[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19759-19760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10544]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-255]


Consumers Power Company, Palisades Plant; 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-20, issued to Consumers Energy Company, (the licensee), for 
operation of the Palisades Plant located in Van Buren County, Michigan.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment would revise the limitations on 
concentrations of radioactive material released in liquid effluents and 
reflects the relocation of the prior 10 CFR 20.106 requirements to the 
revised 10 CFR 20.1302.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for

[[Page 19760]]

amendment dated December 11, 1995, as supplemented January 18, 
September 3, October 2, October 18, and October 25, 1996, and March 28, 
1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to update the Technical 
Specifications (TS) to incorporate the revised requirements of 10 CFR 
part 20 (i.e., the need for the proposed action was created by a change 
in the regulatory requirements).

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The proposed revision, in regard to the actual release rates as 
referenced in the TS as a limitation on the concentration of 
radioactive material released in liquid effluents, will not increase 
the types or amounts of effluents that may be released offsite, nor 
increase individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposures. 
Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
amendment.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
changes do not affect nonradiological effluents and have no other 
environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there 
are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed amendment.

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 NRC 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 
Palisades dated June 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on February 12, 1998, the NRC 
staff consulted with the Michigan State official, Dennis Hahn, of the 
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water and 
Radiological 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 the 
proposed action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letters dated December 11, 1995, January 18, September 3, 
October 2, October 18, and October 25, 1996, and March 28, 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 Van Wylen Library, Hope 
College, Holland, Michigan 49423.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day of April 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert G. Schaaf,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-10544 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am]
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