[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 58897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29585]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-461]


Illinois Power Company, Soyland Power Cooperative; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering approval of the transfer of Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-62, to the extent held by Soyland Power Cooperative, for the 
Clinton Power Station, Unit 1 (CPS), located in DeWitt County, 
Illinois, and issuance of conforming amendments.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent to the transfer of the 13.21% 
minority ownership of the facilities for the Clinton Power Station, 
Unit No. 1 (CPS) from Soyland Power Cooperative (Soyland) to Illinova 
Power Marketing, Inc. (IPMI), the unregulated power marketing affiliate 
of Illinois Power Company (Illinois Power), and a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Illinova Corporation (Illinova) and approve the issuance 
of conforming amendments to the licensee.
    The proposed action is in accordance with Illinois Power's request 
for approval dated October 17, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is required to obtain the necessary consent to 
the transfer of the license and approval of amendments discussed above. 
Soyland is a minority owner of CPS with an ownership share of 13.21%. 
Due to severe financial difficulties arising in large part because of 
its CPS-related debt, Soyland has been forced to seek significant 
refinancing of its outstanding obligations. As a condition precedent to 
said refinancing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, acting through 
the Administrator of the Rural Utilities Services, required Soyland to 
completely divest itself of any ownership of, or responsibility for, 
CPS. As a result, Soyland and Illinova entered into an agreement 
wherein Illinova assumed full financial responsibility for Soyland's 
CPS obligations as of September 1, 1996, and Soyland agreed to transfer 
its entire ownership interest in CPS to Illinova, subject to receipt of 
all necessary regulatory approvals.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has reviewed the proposed action and concludes that 
there will be no changes to the facility or its operation as a result 
of the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC staff 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 affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other 
environmental impact. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that there 
are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    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.

Alterative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Clinton Power Station, Unit 1, documented in NUREG-0854.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 30, 1996, the 
staff consulted with the Illinois state official of the Illinois 
Department of Nuclear Safety, 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 
Illinois Power submittal dated October 17, 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 Vespasian Warner Public Library, 120 West 
Johnson Street, Clinton, Illinois.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 13th day of November 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jon B. Hopkins,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-29585 Filed 11-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P