81 FR 12132 - Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 45 (March 8, 2016)
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 45 (March 8, 2016)
| Page Range | 12132-12133 | |
| FR Document | 2016-05134 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 12132-12133] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-05134] [[Page 12132]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 50-369 and 50-370; NRC-2016-0049] Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of an exemption for Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-9 and NPF-17, issued to Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke, the licensee) for operation of McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2 (McGuire), located near Huntersville, North Carolina. The licensee requested an exemption from certain physical inventory requirements because the inventory items are no longer in service and are not readily accessible. The NRC prepared an environmental assessment (EA) documenting its finding. The NRC concluded that the proposed actions will have no significant environmental impact. Accordingly, the NRC staff is issuing its final EA and a final finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed exemption. DATES: The environmental assessment referenced in this document is available on March 8, 2016. ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2016-0049 when contacting the NRC about the availability of information regarding this document. You may obtain publicly-available information related to this document using any of the following methods:Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2016-0049. Address questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415- 3463; email: [email protected]. NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-available documents online in the ADAMS Public Documents collection at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. To begin the search, select ``ADAMS Public Documents'' and then select ``Begin Web-based ADAMS Search.'' For problems with ADAMS, please contact the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by email to [email protected]. The ADAMS accession number for each document referenced (if that document is available in ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. NRC's PDR: You may examine and purchase copies of public documents at the NRC's PDR, Room O1-F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: G. Edward Miller, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2481, email: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The NRC is considering issuance of an exemption from section 74.19(c) of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), for Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-9 and NPF-17, issued to Duke for operation of McGuire, located near Huntersville, North Carolina. Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC has reviewed the requirements in 10 CFR 51.20(b) and 10 CFR 51.22(c) and determined that an EA is the appropriate form of environmental review for the requested action. In accordance with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC prepared an EA documenting its finding. Based on the results of the EA, the NRC concluded that the proposed actions will have no significant environmental impact and is issuing this final FONSI. II. Environmental Assessment Description of the Proposed Action The regulation in 10 CFR 74.19(c) requires, in part, ``Other than licensees subject to sections 74.31, 74.33, 74.41, or 74.51, each licensee who is authorized to possess special nuclear material, at any one time and site location, in a quantity greater than 350 grams of contained uranium-235, uranium-233, or plutonium, or any combination thereof, shall conduct a physical inventory of all special nuclear material in its possession under license at intervals not to exceed 12 months.'' By application dated August 17, 2015, as supplemented by letter dated October 6, 2015 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML15239B240 and ML15300A282, respectively), the licensee requested an exemption from certain recordkeeping requirements in 10 CFR 74.19(c). Specifically, the licensee requested an exemption for conducting a physical inventory of the moveable incore detectors in their Moveable Incore Detector (MIDS) system. The moveable incore detectors are no longer in service and are stored in a location where they are not readily accessible except during plant outages. Need for the Proposed Action The proposed exemption to the recordkeeping requirements of 10 CFR 74.19(c) is needed to grant the licensee relief from the physical inventory requirements for the movable incore detectors in their MIDS system, which contain special nuclear material and are required to be listed on their physical inventory. The licensee states that the moveable incore detectors have been removed from service and are stored inside shielded storage pipes (sleeves) located inside the reactor buildings concrete inner shield wall, making them physically inaccessible. The licensee also states that modifications are being made to ensure that the moveable incore detectors meet the requirements of inaccessibility. The modifications involve installing tamper-evident seals to ensure the incore detectors are not accessed and the seals will be verified every outage. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the proposed exemption would not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents. No changes would be made in the types of effluents that may be released offsite. There would be no significant increase in the amount of any effluent released offsite. There would be no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there would be no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action would not have any foreseeable impacts to land, air, or water resources, including impacts to biota. In addition, there are also no known socioeconomic or environmental justice impacts associated with such proposed action. Therefore, there are no significant non- radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action As an alternative to the proposed actions, the NRC staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). Denial of the exemption request would result in no [[Page 12133]] change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed exemption and the ``no action'' alternative are similar. Alternative Use of Resources The action does not involve the use of any different resources than those previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of William B. McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2,'' dated January, 1981, and NUREG-1437, Supplement 8, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Regarding McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, Final Report,'' dated December 2002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML030020184). Agencies and Persons Consulted The staff did not enter into consultation with any other Federal Agency or with the State of North Carolina regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. III. Finding of No Significant Impact On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed exemption 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. Other than the licensee's letter dated August 17, 2015, and supplemented October 6, 2015, there are no other environmental documents associated with this review. This document is available for public inspection as indicated above. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of February 2016. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. G. Edward Miller, Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II-1, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 2016-05134 Filed 3-7-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
![12132 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2016 / Notices
NUCLEAR REGULATORY email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The and are stored in a location where they
COMMISSION ADAMS accession number for each are not readily accessible except during
document referenced (if that document plant outages.
