[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 223 (Monday, November 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58710-58711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29460]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-489 AND 50-499]
Houston Lighting and Power Company; City Public Service Board of
San Antonio; Central Power and Light Company; City of Austin, Texas and
South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Absessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering approval under 10 CFR 50.80 of the transfer of Facility
Operating License Nos. NPF-76 and NPF-80, issued to Houston Lighting &
Power Company, et al., (HL&P, the licensee) with respect to operating
authority thereunder for the South Texas Project, located in Matagorda
County, Texas, and considering issuance of conforming amendments under
10 CFR 50.90.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would approve the transfer of operating
authority under the licenses to a new operating company to allow it to
use and operate South Texas Project Units 1 and 2 (STP) and to possess
and use related licensed nuclear materials in accordance with the same
conditions and authorizations included in the current operating
licenses. The proposed action would also approve issuance of license
amendments reflecting the transfer of operating authority. The
operating company would be formed by the owners to become the licensed
operator for STP and would have exclusive control over the operation
and maintenance of the facility.
Under the proposed arrangement, ownership of STP will remain
unchanged with each owner retaining its current ownership interest. The
new operating company will not own any portion of STP. Likewise, the
owners' entitlement to capacity and energy from STP will not be
affected by the proposed change in operating responsibility for STP
from HL&P to the new operating company. The owners will continue to
provide all funds for the operation, maintenance, and decommissioning
by the operating company of STP. The
[[Page 58711]]
responsibility of the owners will include funding for any emergency
situations that might arise at STP.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated August 23, 1996, as supplemented by letters dated
October 1 and 15, 1996, for approval of transfer of licenses and
conforming amendments.
Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to enable HL&P to transfer operating
authority to an operating company as discussed above. HL&P has
submitted that this will enable it to enhance the already high level of
public safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effective operations at
STP.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that there will be no physical or operational changes to
STP. The technical qualifications of the new operating company to carry
out its responsibilities under the Operating Licenses for STP, as
amended, will be equivalent to the present technical qualifications of
HL&P. The operating company will assume responsibility for, and control
over, operation and maintenance of the facility. The present plant
organization, the oversight organizations, and the engineering and
support organizations will be transferred essentially intact from HL&P
to the new operating company. The technical qualifications of the
proposed operating company organization, therefore, will be at least
equivalent to those of the existing organization.
The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the
proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences
of accidents would not be increased and that post-accident radiological
releases would not be greater than previously determined. Further, the
Commission has determined that the proposed action would not affect
routine radiological plant effluents and would not increase
occupational radiological 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have
no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Alternative to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested 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 identical.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement related to
the operation of South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2,'' dated August
1986.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on October 17, 1996, the
staff consulted with the Texas State official, Arthur C. Tate, of the
Bureau of Radiation Control, Texas 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 the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated August 23, 1996, as supplemented by letters
dated October 1 and 15, 1996, which are 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 Wharton County Junior College, J. M. Hodges Learning
Center, 911 Boling Highway, Wharton, Texas 77488.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of November 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas W. Alexion,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-29460 Filed 11-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P