[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33057]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-410]


Long Island Lighting Company Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, 
Unit 2; Environmental Assessment And Finding Of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering the issuance of an Order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, an 
application regarding a proposed indirect transfer of control of 
ownership and possessory rights held by Long Island Lighting Company 
(LILCO) under the operating license for Nine Mile Point Nuclear 
Station, Unit No. 2 (NMP2). The indirect transfer would be to the Long 
Island Power Authority (LIPA), a corporate municipal instrumentality of 
New York State. LILCO is licensed by the Commission to own and possess 
an 18 percent interest in NMP2, located in the town of Scriba, Oswego 
County, New York.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent to the indirect transfer of 
control of the license to the extent affected by LILCO becoming a 
subsidiary of LIPA. This restructuring of LILCO as a subsidiary of LIPA 
would result from LIPA's proposed purchase of LILCO stock through a 
cash merger at a time when LILCO consists of its electric transmission 
and distribution system, its retail electric business, substantially 
all of its electric regulatory assets, and its 18 percent share of 
NMP2. LILCO would continue to exist as an ``electric utility'' as 
defined in 10 CFR 50.2 providing the same electric utility services it 
did immediately prior to the restructuring. No direct transfer of the 
operating license or interests in the station would result from the 
proposed restructuring. The transaction would not involve any change to 
either the management organization or technical personnel of Niagara 
Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC), which is responsible for operating and 
maintaining NMP2 and is not involved in the LIPA acquisition of LILCO. 
The proposed action is in accordance with LILCO's application dated 
September 8, 1997, as modified and supplemented October 8, 1997, and 
November 7, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is required to enable LIPA to acquire LILCO as 
described above.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
corporate restructuring and concludes that there will be no physical or 
operational changes to NMP2. The corporate restructuring will not 
affect the qualifications or organizational affiliation of the 
personnel who operate and maintain the facility, as NMPC will continue 
to be responsible for the maintenance and operation of NMP2 and is not 
involved in the acquisition of LILCO by LIPA.
    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 restructuring 
would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would 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 are no significant 
environmental effects that would result from 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 Statements Related to 
the Operation of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No. 2, (NUREG-
1085) dated May 1985.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on December 10, 1997, the 
staff consulted with the New York State official, Mr. Jack Spath, 
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 
LILCO's application dated September 8, as modified and supplemented by 
letters dated October 8 and November 7, 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 Reference and Documents Department, 
Penfield Library, State University of New York, Oswego, New York 13126.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of December 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Darl S. Hood,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-33057 Filed 12-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P