[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5001-5002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2231]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[50-461]


Amergen Energy Company, LLC; Clinton 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 Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-62, issued to AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (the licensee), for 
operation of the Clinton Power Station, located in DeWitt County, 
Illinois.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would approve changes to the Updated Safety 
Analysis Report (USAR) concerning design requirements for physical 
protection from tornado missiles for safety-related equipment.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated March 1, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    During reviews of safety-related targets susceptible to tornado 
missile damage, it was identified that some building penetrations, 
ventilation openings, doors, and piping connected to the reactor core 
isolation cooling storage tank are not protected from tornado missiles. 
An analysis was performed to demonstrate that the probability of damage 
due to tornado missiles striking safety-related equipment is acceptably 
low. Therefore, the proposed action is needed to avoid unnecessary 
construction of tornado missile protection.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has evaluated the proposed action and concludes that 
there will be no physical change to the plant as-built; therefore, 
there will be no environmental impacts due to construction.
    With regard to plant design, the proposed action will not 
significantly 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 
Clinton Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on December 28, 1999, the 
staff consulted with the Illinois State official, Joseph Brittin, of 
the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety, 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 March 1, 1999, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and accessible 
electronically through the ADAMS Public Electronic Reading Room link at 
the NRC Web site (http://www.nrc.gov).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of January 2000.


[[Page 5002]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jon B. Hopkins,
Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate III, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-2231 Filed 2-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P