[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]


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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