[Federal Register: March 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 55)] [Notices] [Page 14017-14018] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23mr99-116] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425] Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., et al.; (Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2); Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-68 and NPF-81, issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., et al. (the licensee), for operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, located in Burke County, Georgia. Environmental Assessment Identification of Proposed Action The proposed action would amend the Facility Operating Licenses (FOLs) for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant (Vogtle), Units 1 and 2, to delete or modify certain license conditions, which have become obsolete or inappropriate. In addition, the Technical Specifications would be reconstituted to reflect revised word processing software. No change in technical requirements would be involved; however, the font would be changed to Arial 11 point; page numbers would be revised to a limiting condition for operation specific numbering scheme; and intentional blank pages would be deleted. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendments dated October 15, 1998, as supplemented by letter dated November 11, 1998. The Need for the Proposed Action When the FOLs, NPF-68 and NPF-81, were issued to the licensee, the NRC staff deemed certain issues essential to safety and/or essential to meeting certain regulatory interests. Other issues were associated with adoption of the Improved Standard Technical Specifications in License Amendment Nos. 96 and 74, for Vogtle Units 1 and 2, on September 25, 1996. These issues were imposed as license conditions in the FOLs, with deadlines for their implementation. Since the units were licensed to operate in the 1980s, most of these license conditions have been fulfilled. For the license conditions that have been fulfilled, the licensee proposed to have them deleted from the FOLs. The licensee is also proposing a minor change to a license reporting requirement. The FOLs also included exemptions from Commission regulations. The licensee stated that some exemptions have either expired, or are no longer needed since the units are in full compliance with the respective regulations. The licensee proposed to delete these exemptions from the FOLs. The licensee also proposed to reissue the Technical Specifications without changes, to implement a change to its word processing computer software. The proposed amendments involve reformatting and removal of conditions [[Page 14018]] that have been satisfied or that are obsolete. No actual plant equipment, regulatory requirements, operating practices, or analyses are affected by these proposed amendments. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that there is no significant environmental impact if the amendments are approved. No changes will be made to the design and licensing bases, and applicable procedures at Vogtle Units 1 and 2 will remain the same. Other than the recordkeeping, reporting, or administrative procedures or requirements, no other changes will be made to the FOLs, including the Technical Specifications. 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 nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not involve any historical 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 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 did not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2. Agencies and Persons Contacted In accordance with its stated policy, on March 17, 1999, the staff consulted with the Georgia State official, Mr. J. Setzer of the Department of Natural Resources, 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 action. For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated October 15, 1998, as supplemented by letter dated November 11, 1998, which are 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 Burke County Library, 412 Fourth Street, Waynesboro, Georgia. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day of March 1999. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Herbert N. Berkow, Director, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 99-7028 Filed 3-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P