[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 35295-35296] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-17218] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-309] Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company, Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations to Facility Operating License No. DPR-36, a license held by the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPC or the licensee). The exemption would apply to the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, a permanently shutdown plant located at the MYAPC site in Lincoln County, Maine. Environmental Assessment Identification of the Proposed Action The proposed exemption would modify security requirements to eliminate certain equipment, to relocate certain equipment, to modify certain procedures, and reduce the number of armed responders, due to the permanently shutdown and defueled status of the Maine Yankee facility. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated November 25, 1997. The requested action would grant an exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, ``Requirements for Physical Protection of Licensed Activities in Nuclear Power Plant Reactors against Radiological Sabotage.'' The Need for the Proposed Action Maine Yankee was shut down in December 1996. On August 7, 1997, the licensee informed the Commission that it had decided to permanently cease [[Page 35296]] operations at Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station and that all fuel had been permanently removed from the reactor. In accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), the certifications in the letter modified the facility operating license to permanently withdraw MYAPC's authority to operate the reactor and to load fuel in the reactor vessel. In this permanently shutdown condition, the facility poses a reduced risk to public health and safety. Due to this reduced risk, certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.55 are no longer appropriate. An exemption is required from portions of 10 CFR 73.55 to allow the licensee to implement a revised Defueled Security Plan that is appropriate for the permanently shutdown and defueled reactor facility. Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action. The Commission concludes that exemption from certain portions of 10 CFR 73.55 are acceptable given the reduced consequences of the threat to a defueled reactor site with respect to public health and safety from an act of sabotage resulting in the release of radioactive material contained in the spent fuel. The proposed change will not increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational exposure. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does involve features located entirely with the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant non-radiological impacts associated with the proposed action. Alternatives to the Proposed Action Since the Commission has concluded that there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any alternative with equal or greater environmental impact need not be evaluated. The principal alternative to the action would be to deny the request. Denial of the exemption request would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar. Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to Operation of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, (July 1972). Agencies and Persons Consulted In accordance with its stated policy, on May 14, 1998, the NRC staff consulted with Mr. Patrick Dostie of the State of Maine, Department of Human Services, 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 this action, see the licensee's letter, dated November 25, 1997, which is available for public inspection at the Commission Public Document Room, Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the Local Public Document Room at the Wiscasset Public Library, High Street, Post Office Box 367, Wiscasset, Maine 04578. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of June 1998. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Seymour H. Weiss, Director, Non-Power Reactors and Decommissioning Project Directorate, Division of Reactor Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 98-17218 Filed 6-26-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P