[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36969-36970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18059]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-213]


Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company; Haddam Neck Plant; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations to Facility Operating License No. DPR-61, a license held by 
the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO or the licensee). 
The exemption would apply to the Haddam Neck Plant, a permanently 
shutdown and defueled plant located at the CYAPCO site in Middlesex 
County, Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption would modify security requirements to 
eliminate certain equipment, relocate certain equipment, modify certain 
procedures, and reduce the number of armed responders, due to the 
permanently shutdown and defueled status of the Haddam Neck facility.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated June 19, 1997. The requested action would grant an 
exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, ``Requirements for 
physical protection of licensed activities in nuclear power plant 
reactors against radiological sabotage.''

Need for the Proposed Action

    Haddam Neck was shut down on July 22, 1996. On December 5, 1996, 
the licensee informed the Commission that it had decided to permanently 
cease operations at Haddam Neck Plant and that all fuel had been 
permanently removed from the reactor. In accordance with 10 CFR 
50.82(a)(2), the certifications in the letter modified the facility 
operating license to permanently withdraw CYAPCO's authority to operate 
the reactor and to load fuel into the reactor vessel. In this 
permanently shutdown condition, the facility poses a reduced risk to 
public health and safety. Because of this reduced risk, certain 
requirements of 10 CFR 73.55 are no longer appropriate. An exemption is 
required from portions of 10 CFR 73.55 to allow the licensee to 
implement a revised Defueled Security Plan that is appropriate for the 
permanently shutdown and defueled reactor facility.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action. 
The Commission concludes that exemption from certain portions of 10 CFR 
73.55 are acceptable given the reduced consequences of an act of 
sabotage resulting in the release of radioactive material contained in 
the spent fuel at a defueled reactor site.
    The proposed change will not increase the probability or 
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
effluents that may be released off site, and there is no significant 
increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational 
exposure. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does involve features located entirely within the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect non-radiological 
plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
    Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
non-

[[Page 36970]]

radiological impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded that there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternative with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. The principal alternative to the action would be to deny the 
request. Denial of the exemption request 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 
Haddam Neck Plant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 1, 1998, the NRC 
staff consulted with Mr. Dwayne Gardner of the State of Connecticut, 
Department of Environmental Protection, 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 this action, see the licensee's 
letter dated June 19, 1997, which is available for public inspection at 
the Commission's Public Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC, and at the Local Public Document Room at the 
Russell Public Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, Connecticut.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of July 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Seymour H. Weiss,
Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, 
Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-18059 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
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