[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 61835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30331]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-458]


Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, 
Inc.; River Bend Station, Unit No. 1, Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the 
transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-47, to the extent now 
held by Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Cajun), to Entergy Gulf 
States, Inc. (EGSI, the licensee) with respect to the River Bend 
Station, Unit No. 1 (RBS), located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, 
and issuance of a conforming amendment 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 30% minority ownership interest in the facilities 
for RBS from Cajun to EGSI and approve the issuance of a conforming 
amendment to the license.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the application, endorsed 
and consented to by EGSI, dated October 15, 1997, filed by Ralph R. 
Mabey, Trustee for Cajun.

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 Cajun, and 
approval of the amendment discussed above. Cajun is a minority owner of 
RBS with an ownership share of 30%. In 1994, after a two-year rate 
investigation, the Louisiana Public Service Commission disallowed from 
rate recovery Cajun's $1.8 billion investment in River Bend. This 
action precipitated Cajun's decision on December 21, 1994, to file a 
voluntary petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the 
Middle District of Louisiana (the ``Bankruptcy Court'') for protection 
under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Cajun had borrowed the 
majority of the $1.8 billion to invest in RBS from the Rural Utilities 
Service (``RUS'') of the United States Department of Agriculture. On 
August 26, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court approved the terms of a 
settlement agreement between Cajun, EGSI, and the RUS which allows the 
Trustee to seek authority to transfer Cajun's 30% undivided ownership 
interest in RBS. The application dated October 15, 1997, seeks consent 
to transfer Cajun's 30% interest to EGSI and an amendment to the 
license to reflect that transfer.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of 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 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 
River Bend Station, Unit No. 1.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 13, 1997, the 
staff consulted with the Louisiana State official, Mr. William Spell of 
the Department of Environmental Quality, Radiation Protection Division, 
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 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
application dated October 15, 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 Government Documents Department, Louisiana 
State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of November 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James W. Clifford,
Acting Director, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor Projects 
III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-30331 Filed 11-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P