[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 28523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13598]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-334 and 50-412]


The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, et al., Beaver 
Valley Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering approval, by issuance of an order under 10 CFR 50.80, of 
the indirect transfer of Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-66 and 
NPF-73, to the extent they are held by The Cleveland Electric 
Illuminating Company (CEI), Ohio Edison Company (OE), Toledo Edison 
Company (TE), and Pennsylvania Power Company (PP), for the Beaver 
Valley Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Shippingport, 
Pennsylvania.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent to the indirect transfer of the 
licenses with respect to a proposed merger between Centerior Energy 
Corporation and Ohio Edison Company. Centerior Energy Corporation is 
the parent holding company of CEI and TE, which hold licenses to 
possess interests in the Beaver Valley Power Station. OE and its 
subsidiary PP also hold licenses to possess interests in the Beaver 
Valley Power Station. The merger would result in the formation of a new 
holding company, FirstEnergy Corporation (``FirstEnergy''), of which 
CEI, TE, and OE would become subsidiaries. PP would continue to remain 
a subsidiary of OE, and Centerior Energy Corporation would cease to 
exist.
    According to the application, the merger will have no affect on the 
operation of Beaver Valley Power Station or the provisions of its 
operating licenses. The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, The 
Toledo Edison Company, Ohio Edison Company, and Pennsylvania Power 
Company will remain licensees responsible for their possessory 
interests and related obligations. Duquesne Light Company, which is not 
involved in the merger, will continue to operate the Beaver Valley 
Power Station after the merger, as required by the operating licenses. 
No direct transfer of the licenses will result from the merger.
    The proposed action is in accordance with The Cleveland Electric 
Illuminating Company, et. al's request for approval dated December 13, 
1996, as supplemented by letter dated February 14, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is required to obtain the necessary consent to 
the indirect transfer of the licenses discussed above. According to the 
application, the underlying transaction is needed to create a stronger, 
more competitive enterprise that is expected to save over $1 billion 
over the first 10 years of FirstEnergy operation.

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.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to 
the Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit 1,'' dated July 1973, and the 
``Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of Beaver 
Valley Power Station, Unit 2,'' dated September 1986 in NUREG-1094.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on May 7, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Mr. Michael P. Murphy 
of the Bureau of Radiation Protection, 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 
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, et al.'s submittal dated 
December 13, 1996, as supplemented by letter dated February 14, 1997, 
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 B.F. Jones 
Memorial Library, 663 Franklin Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001.

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

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-13598 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am]
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