[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 61 (Thursday, April 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17209-17211]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06749]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[NRC-2021-0059]


Environmental Assessments and Findings of No Significant Impact 
of Independent Spent Fuel Storage Facilities Decommissioning Funding 
Plans

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is publishing 
this notice regarding the issuance of a Final Environmental Assessment 
(EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for its review and 
approval of the initial and updated decommissioning funding plans 
(DFPs) submitted by independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) 
licensees for the ISFSIs listed in the ``Discussion'' section of this 
document.

DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on 
April 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2021-0059 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-2021-0059. Address 
questions about Docket IDs in Regulations.gov to Stacy Schumann; 
telephone: 301-415-0624; 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 for each 
document referenced (if it is available in ADAMS) is provided the first 
time that it is mentioned in this document.
     Attention: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies 
of public
    documents, is currently closed. You may submit your request to the 
PDR via email at [email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-
415-4737, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (EST), Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christian Jacobs, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-6825, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC is considering the approval of the initial and updated DFPs 
submitted by ISFSI licensees. The NRC staff has prepared a Final EA and 
FONSI determination for each of the initial and updated ISFSI DFPs in 
accordance with the NRC regulations in Part 51 of title 10 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), ``Environmental Protection Regulations 
for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions,'' which 
implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
    The NRC requires its licensees to plan for the eventual 
decommissioning of their licensed facilities prior to license 
termination. On June 17, 2011, the NRC published a final rule in the 
Federal Register amending its decommissioning planning regulations (76 
FR 35512). The final rule amended the NRC regulation, 10 CFR 72.30, 
which concerns financial assurance and decommissioning for ISFSIs. This 
regulation requires each holder of, or applicant for, a license under 
10 CFR part 72 to submit a DFP for the NRC's review and approval. The 
DFP is to demonstrate the licensee's financial assurance, i.e., that 
funds will be available to decommission the ISFSI. The NRC staff will 
later publish its financial analyses of the DFP submittals which will 
be available for public inspection in ADAMS.

II. Discussion

    The following table includes the plant name, docket number, 
licensee, and

[[Page 17210]]

ADAMS Accession Number for the Final EA and FONSI determination for 
each of the individual ISFSIs. The table also includes the ADAMS 
Accession Numbers for other relevant documents, including the initial 
and updated DFP submittals. For further details with respect to these 
actions, see the NRC staff's Final EA and FONSI determinations which 
are available for public inspection in ADAMS and at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID NRC-2021-0059. For additional 
direction on accessing information related to this document, see the 
ADDRESSES section of this document.

