[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 13726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7318]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[50-282 AND 50-306]


Northern States Power Company; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating 
Plant, Units 1 and 2 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to the Facility Operating License 
Nos. DPR-42 and DPR-60, issued to Northern States Power Company, (the 
licensee), for operation of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating 
Plants, Unit 1 and 2, respectively, located in Goodhue County, 
Minnesota.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow license amendments for Prairie 
Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, that resolve unreviewed 
safety questions associated with post-seismic cooling water source 
operations.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendments dated January 29, 1997, as supplemented 
February 11, 12, March 7, 10, and 11, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise the cooling water system emergency 
intake design bases. The proposed amendments contain license conditions 
that provide interim measures to resolve unreviewed safety questions 
relating to the cooling water system emergency intake line. The interim 
measures include the use of a dedicated operator to identify a seismic 
event so that nonessential cooling water loads can be stripped and the 
cooling water load demand can be reduced to within the capacity of the 
seismically qualified emergency intake pipe following a design-basis 
earthquake. The use of the dedicated operator will be eliminated when 
the licensee is able to provide a seismically qualified cooling water 
source either through analyses or modifications.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that pursuant to 10 CFR 50.90, the proposed amendments 
would not significantly increase the probability or consequences of 
accidents previously analyzed and the proposed amendments would not 
affect facility radiation levels or facility radiological effluents.
    The changes will not significantly 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 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 action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does involve features located entirely within the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological 
plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. 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 for the 
Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plants, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 18, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the Minnesota State official, Mr. Michael McCarthy of 
the Department of Public Services, 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 January 29, 1997, as supplemented by letters 
dated February 11, 12, March 7, 10, and 11, 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 Minneapolis Public Library, 
Technology and Science Department, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 
Minnesota 55401.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of March 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Beth Wetzel,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-7318 Filed 3-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P