12256 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 50 / Friday, March 14, 1997 / Notices

The proposed exemption is in

accordance with the licensee’s

application for exemption dated June

17, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Actions

The need for this action arises for

certain Appendix R fire scenarios whose

safe shutdown strategy does not

immediately depressurize the reactor

and uses low pressure injections

systems, and thus requires the safety

relief valves (SRVs) to be actuated

multiple times during a cooldown.

Although each SRV accumulator has

capacity for at least five valve strokes,

a long term source of nitrogen, beyond

the capacity of the SRV accumulators is

required in order to provide for

additional valve strokes for some

scenarios. The nitrogen may be

provided from either of two nitrogen

storage locations.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed

Actions

The Commission has completed its

evaluation of the proposed exemption

and concludes that the proposed

exemption will provide sufficient fire

protection that there is no increase in

the risk of fires at the facility.

Consequently, the probability of fires

has not been increased and the post-fire

radiological releases will not be greater

than previously determined, nor does

the proposed exemption otherwise

affect radiological plant effluents.

The proposed exemption affects only

the source of illumination credited for

safe shutdown functions. No physical

change results from the proposed

exemption, and, as discussed above, the

probability of fires has not been

increased. Therefore, the change will

not increase the probability or

consequences of accidents. No changes

are being made in the types of any

effluents that may be released offsite,

and there is no significant increase in

the allowable individual or cumulative

occupational radiation exposure.

Accordingly, the Commission concludes

that there are no significant radiological

environmental impacts associated with

the proposed actions.

With regard to potential

nonradiological impacts, the proposed

actions involve features located entirely

within the restricted area as defined in

10 CFR part 20. They do not affect

nonradiological plant effluents and have

no other environmental impact.

Accordingly, the Commission concludes

that there are no significant

nonradiological environmental impacts

associated with the proposed actions.

Alternatives to the Proposed Actions

Since the Commission has concluded

there is no measurable environmental

impact associated with the proposed

actions, any alternatives with equal or

greater environmental impact need not

be evaluated. As an alternative to the

proposed actions, the staff considered

denial of the proposed actions. Denial of

the application would result in no

change in current environmental

impacts. The environmental impacts of

the proposed actions and the alternative

action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

These actions do not involve use of

resources not previously considered in

the Final Environmental Statement for

the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power

Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy,

on February 26, 1997, the staff

consulted with the Vermont State

official, Mr. William K. Sherman of the

Vermont Department of Public Service,

regarding the environmental impact of

the proposed actions. The State official

had no comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

Based upon the environmental

assessment, the Commission concludes

that the proposed actions 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 exemption.

For further details with respect to the

proposed actions, see the application

dated June 17, 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

Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main

Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 5th day

of March 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Patrick D. Milano,

Acting Director, Project Directorate I–3,

Division of Reactor Projects—I/II, Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 97–6482 Filed 3–13–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

Core Research Capabilities for the

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research;

Meeting

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory

Commission.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: NRC staff and industry will

discuss the core research capabilities of

the Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research.

DATES: March 25, 1997, 9:00 a.m.–4:00

p.m.

ADDRESSES: Room O–1F7/9, One White

Flint North (OWFN) Building, 11545

Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Lloyd Donnelly, Office of Nuclear

Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, Washington DC

20555 Telephone (301) 415–5828.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of this meeting is to discuss the

core research capabilities of the Office

of Nuclear Regulatory Research in order

for this office to continue active

participation in cooperative safety

research activities with other

government agencies including DOE,

industry, and international

organizations concerned with nuclear

reactor safety.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day

of March 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

David L. Morrison,

Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory

Research.

[FR Doc. 97–6477 Filed 3–13–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

[Docket Nos. 50–498 and 50–499]

South Texas Project; Local Public

Document Room

Notice is hereby given that the

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

will not be relocating the local public

document room (LPDR) for records

pertaining to Houston Lighting and

Power Company’s South Texas Project.

The LPDR will remain at the J.M.

Hodges Library, Wharton County Junior

College, 911 Boling Highway, Wharton,

Texas. The Library Director has

informed the NRC staff that they will

continue with the maintenance and

operation of the South Texas LPDR.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day

of March 1997.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Russell A. Powell,

Chief, Freedom of Information/Local Public

Document Room Branch, Office of

Information Resources Management.

[FR Doc. 97–6480 Filed 3–13–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P