                    Finding of No Significant Impact
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility..........................  Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.
Docket No.                          72-58.
Licensee..........................  Northern States Power Company, a
                                     Minnesota corporation, doing
                                     business as Xcel Energy (Xcel).
Proposed Action...................  The NRC's review and approval of
                                     Xcel's initial and updated DFPs
                                     submitted in accordance with 10 CFR
                                     72.30(b) and (c).
Environmental Impact of Proposed    The NRC staff has determined that
 Action.                             the proposed action, the review and
                                     approval of Xcel's initial and
                                     updated DFPs, submitted in
                                     accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(b) and
                                     (c), will not authorize changes to
                                     licensed operations or maintenance
                                     activities, or result in changes in
                                     the types, characteristics, or
                                     quantities of radiological or non-
                                     radiological effluents released
                                     into the environment from the
                                     ISFSI, or result in the creation of
                                     solid waste. Moreover, the approval
                                     of the initial and updated DFPs
                                     will not authorize any construction
                                     activity, facility modification, or
                                     other land-disturbing activity. The
                                     NRC staff has concluded that the
                                     proposed action is a procedural and
                                     administrative action that will not
                                     have a significant impact on the
                                     environment.
Finding of No Significant Impact..  The proposed action does not require
                                     changes to the ISFSI's licensed
                                     routine operations, maintenance
                                     activities, or monitoring programs,
                                     nor does it require new
                                     construction or land-disturbing
                                     activities. The scope of the
                                     proposed action concerns only the
                                     NRC's review and approval of Xcel's
                                     initial and updated DFPs. The scope
                                     of the proposed action does not
                                     include, and will not result in,
                                     the review and approval of
                                     decontamination or decommissioning
                                     activities or license termination
                                     for the ISFSI or for other parts of
                                     Monticello Nuclear Generating
                                     Plant. Therefore, the NRC staff
                                     determined that approval of the
                                     initial and updated DFPs for the
                                     Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant
                                     ISFSI will not significantly affect
                                     the quality of the human
                                     environment, and accordingly, the
                                     staff has concluded that a FONSI is
                                     appropriate. The NRC staff further
                                     finds that preparation of an
                                     environmental impact statement
                                     (EIS) is not required.
Available Documents...............  Xcel Energy, 2012. ISFSI
                                     Decommissioning Planning, dated
                                     December 14, 2012. ADAMS Accession
                                     No. ML12353A292.
                                    Xcel Energy, 2015. ISFSI DFPs, dated
                                     December 11, 2015. ADAMS Accession
                                     No. ML15348A143.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     EA for Final Rule-Decommissioning
                                     Planning, dated February 1, 2009.
                                     ADAMS Accession No. ML090500648.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Note to File, Re: ESA Section 7 No
                                     Effect Determination for ISFSI DFP
                                     Reviews, dated May 15, 2017. ADAMS
                                     Accession No. ML17135A062.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Review of the Draft EA and FONSI
                                     for the Monticello Nuclear
                                     Generating Plant ISFSI DFP, dated
                                     September 26, 2016. ADAMS Accession
                                     No. ML16270A075.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Final EA and FONSI for the Northern
                                     States Power Company's Initial and
                                     Updated DFPs Submitted in
                                     Accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(b) and
                                     (c) for Monticello Nuclear
                                     Generating Plant ISFSI, dated March
                                     25, 2021. ADAMS Accession Package
                                     No. ML21055A733.
Facility..........................  Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
                                     Plant, Units 1 and 2.
Docket No.                          72-10.
Licensee..........................  Northern States Power Company, a
                                     Minnesota corporation, doing
                                     business as Xcel Energy (Xcel).
Proposed Action...................  The NRC's review and approval of
                                     Xcel's initial and updated DFPs
                                     submitted in accordance with 10 CFR
                                     72.30(b) and (c).
Environmental Impact of Proposed    The NRC staff has determined that
 Action.                             the proposed action, the review and
                                     approval of Xcel's initial and
                                     updated DFPs, submitted in
                                     accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(b) and
                                     (c), will not authorize changes to
                                     licensed operations or maintenance
                                     activities, or result in changes in
                                     the types, characteristics, or
                                     quantities of radiological or non-
                                     radiological effluents released
                                     into the environment from the
                                     ISFSI, or result in the creation of
                                     solid waste. Moreover, the approval
                                     of the initial and updated DFPs
                                     will not authorize any construction
                                     activity, facility modification, or
                                     other land-disturbing activity. The
                                     NRC staff has concluded that the
                                     proposed action is a procedural and
                                     administrative action that will not
                                     have a significant impact on the
                                     environment.
Finding of No Significant Impact..  The proposed action does not require
                                     changes to the ISFSI's licensed
                                     routine operations, maintenance
                                     activities, or monitoring programs,
                                     nor does it require new
                                     construction or land-disturbing
                                     activities. The scope of the
                                     proposed action concerns only the
                                     NRC's review and approval of Xcel's
                                     initial and updated DFPs. The scope
                                     of the proposed action does not
                                     include, and will not result in,
                                     the review and approval of
                                     decontamination or decommissioning
                                     activities or license termination
                                     for the ISFSI or for other parts of
                                     Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
                                     Plant, Units 1 and 2. Therefore,
                                     the NRC staff determined that
                                     approval of the initial and updated
                                     DFPs for the Prairie Island Nuclear
                                     Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2,
                                     ISFSI will not significantly affect
                                     the quality of the human
                                     environment, and accordingly, the
                                     staff has concluded that a FONSI is
                                     appropriate. The NRC staff further
                                     finds that preparation of an
                                     environmental impact statement
                                     (EIS) is not required.
Available Documents...............  Xcel, 2012. Responses to Request for
                                     Supplemental Information--Prairie
                                     Island ISFSI License Renewal
                                     Application (TAC No. L24592), dated
                                     February 29, 2012. ADAMS Accession
                                     No. ML12065A073.
                                    Xcel Energy, 2015. ISFSI DFPs, dated
                                     December 11, 2015. ADAMS Accession
                                     No. ML15348A143.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     EA for Final Rule-Decommissioning
                                     Planning, dated February 1, 2009.
                                     ADAMS Accession No. ML090500648.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Note to File, Re: ESA Section 7 No
                                     Effect Determination for ISFSI DFP
                                     Reviews, dated May 15, 2017. ADAMS
                                     Accession No. ML17135A062.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Review of the Draft EA and FONSI
                                     for the Prairie Island Nuclear
                                     Generating Plant ISFSI DFP, dated
                                     August 17, 2017. ADAMS Accession
                                     No. ML17226A177.

