[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61172-61174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-25930]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-317, 50-318, 72-8, 50-333, 72-12, 50-220, 50-410, 72-
1036; NRC-2018-0262]


Exelon Generation Company, LLC; Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power 
Plant, Units 1 and 2; Calvert Cliffs Independent Spent Fuel Storage 
Installation; James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant; Nine Mile Point 
Nuclear 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 a 
request to amend licenses held by Exelon Generation Company, LLC 
(Exelon, the licensee) for the operation of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear 
Power Plant (Calvert Cliffs), Units 1 and 2; James A. FitzPatrick 
Nuclear Power Plant (FitzPatrick); and Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station 
(Nine Mile Point), Units 1 and 2 (the facilities). Amending these 
operating licenses would also affect the independent spent fuel storage 
installations (ISFSIs) at each facility. The proposed license 
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 and FONSI referenced in this document are available on 
November 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2018-0262 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-2018-0262. Address any 
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov 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 ``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 a request by Exelon to amend the following 
operating licenses: (1) Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-53 
and DPR-69 for Calvert Cliffs, Units 1 and 2, respectively, located in 
Calvert County, Maryland; (2) Renewed Facility Operating License No. 
DPR-59 for FitzPatrick located in Oswego County, New York; and (3) 
Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-63 and NPF-69 for Nine Mile 
Point, Units 1 and 2, respectively, located in Oswego County, New York. 
Amending these operating licenses would also affect the Calvert Cliffs 
ISFSI (Renewed License No. SNM-2505) and the generally licensed 
FitzPatrick and Nine Mile Point ISFSIs, which are co-located with the 
reactor facilities.
    In accordance with section 51.21 of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR), the NRC prepared 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, including the on-shift, minimum, 
and full-augmentation ERO staffing

[[Page 61173]]

requirements. 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 August 31, 2018 (ADAMS Package Accession No. 
ML18249A096).

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, in accordance with 10 CFR 
50.47 and appendix E to 10 CFR part 50. The emergency plan 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 emergency plans to ensure that they provide reasonable 
assurance that adequate protective measures can and will be taken in 
the event of a radiological emergency.
    In addition to this EA, the NRC is conducting a safety assessment 
of Exelon's proposed changes to the emergency plan for each facility. 
This safety review will be documented in a separate safety evaluation. 
The safety evaluation of the proposed changes to the emergency plans 
will determine whether there continues to be reasonable assurance that 
adequate protective measures can and will be taken in the event of a 
radiological emergency at Calvert Cliffs, FitzPatrick, or Nine Mile 
Point, 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 would align the emergency plans for the 
facilities with the NRC's alternative guidance for EROs provided in a 
June 12, 2018, letter to the Nuclear Energy Institute (ADAMS Accession 
No. ML18022A352). This alternative guidance is also included in 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 would provide Exelon with greater flexibility 
in staffing ERO positions. Additionally, this change reflects changes 
in NRC regulations and guidance, as well as advances in technologies 
and best practices, that have occurred since NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, 
Revision 1, was published in 1980. The application indicates that 
Exelon provided the State of New York a draft of the license amendment 
request for FitzPatrick and Nine Mile Point, and that the State of New 
York had no concerns. The application also indicates that Exelon 
provided the State of Maryland a draft of the license amendment request 
for Calvert Cliffs, and that the State of Maryland found the proposed 
changes acceptable.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action consists of changes related to staffing 
positions, position descriptions, duties, and duty locations specified 
in the emergency plans for Calvert Cliffs, FitzPatrick, and Nine Mile 
Point. 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 impacts on land use or water resources, 
including terrestrial and aquatic biota, as they involve no new 
construction, ground disturbing activities, or modification of plant 
operational systems. There would be no changes to the quality or 
quantity of nonradiological effluents and no changes to the plants' 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The overall 
staffing levels are not expected to increase; therefore, worker vehicle 
air emissions are not expected to increase and established threshold 
emissions set forth in 40 CFR 93.153(b) for designated nonattainment or 
maintenance areas would not be exceeded. Since the proposed changes 
will not increase staffing levels and will not involve ground 
disturbing activities, modification of plant operation systems, or new 
construction, 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 would be 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 the emergency plans would 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 
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 would be 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 license amendment request (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 would be 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. However, in accordance 
with 10 CFR 50.91, the licensee provided copies of its application to 
the States of New York and Maryland, and the NRC staff will consult 
with these states prior to issuance of the amendments.

[[Page 61174]]

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 Calvert Cliffs, FitzPatrick, and Nine Mile Point 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 or 
nonradiological impacts. The reason the environment would not be 
significantly affected is because the proposed changes are not expected 
to increase the overall staffing levels and do not involve any 
construction or modification of the specified facilities. This FONSI 
incorporates by reference the EA in Section II of this notice. 
Therefore, the NRC concludes that the proposed action would not have a 
significant effect on the quality of the human environment. 
Accordingly, the NRC has determined there is no need to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the proposed action.
    Previous considerations regarding the environmental impacts of 
operating Calvert Cliffs, Units 1 and 2; Calvert Cliffs ISFSI; 
FitzPatrick; and Nine Mile Point, Units 1 and 2, in accordance with 
their renewed operating licenses, are described in the documents listed 
in the table in Section IV.
    This FONSI and other related environmental documents may be 
examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's PDR, located at One 
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. 
Publicly-available records are also 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 by 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 for     ML18249A096
 Approval of Changes to Emergency Plan
 Staffing Requirements, dated August 31,
 2018.
NRC letter to the Nuclear Energy          ML18022A352
 Institute, Alternative Guidance for
 Licensee Emergency Response
 Organizations, dated June 12, 2018.
NUREG[dash]0654/FEMA[dash]REP[dash]1,     ML14163A605 and ML17083A815
 draft Revision 2, ``Criteria for
 Preparation and Evaluation of
 Radiological Emergency Response Plans
 and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear
 Power Plants''.
NUREG[dash]1437, Supplement 1, ``Generic  ML063400277
 Environmental Impact Statement for
 License Renewal of Nuclear Plants:
 Regarding the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear
 Power Plant,'' Final Report, dated
 October 1999.
NRC, ``Environmental Assessment for the   ML14282A278
 Proposed Renewal of U.S. Nuclear
 Regulatory Commission License No. SNM-
 2505 for Exelon Generation Corporation
 [sic], LLC's Calvert Cliffs Independent
 Spent Fuel Storage Installation,''
 dated October 2014.
NUREG[dash]1437, Supplement 31,           ML080170183
 ``Generic Environmental Impact
 Statement for License Renewal of
 Nuclear Plants: Regarding James A.
 FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant,''
 Final Report, dated January 2008.
NUREG[dash]1437, Supplement 24,           ML061290310
 ``Generic Environmental Impact
 Statement for License Renewal of
 Nuclear Plants: Regarding James A.
 FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant,''
 Final Report, dated May 2006.
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    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, on November 23, 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. 2018-25930 Filed 11-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P