[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23365-23366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10836]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-309]


Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company, Maine Yankee Atomic Power 
Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to the Appendix A Technical 
Specifications (TS) to Facility Operating License No. DPR-36, a license 
held by the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPCo or the licensee). 
The amendment would apply to the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station 
(Maine Yankee), a permanently shutdown plant located at the MYAPCo site 
in Lincoln County, Maine.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would change the liquid and gaseous release 
rate limits included in the Radioactive Effluent Control Program 
portion of the TS to reflect revisions to 10 CFR part 20, ``Standards 
for Protection Against Radiation.'' The proposed action is in 
accordance with the licensee's application dated July 14, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to update the license to incorporate 
revised requirements of 10 CFR Part 20 (i.e., the need for the proposed 
action was created by a change in the regulatory requirements).

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
amendment to the Maine Yankee TS and concludes that issuance of the 
proposed amendment will not cause an increase in individual or 
cumulative occupational radiation exposures. The proposed change in TS 
effluent release rates will allow the licensee to retain operational 
flexibility consistent with the design objectives for radioactive 
effluent releases in Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50 and will not have a 
negative impact on the licensee's ability to continue to operate within 
as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) criteria.
    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 off site, and there is no 
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. 
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant

[[Page 23366]]

environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
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 related to 
Operation of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station (July 1972).

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 29, 1999, the NRC 
staff consulted with the Maine State Official, Mr. Patrick Dostie, 
Department of Human Services, regarding the environmental impact of the 
proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of 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 exemption.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
letter dated July 14, 1998, which is available for public inspection at 
the Commission Public Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20555, and at the local public document room 
located at the Wiscasset Public Library, High Street, Post Office Box 
367, Wiscasset, Maine, 04578.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of April 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Michael T. Masnik,
Chief, Decommissioning Section, Project Directorate IV & 
Decommissioning, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-10836 Filed 4-29-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P