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Consumers Power Company Palisades Plant; Environmental Asses
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Consumers Power Company Palisades Plant; Environmental Asses
[Federal Register: March 15, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 52)] [Notices]
[Page 10811-10812]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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 Power Company, (the licensee), for operation of the Palisades Plant, located in Van Buren County, Michigan.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would modify the Palisades Facility Operating License by deleting references to specific amendments and specific revisions in the listed titles of the Physical Security Plan, the Suitability Training and Qualification Plan, and the Safeguards Contingency Plan, and make minor editorial changes to the license. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment dated October 17, 1995.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to: (1) Eliminate the implication that the Facility Operating License must be amended when any Physical Security Plan, Suitability Training and Qualification Plan, or Safeguards Contingency Plan revision is approved; and (2) eliminate redundancies and inconsistencies throughout the license.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the proposed amendment will eliminate the need to amend the license whenever a security, training, or safeguards plan is revised, and provide for editorial changes which serve to make the license easier to read. The Palisades Facility Operating License still requires the licensee to implement and maintain in effect all provisions (including all approved amendments) of the Commissionapproved Palisades Plant Physical Security Plan, Suitability Training and Qualification Plan, and the Plant Safeguards Contingency Plan. Examples of minor changes to the license include the use of consistent abbreviations for the Commission and the licensee, punctuation of series consistent with NUREG-1379, ``NRC Editorial Style Guide,'' and removal of paragraph titles for consistency in format. 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 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.
[[Page 10812]]
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Palisades Plant.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on January 31, 1996, the staff consulted with the Michigan State official, Dennis Hahn of the Michigan Department of Public Health, Nuclear Facilities and Environmental Monitoring, 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 October 17, 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 Van Wylen Library, Hope College, Holland, Michigan, 49201.Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 11th day of March 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Timothy G. Colburn,
Acting Director Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation [FR Doc. 96-6210 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P