[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48268-48271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15777]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[NRC-2023-0123]
Environmental Assessment and Finding 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.
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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 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
July 26, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2023-0123 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-2023-0123. 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, at 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.
NRC's PDR: The PDR, where you may examine and order copies
of publicly available documents, is open by appointment. To make an
appointment to visit the PDR, please send an email to
[email protected] or call 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8
a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tilda Liu, Office of Nuclear Material
Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington,
DC 20555-0001; telephone: 404-997-4730; email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The NRC is considering the approval of the updated DFPs submitted
by ISFSI licensees. The NRC staff has prepared a final EA and FONSI
determination for each of the 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 35511). 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.
[[Page 48269]]
II. Discussion
The table in this notice includes the plant name, docket number,
licensee, and 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 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-2023-0123. For additional
direction on accessing information related to this document, see the
ADDRESSES section of this document.
Finding of No Significant Impact
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Facility Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Docket No.................... 72-42.
Licensee..................... Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC).
Proposed Action.............. The NRC's review and approval of SNC's
updated DFPs submitted in accordance
with 10 CFR 72.30(c).
Environmental Impact of The NRC staff has determined that the
Proposed Action. proposed action, the review and approval
of SNC's updated DFPs, submitted in
accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(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 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 The proposed action does not require
Impact. 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 SNC's 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 the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear
Plant. Therefore, the NRC staff
determined that approval of the updated
DFPs for the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear
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 is not required.
Available Documents.......... Federal Register notice. Final Rule
``Environmental Protection Regulations
for Domestic Licensing and Related
Regulatory Functions and Related
Conforming Amendments,'' dated March 12,
1984 (49 FR 9381).
Federal Register notice. Final Rule
``Decommissioning Planning,'' dated June
17, 2011 (76 FR 35512).
Federal Register notice. Environmental
Assessments and Findings of no
Significant Impact of Independent Spent
Fuel Storage Facilities Decommissioning
Funding Plans, dated May 20, 2021 (86 FR
27485).
Alabama Emergency Management Agency.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact for the Farley Nuclear Plant
Units 1 and 2 Independent Spent Fuel
Storage Installation Decommissioning
Funding Plan,'' dated March 18, 2021
(ADAMS Accession No. ML21081A039).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2003/
08/31-NUREG-1748, ``Environmental Review
Guidance for Licensing Actions
Associated with NMSS Programs, Final
Report.'' August 2003 (ADAMS Accession
No. ML032540811).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Environmental Assessment re: Final
Rule: Decommissioning Planning'' (10 CFR
parts 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 72; RIN
3150-AI55). February 2009 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML090500648).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ESA
Section 7 No Effect Determination for
ISFSI DFP Reviews (Note to File), dated
May 15, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML17135A062).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact for the Farley Nuclear Plant
Units 1 and 2 Independent Spent Fuel
Storage Installation Decommissioning
Funding Plan,'' dated March 9, 2021
(ADAMS Accession No. ML21057A252).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Southern Nuclear Operating Company,
Inc's Initial Decommissioning Funding
Plan Submitted in Accordance with 10 CFR
72.30 for Farley Independent Spent Fuel
Storage Installation,'' dated May 10,
2021 (ADAMS Package Accession No.
ML21085A675).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Analysis of Southern Nuclear Operating
Company, Inc's Initial Decommissioning
Funding Plans for the Farley, Hatch, and
Vogtle Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installations,'' dated May 20, 2021
(ADAMS Accession No. ML21089A241).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact Related to Farley Independent
Spent Fuel Storage Installation Updated
Decommissioning Funding Plans.'' dated
May 18, 2023 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML23116A133, non-public, withheld
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.390).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan, dated
March 31, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML14091A008).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 30, 2017 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML17089A520).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 31, 2020 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML20091K821).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 29, 2023 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML23088A173).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility Edward I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Docket No.................... 72-36.
Licensee..................... Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC).
Proposed Action.............. The NRC's review and approval of SNC's
updated DFPs submitted in accordance
with 10 CFR 72.30(c).
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[[Page 48270]]
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Facility Edward I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
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Environmental Impact of The NRC staff has determined that the
Proposed Action. proposed action, the review and approval
of SNC's updated DFPs, submitted in
accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(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 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 The proposed action does not require
Impact. 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 SNC's 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 the Edward I. Hatch Nuclear
Plant. Therefore, the NRC staff
determined that approval of the updated
DFPs for the Edward I. Hatch Nuclear
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 is not required.
Available Documents.......... Federal Register notice. Final Rule
``Environmental Protection Regulations
for Domestic Licensing and Related
Regulatory Functions and Related
Conforming Amendments,'' dated March 12,
1984 (49 FR 9381).
Federal Register notice. Final Rule
``Decommissioning Planning,'' dated June
17, 2011 (76 FR 35512).
