[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 181 (Monday, September 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 50840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24380]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-245, 50-336, and 50-423]


Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), et al., Millstone 
Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Environmental Assessment 
and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of exemptions from Facility Operating License Nos. 
DPR-21, DPR-65, and NPF-49, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company 
(NNECO/the licensee), for operation of Millstone Nuclear Power Station, 
Units 1, 2, and 3 (Millstone), located in New London County, 
Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements 
of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Item IV.F.2.c regarding conduct of a 
full participation exercise of the offsite emergency plan every 2 
years. Under the proposed exemption, the licensee would reschedule the 
Federally-observed full-participation emergency exercise from September 
1999 to March 2000 and all future Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)--
and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)--evaluated exercises 
would occur biennially from the year 2000.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated August 3, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulation, (10 CFR) Part 50, 
Appendix E, Item IV.F.2.c requires each licensee at each site to 
conduct an exercise of its offsite emergency plan biennially. The NRC 
and FEMA 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 offsite emergency plans in September 1999, which is at the 
end of the required interval. To support the efficient and effective 
use of Federal resources, as discussed during the annual NRC Region I 
and FEMA (Regions I, II, and III) exercise scheduling meeting held in 
White Plains, New York, in December 1998, the planned September 1999 
exercise for Millstone was shifted to March 2000, which is beyond the 
required 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 Related to 
the Continuation of Construction of Unit 2 and the Operation of Units 1 
and 2, Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Millstone Point Company,'' 
dated June 1973 or ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the 
Operation of Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3,'' dated 
December 1984 (NUREG-1064).

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on August 5, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the Connecticut State official, Mr. Fred Scheuritzel 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 July 14, 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 August 3, 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 rooms located at the Learning Resources Center, Three Rivers 
Community-Technical College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich, 
Connecticut, and the Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, 
Waterford, Connecticut.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of September 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John A. Nakoski,
Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-24380 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P