS). The licensee plans to precede the DECON radiological decontamination and dismantlement period with a five-year transition period. Transition period activities include the removal and disposal of selected large components, licensing and construction of an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), and transfer of the fuel to the ISFSI. Assessment of the environmental impact associated with the construction and operation of the Trojan ISFSI will be conducted during the licensing of the ISFSI. Radioactive structures, systems, and components that are removed from the facility during decommissioning will be shipped to a licensed burial site for permanent disposal. Summary of the Environmental Assessment The purpose of decommissioning a nuclear facility is to remove the facility safely from service, and to reduce residual radioactivity at the site to levels that permit the release of the property for unrestricted use. Once this state is reached the license granted by the NRC may be terminated. The NRC staff has reviewed the PGE decommissioning plan, and supplemental environmental report prepared in accordance with 10 CFR 51.53(b). To document its review, the staff has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) consistent with 10 CFR 51.95(b), which examined decommissioning alternatives, non-radiological and radiological impacts of decommissioning, and effects of postulated radiological accidents during decommissioning. The alternatives available for decommissioning--DECON, ENTOMB, SAFSTOR, and No Action-- are evaluated and discussed in the GEIS. Based on its review of the proposed PGE decommissioning plan, the staff has determined that the environmental impacts associated with the decommissioning of TNP in accordance with the plan are either bounded by the impacts evaluated by the GEIS or in the NRC Final Environmental Statement related to Operation of Trojan Nuclear Plant dated August 1973. The staff also finds that the proposed decommissioning of TNP is in compliance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix I annual design objectives for offsite releases or 10 CFR Part 20. Final Finding of No Significant Impact The staff has reviewed the proposed decommissioning plan and supplement to the environmental report in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51. The staff has concluded that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the NRC has determined, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, not to prepare an environmental impact statement. For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee application for termination of license, dated January 26, 1995 and updated November 13, 1995, and the NRC staff Environmental Assessment and Safety Evaluation Report. These documents are available for public inspection at the NRC Public Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC. 20555, and at the Local Public Document Room for TNP at the Branford Price Millar Library, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97207. Single copies of the NRC staff Environmental Assessment and Safety Evaluation may be obtained from Dr. Michael T. Masnik, Senior Project Manager, Office of Nuclear Reactor [[Page 66569]] Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this December 18, 1995. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Singh S. Bajwa, Acting Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 95-31156 Filed 12-21-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P