[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 116 (Thursday, June 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37583-37584]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15192]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-271]


Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear 
Power Station Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
amending, pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002, the previously granted approvals 
to dispose of slightly contaminated septic waste and cooling tower silt 
on-site by expanding the allowable waste stream to include slightly 
contaminated soil generated as a residual by-product of on-site 
construction activities as requested by Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power 
Corporation (the licensee), for operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear 
Power Station (Vermont Yankee), located in Windham County, Vermont.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would amend the previously granted approvals to 
dispose of slightly contaminated septic waste and cooling tower silt 
on-site by expanding the allowable waste stream to include low-levels 
of radioactively contaminated soil generated as a residual by-product 
of on-site construction and other activities.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's request 
dated June 23, 1999, as supplemented on January 4, 2000.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to dispose of slightly contaminated 
soil on-site. The licensee identified 25.5 cubic meters of soil to be 
disposed of on-site immediately, and approximately 28.3 cubic meters of 
soil/sand material on an annual basis until the expiration of the 
plant's operating license in 2013. The 25.5 cubic meters of 
contaminated soil was generated as a result of on-site construction 
activities. The anticipated 28.3 cubic meters of soil/sand material 
will be generated from the annual winter spreading of sand on roads and 
walkways at the plant site.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that the proposed action will be bound by the conditions for 
the on-site disposals previously reviewed and approved by the NRC. The 
licensee will continue to use the designated and approved areas of 
their property (approximately 1.9 acres in size) that currently 
receives the septic waste and cooling tower silts. Determination of the 
radiological dose impact of the new material has been made based on the 
same dose assessment models and pathway assumptions used in the 
previously approved submittals. The licensee's proposal was evaluated 
against the NRC staff's guidelines for on-site disposal and found to be 
acceptable. The potential exposure to members of the general public 
from the radionuclides in material was determined to be less than 1 
mrem/year, and meets the NRC staff's guidelines. Accordingly, the 
potential exposures are acceptable.
    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 offsite, and there is no significant 
increase in occupational or public radiation

[[Page 37584]]

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. Denial of the application would result 
in no change in current environmental impacts. As an additional 
alternative, the material could be shipped to an off-site low-level 
radioactive waste disposal facility. The costs associated with off-site 
disposal greatly exceeds the cost of on-site disposal without a 
compensating improvement in the environmental impacts. The 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative 
actions 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 Vermont 
Yankee Nuclear Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on June 8, 2000, the staff 
consulted with the Vermont State Official, William Sherman, of the 
Department of Public Service, 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 June 23, 1999, as supplemented on January 4, 
2000, which are 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 this NRC Web 
site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of June 2000.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Richard P. Croteau,
Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-15192 Filed 6-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P