[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48531-48532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24302]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-440]


The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, et al. (Perry 
Nuclear Power Plant, Unit No. 1); Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the 
transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-58 issued to The 
Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Centerior Service Company, 
Toledo Edison Company, Ohio Edison Company, Pennsylvania Power Company, 
OES Nuclear, Inc., and Duquesne Light Company (the licensees) with 
respect to operating authority under the license, for the Perry Nuclear 
Power Plant, Unit No.1, located in Lake County, Ohio, 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 operating company, called the 
FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, to use and operate the Perry 
Nuclear Power Plant 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. The FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company would be 
formed by the FirstEnergy Corporation to become the licensed operator 
for the Perry Nuclear Power Plant and would have exclusive control over 
the operation and maintenance of the facility. After issuance of the 
transfer order and conforming license amendment, the owners will be 
authorized only to possess the facility and Centerior Service Company 
will be removed entirely from the license.
    Under the proposed arrangement, ownership of the Perry Nuclear 
Power Plant will remain unchanged with each owner retaining its current 
ownership interest. The FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company will not 
own any portion of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. Likewise, the owners' 
entitlement to capacity and energy from the Perry Nuclear Power Plant 
will not be affected by the proposed change in operating

[[Page 48532]]

responsibility for the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. The owners will 
continue to provide all funds for the operation, maintenance, and 
decommissioning of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. The responsibility of 
the owners will include funding for any emergency situations that might 
arise at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees' 
application dated June 30, 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 the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company 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 the Perry Nuclear Power 
Plant.

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 
the Perry Nuclear Power Plant. The technical qualifications of the 
FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company to carry out its responsibilities 
under the operating license for the Perry Nuclear Power Plant will be 
equivalent to the present technical qualifications of the current 
operators. The FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company 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 the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company. The 
technical qualifications of the FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, 
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 the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2,'' dated 
August 1982.

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 30, 1998, which is 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 Perry Public Library, 3753 Main Street, 
Perry, OH 44081.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of September 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elinor G. Adensam,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Projects--III/IV, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-24302 Filed 9-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P