[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 63337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30255]



[[Page 63337]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265]


Commonwealth Edison Co. and MidAmerican Energy Co.; Quad Cities 
Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2; 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 control of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-29 and DPR-
30, to the extent held by MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) for 
possession of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2 
(Quad Cities), located in Rock Island County, Illinois.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent to the transfer of control of the 
licenses, with respect to MidAmerican's 25 percent ownership interest 
in Quad Cities, to the extent such transfer would be effected by a 
proposed corporate merger involving CalEnergy Company (CalEnergy) and 
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (MAHC), the parent of MidAmerican. 
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) alone is licensed to operate, as 
well as possess Quad Cities and is not involved in the proposed merger. 
MidAmerican would continue to remain the minority owner and possession-
only licensee of the facility.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the application dated 
September 10, 1998, filed by CalEnergy and MidAmerican, accompanied by 
cover letters dated September 10, 1998, and supplemented by a letter 
dated September 16, 1998, and attachments thereto, from Roy P. Lessy, 
Jr., counsel for CalEnergy and MidAmerican.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to permit the consummation of the 
proposed corporate merger discussed above to the extent the merger will 
effect a transfer of control of the licenses.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed merger 
and concludes that there will be no changes to Quad Cities or the 
environment as a result of this action. The transfer of control of the 
licenses to the extent effected by the merger between MidAmerican and 
CalEnergy will not affect the numbers, qualifications, or 
organizational affiliation of the personnel who operate the facility, 
since ComEd is not involved in the proposed merger and will continue to 
be solely responsible for the operation of Quad Cities. No changes are 
being made with respect to any requirements governing plant operations 
or equipment.
    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 by the proposed action 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 non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action would not affect non-radiological plant effluents and would have 
no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded that there are no significant 
environmental effects associated with the proposed action, any 
alternative with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the requested approval. 
Denial of the application would result in no change in current 
environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and the alternative actions are identical.

Alternative Use of Resources

    The action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in the Final Environmental Statement Related to Operation of 
Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, dated September 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on September 30, 1998, the 
staff consulted with the Illinois State official, Mr. Frank Niziolek, 
Head, Reactor Safety Section, Division of Engineering, Illinois 
Department of Nuclear Safety, regarding the environmental impact of the 
proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the foregoing 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 request 
for approval dated September 10, 1998, accompanied by cover letters 
dated September 10, 1998, and supplemented by a letter dated September 
16, 1998, and attachments thereto, from Roy P. Lessy, Jr., counsel for 
CalEnergy and MidAmerican, 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 public document room located at 
the Dixon Public Library, 221 Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, Illinois 61021.

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 4th day of November 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Stuart A. Richards,
Director, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-30255 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P