[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47531-47532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24009]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-346]


Toledo Edison Company, Centerior Service Company and The 
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power 
Station, Unit 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering the issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the 
transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-3, issued to the Toledo 
Edison Company, Centerior Service Company, and The Cleveland Electric 
Illuminating Company (the licensees) for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power 
Station, Unit 1, located in Ottawa County, Ohio, with respect to 
operating authority under the license, and considering issuance of a 
conforming amendment under 10 CFR 50.90.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would approve the transfer of operating 
authority under the license to a new company, FirstEnergy Nuclear 
Operating Company (FENOC), to allow it to use and operate Davis-Besse 
and to possess and use related licensed nuclear materials in accordance 
with the same conditions and authorizations included in the current 
operating license. The proposed action would also approve issuance of a 
license amendment reflecting the transfer of operating authority. FENOC 
would be formed by FirstEnergy Corporation to become the licensed 
operator for Davis-Besse and would have exclusive control over the 
operation and maintenance of the facility.
    Under the proposed arrangement, ownership of Davis-Besse will 
remain unchanged with each owner retaining its current ownership 
interest. FENOC will not own any portion of Davis-Besse. Likewise, the 
owners' entitlement to capacity and energy from Davis-Besse

[[Page 47532]]

will not be affected by the proposed change in operating responsibility 
for Davis-Besse. The owners will continue to provide all funds for the 
operation, maintenance, and decommissioning by FENOC of Davis-Besse. 
The responsibility of the owners will include funding for any emergency 
situations that might arise at Davis-Besse.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees' 
application dated June 29, 1998, as supplemented by letter dated July 
14, 1998, for approval of the transfer of the license and issuance of a 
conforming amendment.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to enable the licensees to transfer 
operating authority to FENOC as discussed above. The licensees have 
submitted that this will enable them to enhance the already high level 
of public safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effective operations 
at Davis-Besse.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that there will be no physical or operational changes to 
Davis-Besse. The technical qualifications of FENOC to carry out its 
responsibilities under the operating license for Davis-Besse will be 
equivalent to the present technical qualifications of the current 
operators. FENOC will assume responsibility for, and control over, 
operation and maintenance of the facility. The present plant 
organization, the oversight organizations, and the engineering and 
support organizations will be transferred essentially intact to FENOC. 
The technical qualifications of the FENOC organization, therefore, will 
be at least equivalent to those of the existing organization.
    The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the 
proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences 
of accidents would not be increased and that post-accident radiological 
releases would not be greater than previously determined. Further, the 
Commission has determined that the proposed action would not affect 
routine radiological plant effluents and would not increase 
occupational radiological 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have 
no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be 
evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff 
considered denial of the requested 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 identical.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to 
the Operation of Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1,'' dated 
October 1975.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 21, 1998, the staff 
consulted with the State official of the Ohio Emergency Management 
Agency 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 
licensees' application dated June 29, 1998, as supplemented by letter 
dated July 14, 1998, 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 University of Toledo, William Carlson Library, Government Documents 
Collection, 2801 West Bancroft Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606.

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

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ronald R. Bellamy,
Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-24009 Filed 9-4-98; 8:45 am]
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