Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), et al., Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-245, 50-336, and 50-423]

Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (NNECO), et al., Millstone

Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Environmental Assessment

and Finding of No Significant Impact

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is

considering issuance of exemptions from Facility Operating License Nos.

DPR-21, DPR-65, and NPF-49, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company

(NNECO/the licensee), for operation of Millstone Nuclear Power Station,

Units 1, 2, and 3 (Millstone), located in New London County,

Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements

of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Item IV.F.2.c regarding conduct of a

full participation exercise of the offsite emergency plan every 2

years. Under the proposed exemption, the licensee would reschedule the

Federally-observed full-participation emergency exercise from September

1999 to March 2000 and all future Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)--

and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)--evaluated exercises

would occur biennially from the year 2000.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's

application for exemption dated August 3, 1999.

The Need for the Proposed Action

Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulation, (10 CFR) Part 50,

Appendix E, Item IV.F.2.c requires each licensee at each site to

conduct an exercise of its offsite emergency plan biennially. The NRC

and FEMA observe these exercises and evaluate the performance of the

licensee, State and local authorities having a role under the emergency

plan.

The licensee had initially planned to conduct an exercise of its

onsite and offsite emergency plans in September 1999, which is at the

end of the required interval. To support the efficient and effective

use of Federal resources, as discussed during the annual NRC Region I

and FEMA (Regions I, II, and III) exercise scheduling meeting held in

White Plains, New York, in December 1998, the planned September 1999

exercise for Millstone was shifted to March 2000, which is beyond the

required interval.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action

and concludes that the proposed action involves an administrative

activity (a schedular change in conducting an exercise) unrelated to

plant operations.

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 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 not involve the use of any resources not

previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to

the Continuation of Construction of Unit 2 and the Operation of Units 1

and 2, Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Millstone Point Company,''

dated June 1973 or ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the

Operation of Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3,'' dated

December 1984 (NUREG-1064).

Agencies and Persons Consulted

In accordance with its stated policy, on August 5, 1999, the staff

consulted with the Connecticut State official, Mr. Fred Scheuritzel of

the Department of Environmental Protection, regarding the environmental

impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments. In

addition, by letter dated July 14, 1999, from Ms. Vanessa Quinn, the

Federal Emergency Management Agency indicated support for rescheduling

the exercise.

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 August 3, 1999, 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 rooms located at the Learning Resources Center, Three Rivers

Community-Technical College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich,

Connecticut, and the Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road,

Waterford, Connecticut.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of September 1999.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John A. Nakoski,

Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of

Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.

[FR Doc. 99-24380 Filed 9-17-99; 8:45 am]

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