Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 76 /Tuesday, April 21, 1998 / Notices 19759

emergency core cooling system suction

strainer materials listed in the WNP–2

Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR).

The licensee identified this change as an

unreviewed safety question and

accordingly, the NRC staff is reviewing

this FSAR change.

Before issuance of the proposed

license amendment, the Commission

will have made findings required by the

Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended

(the Act) and the Commission’s

regulations.

By May 21, 1998, the licensee may file

a request for a hearing with respect to

issuance of the amendment to the

subject facility operating license and

any person whose interest may be

affected by this proceeding and who

wishes to participate as a party in the

proceeding must file a written request

for a hearing and a petition for leave to

intervene. Requests for a hearing and a

petition for leave to intervene shall be

filed in accordance with the

Commission’s ‘‘Rules of Practice for

Domestic Licensing Proceedings’’ in 10

CFR Part 2. Interested persons should

consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.714

which is available 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 Richland

Public Library, 955 Northgate Street,

Richland, Washington 99352. If a

request for a hearing or petition for

leave to intervene is filed by the above

date, the Commission or an Atomic

Safety and Licensing Board, designated

by the Commission or by the Chairman

of the Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board Panel, will rule on the request

and/or petition; and the Secretary or the

designated Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board will issue a notice of hearing or

an appropriate order.

As required by 10 CFR 2.714, a

petition for leave to intervene shall set

forth with particularity the interest of

the petitioner in the proceeding, and

how that interest may be affected by the

results of the proceeding. The petition

should specifically explain the reasons

why intervention should be permitted

with particular reference to the

following factors: (1) the nature of the

petitioner’s right under the Act to be

made a party to the proceeding; (2) the

nature and extent of the petitioner’s

property, financial, or other interest in

the proceeding; and (3) the possible

effect of any order which may be

entered in the proceeding on the

petitioner’s interest. The petition should

also identify the specific aspect(s) of the

subject matter of the proceeding as to

which petitioner wishes to intervene.

Any person who has filed a petition for

leave to intervene or who has been

admitted as a party may amend the

petition without requesting leave of the

Board up to 15 days prior to the first

prehearing conference scheduled in the

proceeding, but such an amended

petition must satisfy the specificity

requirements described above.

Not later than 15 days prior to the first

prehearing conference scheduled in the

proceeding, a petitioner shall file a

supplement to the petition to intervene

which must include a list of the

contentions which are sought to be

litigated in the matter. Each contention

must consist of a specific statement of

the issue of law or fact to be raised or

controverted. In addition, the petitioner

shall provide a brief explanation of the

bases of the contention and a concise

statement of the alleged facts or expert

opinion which support the contention

and on which the petitioner intends to

rely in proving the contention at the

hearing. The petitioner must also

provide references to those specific

sources and documents of which the

petitioner is aware and on which the

petitioner intends to rely to establish

those facts or expert opinion. Petitioner

must provide sufficient information to

show that a genuine dispute exists with

the applicant on a material issue of law

or fact. Contentions shall be limited to

matters within the scope of the

amendment under consideration. The

contention must be one which, if

proven, would entitle the petitioner to

relief. A petitioner who fails to file such

a supplement which satisfies these

requirements with respect to at least one

contention will not be permitted to

participate as a party.

Those permitted to intervene become

parties to the proceeding, subject to any

limitations in the order granting leave to

intervene, and have the opportunity to

participate fully in the conduct of the

hearing, including the opportunity to

present evidence and cross-examine

witnesses.

A request for a hearing or a petition

for leave to intervene must be filed with

the Secretary of the Commission, U.S.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission,

Washington, DC 20555–0001, Attention:

Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, or

may be delivered to the Commission’s

Public Document Room, the Gelman

Building, 2120 L Street, NW.,

Washington, DC, by the above date. A

copy of the petition should also be sent

to the Office of the General Counsel,

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,

Washington, DC 20555–0001, and to

Perry D. Robinson, Esq., Winston &

Strawn, 1400 L Street NW, Washington,

DC 20005–3502, attorney for the

licensee.

Nontimely filings of petitions for

leave to intervene, amended petitions,

supplemental petitions and/or requests

for hearing will not be entertained

absent a determination by the

Commission, the presiding officer or the

presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing

Board that the petition and/or request

should be granted based upon a

balancing of the factors specified in 10

CFR 2.714(a)(1) (i)–(v) and 2.714(d).

If a request for a hearing is received,

the Commission’s staff may issue the

amendment after it completes its

technical review and prior to the

completion of any required hearing if it

publishes a further notice for public

comment of its proposed finding of no

significant hazards consideration in

accordance with 10 CFR 50.91 and

50.92.

