[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 31534-31535] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-15269] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-244] Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation and R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering revoking an exemption issued to Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (the licensee), holder of Facility Operating License No. DPR-18 for operation of the R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant located in Wayne County, New York. Environmental Assessment Identification of Proposed Action The proposed action would revoke one of the exemptions from the requirements of Section III.G of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 issued on March 21, 1985. By letter dated January 13, 1998, the licensee informed the NRC that the exemption from Section III.G of Appendix R to 10 CFR Part 50 for the [[Page 31535]] R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant issued in connection with the absence of a continuous fire-rated barrier at the common boundary between Fire Areas ABBM and ABI at the Refueling Water Storage Tank (RWST) is no longer required. The licensee indicated that the barrier has now been sealed by insertion of a 12-inch minimum depth of kaowool into a 6-inch gap around the circumference of the tank and closure of the gap by a \3/4\-inch thick steel plate. Therefore, a continuous fire-rated barrier is not absent at this location. The proposed action is in response to the licensee's letter dated January 13, 1998. The Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action is needed because there no longer is a basis or underlying need for the exemption since the barrier at the common boundary between Fire Areas ABBM and ABI at the RWST has been sealed. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that there is no significant environmental impact if the subject exemption is revoked. The proposed revocation is an administrative action that reflects that there no longer is a need or basis for the exemption in light of the licensee's corrective action. Therefore, the proposed action would 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 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 that there is no significant 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 not revoking the exemption. Not revoking the exemption 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 R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant dated December 1973.'' Agencies and Persons Consulted In accordance with its stated policy, on May 4, 1998, the staff consulted with the Ms. Hide Volt of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, 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 January 13,1998, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, which is located at The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, D. C., and at the local public document room located at the Rochester Public Library, 115 South Avenue, Rochester, New York. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of June 1998. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. S. Singh Bajwa, Director, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 98-15269 Filed 6-8-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P