[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3317-3318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1487]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-443]


North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation et al.; Seabrook 
Station, Unit No. 1; Environmental Assessment 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 control of 
certain interests in Facility Operating License No. NPF-86 issued to 
North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation (North Atlantic) and the 
eleven joint owners (the licensees) of the Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1 
(Seabrook) located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. North Atlantic 
is authorized to act as agent for the eleven owners of the facility, 
and has exclusive authority to operate the plant. The transfer of 
control would be effected indirectly by the corporate restructuring of 
Great Bay Power Corporation, the owner of an undivided 12.1324 percent 
share of Seabrook.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent, under 10 CFR 50.80, to the 
transfer of control of Great Bay's interest in the Seabrook license 
that would result indirectly from the restructuring of Great Bay by the 
establishment of a holding company, Great Bay Holdings Corporation. 
Great Bay would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Bay Holdings 
Corporation. Great Bay would remain the owner of an undivided 12.1324 
percent share of Seabrook and continue to hold its interest in the 
Seabrook operating license. As a part of the restructuring, the current 
equity owners of Great Bay would exchange ownership of Great Bay for 
ownership of Great Bay Holdings Corporation on a share for share basis.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is required to enable Great Bay to restructure 
as described above. Great Bay is an exempt wholesale generator as 
defined in the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Because of its status as an 
exempt wholesale

[[Page 3318]]

generator, Great Bay is precluded from opportunities in additional 
electricity markets. The proposed formation of a holding company would 
protect Great Bay's status as an exempt wholesale, electric generator 
and allow management to develop and participate in opportunities in 
additional electricity markets through the holding company.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
corporate restructuring and concludes that there will be no physical or 
operational changes to Seabrook. The corporate restructuring will not 
affect the qualifications or organizational affiliation of the 
personnel who operate the facilities, as North Atlantic will continue 
to be responsible for the operation Seabrook.
    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 restructuring, and that 
post-accident radiological releases would not be greater than 
previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the 
corporate restructuring 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 restructuring 
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.

Alternatives 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 Statements for the 
Seabrook Station, Unit No. 1, dated March 1983.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on January 15, 1997, the NRC 
staff consulted with the New Hampshire state official, Mr. George 
Iverson of the New Hampshire Emergency Management Agency regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. On January 15, 1997, the 
NRC staff consulted with the Massachusetts state official, Mr. James 
Muckerheid of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. The state 
officials 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 
licensees' letters dated May 8, 1996, October 18, 1996, and December 9, 
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 rooms located at the 
Local Public Document Room located at Exeter Public Library, Founders 
Park, Exeter, New Hampshire 03833.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of January 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Albert W. De Agazio, Sr.,
Project Manager, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-1487 Filed 1-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P