[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 62788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30918]



[[Page 62788]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-309]


Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (Maine Yankee Atomic Power 
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-36, issued to Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station (Maine Yankee) 
located in Lincoln County, Maine.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise selected portions of Technical 
Specification (TS) Section 5.0, Administrative Controls, to define the 
facility staffing and training requirements for a permanently defueled 
facility.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated August 15, 1997, as supplemented by 
letters dated September 19 and October 21, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    By letter dated August 7, 1997 the licensee submitted 
certifications of permanent cessation of power operations and permanent 
removal of fuel from the reactor in accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1) 
(i) and (ii). Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), the 10 CFR Part 50 
license no longer authorizes operation of the reactor or placement or 
retention of fuel in the reactor vessel. The proposed amendment would 
implement administrative changes to reflect the elimination of the TS 
requirement for the licensee to maintain 10 CFR Part 55 licensed 
operators. There will be no physical changes to the Maine Yankee 
facility associated with this proposed amendment.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
amendment to the Maine Yankee TS and concludes that the proposed 
amendment is an administrative change reflecting the elimination of the 
TS requirement to maintain 10 CFR Part 55 licensed operators that is 
consistent with the permanently defueled condition of the plant. There 
will be no changes to the facility or its operation as a result of the 
proposed amendment.
    The proposed 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 
nonradiological environmental impacts.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
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 
Maine Yankee facility.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 16, 1997 the staff 
consulted with Mr. Pat Dostie of the State of Maine, Office 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 
licensee's letter dated August 15, 1997, as supplemented by letters 
dated September 19 and October 21, 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 Wiscasset Public Library, High Street,
P. O. Box 367 Wiscasset, Maine, 04578.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of November 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 
Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-30918 Filed 11-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P