[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 34833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16488]



[[Page 34833]]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389]


Florida Power & Light Company, Inc., et al., St. Lucie Plant, 
Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. 
DPR-67 and NPF-16, issued to Florida Power and Light Company (the 
licensee), for operation of the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2 
located in St. Lucie County, Florida.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendments would revise the St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 
and 2, Technical Specifications, Appendix B, ``Environmental Protection 
Plan (Non-Radiological)'' (EPP), to incorporate the terms and 
conditions of the Incidental Take Statement in the Biological Opinion 
issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on February 7, 
1997, and subsequently modified on May 8, 1998. The proposed amendments 
will replace Section 4, ``Environmental Conditions,'' of the EPPs for 
both Units 1 and 2, and add Section 5, ``Administrative Procedures,'' 
to the Unit 1 EPP and revise the current EPP Section 5 for Unit 2.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated December 1, 1997, as supplemented in a 
letter dated August 26, 1998.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would incorporate the terms and conditions of 
the Incidental Take Statement of the Biological Opinion issued by NMFS 
into St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 operating licenses as well as provide 
consistency between the Unit 1 and Unit 2 Environmental Protection 
Plans.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that implementation of the Incidental Take Statement in 
St. Lucie's Environmental Protection Plan for Units 1 and 2 would 
support the National Marine Fisheries Service conclusion that the 
continued operation of the circulating water system at St. Lucie Plant 
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or 
endangered sea turtle species under NMFS jurisdiction. The Incidental 
Take Statement identifies actions that have been or will be taken by 
St. Lucie to ensure the takes of endangered sea turtles are limited. 
These actions include the use of two different mesh barrier nets across 
the intake canal, a capture and release program for endangered sea 
turtles found in the intake canal, a program to monitor for endangered 
sea turtles at the cooling water intakes on a regular basis, and a 
study to elucidate the effect of various factors on turtle entrapment.
    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 St. Lucie not implementing 
the Incidental Take Statement which would lead to takes of endangered 
sea turtles outside the NMFS Biological Opinion. The environmental 
impacts of the proposed action are less than the alternative action.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the St. 
Lucie Nuclear Plant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On June 9, 1999, the staff consulted with William Passetti, Chief, 
Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control, for the state of 
Florida, 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 action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated December 1, 1997, as supplemented in a letter 
dated August 26, 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 Indian River Community College Library, 3209 Virginia Avenue, Fort 
Pierce, Florida 34981-5596.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of June, 1999.
William C. Gleaves,
Project Manager, Section 2, and Project Directorate II, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-16488 Filed 6-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P