[Federal Register: April 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 65)]
[Notices]               
[Page 16764-16765]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ap99-122]

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311]

 
Public Service Electric and Gas Co.; Salem Nuclear Generating 
Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations to Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-70 and DPR-75 for 
the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, 
issued to the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (the licensee), 
for operation of the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, located in Salem 
County, New Jersey.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements 
of 10 CFR 50.71(e)(4) regarding submission of revisions to the updated 
final safety analysis report (UFSAR). Under the proposed exemption, the 
licensee would schedule updates to UFSAR, common for both units, based 
on the refueling cycle of Salem Unit 1 and at intervals not to exceed 
24 months.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 50.71(e)(4), requires 
licensees to submit updates to their FSAR annually or within 6 months 
after each refueling outage provided that the interval between 
successive updates does not exceed 24 months. Since Units 1 and 2 share 
a common FSAR, the licensee must update the same document annually or 
within 6 months after a refueling outage for either unit. The 
underlying purpose of the rule was to relieve licensees of the burden 
of filing annual FSAR revisions while assuring that such revisions are 
made at least every 24 months. The Commission reduced the burden, in 
part, by permitting a licensee to submit its FSAR revisions 6 months 
after refueling outages for its facility, but did not provide for 
multiple unit facilities

[[Page 16765]]

sharing a common FSAR in the rule. Rather, the Commission stated: 
``With respect to the concern about multiple facilities sharing a 
common FSAR, licensees will have maximum flexibility for scheduling 
updates on a case-by-case basis'' (57 FR 39355) (1992). Allowing the 
exemption would maintain the updated FSAR current within 24 months of 
the last revision.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that it involves administrative activities unrelated to 
plant operation.
    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 off site, 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 this action.

Alternative 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 exemption 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 
Salem Nuclear Generating Station.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on March 31, 1999, the staff 
consulted with the New Jersey State official, Mr. Dennis Zannoni, 
Chief, Bureau of Nuclear Engineering, regarding the environmental 
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.

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 exemption.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
letter dated December 2, 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 Salem Free Public Library, 112 West Broadway, Salem, NJ 
08079.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 31st day of March 1999.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Elinor G. Adensam,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Licensing Project 
Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-8436 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P