[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43766-43767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18844]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-498 and 50-499]


STP Nuclear Operating Company; South Texas Project, Units 1 and 
2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating Licenses No. 
NPF-76 and NPF-80, issued to STP Nuclear Operating Company* (STPNOC) 
acting on behalf of itself and for Texas Genco, LP, the City Public 
Service Board of San Antonio (CPS), Central Power and Light Company 
(CPL), and the City of Austin, Texas (COA) (the licensees), dated March 
31, 2003, (the licensee), for operation of the South Texas Project, 
Units 1 and 2 located in Matagorda County, Texas. Therefore, as 
required by

[[Page 43767]]

Section 10 CFR 51.21 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 
CFR) Part 50, the Commission is issuing this environmental assessment 
and finding of no significant impact.
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    \*\ STP Nuclear Operating Company is authorized to act for Texas 
Genco, LP, the City Public Service Board of San Antonio, Central 
Power and Light Company, and the City of Austin, Texas, and has 
exclusive responsibility and control over the physical construction, 
operation, and maintenance of the facility.
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Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise Facility Operating Licenses No. 
NPF-76 and NPF-80, replacing ``Central Power and Light Company (CPL)'' 
with ``AEP Texas Central Company'' throughout the Operating License of 
each unit.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated March 31, 2003.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The application was submitted by STPNOC, acting on behalf of itself 
and for Texas Genco, LP, the City Public Service Board of San Antonio, 
Central Power and Light Company, and the City of Austin, Texas. The 
amendments change the operating license to reflect a change in the name 
of ``Central Power and Light Company (CPL),'' a licensed co-owner of 
the facility, to ``AEP Texas Central Company (AEP),'' effective 
December 23, 2002.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and changes to the licenses. We agree with the licensee that the name 
change will not impact the existing ownership of South Texas Project, 
Units 1 and 2 or the existing entitlement to power and will not alter 
the existing antitrust license conditions applicable to STPNOC's 
ability to comply with these conditions or with any of its other 
obligations or responsibilities. As stated by the licensee, ``With the 
exception of this name change, this transaction does not in any way 
affect the qualifications of AEP Texas Central Company for ownership of 
25.2% [percent] of South Texas Project Electric Generating Station 
Units 1 and 2 (STPEGS), nor does it involve any direct or indirect 
transfer of control of the STPEGS Operating Licenses.'' Therefore, the 
change will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, 
no changes are being made in the types or amounts of any 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 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 Commission concludes that there are no significant 
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff 
considered denial of the proposed action. 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

    This action does not involve the use of any different resources 
than those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement 
for the South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On July 15, 2003, the staff consulted with the Texas State 
official, Arthur Tate of the Division of Compliance and Inspection, 
Texas Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control, 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 application dated March 31, 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 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 PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-
4737, or by e-mail at [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of July, 2003.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert A. Gramm,
Chief, Section 1, Project Directorate IV, Division of Licensing Project 
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 03-18844 Filed 7-23-03; 8:45 am]
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