[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 162 (Thursday, August 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 44495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22180]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-269, 50-270, and 50-287]


Duke Power Company; Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. 
DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55, issued to Duke Power Company (the 
licensee), for operation of the Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 
3 located in Oconee County, South Carolina.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would amend the licenses to reflect the 
licensee's name change from ``Duke Power Company'' to ``Duke Energy 
Corporation.''
    The proposed action is in response to the licensee's application 
dated June 12, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Duke Power Company changed its name to ``Duke Energy Corporation.'' 
The facility operating licenses for Oconee indicate the name of the 
licensee as ``Duke Power Company,'' and therefore need to be amended to 
substitute the new name of the licensee. The proposed action is purely 
administrative.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that there is no significant environmental impact if the 
amendments are granted. No changes will be made to the design and 
licensing bases, or procedures of the three units at the Oconee Nuclear 
Station. Other than the name change, no other changes will be made to 
the facility operating licenses.
    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 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 related to 
the Oconee Nuclear Station.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on August 12, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the South Carolina State official, Virgil Autrey of the 
Bureau of Radiological Health, South Carolina Department of Health and 
Environmental Control, regarding the environmental impact of the 
proposed amendments. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the Commission 
concludes that the proposed amendments 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 amendments.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's request for the amendments dated June 12, 1997, 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 Oconee County Library, 
501 West South Street, Walhalla, South Carolina.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of August 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Herbert N. Berkow,
Director, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-22180 Filed 8-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-U