[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 193 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52159-52160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26406]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-003 and 50-247]


Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Indian Point 
Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 1 and 2); Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering approval under 10 CFR 50.80, by issuance of an Order, the 
transfer of control of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-5 and DPR-
26, for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units No. 1 (IP1) and No. 2 
(IP2), located in Westchester County, New York, to the extent such 
transfer would be affected by the proposed corporate reorganization of 
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Ed, the licensee), 
holder of the licenses.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent to the transfer of control of the 
licenses, to the extent affected by the reorganization of Con Ed by 
establishment of a holding company. Con Ed would become a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of the holding company and would continue to be the licensee 
for IP1 and IP2. The proposed action is in accordance with Con Ed's 
application dated December 24, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to the extent the proposed 
reorganization of Con Ed will effect a transfer of control of the 
licenses. Con Ed has submitted that the proposed restructuring will 
enable it to better prepare to implement changes resulting from 
electric industry restructuring, and will enhance the insulation of Con 
Ed's nuclear utility business from business risks associated with non-
nuclear enterprises.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
corporate restructuring and concludes that there will be no physical or 
operational changes to IP1 and IP2. The corporate restructuring will 
not affect the qualifications or organizational affiliation of the 
personnel who operate or maintain the facility, as Con Ed will continue 
to be responsible for the operation of IP2 and the maintenance and 
possession of IP1, which is permanently shut down.
    The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the 
proposed action and had determined that the probability or consequences 
of accidents would not be increased by the proposed action, and that 
post-accident radiological releases would not be greater than 
previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the 
proposed action would not affect routine 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 plant effluents and would have 
no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that 
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there are not 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

[[Page 52160]]

action and the alternative action are identical.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Indian 
Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 2, dated November 1976.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 23, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the New York State Official, Heidi Volk, of the New York 
State Research and Development Authority 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 December 24, 1996, which is available for 
public inspection at the Commission Public Document Room, the Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public 
document room located at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine 
Avenue, White Plains, New York 10610.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of September 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jefferey F. Harold,
Project Manager, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-26406 Filed 10-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P