[Docket Nos. 50–369 and 50–370; NRC–
is available in ADAMS) is provided the
2016–0049] Need for the Proposed Action
first time that a document is referenced.
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, McGuire • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and The proposed exemption to the
purchase copies of public documents at recordkeeping requirements of 10 CFR
Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2;
the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One 74.19(c) is needed to grant the licensee
Environmental Assessment and
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville relief from the physical inventory
Finding of No Significant Impact
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. requirements for the movable incore
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: G. detectors in their MIDS system, which
Commission. Edward Miller, Office of Nuclear contain special nuclear material and are
ACTION: Environmental assessment and Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear required to be listed on their physical
finding of no significant impact; Regulatory Commission, Washington DC inventory. The licensee states that the
issuance. 20555–0001; telephone: 301–415–2481, moveable incore detectors have been
email: Ed.Miller@nrc.gov. removed from service and are stored
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory inside shielded storage pipes (sleeves)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Commission (NRC) is considering located inside the reactor buildings
issuance of an exemption for Facility I. Introduction concrete inner shield wall, making them
Operating License Nos. NPF–9 and The NRC is considering issuance of an physically inaccessible. The licensee
NPF–17, issued to Duke Energy exemption from section 74.19(c) of title also states that modifications are being
Carolinas, LLC (Duke, the licensee) for 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations made to ensure that the moveable incore
operation of McGuire Nuclear Station, (10 CFR), for Facility Operating License detectors meet the requirements of
Units 1 and 2 (McGuire), located near Nos. NPF–9 and NPF–17, issued to inaccessibility. The modifications
Huntersville, North Carolina. The Duke for operation of McGuire, located involve installing tamper-evident seals
licensee requested an exemption from near Huntersville, North Carolina. to ensure the incore detectors are not
certain physical inventory requirements Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC accessed and the seals will be verified
because the inventory items are no has reviewed the requirements in 10 every outage.
longer in service and are not readily CFR 51.20(b) and 10 CFR 51.22(c) and
accessible. The NRC prepared an Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
determined that an EA is the Action
environmental assessment (EA) appropriate form of environmental
documenting its finding. The NRC review for the requested action. In The NRC has completed its evaluation
concluded that the proposed actions accordance with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC of the proposed action and concludes
will have no significant environmental prepared an EA documenting its that the proposed exemption would not
impact. Accordingly, the NRC staff is finding. Based on the results of the EA, significantly increase the probability or
issuing its final EA and a final finding the NRC concluded that the proposed consequences of accidents. No changes
of no significant impact (FONSI) actions will have no significant would be made in the types of effluents
associated with the proposed environmental impact and is issuing that may be released offsite. There
exemption. this final FONSI. would be no significant increase in the
amount of any effluent released offsite.
