[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]


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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.

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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.

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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.

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                  Document                       ADAMS Accession No.
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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.
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    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