[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 5495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2815]


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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 the issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the 
transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-62, to the extent now 
held by Soyland Power Cooperative (Soyland), to Illinois Power Company 
(IP, the licensee) with respect to the Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 
1 (CPS), located in DeWitt County, Illinois, and issuance of conforming 
amendments under 10 CFR 50.90.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent, by the issuance of an order, to 
the transfer of the 13.21% minority ownership interest in the 
facilities for CPS from Soyland to IP and approve the issuance of 
conforming amendments to the license. This Environmental Assessment 
supersedes that published on November 19, 1996 (61 FR 58897), which 
reflected the licensee's original submittal of October 17, 1996. The 
licensee's original submittal, which proposed transferring the Soyland 
interest to Illinova Power Marketing, Inc., was revised in the 
licensee's submittal of December 13, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is required to obtain the necessary consent to 
the transfer of the license, to the extent now held by Soyland, 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 Corporation (Illinova), the parent company of 
Illinois Power Company, 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, 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 will not affect nonradiological plant effluents and will have 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 January 8, 1997, 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 December 13, 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, 
310 N. Quincy Street, Clinton, Illinois.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 29th day of January 1997.

    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. 97-2815 Filed 2-4- 97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P