[Federal Register: September 8, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 173)] [Notices] [Page 47531-47532] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08se98-108] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 50-346] Toledo Edison Company, Centerior Service Company and The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company; Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-3, issued to the Toledo Edison Company, Centerior Service Company, and The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (the licensees) for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1, located in Ottawa County, Ohio, with respect to operating authority under the license, and considering issuance of a conforming amendment under 10 CFR 50.90. Environmental Assessment Identification of the Proposed Action The proposed action would approve the transfer of operating authority under the license to a new company, FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC), to allow it to use and operate Davis-Besse and to possess and use related licensed nuclear materials in accordance with the same conditions and authorizations included in the current operating license. The proposed action would also approve issuance of a license amendment reflecting the transfer of operating authority. FENOC would be formed by FirstEnergy Corporation to become the licensed operator for Davis-Besse and would have exclusive control over the operation and maintenance of the facility. Under the proposed arrangement, ownership of Davis-Besse will remain unchanged with each owner retaining its current ownership interest. FENOC will not own any portion of Davis-Besse. Likewise, the owners' entitlement to capacity and energy from Davis-Besse [[Page 47532]] will not be affected by the proposed change in operating responsibility for Davis-Besse. The owners will continue to provide all funds for the operation, maintenance, and decommissioning by FENOC of Davis-Besse. The responsibility of the owners will include funding for any emergency situations that might arise at Davis-Besse. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees' application dated June 29, 1998, as supplemented by letter dated July 14, 1998, for approval of the transfer of the license and issuance of a conforming amendment. Need for the Proposed Action The proposed action is needed to enable the licensees to transfer operating authority to FENOC as discussed above. The licensees have submitted that this will enable them to enhance the already high level of public safety, operational efficiency, and cost-effective operations at Davis-Besse. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that there will be no physical or operational changes to Davis-Besse. The technical qualifications of FENOC to carry out its responsibilities under the operating license for Davis-Besse will be equivalent to the present technical qualifications of the current operators. FENOC will assume responsibility for, and control over, operation and maintenance of the facility. The present plant organization, the oversight organizations, and the engineering and support organizations will be transferred essentially intact to FENOC. The technical qualifications of the FENOC organization, therefore, will be at least equivalent to those of the existing organization. The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences of accidents would not be increased and that post-accident radiological releases would not be greater than previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the proposed action would not affect routine radiological plant effluents and would not increase occupational radiological 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Alternative to the Proposed Action Since the Commission concluded that there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the requested 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 identical. Alternative Use of Resources This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1,'' dated October 1975. Agencies and Persons Contacted In accordance with its stated policy, on July 21, 1998, the staff consulted with the State official of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency 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 licensees' application dated June 29, 1998, as supplemented by letter dated July 14, 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 University of Toledo, William Carlson Library, Government Documents Collection, 2801 West Bancroft Avenue, Toledo, OH 43606. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of September 1998. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Ronald R. Bellamy, Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/ IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 98-24009 Filed 9-4-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P