[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37173-37174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17430]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Washington Public Power Supply System
[Docket No. 50-397]


Nuclear Project No. 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 
No. NPF-21, issued to the Washington Public Power Supply System (the 
licensee), for operation of the Washington Nuclear Project No. 2 (WNP-
2), located in Benton County, Washington.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed one-time exemption to 10 CFR 55.59(a)(2), would allow 
the licensee to extend the completion date for the administration of 
the annual licensed operator examinations for the WNP-2 requalification 
program from October 23, 1999, to February 12, 2000.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated May 7, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The schedular exemption is requested on a one-time only basis due 
to WNP-2 transitioning from a 12-month to a 24-month fuel cycle. As 
part of this transition, the Spring 1999 refueling outage has been 
moved to the Fall 1999 time frame. The current scheduled annual 
operating test conflicts with the Fall refueling outage. This one-time 
exemption will allow additional licensed operator support during the 
current refueling outage, which will provide a safety enhancement 
during plant shutdown operations, enhance post-maintenance testing and 
eliminate the need to conduct annual operating tests on overtime which 
will reduce operator fatigue. The affected licensed operators will 
continue to demonstrate and possess the required levels of knowledge, 
skills, and abilities needed to safely operate the plant throughout the 
extension period via continuation of the current satisfactory licensed 
operator requalification program. In meeting the requirement for the 
administration of the annual operating tests as currently scheduled, 
the refueling outage could be prolonged without a net benefit to 
safety, and would otherwise have a detrimental effect on the public 
interest.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes, since the operators will continue to participate in a 
requalification program, they will maintain their knowledge, skills, 
and abilities needed to safely operate the plant through the extension 
period.
    The proposed exemption 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.

[[Page 37174]]

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 
Washington Public Power System Nuclear Project No. 2 dated December 
1981.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on June 4, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the Washington State official, Mr. Crowley of the 
Department of Health, State of Washington Energy Facility Site 
Evaluation Council, 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 May 7, 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 Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate 
Street, Richland, Washington 99352.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of June 1999.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jack Cushing,
Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate IV & Decommissioning 
Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-17430 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]
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