For further details with respect to this

action, see the application for amendment

dated April 16, 1998, 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

Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate

Street, Richland, Washington 99352.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day

of April 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Chester Poslusny,

Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate

IV–2, Division of Reactor Projects—III/IV,

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 98–10665 Filed 4–20–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50–255]

Consumers Power Company,

Palisades Plant; Environmental

Assessment and Finding of No

Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (the Commission) is

considering issuance of an amendment

to Facility Operating License No. DPR–

20, issued to Consumers Energy

Company, (the licensee), for operation

of the Palisades Plant located in Van

Buren County, Michigan.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed amendment would

revise the limitations on concentrations

of radioactive material released in liquid

effluents and reflects the relocation of

the prior 10 CFR 20.106 requirements to

the revised 10 CFR 20.1302.

The proposed action is in accordance

with the licensee’s application for
19760 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 76 /Tuesday, April 21, 1998 / Notices

amendment dated December 11, 1995,

as supplemented January 18, September

3, October 2, October 18, and October

25, 1996, and March 28, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

The proposed action is needed to

update the Technical Specifications

(TS) to incorporate the revised

requirements of 10 CFR part 20 (i.e., the

need for the proposed action was

created by a change in the regulatory

requirements).

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed

Action

The proposed revision, in regard to

the actual release rates as referenced in

the TS as a limitation on the

concentration of radioactive material

released in liquid effluents, will not

increase the types or amounts of

effluents that may be released offsite,

nor increase individual or cumulative

occupational radiation exposures.

Therefore, the Commission concludes

that there are no significant radiological

environmental impacts associated with

the proposed amendment.

With regard to potential

nonradiological impacts, the proposed

changes do not affect nonradiological

effluents and have no other

environmental impact. Therefore, the

Commission concludes that there are no

significant nonradiological

environmental impacts associated with

the proposed amendment.

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 NRC 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 Palisades dated June 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy,

on February 12, 1998, the NRC staff

consulted with the Michigan State

official, Dennis Hahn, of the Michigan

Department of Environmental Quality,

Drinking Water and Radiological

Protection Division, 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

letters dated December 11, 1995,

January 18, September 3, October 2,

October 18, and October 25, 1996, and

March 28, 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 Van

Wylen Library, Hope College, Holland,

Michigan 49423.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 15th day

of April 1998.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Robert G. Schaaf,

Project Manager, Project Directorate III–1,

Division of Reactor Projects—III/IV, Office of

Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 98–10544 Filed 4–20–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P

NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: Nuclear

Regulatory Commission.

DATE: Weeks of April 20, 27, May 4, and

11, 1998.

PLACE: Commissioners’ Conference

Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville,

Maryland.

STATUS: Public and Closed.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:

Week of April 20

There are no meetings the week of

April 20.

Week of April 27—Tentative

Wednesday, April 29

11:30 a.m.—Affirmation Session (Public

Meeting)—a: Final Rule:

Requirements for Shipping

Packages Used to Transport

Vitrified High-Level Waste.

Thursday, April 30

9:00 a.m.—Briefing on Investigative

Matters (Closed—Ex. 5 and 7).

2:00 p.m.—Discussion of Management

Issues (Closed—Ex. 2 and 6).

Friday, May 1

8:30 a.m.—*Briefing on Selected Issues

Related to Proposed Restart of

Millstone Unit 3. (Public Meeting)

(Contact: Bill Travers, 301–415–

1200)

1:00 p.m.—(Continuation of Millstone

meeting.)

Week of May 4—Tentative

There are no meetings the week of

May 4.

*Note: Follow-on meeting to discuss the

remaining issues related to Millstone Unit 3

restart will be held at a later date.

Week of May 11—Tentative

Wednesday, May 13

10:30 a.m.—Affirmation Session (Public

Meeting) (if needed).

*The schedule for Commission

meetings is subject to change on short

notice. To verify the status of meetings

call (recording)—(301) 415–1292.

Contact person for more information:

Bill Hill (301) 415–1661.

Additional Information: By vote of 4–

0 on April 16, the Commission

determined pursuant to U.S.C.

552b(c)(1) and 10 CFR Sec. 9.104(a)(1)

of the Commission’s rules that

‘‘Affirmation of HYDRO RESOURCES,

INC. DOCKET NO. 40–8968–ML,

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER (Denying

Motion for Stay and Request for Prior

Hearing, Lifting Temporary Stay,

Denying Motion for Strike and for Leave

to Reply), LBP–98–5’’ be held on April

16, and on less than one week’s notice

to the public.

The NRC Commission Meeting

Schedule can be found on the Internet

at:

http://www.nrc.gov/SECY/smj/

schedule.htm

This notice is distributed by mail to

several hundred subscribers; if you no

longer wish to receive it, or would like

to be added to it, please contact the

Office of the Secretary, Attn: Operations

Branch, Washington, D.C. 20555 (301–

415–1661). In addition, distribution of

this meeting notice over the Internet

system is available. If you are interested

in receiving this Commission meeting

schedule electronically, please send an

electronic message to wmh@nrc.gov or

dkw@nrc.gov.

* * * * *

Dated: April 17, 1998.

William M. Hill, Jr.,

Secy, Tracking Officer, Office of the Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–10745 Filed 4–17–98; 3:12 pm]

BILLING CODE 7590–01–M