Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 186 / Thursday, September 25, 1997 / Notices 50411

Findings 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 amendment.

For further details with respect to this

action, see the licensee’s letter dated

August 27, 1996, and supplemental

letters dated January 17, February 18,

March 27, April 4, April 25, April 29,

May 30, June 2, June 13, June 18, August

4, August 8, and September 10, 1997,

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 Hartsville Memorial

Library, 147 West College, Hartsville,

South Carolina 29550.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 22nd day

of September, 1997.

For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Gordon E. Edison,

Acting Director, Project Directorate II–I,

Division of Reactor Projects-I/II, Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 97–25630 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50–334 and 50–412]

Duquesne Light Company, et al.;

Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit Nos.

1 and 2; Environmental Assessment

and Finding of No Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (the Commission) is

considering approval, by issuance of an

order under 10 CFR 50.80, of the

indirect transfer of Facility Operating

Licenses Nos. DPR–66 and NPF–73, to

the extent they are held by the

Duquesne Light Company (DLC) for

Beaver Valley Power Station, Unit Nos.

1 and 2 (BVPS–1 and BVPS–2), located

in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed action would consent to

the indirect transfer of the licenses with

respect to a proposed merger between

DQE, Inc., and Allegheny Power

Systems, Inc. DQE, Inc. is the parent

holding company of DLC, which holds

licenses to possess interests in and

operate BVPS–1 and BVPS–2. The

Cleveland Electric Illuminating

Company, The Toledo Edison Company,

and Ohio Edison Company, and its

subsidiary Pennsylvania Power

Company, also hold licenses to possess

interests in BVPS–1 and BVPS–2, but

are not involved in the proposed

merger. In the proposed merger, DQE,

Inc. will become a wholly owned

subsidiary of Allegheny Power.

Allegheny Power will be renamed

Allegheny Energy, Inc.

According to the application, the

merger will have no effect on the

operation of Beaver Valley Power

Station or the provisions of its operating

licenses. The Cleveland Electric

Illuminating Company, The Toledo

Edison Company, Ohio Edison

Company, and Pennsylvania Power

Company will remain licensees

responsible for their possessory interests

and related obligations. Duquesne Light

Company will continue to operate the

Beaver Valley Power Station after the

merger, as required by the operating

licenses. No direct transfer of the

licenses will result from the merger.

The proposed action is in accordance

with DLC’s request for approval dated

August 1, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed action is required to

obtain the necessary consent to the

indirect transfer of the licenses

discussed above. According to the

application, the underlying transaction

is needed to create a stronger, more

competitive enterprise that is expected

to save over $1 billion in net savings

over the first 10 years, thereby

enhancing DLC’s financial resources to

possess its interests in BVPS–1 and

BVPS–2.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed

Action

The Commission has reviewed the

proposed action and concludes that

there will be no changes to the facility

or its operation as a result of the

proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC

staff concludes that there are no

significant radiological environmental

impacts associated with the proposed

action.

With regard to potential

nonradiological impacts, the proposed

action does not affect nonradiological

plant effluents and has no other

environmental impact. Accordingly, the

NRC staff concludes that there are no

significant nonradiological

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. 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 Related to the Beaver Valley

Power Station, Unit 1,’’ dated July 1973,

and the ‘‘Final Environmental Statement

Related to the Operation of Beaver

Valley Power Station, Unit 2,’’ dated

September 1986 in NUREG–1094.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy,

on September 5, 1997, the staff

consulted with the Pennsylvania State

official, Mr. Michael P. Murphy of the

Bureau of Radiation Protection,

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 DLC’s submittal

dated August 1, 1997, which is 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 B.

F. Jones Memorial Library, 663 Franklin

Avenue, Aliquippa, PA 15001.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day

of September 1997.

For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John F. Stolz,

Director, Project Directorate I–2, Division of

Reactor Projects—I/II, Office of Nuclear

Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 97–25445 Filed 9–24–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P