[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 65520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31215]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-219]


AmerGen Energy Company, LLC; Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating 
Station 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-16, issued to AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (AmerGen or the 
licensee), for operation of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating 
Station, located in Ocean County, New Jersey.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is a one-time exemption from the requirements 
of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 50, 
Appendix E, Items IV.F.2.b and c regarding conduct of a full 
participation exercise of the onsite and offsite emergency plans every 
2 years. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for an exemption dated October 8, 2001. Under the proposed 
exemption, AmerGen would reschedule the exercise originally scheduled 
for October 16, 2001, and complete the exercise requirements in 
calendar year 2002. However, the next full participation exercise will 
continue to be scheduled biennially from 2001. The licensee requested 
relief from section IV.F.2.c of Appendix E to 10 CFR part 50. Although 
the intent of the request is clear, i.e., the need to postpone the 
biennial exercise, the citation of regulations to accomplish that 
intent may not be complete. Section IV.F.2.b of Appendix E to 10 CFR 
part 50 may also be cited for completeness. The analysis in the 
Commission's Safety Evaluation encompassed the technical issues 
necessary to grant a schedular exemption from sections IV.F.2.b and c 
for the conduct of the biennial exercise.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    10 CFR part 50, Appendix E, Items IV.F.2.b and c require each 
licensee at each site to conduct an exercise of its onsite and offsite 
emergency plan every 2 years. Federal agencies (the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission for the onsite exercise portion and the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency for the offsite exercise portion) observe these 
exercises and evaluate the performance of the licensee and State and 
local authorities having a role under the emergency plan.
    The licensee had initially planned to conduct an exercise of its 
onsite and offsite emergency plan on October 16, 2001, within the 
required 2-year interval. However, AmerGen has decided to postpone the 
exercise as a result of the ongoing national security threat in the 
United States, and the response, recovery, and other continuing offsite 
agency activities associated with the September 11, 2001, attacks on 
the World Trade Center.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the proposed action involves an administrative 
activity (a scheduler change in conducting an exercise) unrelated to 
plant operations.
    The proposed action 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 occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there 
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed action.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. 
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
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 (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). 
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 dated 
December 1974 for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on November 8, 2001, the 
staff consulted with the New Jersey State official, Rich Pinney of the 
New Jersey Department of Environment and Natural Resources, regarding 
the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had 
no comments. In addition, by letter dated September 27, 2001, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated support for rescheduling 
the exercise.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    On the basis of 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 October 8, 2001, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, located at One 
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, 
Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically 
from the ADAMS Public Library component on the NRC Web site, 
http:\\www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 13th day of December, 2001.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Helen N. Pastis,
Senior Project Manager, Section 1, Project Directorate 1, Division of 
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 01-31215 Filed 12-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P