[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7897-7898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3628]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-263]


Northern States Power Company, Monticello Nuclear Generating 
Plant; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an exemption from 10 CFR 55.59 for Facility Operating 
License No. DPR-22, issued to Northern States Power Company (NSP or the 
licensee), for operation of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, 
located in Wright County at the licensee's site in Wright and 
Sherbourne Counties, Minnesota.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow the licensed operator 
requalification examinations for the Monticello Nuclear Generating 
Plant to be rescheduled after the current refueling outage. The 
requested exemption would extend the completion date for the 
examinations from March 9, 2000, to May 12, 2000.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated January 19, 2000.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to provide a one-time extension of 
the requalification program duration from March 9, 2000, to May 12, 
2000. The proposed action is needed due to the delay in completing the 
examinations for the current requalification cycle because of (1) an 
unplanned outage in addition to two planned outages, (2) a delayed 
start of the second refuling outage, and (3) mid-cycle training program 
enhancements.

[[Page 7898]]

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that the exemption will not endanger life or property and is 
otherwise in the public interest.
    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 nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect 
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the NRC 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 
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on February 9, 2000, the 
staff consulted with the Minnesota State official, Ms. J. Peterson of 
the Department of Commerce, 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 NRC concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 19, 2000, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC. Publicly available 
records will be accessible electronically from the ADAMS Public Library 
component on the NRC Web site, http:\\www.nrc.gov (the Electronic 
Reading Room).


For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of February, 2000.
Carl F. Lyon,
Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate III, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-3628 Filed 2-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P