[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 218 (Friday, November 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58660-58661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27276]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket 50-331; NRC-2009-0497]


FPL Energy Duane Arnold, LLC, Central Iowa Power Cooperative, 
Corn Belt Power Cooperative, Duane Arnold Energy Center; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of an amendment for Facility Operating License No. DPR-49, 
issued to FPL Energy Duane Arnold, LLC (the licensee), for operation of 
the Duane Arnold Energy Center, located in Linn County, Iowa. 
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 change the legal name of the Licensee and 
Co-owner from ``FPL Energy Duane Arnold, LLC'' to ``NextEra Energy 
Duane Arnold, LLC.''
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated April 17, 2009.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is necessary to reflect the legal change of 
name of the Licensee and Co-Owner on April 16, 2009.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has concluded in its safety evaluation of the proposed 
action that since this action is for a name change only that (1) there 
is a 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 amendments will not be 
inimical to the common defense and security or to the health and safety 
of the public.
    The details of the NRC 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 offsite. There is no significant 
increase in the amount of any effluent released offsite. There is no 
significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation 
exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does 
not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other 
environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant non-
radiological 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. 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 Impact Statement 
for the Duane Arnold Energy Center, dated March 31, 2009.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 19, 2009, the NRC 
staff consulted with the Iowa State Liaison Officer 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 April 17, 2009. Documents may

[[Page 58661]]

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 send 
an e-mail to [email protected].

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of November 2009.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Karl Feintuch,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch III-1, Division of Operating 
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. E9-27276 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]
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