[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 34833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16488]
[[Page 34833]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-335 and 50-389]
Florida Power & Light Company, Inc., et al., St. Lucie Plant,
Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos.
DPR-67 and NPF-16, issued to Florida Power and Light Company (the
licensee), for operation of the St. Lucie Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2
located in St. Lucie County, Florida.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed amendments would revise the St. Lucie Plant, Units 1
and 2, Technical Specifications, Appendix B, ``Environmental Protection
Plan (Non-Radiological)'' (EPP), to incorporate the terms and
conditions of the Incidental Take Statement in the Biological Opinion
issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on February 7,
1997, and subsequently modified on May 8, 1998. The proposed amendments
will replace Section 4, ``Environmental Conditions,'' of the EPPs for
both Units 1 and 2, and add Section 5, ``Administrative Procedures,''
to the Unit 1 EPP and revise the current EPP Section 5 for Unit 2.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for amendment dated December 1, 1997, as supplemented in a
letter dated August 26, 1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action would incorporate the terms and conditions of
the Incidental Take Statement of the Biological Opinion issued by NMFS
into St. Lucie Units 1 and 2 operating licenses as well as provide
consistency between the Unit 1 and Unit 2 Environmental Protection
Plans.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that implementation of the Incidental Take Statement in
St. Lucie's Environmental Protection Plan for Units 1 and 2 would
support the National Marine Fisheries Service conclusion that the
continued operation of the circulating water system at St. Lucie Plant
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or
endangered sea turtle species under NMFS jurisdiction. The Incidental
Take Statement identifies actions that have been or will be taken by
St. Lucie to ensure the takes of endangered sea turtles are limited.
These actions include the use of two different mesh barrier nets across
the intake canal, a capture and release program for endangered sea
turtles found in the intake canal, a program to monitor for endangered
sea turtles at the cooling water intakes on a regular basis, and a
study to elucidate the effect of various factors on turtle entrapment.
The proposed action will not increase the probability or
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
any effluents that may be released off site, and there is no
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure.
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental
impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative).
Denial of the application would result in St. Lucie not implementing
the Incidental Take Statement which would lead to takes of endangered
sea turtles outside the NMFS Biological Opinion. The environmental
impacts of the proposed action are less than the alternative action.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the St.
Lucie Nuclear Plant.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
On June 9, 1999, the staff consulted with William Passetti, Chief,
Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control, for the state of
Florida, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The
state official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of 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 December 1, 1997, as supplemented in a letter
dated August 26, 1998, which are available for public inspection at the
Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street,
NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at
the Indian River Community College Library, 3209 Virginia Avenue, Fort
Pierce, Florida 34981-5596.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of June, 1999.
William C. Gleaves,
Project Manager, Section 2, and Project Directorate II, Division of
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-16488 Filed 6-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P