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Nebraska Public Power District
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Nebraska Public Power District
[Federal Register: November 16, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 221)] [Notices]
[Page 57603-57604]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-298]
Nebraska Public Power District
Cooper Nuclear Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations to Facility Operating License Number DPR-46. This license was issued to the Nebraska Public Power District (the licensee) for operation of the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) located in Nemaha County, Nebraska.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed exemption would allow the licensee to reschedule the licensed operator requalification examinations at CNS until after the current refueling outage. The requested exemption would extend the completion date for the examinations from December 22, 1995, until March 15, 1996. In the letter, the licensee indicated that licensed operators will continue to participate in the ongoing requalification training program, and that by assigning licensed operators to the outage organization, a reduction in overall shutdown risk could be realized.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated October 16, 1995, for an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 55.59.The Need for the Proposed Action
The schedular exemption requested would extend the completion date for the administration of licensed operator examinations for the CNS requalification program from December 22, 1995, to March 15, 1996. This would move the examination period outside the current refueling outage, thereby allowing the assignment of licensed operators to refueling outage organization positions. The increased oversight of outage activities provided by the licensed operators would result in better shutdown risk management and provide a net benefit with regard to plant safety.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the licensee's request. The proposed exemption does not change the requirements for licensed operator training, as licensed operators at CNS will continue to participate in the ongoing requalification training program throughout the extension period. The affected licensed operators will continue to demonstrate and possess the required levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to safely operate the plant. The proposed exemption would not change the existing CNS safety limits, safety settings, power operations, or effluent limits. The proposed exemption would allow increased oversight by licensed operators of outage activities with a resulting net benefit to safety. 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
[[Page 57604]]
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 that 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 requested exemption. 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, but the proposed action could also result in a reduction in overall shutdown risk at CNS.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Cooper Nuclear Station dated February 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 3, 1995, the staff consulted with the Nebraska State official, Ms. Cheryl Rogers, Nebraska Department of Health, 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 this action, see the licensee's request for an exemption dated October 16, 1995, 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 Auburn Public Library, 118 15th Street, Auburn, Nebraska 68305.Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of November, 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. James R. Hall,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor Projects III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 95-28310 Filed 11-15-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-1-P