DATES: The environmental assessment II. Environmental Assessment There would be no significant increase
referenced in this document is available
Description of the Proposed Action in occupational or public radiation
on March 8, 2016.
exposure. Therefore, there would be no
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID The regulation in 10 CFR 74.19(c) significant radiological environmental
NRC–2016–0049 when contacting the requires, in part, ‘‘Other than licensees impacts associated with the proposed
NRC about the availability of subject to sections 74.31, 74.33, 74.41, action.
information regarding this document. or 74.51, each licensee who is With regard to potential non-
You may obtain publicly-available authorized to possess special nuclear radiological impacts, the proposed
information related to this document material, at any one time and site action would not have any foreseeable
using any of the following methods: location, in a quantity greater than 350 impacts to land, air, or water resources,
• Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to grams of contained uranium-235, including impacts to biota. In addition,
http://www.regulations.gov and search uranium-233, or plutonium, or any there are also no known socioeconomic
for Docket ID NRC–2016–0049. Address combination thereof, shall conduct a or environmental justice impacts
questions about NRC dockets to Carol physical inventory of all special nuclear associated with such proposed action.
Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; material in its possession under license Therefore, there are no significant non-
email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. at intervals not to exceed 12 months.’’ radiological environmental impacts
• NRC’s Agencywide Documents By application dated August 17, 2015, associated with the proposed action.
Access and Management System as supplemented by letter dated October Accordingly, the NRC concludes that
(ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- 6, 2015 (ADAMS Accession Nos. there are no significant environmental
available documents online in the ML15239B240 and ML15300A282, impacts associated with the proposed
ADAMS Public Documents collection at respectively), the licensee requested an
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
action.
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ exemption from certain recordkeeping
adams.html. To begin the search, select requirements in 10 CFR 74.19(c). Environmental Impacts of the
‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then Specifically, the licensee requested an Alternatives to the Proposed Action
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS exemption for conducting a physical As an alternative to the proposed
Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, inventory of the moveable incore actions, the NRC staff considered denial
please contact the NRC’s Public detectors in their Moveable Incore of the proposed action (i.e., the ‘‘no-
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at Detector (MIDS) system. The moveable action’’ alternative). Denial of the
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by incore detectors are no longer in service exemption request would result in no
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 8, 2016 / Notices 12133
change in current environmental response to its annual financial appendix A, Criterion 9 and NRC
impacts. The environmental impacts of assurance updates for its Smith Ranch- Materials License SUA–1601, License
the proposed exemption and the ‘‘no Highland In-Situ Recovery (ISR) project Condition 9.5, Cameco is required to
action’’ alternative are similar. and the associated remote satellite submit to the NRC for review and
facilities at Ruth and Gas Hills. Issuance approval an annual update of the
Alternative Use of Resources
of this temporary exemption will not financial surety to cover third-party
The action does not involve the use of remove the requirement for Cameco to costs for decommissioning and
any different resources than those provide adequate financial assurance decontamination of the Smith Ranch-
previously considered in the ‘‘Final through an approved mechanism but Highland ISR facility and its associated
Environmental Statement Related to the will allow the NRC staff to further remote satellites located in Converse,
Operation of William B. McGuire evaluate whether the State of Johnson, Campbell, and Fremont
Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2,’’ dated Wyoming’s separate account provision Counties, Wyoming. By letter dated
January, 1981, and NUREG–1437, for financial assurance instruments December 4, 2014, Cameco submitted its
Supplement 8, ‘‘Generic Environmental Cameco holds is consistent with the annual financial surety update to the
Impact Statement for License Renewal NRC’s requirement for a standby trust NRC staff for the Ruth remote satellite
of Nuclear Plants, Regarding McGuire agreement. facility (Cameco 2014). Additionally,
Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, Final Cameco submitted its annual surety
ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
Report,’’ dated December 2002 (ADAMS updates for the Smith Ranch-Highland
NRC–2014–0092 when contacting the
Accession No. ML030020184). facility and the Gas Hills remote
NRC about the availability of
satellite facility on July 7, 2015, and
Agencies and Persons Consulted information regarding this document.