[[Page 17211]]

 
                                    Minnesota Department of Health,
                                     2017. Review of the Draft EA and
                                     FONSI for the Prairie Island
                                     Nuclear Generating Plant ISFSI DFP,
                                     dated September 14, 2017. ADAMS
                                     Accession No. ML17278A157.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Final EA and FONSI for Northern
                                     States Power Company's Initial and
                                     Updated DFPs Submitted in
                                     Accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(b) and
                                     (c) for Prairie Island Nuclear
                                     Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2,
                                     ISFSI, dated March 25, 2021. ADAMS
                                     Accession Package No. ML21055A596.
Facility..........................  La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor.
Docket No.                          72-46.
Licensee..........................  Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC).
Proposed Action...................  The NRC's review and approval of
                                     DPC's initial and updated DFPs
                                     submitted in accordance with 10 CFR
                                     72.30(b) and (c).
Environmental Impact of Proposed    The NRC staff has determined that
 Action.                             the proposed action, the review and
                                     approval of DPC's initial and
                                     updated DFPs, submitted in
                                     accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(b) and
                                     (c), will not authorize changes to
                                     licensed operations or maintenance
                                     activities, or result in changes in
                                     the types, characteristics, or
                                     quantities of radiological or non-
                                     radiological effluents released
                                     into the environment from the
                                     ISFSI, or result in the creation of
                                     solid waste. Moreover, the approval
                                     of the initial and updated DFPs
                                     will not authorize any construction
                                     activity, facility modification, or
                                     other land-disturbing activity. The
                                     NRC staff has concluded that the
                                     proposed action is a procedural and
                                     administrative action that will not
                                     have a significant impact on the
                                     environment.
Finding of No Significant Impact..  The proposed action does not require
                                     changes to the ISFSI's licensed
                                     routine operations, maintenance
                                     activities, or monitoring programs,
                                     nor does it require new
                                     construction or land-disturbing
                                     activities. The scope of the
                                     proposed action concerns only the
                                     NRC's review and approval of DPC's
                                     initial and updated DFPs. The scope
                                     of the proposed action does not
                                     include, and will not result in,
                                     the review and approval of
                                     decontamination or decommissioning
                                     activities or license termination
                                     for the ISFSI or for other parts of
                                     La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor.
                                     Therefore, the NRC staff determined
                                     that approval of the initial and
                                     updated DFPs for the La Crosse
                                     Boiling Water Reactor ISFSI will
                                     not significantly affect the
                                     quality of the human environment,
                                     and accordingly, the staff has
                                     concluded that a FONSI is
                                     appropriate. The NRC staff further
                                     finds that preparation of an
                                     environmental impact statement
                                     (EIS) is not required.
Available Documents...............  DPC, 2013. La Crosse Boiling Water
                                     Reactor DFP for ISFSI, dated March
                                     12, 2013. ADAMS Accession No.
                                     ML13100A127.
                                    DPC, 2016. La Crosse Boiling Water
                                     Reactor Funding Plan for ISFSI,
                                     dated March 14, 2016. ADAMS
                                     Accession No. ML16102A101.
                                    DPC, 2018. Response to Request for
                                     Additional Information by the Spent
                                     Fuel Licensing Branch, Division of
                                     Spent Fuel Management, Office of
                                     Nuclear Material Safety and
                                     Safeguards 2016 DFP for La Crosse
                                     Boiling Water Reactor, dated March
                                     21, 2018. ADAMS Accession No.
                                     ML18102A531.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     EA for Final Rule-Decommissioning
                                     Planning, dated February 1, 2009.
                                     ADAMS Accession No. ML090500648.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Note to File, Re: ESA Section 7 No
                                     Effect Determination for ISFSI DFP
                                     Reviews, dated May 15, 2017. ADAMS
                                     Accession No. ML17135A062.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Review of the Draft EA and FONSI
                                     for the La Crosse Boiling Water
                                     Reactor ISFSI DFP, dated September
                                     26, 2016. ADAMS Accession No.
                                     ML16271A057.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Request for Additional Information
                                     Regarding Dairyland Power
                                     Cooperative's DFP Update for La
                                     Crosse Boiling Water Reactor ISFSI,
                                     dated March 8, 2018. ADAMS Package
                                     Accession No. ML18067A084.
                                    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
                                     Final EA and FONSI for Dairyland
                                     Power Cooperative's Initial and
                                     Updated DFPs Submitted in
                                     Accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(b) and
                                     (c) for La Crosse Boiling Water
                                     Reactor ISFSI, dated March 25,
                                     2021. ADAMS Accession Package No.
                                     ML21056A369.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: March 29, 2021.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John B. McKirgan,
Chief, Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel 
Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2021-06749 Filed 3-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P