[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17902-17903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9651]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-286]


Power Authority of the State of New York, Indian Point Nuclear 
Generating Unit No. 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
50.60 for Facility Operating License No. DPR-64, issued to the Power 
Authority of the State of New York (the licensee), for operation of the 
Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3 (IP3) located in Westchester 
County, New York.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements 
of 10 CFR 50.60 to allow the use of the ABB Combustion Engineering 
Nuclear Operations methodology (the CE methodology) for developing 
pressure-temperature (P-T) limits.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated January 28, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.60, all light water nuclear power reactors 
must meet the fracture toughness requirements for the reactor coolant 
pressure boundary as set forth in 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G. The 
licensee used the methodology by ABB Combustion Engineering Nuclear 
Operations (the CE methodology) for constructing its P-T limits in 
place of the 1989 ASME Appendix G methodology approved by the staff in 
the regulations; therefore, the licensee applied for an exemption to 
use the CE methodology.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the CE methodology 
for developing P-T limits and concludes that there will be no physical 
or operational changes to IP3.
    The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the 
proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences 
of accidents would not be increased by the proposed action, and that 
post-accident radiological releases would not be greater than 
previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the 
proposed action would not affect routine radiological 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have 
no other environmental impact. Therefore, 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 that there are not significant 
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the requested 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 identical.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Indian 
Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3, dated February 1975.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 19, 1998, the staff 
consulted with the New York State Official, Jack Spath, of the New York 
State Research and Development Authority regarding the environmental 
impact of the

[[Page 17903]]

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 January 28, 1998, 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 White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine 
Avenue, White Plains, New York 10610.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of April 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
George F. Wunder,
Project Manager, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-9651 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P