[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28468-28470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13089]
[[Page 28468]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. STN 50-456, STN 50-457, 72-73, 50-454, 50-455, 72-68, 50-
461, 72-1046, 50-010, 50-237, 50-249, 72-37, 50-373, 50-374, 72-70, 50-
254, 50-265, and 72-53; NRC-2018-0122]
Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Braidwood Station, Units 1 and 2;
Byron Station, Units 1 and 2; Clinton Power Station, Unit 1; Dresden
Nuclear Power Station, Units 1, 2, and 3; LaSalle County Station, Units
1 and 2; and Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact;
issuance.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of amendments to licenses held by Exelon Generation Company,
LLC (Exelon, the licensee) for the operation of Braidwood Station
(Braidwood), Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Byron Station (Byron), Unit Nos. 1 and
2; Clinton Power Station (Clinton), Unit No. 1; Dresden Nuclear Power
Station (Dresden), Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3; LaSalle County Station
(LaSalle), Unit Nos. 1 and 2; and Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station
(Quad Cities), Unit Nos. 1 and 2 (the facilities). The proposed
amendments would revise the emergency response organization (ERO)
positions identified in the emergency plan for each facility. The NRC
is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no
significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed license
amendments.
DATES: The EA referenced in this document is available on June 19,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0122 when contacting the
NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You
may obtain publicly-available information related to this document
using any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2018-0122. Address
questions about NRC dockets to Jennifer Borges; telephone: 301-287-
9127; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of
this document.
NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the
ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and
then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS,
please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if it is available
in ADAMS) is provided the first time that it is mentioned in this
document. In addition, for the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS
accession numbers are provided in a table in the ``Availability of
Documents'' section of this document.
NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public
documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555
Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Blake A. Purnell, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-1380; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of amendments to the following
licenses held by Exelon: (1) Renewed Facility Operating License Nos.
NPF-72 and NPF-77 for the operation of Braidwood, Unit Nos. 1 and 2,
respectively, located in Will County, Illinois; (2) Renewed Facility
Operating License Nos. NPF-37 and NPF-66 for the operation of Byron,
Unit Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, located in Ogle County, Illinois; (3)
Facility Operating License No. NPF-62 for the operation of Clinton
located in DeWitt County, Illinois; (4) Facility Operating License No.
DPR-2 for the possession and maintenance of Dresden, Unit No. 1,
located in Grundy County, Illinois; (5) Renewed Facility Operating
License Nos. DPR-19 and DPR-25 for the operation of Dresden, Unit Nos.
2 and 3, respectively, located in Grundy County, Illinois; (6) Renewed
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-11 and NPF-18 for the operation of
LaSalle, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, located in LaSalle County,
Illinois; and (7) Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-29 and
DPR-30 for the operation of Quad Cities, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in
Rock Island County, Illinois.
In accordance with section 51.21 of title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR), the NRC performed the following EA that analyzes
the environmental impacts of the proposed licensing action. Based on
the results of this EA, and in accordance with 10 CFR 51.31(a), the NRC
has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the
proposed licensing action, and is issuing a FONSI.
II. Environmental Assessment
Description of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would revise the ERO positions identified in
the emergency plan for each facility. The on-shift, minimum, and full-
augmentation ERO staffing requirements listed in the emergency plan
would be revised. The proposed revisions include eliminating ERO
positions; adding ERO positions; changing position descriptions,
duties, and duty locations; and relocating certain position
descriptions to other parts of the emergency plan or to implementing
procedures.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated January 31, 2018 (ADAMS Package Accession No.
ML18053A159).
Need for the Proposed Action
Nuclear power plant owners, Federal agencies, and State and local
officials work together to create a system for emergency preparedness
and response that will serve the public in the unlikely event of an
emergency. An effective emergency preparedness program decreases the
likelihood of an initiating event at a nuclear power reactor proceeding
to a severe accident. Emergency preparedness cannot affect the
probability of the initiating event, but a high level of emergency
preparedness increases the probability of accident mitigation if the
initiating event proceeds beyond the need for initial operator actions.
Each licensee is required to establish an emergency plan to be
implemented in the event of an accident. The emergency plan, in part,
covers preparation for evacuation, sheltering, and other actions to
protect individuals near plants in the event of an accident.
