[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 241 (Wednesday, December 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 69330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33252]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311]


Public Service Electric and Gas Company, Salem Nuclear Generating 
Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. 
DPR-70 and DPR-75 issued to Public Service Electric and Gas Company 
(PSE&G, the licensee) for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating 
Station, Units 1 and 2, located in Salem County, New Jersey.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise Technical Specification (TS) 
Section 4.2.1, ``Aquatic Monitoring,'' of Appendix B, Environmental 
Protection Plan (EPP), to require that PSE&G adhere to the Incidental 
Take Statement issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 
but removes the specific language of the Incidental Take Statement. 
Removing the specific language from Section 4.2.1 enables PSE&G to use 
relief granted by NMFS and the Commission on a case-by-case basis 
without further action by the NRC staff.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated August 1, 1997, as supplemented by 
letters dated October 6, 1997, February 18 and July 7, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would provide PSE&G with the flexibility to 
utilize relief granted by the Commission and NMFS on a case-by-case 
basis without further action by the NRC staff. The current wording of 
Section 4.2.1 would require, in the event of changes to the Biological 
Opinion or the Incidental Take Statement, that PSE&G continue to 
maintain, for example, daily cleaning of the trash racks, from June 1 
through October 15, 1998, even though granted relief by the NMFS, until 
an amendment request could be submitted and approved by the Commission. 
The revision would enable PSE&G to have the ability to use approvals 
from the Commission and NMFS without requiring amendments to the TS. 
Changes to the Incidental Take Statement must be proceeded by 
consultation between the Commission, as the authorizing agency, and 
NMFS.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the proposed changes do not change the requirements 
or intent of Section 4.2.1. PSE&G would continue to adhere to the 
specific requirements within the Incidental Take Statement, to the 
Biological Opinion. The change 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 the allowable occupational or public radiation exposure. 
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has 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 is no significant 
environmental impact associated with 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 Statement for the 
Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 4, 1998, the 
staff consulted with the New Jersey State official, Mr. R. Pinney of 
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of 
Nuclear Engineering, 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 
licensee's letter dated August 1, 1997, as supplemented by letters 
dated October 6, 1997, February 18 and July 7, 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 Salem Free Public 
Library, 112 West Broadway, Salem, NJ 08079.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of December 1998.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert A. Capra,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-33252 Filed 12-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P