[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 51493] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-26008] [[Page 51493]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-22] Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Waltz Mill Test Reactor, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the transfer of Facility License No. TR-2, now held by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The license authorizes possession only of the Waltz Mill Test Reactor (WTR), located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The Commission is also considering issuance of a conforming amendment under 10 CFR 50.90 which would reflect the transfer. Environmental Assessment Identification of the Proposed Action The proposed action would approve the transfer of the WTR license from Westinghouse Electric Corporation to a newly formed corporation which will utilize the same name. The new corporation will consist of most of the industrial businesses of the present Westinghouse Electric Corporation including the WTR facility. The media businesses of the existing Westinghouse Electric Corporation will remain with the existing corporation, which will change its name to CBS Corporation. The proposed action would also amend the license to reflect the transfer to the new corporation. The proposed action does not modify the WTR facility configuration or licensed activities. The Westinghouse employees responsible for the licensed WTR facility will become employees of the new corporation, and will continue to be responsible after the transfer, for all licensed activities. The new corporation will be qualified to carry out licensed activities. The WTR facility will not change as a result of the action, including Technical Specifications or procedures, and licensed activities will continue in their present form without interruption of any kind. The new corporation will be financially qualified to hold the WTR facility possession only license, and will provide the financial assurance needed to decommission the facility. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated August 18, 1997, for approval of transfer of the license and conforming amendment. Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action is needed to permit the consummation of the proposed transfer of the WTR facility license from the Westinghouse Electric Corporation to a newly formed corporation as described above. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that there will be no physical or technical changes to WTR. The technical qualifications of the proposed transferee will be identical to those of the current Westinghouse Electric Corporation. The present facility organization, the oversight organizations, and the engineering and support organizations will be transferred to the new corporation essentially intact. The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences of accidents would not be increased and that radiological releases would not be greater than previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the proposed action would not affect routine radiological facility effluents and would not increase occupational radiological exposure. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action would not affect nonradiological facility effluents and would have no environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Alternative to the Proposed Action Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated. The principal alternative would be to deny the requested action. Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are identical. Alternative Use of Resources No alternatives appear that will have different or lesser effect on the use of available resources. Agencies and Persons Contacted In accordance with its stated policy, on September 9, 1997, the staff consulted with the Pennsylvania State Official, James G. Yusko, of the Bureau of Radiation Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments. Finding of No Significant Impact Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action. For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated August 18, 1997, and related letter dated August 15, 1997. which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of September 1997. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Seymour H. Weiss, Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, Division of Reactor Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation . [FR Doc. 97-26008 Filed 9-30-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P