[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38400-38401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16295]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-219]


AmerGen Energy Company, LLC; Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating 
Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 55, Section 55.59 for Facility 
Operating License No. DPR-16, issued to AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 
(AmerGen or the licensee), for operation of the Oyster Creek Nuclear 
Generating Station (OCNGS), located in Ocean County, New Jersey. 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 constitute a one-time exemption to allow 
the current licensed operator requalification program to exceed 24 
months. Specifically, it would extend the current licensed operator 
requalification program, including both the comprehensive 
requalification written examinations and the operating tests, for a 
period up to 90 days following resolution of the current strike but not 
to exceed six (6) months from the end of the current requalification 
program, i.e., to December 31, 2003. The next requalification program 
period would begin upon conclusion of the current program and continue 
to June 30, 2005, with successive periods running for 24 months. The 
requested exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55.59, Item 
(c)(1), applies to both Reactor Operator and Senior Reactor Operator 
licensed personnel.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated May 30, 2003.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would extend the current OCNGS requalification 
program from June 30, 2003, to 90 days following resolution of the 
strike, but no later than December 31, 2003. The proposed action is 
needed to allow for minimal interruption of the licensed personnel 
based on scheduling difficulties associated with the current labor 
strike, which commenced on May 22, 2003. The strike involves bargaining 
unit employees at OCNGS, including Reactor Operator licensed personnel.

[[Page 38401]]

Since the beginning of the strike, OCNGS has been operated by Senior 
Reactor Operator licensed personnel. As a result, both types of 
licensed personnel are unavailable for the requalification written 
examinations and operating tests until the strike is over.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts 
associated with the extension of the completion date for the operator 
requalification program from June 30, 2003, to 90 days following 
resolution of the strike, but no later than December 31, 2003.
    The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents, it will make no changes to 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 NRC 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. Thus, 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 for 
OCNGS, dated December 1974.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On June 9, 2003, the NRC staff consulted with the State official, 
Mr. Rich Pinney of the New Jersey Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, 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 Commission 
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission 
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 30, 2003. 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 at O-1 F21, 11555 Rockville 
Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records are 
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 PDR 
Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by 
e-mail to [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of June, 2003.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Peter S. Tam,
 Senior Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate 1, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 03-16295 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
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