[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 11610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4630]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 72-11]


Sacramento Municipal Utility District Issuance of Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    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 Sacramento Municipal Utility District 
(SMUD or applicant). The requested exemption would allow SMUD to 
maintain a single set of spent fuel records at a records storage 
facility that satisfies the requirements set forth in ANSI/ASME, NQA-1-
1983, Supplement 17S-1 and the standards in ANSI N45.2.9-1974, for the 
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the Rancho Seco 
Nuclear Generating Station (Docket No. 72-11) in Sacramento County, 
California.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

Identification of Proposed Action

    By letter dated December 13, 2000, SMUD 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/ASME, NQA-1-
1983, Supplement 17S-1 including the standards 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 Rancho 
Seco Quality Manual will be used to satisfy the Quality Assurance (QA) 
requirements for the ISFSI. The Quality Manual states that QA records 
are maintained in accordance with commitments to ANSI/ASME, NQA-1-1983, 
Supplement 17S-1 as well as ANSI N45.2.9-1974. ANSI/ASME NQA-1-1983, 
Supplement 17S-1 and ANSI N45.2.9-1974 allow for the storage of QA 
records in a duplicate storage location sufficiently remote from the 
original records or in a single 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 Rancho Seco 
Nuclear Generating Station and ISFSI spent fuel records. The applicant 
states that requiring a separate method of record storage for ISFSI 
records diverts resources unnecessarily.
    ANSI/ASME NQA-1-1983, Supplement 17S-1 and ANSI N45.2.9-1974 
provide requirements for the protection of nuclear power plant QA 
records against degradation. They specify design requirements for use 
in the construction of record storage facilities when use of a single 
storage facility is desired. They include specific requirements for 
protection against degradation mechanisms such as fire, humidity, and 
condensation. The requirements in ANSI/ASME NQA-1-1983, Supplement 17S-
1 and 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/ASME 
NQA-1-1983, Supplement 17S-1 and ANSI N45.2.9-1974 also satisfy 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

    Exemption from 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 Rancho Seco Nuclear 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 23, 2001, California State official, Steven Hsu of the 
Radiological Health Branch of the California Department of Health, 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 SMUD may store 
spent fuel records at the ISFSI in a single record storage facility 
which meets the requirements of ANSI/ASME, NQA-1-1983, Supplement 17S-1 
and the standards in 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 
72-11. For further details with respect to this action, see the 
exemption request dated December 13, 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 
Document 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 14th 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. 01-4630 Filed 2-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P