The NRC, as well as other Federal and State regulatory agencies,
reviews the emergency plan to ensure that it provides reasonable
assurance that adequate protective measures can and will be taken in
the event of a radiological emergency.
Separate from this EA, the NRC staff is performing a safety
assessment of Exelon's proposed changes to the emergency plan for each
facility. This safety review will be documented in a safety evaluation.
The safety evaluation will determine whether, with the
[[Page 28469]]
proposed changes to the emergency plan for each facility, there
continues to be reasonable assurance that adequate protective measures
can and will be taken in the event of a radiological emergency at
Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, or Quad Cities, in
accordance with the standards of 10 CFR 50.47(b) and the requirements
in appendix E to 10 CFR part 50.
The proposed action is needed to align the emergency plans for
Exelon's facilities with draft Revision 2 to NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1,
``Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation of Radiological Emergency
Response Plans and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear Power Plants''
(ADAMS Accession Nos. ML14163A605 and ML17083A815). This change will
provide Exelon with greater flexibility in staffing ERO positions, and
reflects changes in NRC regulations and guidance and advances in
technologies and best practices that have occurred since NUREG-0654 was
originally issued in 1980. The State of Illinois reviewed a draft of
the licensee's application and recommended its approval. The State of
Iowa reviewed a draft of the license amendment request for Quad Cities,
and had no comments or concerns.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC staff has completed its evaluation of the environmental
impacts of the proposed action.
The proposed action consists mainly of changes related to the
staffing levels and positions specified in the emergency plans for
Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities. The on-
shift, minimum, and full-augmentation ERO staffing requirements listed
in the emergency plan would be revised. The revisions include
eliminating ERO positions; adding ERO positions; changing position
descriptions, duties, and duty locations; and relocating certain
position descriptions to other parts of the emergency plan or to
implementing procedures.
With regard to potential nonradiological environmental impacts, the
proposed changes would have no direct impacts on land use or water
resources, including terrestrial and aquatic biota, as they involve no
new construction or modification of plant operational systems. There
would be no changes to the quality or quantity of nonradiological
effluents and no changes to the plant's National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System permit are needed. Changes in staffing levels could
result in minor changes in vehicular traffic and associated air
pollutant emissions, but no significant changes in ambient air quality
would be expected from the proposed changes. In addition, there would
be no noticeable effect on socioeconomic conditions in the region, no
environment justice impacts, and no impacts to historic and cultural
resources from the proposed changes. Therefore, there are no
significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the
proposed action.
With regard to potential radiological environmental impacts, if the
NRC staff's safety review of the proposed changes to the licensee's
emergency plans determines that, with the proposed changes, the
emergency plans continue to meet the standards of 10 CFR 50.47(b) and
the requirements in appendix E to 10 CFR part 50, then the proposed
action would not increase the probability or consequences of
radiological accidents. Additionally, the NRC staff has concluded that
the proposed changes would have no direct radiological environmental
impacts. There would be no change to the types or amounts of
radioactive effluents that may be released and, therefore, no change in
occupational or public radiation exposure from the proposed changes.
Moreover, no changes would be made to plant buildings or the site
property from the proposed changes. Therefore, there are no significant
radiological 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 license amendment request would result in no change in
current environmental impacts. Accordingly, the environmental impacts
of the proposed action and the no-action alternative are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
There are no unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of
available resources under the proposed action.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
No additional agencies or persons were consulted regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The licensee has requested license amendments pursuant to 10 CFR
50.54(q) to revise the ERO positions identified in the emergency plans
for Braidwood, Byron, Clinton, Dresden, LaSalle, and Quad Cities by
eliminating ERO positions; adding ERO positions; changing position
descriptions, duties, and duty locations; and relocating certain
position descriptions to other parts of the emergency plan or to
implementing procedures. The NRC is considering issuing the requested
amendments. The proposed action would not significantly affect plant
safety, would not have a significant adverse effect on the probability
of an accident occurring, and would not have any significant
radiological and nonradiological impacts. The reason the environment
would not be significantly affected is because the proposed changes
would only result in minor changes in staffing levels and a small
change in in air pollutant emissions associated with vehicular traffic.
This FONSI incorporates by reference the EA in Section II of this
notice. Therefore, 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.
