Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 24 / Wednesday, February 5, 1997 / Notices 5495

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June

30, 1995, (60 FR 34381) the Commission

published a complete revision of the

NRC’s Enforcement Policy in the

Federal Register. The changes to the

Enforcement Policy resulted from the

efforts of a review team established in

1994 to assess the NRC’s enforcement

program. The review team published its

recommendations in NUREG–1525,

‘‘Assessment of the NRC Enforcement

Program,’’ and the Commission made

revisions to the Enforcement Policy after

considering those recommendations.

The revisions to the Enforcement Policy

were intended to, among other things:

• Emphasize the importance of

identifying problems before events

occur, and of taking prompt,

comprehensive corrective action when

problems are identified;

• Direct agency attention at licensees

with multiple enforcement actions in a

relatively short period; and

• Focus on current performance of

licensees.

The revisions to the Enforcement

Policy were also intended to better focus

the inspection and enforcement process

on safety, provide greater incentives for

strong self-monitoring and corrective

action programs in the civil penalty

assessment process, provide more

predictability and consistency in the

civil penalty assessment process, and to

better convey clear regulatory messages.

When the Commission published the

revised Enforcement Policy in the

Federal Register on June 30, 1995, it

stated that it would provide the public

an opportunity to comment on the

revised Enforcement Policy after it had

been in effect for about 18 months. This

opportunity for public comment is being

made in accordance with this

commitment.

Dated at Rockville, MD, this 30th day of

January, 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission.

James Lieberman,

Director, Office of Enforcement.

[FR Doc. 97–2805 Filed 2–4–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

[Docket No. 50–461]

Illinois Power Company; Soyland

Power Cooperative; Environmental

Assessment and Finding of No

Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (the Commission) is

considering the issuance of an order

approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the

transfer of Facility Operating License

No. NPF–62, to the extent now held by

Soyland Power Cooperative (Soyland),

to Illinois Power Company (IP, the

licensee) with respect to the Clinton

Power Station, Unit No. 1 (CPS), located

in DeWitt County, Illinois, and issuance

of conforming amendments under 10

CFR 50.90.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed action would consent,

by the issuance of an order, to the

transfer of the 13.21% minority

ownership interest in the facilities for

CPS from Soyland to IP and approve the

issuance of conforming amendments to

the license. This Environmental

Assessment supersedes that published

on November 19, 1996 (61 FR 58897),

which reflected the licensee’s original

submittal of October 17, 1996. The

licensee’s original submittal, which

proposed transferring the Soyland

interest to Illinova Power Marketing,

Inc., was revised in the licensee’s

submittal of December 13, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed action is required to

obtain the necessary consent to the

transfer of the license, to the extent now

held by Soyland, and approval of

amendments discussed above. Soyland

is a minority owner of CPS with an

ownership share of 13.21%. Due to

severe financial difficulties arising in

large part because of its CPS-related

debt, Soyland has been forced to seek

significant refinancing of its outstanding

obligations. As a condition precedent to

said refinancing, the U.S. Department of

Agriculture, acting through the

Administrator of the Rural Utilities

Services, required Soyland to

completely divest itself of any

ownership of, or responsibility for, CPS.

As a result, Soyland and Illinova

Corporation (Illinova), the parent

company of Illinois Power Company,

entered into an agreement wherein

Illinova assumed full financial

responsibility for Soyland’s CPS

obligations as of September 1, 1996, and

Soyland agreed to transfer its entire

ownership interest in CPS, subject to

receipt of all necessary regulatory

approvals.

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 will not affect nonradiological

plant effluents and will have 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.

Alterative Use of Resources

This action does not involve the use

of any resources not previously

considered in the Final Environmental

Statement for the Clinton Power Station,

Unit 1, documented in NUREG–0854.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy,

on January 8, 1997, the staff consulted

with the Illinois state official of the

Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety,

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 Illinois Power

submittal dated December 13, 1996,

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 Vespasian Warner Public Library,

310 N. Quincy Street, Clinton, Illinois.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 29th day

of January 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Jon B. Hopkins,

Acting Director, Project Directorate III–3,

Division of Reactor Projects—III/IV Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 97–2815 Filed 2–4– 97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P