[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57143-57144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28582]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-410 AND 50-244]
Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.; Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.;
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2; R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power
Plant; 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, an
application regarding a transfer of control of the operating license
for R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant (Ginna) and the operating license
for the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No. 2 (NMP2) to the
extent held by Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E or
Applicant). The transfer would be to a holding company, not yet named,
to be created over Applicant in accordance with the ``Amended and
Restated Settlement Agreement'' before the Public Service Commission of
the State of New York dated October 23, 1997 (Case 96-E-0989) (see
Exhibit A in the application dated July 30, 1998). Applicant is
licensed by the Commission to own and possess a 14-percent interest in
NMP2, located in the town of Scriba, Oswego County, New York, and to
wholly own, maintain and operate the R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant
located in Wayne County, New York.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would consent to the transfer of control of the
licenses to the extent effected by Applicant becoming a subsidiary of
the newly formed holding company in connection with a proposed plan of
restructuring. Under the restructuring plan, the outstanding shares of
Applicant's common stock are to be exchanged on a share-for-share basis
for common stock of the holding company, such that the holding company
will own all of the outstanding common stock of Applicant. The holding
company, and not RG&E, would be the owner of any
[[Page 57144]]
unregulated non-utility subsidiaries. Applicant will continue to be an
``electric utility'' as defined in 10 CFR 50.2 engaged in the
transmission, distribution, and generation of electricity. Applicant
would retain its ownership interest in NMP2 and Ginna, continue to
operate Ginna, and continue to be a licensee of NMP2 and Ginna. No
direct transfer of the operating licenses or ownership interests in the
stations will result from the proposed restructuring. The transaction
would not involve any change to either the management organization or
technical personnel of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (NMPC), which
is responsible for operating and maintaining NMP2 and is not involved
in the restructuring of Applicant, and would not involve any change in
the nuclear management or technical qualification of RG&E. Also, the
transaction would have no effect upon the financing of the RG&E nuclear
plants. The proposed action is in accordance with Applicant's
application dated July 30, 1998, as supplemented August 18, 1998, and
September 14, 1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is required to enable Applicant to restructure
as described above.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
corporate restructuring and concludes that it is an administrative
action having no effect upon the operation of either plant. There will
be no physical changes to NMP2 or Ginna. The corporate restructuring
will not affect the qualifications or organizational affiliation of the
personnel who operate and maintain NMP2 and Ginna, as NMPC will
continue to be responsible for the maintenance and operation of NMP2
and is not involved in the restructuring of RG&E, and RG&E will
continue to be responsible for the maintenance and operation of Ginna.
The proposed action will 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 occupational or offsite 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 restructuring
would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have no
other nonradiological environmental impact.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there are no significant
environmental impacts that would result from 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
denial of the proposed 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 similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statements Related to
the Operation of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit No. 2, (NUREG-
1085) dated May 1985, and in the Final Environmental Statements Related
to the Operations of the R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, dated December
1973.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on August 31, 1998, the staff
consulted with the New York State official, Mr. Jack Spath, 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
Applicants' application dated July 30, 1998, as supplemented August 18,
1998, and September 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 Reference and Documents Department, Penfield Library,
State University of New York, Oswego, New York 13126, and the Rochester
Public Library, 115 South Avenue, Rochester, New York 14610.
Dated at Rockville, MD, this 16th day of October 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. 98-28582 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am]
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