Federal Register notice. Environmental
Assessments and Findings of no
Significant Impact of Independent Spent
Fuel Storage Facilities Decommissioning
Funding Plans, dated May 20, 2021 (86 FR
27485).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2003/
08/31-NUREG-1748, ``Environmental Review
Guidance for Licensing Actions
Associated with NMSS Programs, Final
Report.'' August 2003 (ADAMS Accession
No. ML032540811).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Environmental Assessment re: Final
Rule: Decommissioning Planning'' (10 CFR
parts 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 72; RIN
3150-AI55). February 2009 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML090500648).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ESA
Section 7 No Effect Determination for
ISFSI DFP Reviews (Note to File), dated
May 15, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML17135A062).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact for the Hatch and Vogtle
Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installation Decommissioning Funding
Plans,'' dated March 9, 2021 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML21057A315).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Southern Nuclear Operating Company,
Inc's Initial Decommissioning Funding
Plan Submitted in Accordance with 10 CFR
72.30 for Hatch Independent Spent Fuel
Storage Installation,'' dated May 10,
2021 (ADAMS Package Accession No.
ML21085A829).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Analysis of Southern Nuclear Operating
Company, Inc's Initial Decommissioning
Funding Plans for the Farley, Hatch, and
Vogtle Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installations,'' dated May 20, 2021
(ADAMS Accession No. ML21089A241).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact Related to Hatch and Vogtle
Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installation Updated Decommissioning
Funding Plans,'' dated May 14, 2023
(ADAMS Accession No. ML23114A236).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan, dated
March 31, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML14091A008).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 30, 2017 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML17089A520).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 31, 2020 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML20091K821).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 29, 2023 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML23088A173).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility Vogtle Electric Generating Plant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Docket No.................... 72-1039.
Licensee..................... Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC).
Proposed Action.............. The NRC's review and approval of SNC's
updated DFPs submitted in accordance
with 10 CFR 72.30(c).
Environmental Impact of The NRC staff has determined that the
Proposed Action. proposed action, the review and approval
of SNC's updated DFPs, submitted in
accordance with 10 CFR 72.30(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 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 The proposed action does not require
Impact. 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 SNC's 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 the Vogtle Electric Generating
Plant. Therefore, the NRC staff
determined that approval of the updated
DFPs for the Vogtle Electric 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 is not required.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48271]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facility Vogtle Electric Generating Plant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Documents.......... Federal Register notice. Final Rule
``Environmental Protection Regulations
for Domestic Licensing and Related
Regulatory Functions and Related
Conforming Amendments,'' dated March 12,
1984 (49 FR 9381).
Federal Register notice. Final Rule
``Decommissioning Planning,'' dated June
17, 2011 (76 FR 35512).
Federal Register notice. Environmental
Assessments and Findings of no
Significant Impact of Independent Spent
Fuel Storage Facilities Decommissioning
Funding Plans, dated May 20, 2021 (86 FR
27485).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 2003/
08/31-NUREG-1748, ``Environmental Review
Guidance for Licensing Actions
Associated with NMSS Programs, Final
Report.'' August 2003 (ADAMS Accession
No. ML032540811).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Environmental Assessment re: Final
Rule: Decommissioning Planning'' (10 CFR
parts 20, 30, 40, 50, 70, and 72; RIN
3150-AI55). February 2009 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML090500648).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ESA
Section 7 No Effect Determination for
ISFSI DFP Reviews (Note to File), dated
May 15, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML17135A062).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact for the Hatch and Vogtle
Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installation Decommissioning Funding
Plans,'' dated March 9, 2021 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML21057A315).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact for the
Southern Nuclear Operating Company,
Inc's Initial Decommissioning Funding
Plan Submitted in Accordance with 10 CFR
72.30 for Vogtle Independent Spent Fuel
Storage Installation,'' dated May 10,
2021 (ADAMS Package Accession No.
ML21089A221).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Analysis of Southern Nuclear Operating
Company, Inc's Initial Decommissioning
Funding Plans for the Farley, Hatch, and
Vogtle Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installations,'' dated May 20, 2021
(ADAMS Accession No. ML21089A241).
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
``Review of the Draft Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact Related to Hatch and Vogtle
Independent Spent Fuel Storage
Installation Updated Decommissioning
Funding Plans,'' dated May 14, 2023
(ADAMS Accession No. ML23114A236).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan, dated
March 31, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No.
ML14091A008).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 30, 2017 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML17089A520).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 31, 2020 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML20091K821).
Southern Nuclear Operating Company. ISFSI
Decommissioning Funding Plan Triennial
Update, dated March 29, 2023 (ADAMS
Accession No. ML23088A173).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dated: July 20, 2023.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Yoira K. Diaz-Sanabria,
Chief, Storage and Transportation Licensing Branch, Division of Fuel
Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2023-15777 Filed 7-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P