[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10758-10759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3953]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 72-35]


Energy Northwest Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7, from the 
provisions of 10 CFR 72.72(d) to Energy Northwest (applicant). The 
requested exemption would allow Energy Northwest to maintain a single 
set of spent fuel records at a records storage facility, qualified in 
accordance with ANSI N45.2.9-1974, for the Independent Spent Fuel 
Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the Columbia Generating Station 
(formerly known as Washington Nuclear Plant 2) (Docket No. 72-35) in 
Benton County, WA.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

    Identification of Proposed Action: By letter dated December 12, 
2000, Energy Northwest requested an exemption from the requirement in 
10 CFR 72.72(d) which states in part that, ``Records of spent fuel and 
high level radioactive waste in storage must be kept in duplicate. The 
duplicate set of records must be kept at a separate location 
sufficiently remote from the original records that a single event would 
not destroy both sets of records.'' The applicant proposes to store a 
single set of spent fuel records at a records storage facility that 
satisfies the requirements set forth in ANSI N45.2.9-1974.
    The proposed action before the Commission is whether to grant this 
exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7.
    Need for the Proposed Action: The applicant stated that, pursuant 
to 10 CFR 72.140(d), the Energy Northwest Operational Quality Assurance 
(QA) Program Description will be used to satisfy the QA requirements 
for the ISFSI. The QA Program states that QA records are maintained in 
accordance with commitments to ANSI N45.2.9-1974. ANSI 45.2.9-1974 
allows for the storage of a single set of QA records in a records 
storage facility subject to certain provisions designed to protect the 
records from fire and other adverse conditions. The applicant seeks to 
provide uniform and consistent recordkeeping procedures and processes 
for the Columbia Generating Station and ISFSI spent fuel records. The 
applicant states that requiring a separate method of record storage for 
ISFSI records diverts resources unnecessarily.

[[Page 10759]]

    ANSI N45.2.9-1974 provides requirements for the protection of 
nuclear power plant QA records against degradation. It specifies design 
requirements for use in the construction of record storage facilities 
when use of a single storage facility is desired. It includes specific 
requirements for protection against degradation mechanisms such as 
fire, humidity, and condensation. The requirements in ANSI N45.2.9-1974 
have been endorsed by the NRC in Regulatory Guide 1.88, ``Collection, 
Storage and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant Quality Assurance 
Records,'' as adequate for satisfying the recordkeeping requirements of 
10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B. ANSI N45.2.9-1974 also satisfies the 
requirements of 10 CFR 72.72 by providing for adequate maintenance of 
records regarding the identity and history of the spent fuel in 
storage. Such records would be subject to and need to be protected from 
the same types of degradation mechanisms as nuclear power plant QA 
records.
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: Elimination of the 
requirement to store ISFSI records at a duplicate facility has no 
impact on the environment. Storage of records does not change the 
methods by which spent fuel will be handled and stored at the Columbia 
Generating Station and ISFSI and does not change the amount of any 
effluents, radiological or non-radiological, associated with the ISFSI.
    Alternative to the Proposed Action: Since there are no 
environmental impacts 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 approval of the exemption and, 
therefore, not allow storage of ISFSI spent fuel records at a single 
qualified record storage facility. However, the environmental impacts 
of the proposed action and the alternative would be the same.
    Agencies and Persons Consulted: On January 16, 2001, Mr. Richard 
Crowley of the Washington State Division of Radiation Protection, was 
contacted regarding the environmental assessment for the proposed 
action and had no comments.

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 exemption from 10 CFR 72.72(d), so that Energy Northwest 
may store spent fuel records at the ISFSI in a single record storage 
facility which meets the requirements of ANSI N45.2.9-1974, will not 
significantly impact the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, 
the Commission has determined that an environmental impact statement 
for the proposed exemption is not necessary.
    The request for exemption was docketed under 10 CFR Part 72, Docket 
72-35. For further details with respect to this action, see the 
exemption request dated December 12, 2000, which is available for 
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, One White 
Flint North Building, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville Maryland 20852, 
or from the publicly available records component of NRC's agencywide 
documents access and management system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible 
from the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html (the 
Public Electronic Reading Room).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of February 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-3953 Filed 2-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P