[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 227 (Friday, November 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 59469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29899]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-483]


Callaway Plant, Unit 1, Union Electric Company; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering approval under 10 CFR 50.80(a) of the application 
concerning the corporate merger agreement between Union Electric 
Company (the licensee), holder of Facility Operating License No. NPF-
30, issued for operation of the Callaway Plant, Unit 1, located in 
Callaway County, Missouri, and CIPSCO Incorporated.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would approve the application concerning the 
merger agreement between Union Electric Company (UEC) and CIPSCO 
Incorporated (CIPSCO), which would provide for UEC to become a wholly-
owned operating company of Ameren Corporation (Ameren), which is now 
owned equally by UEC and CIPSCO. Ameren would hold all common stock in 
UEC upon completion of the merger. UEC would continue to remain the 
owner/operator of Callaway Plant, Unit 1. The proposed action is in 
accordance with UEC's application dated February 23, 1996, as 
supplemented by letter dated April 24, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is required to enable UEC to consummate the 
merger agreement with CIPSCO as described above. UEC has submitted that 
the merger will enable UEC and CIPSCO to reduce the combined operating 
costs for UEC and CIPSCO, that both companies have been aggressively 
pursuing cost reductions to remain competitive, and have reached the 
practical limits of that strategy, and that by combining utility 
operations, both companies have an opportunity to achieve more cost 
efficiency than either company could achieve independently.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
corporate merger and concludes that there will be no physical or 
operational changes to the Callaway Plant. The corporate merger will 
not affect the qualifications or organization affiliation of the 
personnel who operate the facility, as UEC will continue to be 
responsible for the operation of the Callaway Plant, Unit 1.
    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 by the merger, and that post-
accident radiological releases would not be greater than previously 
determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the corporate 
merger 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 merger 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 for the 
Callaway Plant, dated March 1975.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 30, 1996, the 
staff consulted with the Missouri State official, Tom Lange, for the 
Department of Natural Resources, 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 application dated February 23, 1996, as supplemented by 
letter dated April 24, 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 Callaway County Public Library, 710 Court Street, 
Fulton, Missouri 65251.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of November 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Kristine M. Thomas,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects 
III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-29899 Filed 11-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P