[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24983-24984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11856]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-219]


GPU Nuclear Corporation, et al. Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating 
Station Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
DPR-16, issued to GPU Nuclear Corporation, et al. (the licensee), for 
operation of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, located in 
Ocean County, New Jersey.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the technical specifications (TSs) 
to reflect implementation of the revised 10 CFR part 20 which was 
published in the Federal Register on May 21, 1991 (56 FR 23391), and 
implemented at Oyster Creek on January 1, 1994.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated November 12, 1996, as supplemented 
November 27, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed in order to retain operational 
flexibility consistent with 10 CFR part 50, Appendix I, concurrent with 
the implementation of the revised 10 CFR part 20.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that implementation of the proposed action, in regards to 
the actual release rates as referenced in the TSs as a dose rate to the 
maximally exposed member of the public, will not increase the types or 
amounts of effluents that may be released offsite. The change will not 
increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are 
being made in the types of any effluents that may be released offsite, 
and there is no significant increase in the allowable individual or 
cumulative occupational radiation 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 does involve features located entirely within the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR part 20. It does not affect nonradiological 
plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. 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.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on April 15, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the New Jersey State official, Richard Pinney of the 
State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection 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 November 12, 1996, as supplemented by letter 
dated November 27, 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 Ocean County Library, Reference Department, 101 
Washington, Street, Toms River, NJ 08753.


[[Page 24984]]


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of May 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ronald B. Eaton,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-11856 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]
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