[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56820-56821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23488]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-341; NRC-2011-0215]


Detroit Edison Company, Fermi 2; 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. NPF-43, 
issued to Detroit Edison Company (the licensee), for operation of the 
Fermi 2, located in Monroe County, Michigan, in accordance with Title 
10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.90. Therefore, as 
required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC performed an environmental 
assessment. Based on the results of the environmental assessment, the 
NRC is issuing a finding of no significant impact.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the Radiological Emergency 
Response Preparedness Plan (RERP) to increase the staff augmentation 
times for the Operational and Technical Support Centers-related 
functions from 30 to 60 minutes, and for Emergency Operations Facility 
(EOF)-related functions from 60 to 90 minutes.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated September 24, 2010 (Agencywide Documents Access and 
Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML102700478), as supplemented 
by letter dated March 4, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML110660050).

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed change increases the emergency plan (EP) staff 
augmentation times from 30 and 60 minutes to 60 and 90 minutes. 
Specifically, the proposed change requests a revision to the Fermi 2 
Emergency Plan Table B-1, ``Fermi 2 Emergency Response Organization 
[ERO],'' to increase the staff augmentation times for Technical Support 
Center-related functions from 30 to 60 minutes, and for EOF-related 
functions from 60 to 90 minutes.
    The proposed change is needed to address concerns for the safety of 
ERO personnel when responding to the site due to the increase in 
population and redistribution within the 10-mile Emergency Planning 
Zone (EPZ). When considering that two lane roads comprise the majority 
of highways within the EPZ, this has created increased traffic 
congestion and increased traffic control delays. Consequently, 
personnel that respond to the site have encountered more delays than 
when the plant was first licensed. Additional delays may occur in the 
future based on continued population growth.
    Improvements have been made to equipment, procedures, and training 
since initial approval of the Fermi 2 EP that have resulted in a 
significant increase in the on-shift capabilities and knowledge such 
there would be no degradation or loss of EP function as a result of the 
proposed change. A functional analysis was also performed on the effect 
of the proposed change on the timeliness of performing major tasks for 
the major functional areas of RERP plan. The analysis concluded that 
extension of staff augmentation times would not significantly affect 
the ability to perform the required tasks.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its environmental assessment of the proposed 
exemption. The staff has concluded that the proposed action to increase 
the staff augmentation times for the Operational and Technical Support 
Centers-related functions from 30 to 60 minutes, and for EOF-related 
functions from 60 to 90 minutes would not significantly affect plant 
safety and would not have a significant adverse effect on the 
probability of an accident occurring.
    The proposed action would not result in an increased radiological 
hazard beyond those previously analyzed in the updated Safety Analysis 
Report. There will be no change to radioactive effluents that effect 
radiation exposures to plant workers and members of the public. No 
changes will be made to plant buildings or the site property. 
Therefore, no changes or different types of radiological impacts are 
expected as a result of the proposed exemption.
    The proposed action does not result in changes to land use or water 
use, or result in changes to the quality or quantity of non-
radiological effluents. No changes to the National Pollution Discharge 
Elimination System permit are needed. No effects on the aquatic or 
terrestrial habitat in the vicinity or the plant, or to threatened, 
endangered, or protected species under the Endangered Species Act, or 
impacts to essential fish habitat covered by the Magnuson-Stevens Act 
are expected. There are no impacts to the air or ambient air quality. 
There are no impacts to historical and cultural resources. There would 
be no noticeable effect on socioeconomic conditions in the region. 
Therefore, no changes or different types of non-

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radiological environmental impacts are expected as a result of the 
proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no 
significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
    The details of the staff's safety evaluation will be provided as 
part of the letter to the licensee approving issuance of the license 
amendment.

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 Statement for 
the Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant, Unit 2, NUREG-0769, dated August 
1981, as supplemented with Addendum No. 1 in March 1982.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on August 19, 2011, the NRC 
staff consulted with the State official, Mr. Ken Yale, of the Michigan 
Department of Natural Resources and Environment 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 September 24, 2010, as supplemented by letter 
dated March 4, 2011. 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 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 6th day of September, 2011.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Mahesh Chawla,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch 3-1, Division of Operating 
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2011-23488 Filed 9-13-11; 8:45 am]
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