[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 36770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17795]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-416]


Entergy Operations, Inc., System Energy Resources, Inc., South 
Mississippi Electric Power Association, Mississippi Power & Light 
Company; Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1, Environmental Assessment 
and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-29, issued to Entergy Operations, Inc. (the licensee), for 
operation of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1, (GGNS), located in 
Claiborne County, Mississippi.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the operating license and the 
antitrust conditions of the license to account for the change in name 
of Mississippi Power & Light Company (MP&L) to Entergy Mississippi, 
Inc. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated May 6, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed because the name of Mississippi Power 
& Light (MP&L) will be changed to Entergy Mississippi, Inc. The 
licensee has stated that this is only a name change, and the corporate 
existence continues uninterrupted and all legal characteristics remain 
the same. There is no change in the state of incorporation, registered 
agent, registered office, directors, officers, rights or liabilities of 
the company. Nor is there a change in the function of the Company or 
the way in which it does business. MP&L's financial responsibility for 
GGNS and its sources of funds to support the facility will remain the 
same. Further, this name change does not impact the existing ownership 
of GGNS or the existing entitlement to power and will not alter the 
existing antitrust license conditions applicable to MP&L or MP&L's 
ability to comply with these conditions or with any of its other 
obligations or responsibilities under the operating license for GGNS.
    The licensee also stated that the company, Entergy Mississippi, 
Inc., will still own all of the same assets as did MP&L, serve the same 
customers, and will continue all the existing obligations and 
commitments. There is also no change in the management or the 
procedures that operate GGNS. The financial responsibility for GGNS and 
the funds to support the facility will remain the same.
    The licensee further stated that the name change is being made to 
improve customer identification by establishing a consistent, well 
recognized name, ``Entergy'', for the region that the licensee serves.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the change in company name will have no effect on 
the radiological and nonradiological operation of the plant.
    The change will not increase the probability or consequences of any 
accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that 
may be released offsite from the plant, and there is no significant 
increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational 
radiation exposure at the plant. 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 not 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 GGNS.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on June 10, 1996, the staff 
consulted with the Mississippi State official, Robert Goff of the 
Division of Radiological 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 the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated May 6, 1996, 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 Judge George W. Armstrong Library, 220 S. 
Commerce Street, Natchez, Mississippi 39120.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of July, 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jack N. Donohew,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-17795 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P