Previous considerations regarding the environmental impacts of
operating Braidwood, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Byron, Unit Nos. 1 and 2;
Clinton, Unit No. 1; Dresden, Unit Nos. 2 and 3; LaSalle, Units 1 and
2; and Quad Cities, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, in accordance with their
original or renewed operating licenses, as applicable, are described in
the following documents:
NUREG-1437, Supplement 55, ``Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Braidwood
Station, Units 1 and 2,'' Final Report, dated November 2015 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML15314A814).
NUREG-1437, Supplement 54, ``Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding Byron
Station, Units 1 and 2,'' Final Report, dated July 2015 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML15196A263).
NUREG-0854, ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the
Operation of Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1,'' dated May 1982 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML15098A042).
NUREG-1437, Supplement 17, ``Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding the Dresden
Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3,'' Final Report, dated June 2004
(ADAMS Accession No. ML041890266).
NUREG-1437, Supplement 57, ``Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for License Renewal of
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Nuclear Plants: Regarding LaSalle County Station, Units 1 and 2,''
Final Report, dated August 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16238A029).
NUREG-1437, Supplement 16, ``Generic Environmental Impact
Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Regarding the Quad
Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2,'' Final Report, dated June
2004 (ADAMS Accession No. ML041880213).
Previous considerations regarding the environmental impacts of
decommissioning Dresden, Unit 1, are described in the following
documents:
``Environmental Assessment by the Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation Regarding Order Authorizing Facility Decommissioning
and Amendment of License No. DPR-2, Commonwealth Edison Company,
Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1, Docket No. 50-010,'' dated
August 30, 1993 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17123A156).
NUREG-0586, Supplement 1, Volumes 1 and 2, ``Generic
Environmental Impact Statement on Decommissioning of Nuclear
Facilities: Regarding the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Reactors,''
Final Report, dated November 2002 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML023470304 and
ML023500187).
This FONSI and other related environmental documents may be
examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room
(PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, Maryland 20852. Publicly-available records will be
accessible online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at 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's
PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or
send an email to [email protected].
IV. Availability of Documents
The documents identified in the following table are available to
interested persons through one or more of the following methods, as
indicated.
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Document ADAMS accession No.
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Exelon, License Amendment Request ML18053A159 (package).
for Approval of Changes to
Emergency Plan Staffing
Requirements, dated January 31,
2018.
NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, draft ML14163A605 and ML17083A815.
Revision 2, ``Criteria for
Preparation and Evaluation of
Radiological Emergency Response
Plans and Preparedness in Support
of Nuclear Power Plants''.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 55, ``Generic ML15314A814.
Environmental Impact Statement for
License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding Braidwood Station, Units
1 and 2,'' Final Report, dated
November 2015.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 54, ``Generic ML15196A263.
Environmental Impact Statement for
License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding Byron Station, Units 1
and 2,'' Final Report, dated July
2015.
NUREG-0854, ``Final Environmental ML15098A042.
Statement Related to the Operation
of Clinton Power Station, Unit No.
1,'' dated May 1982.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 17, ``Generic ML041890266.
Environmental Impact Statement for
License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding the Dresden Nuclear Power
Station, Units 2 and 3,'' Final
Report, dated June 2004.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 57, ``Generic ML16238A029.
Environmental Impact Statement for
License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding LaSalle County Station,
Units 1 and 2,'' Final Report,
dated August 2016.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 16, ``Generic ML041880213.
Environmental Impact Statement for
License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
Regarding the Quad Cities Nuclear
Power Station, Units 1 and 2,''
Final Report, dated June 2004.
NRC, ``Environmental Assessment by ML17123A156.
the Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation Regarding Order
Authorizing Facility
Decommissioning and Amendment of
License No. DPR-2, Commonwealth
Edison Company, Dresden Nuclear
Power Station, Unit 1, Docket No.
50-010,'' dated August 30, 1993.
NUREG-0586, Supplement 1, Volumes 1 ML023470304 and ML023500187.
and 2, ``Generic Environmental
Impact Statement on Decommissioning
of Nuclear Facilities: Regarding
the Decommissioning of Nuclear
Power Reactors,'' Final Report,
dated November 2002.
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Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of June, 2018.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Blake A. Purnell,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch III, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2018-13089 Filed 6-18-18; 8:45 am]
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