[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10120-10121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4460]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-302]


Florida Power Corporation, et al; Crystal River Unit 3; 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-72, 
issued to Florida Power Corporation (the licensee), for operation of 
Crystal River Unit 3, located in Citrus County, Florida.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment would revise the Crystal River Unit 3, 
Technical Specifications, Appendix B, ``Environmental Protection Plan 
(Non-Radiological)'' (EPP), to incorporate the reasonable and prudent 
measures, and the terms and conditions, of the Incidental Take 
Statement included with the Biological Opinion issued by the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which was forwarded to the licensee by 
the Commission on July 15, 1999. The proposed amendment will ensure 
that the information in the Biological Opinion is included in the EPP, 
and also makes several administrative changes to correct out-dated 
information.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated October 12, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would incorporate the reasonable and prudent 
measures and the terms and conditions of the Incidental Take Statement 
of the Biological Opinion issued by NMFS into the Crystal River Unit 3 
operating license.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that implementation of the Incidental Take Statement in the 
Crystal River Unit 3 Environmental Protection Plan would support the 
National Marine Fisheries Service conclusion that the continued 
operation of the cooling water intake system at the Crystal River 
Energy Complex 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 Crystal River to ensure the takes of endangered sea 
turtles are limited. These actions include a capture and release 
program for endangered sea turtles stranded on the intake canal bar 
racks, a program to monitor for endangered sea turtles at the cooling 
water intakes on a regular basis, and the maintenance of records of sea 
turtle strandings and takes.
    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 Crystal River 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 Crystal 
River Unit 3.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on January 12, 2000, 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 NRC concludes 
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the 
quality of the

[[Page 10121]]

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 October 12, 1999, 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).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of February 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
L.A. Wiens,
Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate II, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-4460 Filed 2-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P