[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 145 (Monday, July 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36629-36631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15977]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-244; NRC-2019-0147]
Exelon Generation Company LLC; R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact;
issuance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
issuance of an amendment to the license held by Exelon Generation
Company, LLC (Exelon, the licensee) for the operation of R.E. Ginna
Nuclear Power Plant (Ginna). The proposed license amendment would
revise the emergency response organization (ERO) positions identified
in the emergency plan for Ginna. The NRC is issuing an environmental
assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated
with the proposed license amendment.
DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on
July 29, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2019-0147 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 https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2019-0147. Address
questions about NRC 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 https://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
[[Page 36630]]
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: V. Sreenivas, Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC
20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2597; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering issuance of an amendment to Renewed Facility
Operating License No. DPR-18 held by Exelon for Ginna, located in Wayne
County, Northwestern part of New York.
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 Ginna emergency plan, including the on-shift, minimum, and full-
augmentation ERO staffing 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 January 15, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML19017A136).
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.
Separate from this EA, the NRC is conducting a safety assessment of
Exelon's proposed changes to the emergency plan for Ginna. This safety
review will be documented in a safety evaluation. The safety evaluation
of the proposed changes to the emergency plan 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 Ginna, 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 plan for Ginna 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 Ginna, and that the State of New York had no concerns.
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 plan for Ginna. 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; relocating certain position descriptions to other parts of
the emergency plan or to implementing procedures; and other conforming
administrative changes.
Regarding potential nonradiological environmental impacts, the
proposed action would have no direct impacts on land use or water
resources, including terrestrial and aquatic biota, as it involves 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 plant's
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit would be needed.
Changes in staffing levels and duty locations could result in minor
changes to 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 and environmental justice conditions in the
region and no potential to affect historical properties. Therefore,
there would be no significant nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Regarding potential radiological environmental impacts, if the NRC
staff's safety review of the proposed changes to the licensee's
emergency plan determines that it continues 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 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. Moreover, no changes would be made to plant buildings or the
site property. Therefore, there would be no significant radiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
[[Page 36631]]
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered
the 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 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(b), the licensee provided copies of its application
to the State of New York, and the NRC staff will consult with the State
prior to issuance of the amendment.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact
The licensee has requested a license amendment pursuant to 10 CFR
50.54(q) to revise the ERO positions identified in the emergency plan
for Ginna 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 license amendment would allow Exelon to
make changes to the Ginna Emergency Plan related to staffing levels and
positions specified in the emergency plan.
The NRC is considering issuing the requested amendment. The
proposed action, would not have a significant adverse effect on the
probability of an accident occurring, and would not have any
significant radiological or nonradiological impacts. It would also not
result in any changes to radioactive effluents or emissions to nuclear
plant workers and members of the public or any changes to radiological
and non-radiological impacts to the environment. The proposed changes
would only result in minor changes in staffing levels and a small
change in air pollutant emissions associated with vehicular traffic.
Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC conducted the EA for the
proposed action, and this FONSI incorporates by reference the EA in
Section II of this document. Based on the results of the EA, 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.
As required by 10 CFR 51.32(a)(5), previous considerations
regarding the environmental impacts of operating Ginna in accordance
with its renewed operating license are described in NUREG-1437,
Supplement 14, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License
Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Regarding R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant,
Final Report,'' dated January 2004 (ADAMS Accession No. ML040230341).
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 https://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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document ADAMS Accession No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exelon, ``License Amendment Request for ML19017A136.
Approval of Changes to Emergency Plan
Staffing Requirements,'' dated January 15,
2019.
NRC letter to the Nuclear Energy Institute, ML18022A352.
``Alternative Guidance for Licensee
Emergency Response Organizations,'' dated
June 12, 2018.
NUREG-0654/FEMA-REP-1, draft Revision 2, ML14163A605 and
``Criteria for Preparation and Evaluation ML17083A815.
of Radiological Emergency Response Plans
and Preparedness in Support of Nuclear
Power Plants.''
NUREG-1437, Supplement 14, ``Generic ML040230341.
Environmental Impact Statement for License
Renewal of Nuclear Plants.'' Regarding
R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, Final
Report, dated January 2004.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of July, 2019.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Venkataiah Sreenivas,
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch I, Division of Operating
Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2019-15977 Filed 7-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P