[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33326-33327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15658]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[50-387 and 50-388]


PP&L, Inc.; Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 
2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from Facility Operating License 
Nos. NPF-14 and NPF-22, respectively, issued to PP&L, Inc., (the 
licensee), for operation of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, 
Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements 
of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Items IV.F.2.b and c regarding conduct 
of a full participation exercise of the onsite and offsite emergency 
plans every 2 years. Under the proposed exemption, the licensee would 
reschedule the federally observed full participation emergency exercise 
from November 1999, to October 2000.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for an exemption dated January 29, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulation, (10 CFR) Part 50, 
Appendix E, Items IV.F.2.b and c requires each licensee at each site to 
conduct an exercise of its onsite and offsite emergency plan every 2 
years. Federal agencies (the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the 
onsite exercise portion and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 
the offsite exercise portion) observe these exercises and evaluate the 
performance of the licensee, state and local authorities having a role 
under the emergency plan.
    The licensee had initially planned to conduct an exercise of its 
onsite and

[[Page 33327]]

offsite emergency plan in November 1999, which is at the end of the 2-
year required interval. Due to Federal agencies scheduling conflicts, 
the licensee found that its planned November 1999, exercise must now be 
shifted to October 2000, which is beyond the required 2-year interval.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the proposed action involves an administrative 
activity (a schedular change in conducting an exercise) unrelated to 
plant operations.
    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 
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 for the 
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on May 6, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Mr. Stan Maingi of the 
Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments. In 
addition, by letter dated March 11, 1999, from Ms. Vanessa Quinn, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated support for rescheduling 
the exercise.

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 action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated January 29, 1999, 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 Osterhout Free Library, Reference 
Department, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of June 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Victor Nerses,
Senior Project Manager, Secton I, Project Directorate I, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-15658 Filed 6-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P