[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 130 (Thursday, July 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41738-41739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17033]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-336]


Northeast Nuclear Energy Company, et al.; Millstone Nuclear Power 
Station Unit 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of Title 10 
of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50 (10

[[Page 41739]]

CFR Part 50), Appendix R, Section III.J to Facility Operating License 
No. DPR-65, issued to the Northeast Nuclear Energy Company, et al., 
(NNECO or the licensee), for operation of the Millstone Nuclear Power 
Station, Unit 2, located in Waterford, Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The licensee has requested an exemption from the requirements of 10 
CFR Part 50, Appendix R, Section III. J to the extent that it requires 
emergency lighting units with at least an 8-hour battery power supply 
to light all areas needed for operation of safe shutdown equipment and 
in access and egress routes thereto. The licensee based this exemption 
request primarily on the security lighting system currently installed 
at the plant for access and egress route emergency lighting to meet the 
underlying purpose of the rule. The underlying purpose of the rule is 
to ensure that lighting of sufficient duration and reliability is 
provided to allow operation of equipment required for post-fire, safe 
shutdown of the reactor.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for an exemption dated February 14, 2000, as supplemented 
by letters dated April 5 and May 31, 2000.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed for the licensee to avoid the burden 
of full compliance with the regulations. Full compliance with the 
regulations would require battery powered lights to illuminate a large 
outdoor area for an 8-hour period. It is not considered practical to 
illuminate large outdoor areas with battery powered lighting for an 8-
hour period. The licensee already has diesel-powered security lighting 
in the same area and portable lighting equipment is also available. As 
noted above, the underlying purpose of the rule can be met without the 
burden of installing additional lighting.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action. The 
underlying purpose of the rule the licensee is requesting to be 
exempted from is to ensure that the plant can be safely shut down in 
the event of a fire.
    Based on the availability and reliability of the security lighting 
and the availability of portable lighting, there is reasonable 
assurance that the access and egress routes through the yard area that 
are relied on for safe shutdown of the facility can be accessed in the 
event of a fire.
    On the basis of its review, the staff concludes that the licensee 
will still have the capability to safely shut down the plant, in the 
event of a fire, after this exemption has been granted.
    The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of 
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 NRC 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 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 any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 16, 2000, the staff 
consulted with the Connecticut State official, Michael Firsick of the 
Division of Radiation, Department of Environmental Protection, 
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 February 14, 2000, as supplemented by letters 
dated April 5 and May 31, 2000, which are available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC. Publicly available 
records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents 
Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Library component of the 
NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov> (the Electronic Reading Room).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of June, 2000.

    For the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jacob I. Zimmerman,
Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-17033 Filed 7-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P