[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10758-10759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3953]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 72-35]
Energy Northwest Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding
of No Significant Impact Regarding the Proposed Exemption
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption, pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7, from the
provisions of 10 CFR 72.72(d) to Energy Northwest (applicant). The
requested exemption would allow Energy Northwest to maintain a single
set of spent fuel records at a records storage facility, qualified in
accordance with ANSI N45.2.9-1974, for the Independent Spent Fuel
Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the Columbia Generating Station
(formerly known as Washington Nuclear Plant 2) (Docket No. 72-35) in
Benton County, WA.
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Identification of Proposed Action: By letter dated December 12,
2000, Energy Northwest requested an exemption from the requirement in
10 CFR 72.72(d) which states in part that, ``Records of spent fuel and
high level radioactive waste in storage must be kept in duplicate. The
duplicate set of records must be kept at a separate location
sufficiently remote from the original records that a single event would
not destroy both sets of records.'' The applicant proposes to store a
single set of spent fuel records at a records storage facility that
satisfies the requirements set forth in ANSI N45.2.9-1974.
The proposed action before the Commission is whether to grant this
exemption pursuant to 10 CFR 72.7.
Need for the Proposed Action: The applicant stated that, pursuant
to 10 CFR 72.140(d), the Energy Northwest Operational Quality Assurance
(QA) Program Description will be used to satisfy the QA requirements
for the ISFSI. The QA Program states that QA records are maintained in
accordance with commitments to ANSI N45.2.9-1974. ANSI 45.2.9-1974
allows for the storage of a single set of QA records in a records
storage facility subject to certain provisions designed to protect the
records from fire and other adverse conditions. The applicant seeks to
provide uniform and consistent recordkeeping procedures and processes
for the Columbia Generating Station and ISFSI spent fuel records. The
applicant states that requiring a separate method of record storage for
ISFSI records diverts resources unnecessarily.
[[Page 10759]]
ANSI N45.2.9-1974 provides requirements for the protection of
nuclear power plant QA records against degradation. It specifies design
requirements for use in the construction of record storage facilities
when use of a single storage facility is desired. It includes specific
requirements for protection against degradation mechanisms such as
fire, humidity, and condensation. The requirements in ANSI N45.2.9-1974
have been endorsed by the NRC in Regulatory Guide 1.88, ``Collection,
Storage and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant Quality Assurance
Records,'' as adequate for satisfying the recordkeeping requirements of
10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B. ANSI N45.2.9-1974 also satisfies the
requirements of 10 CFR 72.72 by providing for adequate maintenance of
records regarding the identity and history of the spent fuel in
storage. Such records would be subject to and need to be protected from
the same types of degradation mechanisms as nuclear power plant QA
records.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: Elimination of the
requirement to store ISFSI records at a duplicate facility has no
impact on the environment. Storage of records does not change the
methods by which spent fuel will be handled and stored at the Columbia
Generating Station and ISFSI and does not change the amount of any
effluents, radiological or non-radiological, associated with the ISFSI.
Alternative to the Proposed Action: Since there are no
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action, alternatives
are not evaluated other than the no-action alternative. The alternative
to the proposed action would be to deny approval of the exemption and,
therefore, not allow storage of ISFSI spent fuel records at a single
qualified record storage facility. However, the environmental impacts
of the proposed action and the alternative would be the same.
Agencies and Persons Consulted: On January 16, 2001, Mr. Richard
Crowley of the Washington State Division of Radiation Protection, was
contacted regarding the environmental assessment for the proposed
action and had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The environmental impacts of the proposed action have been reviewed
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 10 CFR Part 51. Based
upon the foregoing EA, the Commission finds that the proposed action of
granting an exemption from 10 CFR 72.72(d), so that Energy Northwest
may store spent fuel records at the ISFSI in a single record storage
facility which meets the requirements of ANSI N45.2.9-1974, will not
significantly impact the quality of the human environment. Accordingly,
the Commission has determined that an environmental impact statement
for the proposed exemption is not necessary.
The request for exemption was docketed under 10 CFR Part 72, Docket
72-35. For further details with respect to this action, see the
exemption request dated December 12, 2000, which is available for
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, One White
Flint North Building, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville Maryland 20852,
or from the publicly available records component of NRC's agencywide
documents access and management system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible
from the NRC web site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html (the
Public Electronic Reading Room).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of February 2001.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
E. William Brach,
Director, Spent Fuel Project Office, Office of Nuclear Material Safety
and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 01-3953 Filed 2-15-01; 8:45 am]
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