[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22742-22743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10490]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-272 AND 50-311]


PSEG Nuclear, LLC, Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 
and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an exemption from title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10

[[Page 22743]]

CFR) part 50, Appendix R, sections III.G.3 and III.L.3, for Facility 
Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75, issued to PSEG Nuclear, LLC 
(the licensee), for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station 
(Salem), Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Salem County, New Jersey. 
Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an exemption from: (1) The 
requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, section III.G.3, ``Fire 
protection of safe shutdown capability,'' to the extent that a fixed 
suppression system must be installed in an area where alternative 
shutdown capability is provided for Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B and 1(2)-
FA-AB-84C; (2) the requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, section 
III.L.3, ``Alternative and dedicated shutdown capability,'' to the 
extent that alternative shutdown capability must accommodate conditions 
where offsite power is not available for 72 hours in Fire Areas 1(2)-
FA-AB-64B and 1(2)-FA-AB-84B; and (3) the requirements of 10 CFR part 
50, Appendix R, section III.L.3, relating to the use of separation in 
an alternate shutdown area for Fire Area 1(2)-FA-AB-84B.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated May 1, 2002, as supplemented on August 15, 2002.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption from sections III.G.3 and III.L.3 of 10 CFR 
part 50, Appendix R, is needed to resolve issues relating to an October 
8, 1997, notice of violation whereby PSEG failed to adequately qualify 
the Kaowool, FS-195 and Interam E-50 electrical raceway fire barrier 
systems (ERFBSs) installed at Salem. Resolution of these issues 
include: (1) A re-analysis of post-fire safe shutdown capability; (2) 
plant modifications to provide alternative safe shutdown capability 
through cross-tie connections between the Salem, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, 
Chemical and Volume Control Systems; and (3) superceding current 
exemptions applicable to Fire Areas 1(2)-FA-AB-64B, 1(2)-FA-AB-84B and 
1(2)-FA-AB-84C with the proposed exemptions.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that the proposed exemption does not involve radioactive 
wastes, release of radioactive material into the atmosphere, solid 
radioactive waste, or liquid effluents released to the environment.
    The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
effluents that may be released off site, and there is no significant 
increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there 
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does 
not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other 
environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant 
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action.
    Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
Denial of the application would result in no change in current 
environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action 
and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    The action does not involve the use of any different resources than 
those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement 
related to operation of Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 
2, dated April 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On March 26, 2003, the staff consulted with the New Jersey State 
official, Mr. Dennis Zannoni of the New Jersey Department of 
Environmental Protection, regarding the environmental impact of the 
proposed action. The State official had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes 
that the proposed 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 the proposed 
action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated May 1, 2002, and supplement dated August 15, 
2002. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's 
Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public 
File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically 
from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) 
Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, 
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have 
access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents 
located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC's PDR reference staff by 
telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to 
[email protected].

    Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of April, 2003.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James W. Clifford,
Chief, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of Licensing Project 
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 03-10490 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P