[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 8123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2481]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket 72-10]


Nuclear Management Company, LLC; Prairie Island Independent Spent 
Fuel Storage Installation; Issuance of Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Amendment To 
Revise the License and Technical Specifications of License No. SNM-2506

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.56, to the 
Special Nuclear Materials License No. 2506 (SNM-2506) held by the 
Nuclear Management Company, LLC (licensee) for the Prairie Island 
independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). The requested 
amendment would revise the license and Technical Specifications of SNM-
2506 to specifically permit the storage of burnable poison rod 
assemblies (BPRAs) and thimble plug devices (TBDs) within the TN-40 
casks used at the Prairie Island ISFSI.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

Identification of Proposed Action

    The staff is considering issuance of an amendment to revise the 
license and Technical Specifications of SNM-2506 for the Prairie Island 
ISFSI. The changes to the license and Technical Specifications would 
specifically permit the storage of BPRAs and/or TPDs within the TN-40 
dry storage casks used at the Prairie Island ISFSI.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to eliminate the need to physically 
remove BPRAs and TPDs from irradiated fuel assemblies that have already 
been loaded into the TN-40 dry storage casks and irradiated fuel 
assemblies that will be loaded into TN-40 dry storage casks in the 
future. Permitting the proposed action would result in the reduction of 
exposure time to plant workers handling the BPRAs and TPDs and a more 
effective ALARA program pursuant to 10 CFR 20.1101(b).

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that granting the amendment to specifically allow the storage 
of BPRAs and TPDs within the TN-40 casks used at the Prairie Island 
ISFSI will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents. 
No changes are being made in the types of any effluents that may be 
released offsite. With regard to radiological impacts, the addition of 
irradiated BPRAs and TPDs only affects the gamma source term of the 
cask. The offsite dose rates were calculated to increase an 
insignificant amount. Therefore, there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    The amendment only affects the requirements associated with the 
content of the casks and does not affect non-radiological plant 
effluents or any other aspects of the environment. Therefore, there are 
no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    Since there is no significant environmental impact associated with 
the proposed action, alternatives are not evaluated other than the no 
action alternative. The alternative to the proposed action would be to 
deny the request for amendment (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
Denial of the proposed action would result in greater exposures to 
plant workers due to the fact that the BPRAs and TPDs would have to be 
physically removed from each fuel assembly possessing them. Physical 
removal of irradiated BPRAs and TPDs would increase exposure time and 
dose to the plant workers and would require disposal or storage of 
additional radioactive material (i.e., BPRAs and TPDs) that would 
otherwise be safely stored if the BPRAs and TPDs are left intact with 
its irradiated fuel assembly and loaded into dry cask storage. The 
environmental impacts of the alternative action may be greater than the 
proposed action.
    Given that there may be greater environmental impacts associated 
with the alternative action of denying the amendment, the Commission 
concludes that the preferred alternative is to grant this amendment 
request.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On December 27, 2000, Mr. Rakow of the Minnesota Department of 
Commerce, Electric Unit, was consulted about the EA for the proposed 
action and had no concerns.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed 
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR part 51. Based 
upon the foregoing EA, the Commission finds that the proposed action of 
granting an amendment to permit the storage of BPRAs and TPDs within 
the TN-40 casks used at the Prairie Island ISFSI will not significantly 
impact 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 this action, see the amendment 
application dated August 31, 1999, as supplemented. These documents are 
available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document 
Room, 11155 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of January 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-2481 Filed 1-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P