[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43968-43969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22083]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-309]


Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company, Maine Yankee Atomic Power 
Station; 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-36, a license held by 
the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPCo or the licensee). The 
exemption would apply to the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, a 
permanently shutdown plant located at the MYAPCo site in Lincoln 
County, Maine.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption would modify emergency response plan 
requirements due to the permanently shutdown and defueled status of the 
Maine Yankee facility.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated November 6, 1997, as supplemented by letter dated 
June 29, 1998. The requested action would grant an exemption from 
certain requirements of 10 CFR 50.54(q) to discontinue offsite planning 
activities and reduce the scope of onsite emergency planning.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Maine Yankee was shut down in December 1996. By letter dated August 
7, 1997, the licensee informed the Commission that it had decided to 
permanently cease operations at Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station and 
that all fuel had been permanently removed from the reactor. In 
accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), upon docketing of the 
certifications in the letter of August 7, 1997, the facility operating 
license no longer authorizes MYAPCo to operate the reactor and to load 
fuel in 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 50.54(q) are no 
longer required. An exemption is required from portions of 10 CFR 
50.54(q) to allow the licensee to implement a revised Defueled 
Emergency Plan that is appropriate for the permanently shutdown and 
defueled reactor facility.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has concluded that the granting of the exemption 
will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no 
changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released 
offsite, 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 not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no 
other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
there are no significant non-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

[[Page 43969]]

principal alternative to the action would be to deny the request (no-
action alternative). 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 resources not previously 
considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to Operation of 
Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station (July 1972).

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 31, 1998, the NRC 
staff consulted with Mr. Patrick Dostie of the State of Maine, 
Department of Human Services, 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 
letters, dated November 6, 1997, and June 29, 1998, which are available 
for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, D.C., and at the Local Public 
Document Room at the Wiscasset Public Library, High Street, Post Office 
Box 367, Wiscasset, Maine 04578.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of August 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. 98-22083 Filed 8-14-98; 8:45 am]
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