August 7, 2015 respectively (Cameco
The staff did not enter into You may obtain publicly-available
2015a and Cameco 2015b). The NRC
consultation with any other Federal information related to this document
staff reviewed the annual financial
Agency or with the State of North using any of the following methods:
surety update and found the values
Carolina regarding the environmental • Federal Rulemaking Web site: Go to
reasonable for the required reclamation
impact of the proposed action. http://www.regulations.gov and search
activities (ADAMS Accession No.
for Docket ID NRC–2014–0092. Address
III. Finding of No Significant Impact ML15348A074). Cameco maintains
questions about NRC dockets to Carol
approved financial assurance
On the basis of the environmental Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
instruments in favor of the State of
assessment, the NRC concludes that the email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For
Wyoming; however, it does not have a
proposed exemption will not have a technical questions, contact the
standby trust agreement (STA) in place,
significant effect on the quality of the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER as required by 10 CFR part 40, appendix
human environment. Accordingly, the INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
A, Criterion 9.
NRC has determined not to prepare an document.
environmental impact statement for the • NRC’s Agencywide Documents II. Description of Action
proposed action. Other than the Access and Management System As of December 17, 2012, NRC’s
licensee’s letter dated August 17, 2015, (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- uranium milling licensees, which are
and supplemented October 6, 2015, available documents online in the regulated, in part, under 10 CFR part 40,
there are no other environmental ADAMS Public Documents collection at appendix A, Criterion 9, are required to
documents associated with this review. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ have an STA in place. Criterion 9
This document is available for public adams.html. To begin the search, select provides that if a licensee does not use
inspection as indicated above. ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then a trust as its financial assurance
select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS mechanism, then the licensee is
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day
of February 2016. Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, required to establish a standby trust
please contact the NRC’s Public fund to receive funds in the event the
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Document Room (PDR) reference staff at Commission or State regulatory agency
G. Edward Miller,
1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by exercises its right to collect the funds
Project Manager, Plant Licensing Branch II– email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The
1, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, provided for by surety bond or letter of
ADAMS accession number for each credit. The purpose of an STA is to
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
document referenced (if that document provide a separate account to hold the
[FR Doc. 2016–05134 Filed 3–7–16; 8:45 am]
is available in ADAMS) is provided the decommissioning funds in the event of
BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
first time that a document is referenced. a default.
• NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Consistent with the provisions of 10
purchase copies of public documents at CFR part 40, appendix A, Criterion 9(d),
NUCLEAR REGULATORY the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One
COMMISSION Cameco has consolidated its NRC
White Flint North, 11555 Rockville financial assurance sureties with those
[Docket Nos. 040–8964; NRC–2014–0092] Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Cameco is required to obtain by the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: State of Wyoming, and the financial
Power Resources, Inc. Douglas T. Mandeville, Office of instrument is held by the State of
AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards; Wyoming. Cameco has not established
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an STA, nor has it requested an
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Commission.
ACTION: Temporary exemption; issuance. Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone: exemption from the requirement to do
301–415–0724; email: so.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Douglas.Mandeville@nrc.gov. Wyoming law requires that a separate
Commission (NRC) is issuing a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: account be set up to receive forfeited
temporary exemption from certain NRC decommissioning funds but does not
financial assurance requirements to I. Background specifically require an STA. Section 35–
Power Resources, Inc., doing business as Pursuant to part 40 of title 10 of the 11–424(a) of the Code of Wyoming
Cameco Resources (Cameco), in Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), states that ‘‘[a]ll forfeitures collected
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Mar 07, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\08MRN1.SGM 08MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_12177/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:10:13
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:10:13
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance. | |
| Dates | The environmental assessment referenced in this document is available on March 8, 2016. | |
| Contact | G. Edward Miller, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001; telephone: 301-415-2481, email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 12132 |
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