[Federal Register: December 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 236)] [Notices] [Page 69046] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09de99-125] [[Page 69046]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-289] GPU Nuclear, Inc., et al., Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. DPR-50, issued to GPU Nuclear, Inc. (the licensee), for operation of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (TMI-1), located in Dauphin County, PA. Environmental Assessment Identification of the Proposed Action The proposed action would clarify the authority under the TMI-1 license to possess radioactive materials and components at both Unit 1 and Unit 2. Following the expected transfer of the TMI-1 operating license to AmerGen, certain radioactive materials and components would still be able to be moved between the TMI-1 and TMI-2 units as is currently authorized. The TMI-2 license would remain with GPU. This amendment does not authorize the receipt or possession of radioactive waste from other sites. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment dated June 29, 1999, as supplemented by letters dated August 27, October 29, and November 3, 1999. The Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action is needed because TMI Units 1 and 2 have adjoining fuel handling buildings and both units share the same loading/unloading bay. Since the two units are currently operated or maintained by the same licensee, GPU Nuclear, Inc., each unit has similar license conditions (2b(3) and 2b(4) for Unit 1 and 2B(4) and 2B(5) for Unit 2) which effectively permit the possession and movement of radioactive materials between the units and common facilities, including the staging of contaminated apparatus used at either unit and temporary staging of radioactive material generated by the units. In anticipation of the forthcoming license transfer of the TMI-1 operating license to Amergen, the licensee has requested that TMI-1 License Conditions 2b(3) and 2b(4) be amended to clarify the authority to possess certain radioactive materials and components at both units so that it is clear that the new licensee for Unit 1 may continue to possess and move these materials and components between both units under its license. The licensee has also proposed to modify the Unit 2 license in a separate parallel license amendment request which would take into account the Unit 1 amendment request. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concluded that the proposed action places appropriate limits on the types, amounts and duration of storage of radioactive materials, waste and components that may be possessed by the TMI-1 licensee at either unit and further has determined that the source term from any accident involving radioactive material, waste or components would be within that assumed in the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report for Unit 1 and the Post Defueling Monitored Storage Safety Analysis Report for Unit 2. The proposed action will not significantly 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 nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC 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 could require the building of separate handling facilities for each unit and/or different methods for conducting outage activities including staging of contaminated scaffolding. This alternative would involve building new handling capacity for the processing of contaminated protective clothing, processing of liquid radwaste, and temporary staging areas. This alternative would be disruptive to plant operations and may give cause for increased radiation safety concerns. Therefore, this alternative is not considered to be an option. Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1. Agencies and Persons Consulted In accordance with its stated policy, on November 29, 1999, the staff consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Stan Maingi of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Radiation Protection, 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 NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 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 June 29, 1999, as supplemented by letters dated August 27, October 29, and November 3, 1999, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC. 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 6th day of December 1999. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Timothy G. Colburn, Sr., Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate I, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 99-31918 Filed 12-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P