[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 18124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8399]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Dockets No. 72-02, 72-16]


Virginia Electric and Power Company; 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 72.48 to Virginia Electric and Power Company 
(Dominion). The requested exemption would allow Dominion to implement 
the amended 10 CFR 72.48 requirements on June 25, 2001, for the 
Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installations (ISFSI) at the Surry Power 
Station in Surry County, Virginia and at the North Anna Power Station 
in Louisa County, Virginia.

Environmental Assessment (EA)

    Identification of Proposed Action: By letter dated March 2, 2001, 
Dominion requested a scheduler exemption from the implementation date 
of April 5, 2001, for the revised 10 CFR 72.48. Dominion plans to 
implement its revised 10 CFR 50.59 and 10 CFR 72.48 programs 
simultaneously. The planned date for implementing the revised 10 CFR 
50.59 requirements is June 25, 2001.
    Need for Proposed Action: The applicant wants the implementation 
date of 10 CFR 50.59 and 10 CFR 72.48 to coincide. The applicant stated 
in the March 2, 2001, submittal that one common process is utilized to 
administer and control changes under both the 10 CFR 50.59 and 10 CFR 
72.48 at both facilities. In addition, the same individuals, whom are 
qualified on both rules, perform the required evaluations for both 
change processes, and thus a single point in time provides for a more 
orderly transition to the amended rules.
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: There are no 
significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. 
The new revision of 10 CFR 72.48 is considered less restrictive than 
the current requirements, with the exception of the additional 
reporting requirements. Continued implementation of the existing 10 CFR 
72.48 until June 25, 2001, is acceptable to the NRC as stated in 
Regulatory Issues Summary 2001-03 which states that it is the NRC's 
view that both the old rule and the new rule provide an acceptable 
level of safety. Extending the current requirements until June 25, 
2001, has no significant impact on the environment.
    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 scheduler 
exemption and, therefore, not allow Dominion to implement the revised 
10 CFR 72.48 requirements on the desired date, June 25, 2001. However, 
the environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative 
would be the same.
    Agencies and Persons Consulted: On March 22, 2001, Mr. Les Foldese 
of the Virginia Department of Health, Radiological Health Programs was 
contacted regarding the environmental assessment for the proposed 
action and had no comment.

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 
on the foregoing EA, the Commission finds that the proposed action of 
granting an exemption from 10 CFR 72.48, so that Dominion may implement 
the amended requirements on June 25, 2001, will not significantly 
impact the quality of human environment. Accordingly, the Commission 
has determined that an environmental impact statement for the proposed 
action is not necessary.
    The request for exemption was docketed under 10 CFR part 72, 
Dockets 72-02 and 72-16. For further details with respect to this 
action, see the exemption request dated March 2, 2001, 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 29th day of March 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety 
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-8399 Filed 4-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P