[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]
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