[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 33686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13524]



[[Page 33686]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-255]


Nuclear Management Company, LLC, Palisades Plant; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-20, 
issued to Nuclear Management Company, LLC (the licensee), for operation 
of the Palisades Plant, located in Van Buren County, Michigan. 
Therefore, as required by Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR), Section 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 give approval to the licensee to update 
the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) to reflect a change in the 
licensing basis for the handling of heavy loads using the L-3 crane 
main hoist. Specifically, the proposed changes would credit the L-3 
crane as a single-failure-proof design, meeting the guidelines of 
NUREG-0612, ``Control of Heavy Loads at Nuclear Power Plants'' and 
NUREG-0554, ``Single-Failure-Proof Cranes for Nuclear Power Plants,'' 
and the amendment would also approve use of the L-3 crane for below-
the-hook loads up to 110 tons.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated January 29, 2004, as supplemented by letters dated 
May 14, and June 2, 2004.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to allow the licensee to increase the 
rated capacity of the spent fuel pool crane and incorporate a single-
failure-proof design. Upgrading the crane is necessary to allow the 
loading of a new dry fuel storage cask.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its safety evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that: (1) There is reasonable assurance that the health 
and safety of the public will not be endangered by operation in the 
proposed manner; (2) such activities will be conducted in compliance 
with the Commission's regulations; and (3) the issuance of the 
amendment will not be inimical to the common defense and security or to 
the health and safety of the public. The details of the staff's safety 
evaluation will be provided in the license amendment that will be 
issued as part of the letter to the licensee approving the license 
amendment.
    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 the amount of any effluent released offsite. 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 it 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 for 
the Palisades Plant, dated February 1978.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    On June 9, 2004, the staff consulted with the Michigan State 
official, Mary Ann Elzerman, of the Michigan Department of 
Environmental Quality, 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 January 29, 2004, as supplemented on May 14 and 
June 2, 2004. 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 to 
[email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of June 2004.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stang,
Sr. Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate III, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 04-13524 Filed 6-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P