[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65716-65717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32620]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-293]


Boston Edison Company; Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station; 
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, of 
the transfer of control of Facility Operating License No. DPR-35, for 
the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, located in Plymouth County, 
Massachusetts, to the extent such transfer would be effected by the 
proposed corporate restructuring of Boston Edison Company (BECo, the 
licensee), holder of the license.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would consent to the transfer of control of the 
license, to the extent effected by the restructuring of BECo by 
establishment of a newly created holding company, BEC Energy. BECo 
would become a wholly owned subsidiary of the holding company and would 
continue to be the licensee for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. No 
direct transfer of the license would occur. The proposed action is in 
accordance with BECo's application dated June 9, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to the extent the proposed 
restructuring of BECo will effect a transfer of control of the license 
to permit the restructuring to occur. BECo has submitted that the 
proposed restructuring will enable it to better prepare to implement 
changes resulting from electric utility industry restructuring, and 
will enhance the insulation of BECo's utility business from business 
risks associated with non-utility 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 the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The corporate 
restructuring will not affect the qualifications or organizational 
affiliation of the personnel who operate or maintain the facility, as 
BECo will continue to be responsible for the operation, maintenance and 
possession of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.
    The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the 
proposed action and has 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 no 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 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 the 
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, dated May 1972.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on December 9, 1997, the 
staff consulted with the Massachusetts State Official, James 
Muckerheide, of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency regarding 
the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had 
no comments.

[[Page 65717]]

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 application dated June 9, 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 Plymouth Public Library, 11 North Street, 
Plymouth, Massachusetts.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of December 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ronald B. Eaton,
Acting Director, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-32620 Filed 12-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P