[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4475-4476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2204]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-460]


Energy Northwest; Nuclear Project No. 1 (WNP-1) Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an extension of the latest construction completion date 
specified in Construction Permit No. CPPR-134 issued to Washington 
Public Power Supply System (permittee) for the Nuclear Project No. 1 
(WNP-1). As part of this proposed action, the staff will update the 
permit to reflect an administrative change in the permit holder's name 
from the Washington Public Power Supply System to Energy Northwest. The 
facility is located at Energy Northwest's site on the Department of 
Energy's Hanford Reservation in Benton County, Washington, 
approximately eight miles north of Richland, Washington.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would extend the latest construction completion 
date of Construction Permit No. CPPR-134 from June 1, 2001 to June 1, 
2011, and update the permit to reflect an administrative change in the 
permit holder's name from the Washington Public Power Supply System to 
Energy Northwest. The proposed action is in response to Energy 
Northwest's request dated April 9, 2001.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to grant the licensee the option of 
completing construction on WNP-1 in the future. Energy Northwest 
requested the extension for WNP-1 because some of its stakeholders 
requested that a viability study be conducted on the completion of the 
facility. The request was made, in part, because of the increase in the 
electrical load in the Pacific Northwest. Until the viability study is 
completed and decisions on generating options to meet future load 
forecasts are finalized, Energy Northwest would like to maintain 
completing WNP-1 as an option.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The environmental impacts associated with the construction of the 
facility have been previously discussed and evaluated in the Final 
Environmental Statement (FES), NUREG-75/012, March 1975, prepared as 
part of the NRC staff's review of the construction permit application. 
Because of the passage of time from the issuance of the FES, the staff 
requested additional information in a June 22, 2001, letter to Energy 
Northwest, to determine if the conclusions reached in the March 1975 
FES remain valid. Energy Northwest responded to these questions in a 
letter dated November 27, 2001.
    In its November 27, 2001, response, Energy Northwest addressed the 
impact of resumption of construction in the following areas: hstoric 
and culturally significant sites, disturbance of land and the Columbia 
River bed, socioeconomic impacts, additional cumulative impacts from 
other projects in the area, threatened and endangered species, and 
National Monuments. Highlights of Energy Northwest's response follow. 
Energy Northwest stated that no additional historic or culturally 
significant sites have been identified in areas that might be affected 
by the resumption of construction activities. Regarding disturbance of 
land and the Columbia River bed, Energy Northwest stated that 
resumption of construction would not require disturbance of any land 
that had not already been disturbed prior to the cessation of 
construction in 1983, and no disturbance of the riverbed or shoreline 
would be required by the resumption of construction.
    Regarding the socioeconomic impacts of WNP-1 construction, Energy 
Northwest noted that the population in the area has grown and the 
public infrastructure has grown as well. Energy Northwest concludes 
that ``[c]ompared to 1975, the estimated socioeconomic impacts of WNP-1 
construction would be the same or less.'' Regarding additional 
cumulative impacts from other projects in the area, Energy Northwest 
noted that it has no plans for other activities that could contribute 
to additional cumulative impacts. Energy Northwest did note that the 
U.S. Department of Energy has plans to construct a waste vitrification 
plant on the Hanford Site to process radioactive wastes presently 
stored in tanks. Energy Northwest states that no cumulative impact to 
the natural environment is anticipated if both construction of WNP-1 
and the vitrification plant were pursued concurrently. It did note that 
it is possible that there would be an incremental stress on the local 
infrastructure.
    Regarding threatened and endangered species, the staff provided two 
tables in its June 22, 2001, letter providing a list of species 
identified in the 1975 FES that have been listed as threatened or 
endangered by the Fish and Wildlife Service and a list of endangered 
species

[[Page 4476]]

based on information from the Environmental Protection Agency that may 
occur in Benton and Franklin Counties. In its November 27, 2001, 
response, Energy Northwest noted that ``[r]esumption of construction 
activities at WNP-1 would not be expected to cause adverse impacts to 
any listed aquatic or terrestrial species or their habitats. In-river 
construction work and all significant earthmoving activities have been 
completed. Experience at the neighboring Columbia Generating Station 
(having the same intake and outfall design) suggest that water 
withdrawals and discharges during construction and operation will not 
harm aquatic species.''
    Energy Northwest also responded to a question regarding a recent 
Presidential Action to create a National Monument in the area near the 
WNP-1 construction site. In its November 27, 2001, response, Energy 
Northwest described the boundaries of the Hanford Reach National 
Monument that was designated by Presidential proclamation on June 9, 
2000, noting that the monument generally includes a 1/4 mile corridor 
along the river in the vicinity of the WNP-1 site. In addition to the 
river corridor, the monument designation includes about 305 square 
miles that nearly circumscribe central Hanford. The areas leased by 
Energy Northwest for intake structures for WNP-1 and the Columbia 
Generating Station are included in the monument. Energy Northwest notes 
that construction activities at WNP-1 would not occur on or near the 
monument. However, there would be typical maintenance type activities 
within the WNP-1 makeup water pumphouse area. Based on Energy 
Northwest's November 27, 2001, response, the staff has determined that 
the conclusions reached in the March 1975 FES remain valid.
    The construction of WNP-1 is approximately 65 percent complete; 
therefore, most of the construction impacts discussed in the FES have 
already occurred. This action would extend the period of construction 
as described in the FES and update the name of the construction permit 
holder. It does not involve any different impacts as described and 
analyzed in the environmental report and will not involve any different 
impacts from those described and analyzed in the environmental report. 
The proposed amendment will not allow any work to be performed that is 
not already allowed by the existing construction permit. The extension 
will grant Energy Northwest more time to complete construction in 
accordance with the previously approved construction permit. The change 
in the corporate name from the Washington Public Power Supply System to 
Energy Northwest is administrative in nature. The legal corporate 
status of the construction permit holder has not changed.
    Based on the foregoing, the NRC staff has concluded that the 
proposed action would have no significant environmental impact. Because 
this action would only extend the period of construction activities 
described in the FES, it does not involve any different impacts or a 
significant change to those impacts described and analyzed in the 
environmental report. Consequently, an environmental impact statement 
addressing the proposed action is not required.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    A possible alternative to the proposed action would be to deny the 
request. This would result in expiration of the construction permit for 
WNP-1. This option would require submittal of another application for 
construction in order to allow the permittee to complete construction 
of the facility with no significant environmental benefit. The 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternative action are 
similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in the FES for WNP-1.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on January 17, 2002, the 
staff consulted with the Washington State Official, Mr. Michael Mills 
of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had the 
following comment: ``Energy Northwest has an active Site Certification 
Agreement with the State of Washington that would allow, subject to 
amendment, WNP-1 to be constructed and operated. The State also 
maintains regulatory oversight of activities at the site.''

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes 
that this 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 this action.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
request for extension dated April 9, 2001, and its response to the 
staff's request for additional information dated November 27, 2001. 
Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public 
Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike 
(first floor), Rockville, Maryland. 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 24th day of January 2002.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Marsha K. Gamberoni,
Deputy Director, New Reactor Licensing Project Office, Office of 
Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 02-2204 Filed 1-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P