[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 135 (Thursday, July 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43384-43385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17768]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-263]


Northern States Power Co.; Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant; 
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-22, 
issued to Northern States Power Company (NSP or the licensee) for 
operation of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, located in Wright 
County, Minnesota.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise Technical Specification (TS) 
Chapter 6 to allow use of generic titles for personnel in lieu of 
plant-specific titles, update the TS table of contents to reflect 
changes due to the amendment, and correct typographical errors.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated May 4, 2000.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would provide clarity to the TSs and remove an 
unnecessary NRC and licensee burden with no increase in safety when 
titles are changed.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that the changes to the TSs are administrative in nature.
    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 
Monticello.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on June 22, 2000, the staff 
consulted with the Minnesota State official, Ms. N. Campbell 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 application dated May 4, 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).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of July 2000.


[[Page 43385]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Carl F. Lyon,
Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate III, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-17768 Filed 7-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P