82_FR_56286 82 FR 56060 - Omaha Public Power District; Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1

82 FR 56060 - Omaha Public Power District; Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 226 (November 27, 2017)

Page Range56060-56062
FR Document2017-25561

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering issuance of exemptions in response to a request from Omaha Public Power District (OPPD or the licensee) that would permit the licensee to reduce its emergency planning (EP) activities at the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1 (Fort Calhoun). The licensee is seeking exemptions that would eliminate the requirements for the licensee to maintain formal offsite radiological emergency plans, and reduce some of the onsite EP activities, based on the reduced risks at Fort Calhoun, which is permanently shutdown and defueled. However, requirements for certain onsite capabilities to communicate and coordinate with offsite response authorities, in the event of an emergency at Fort Calhoun, would be retained. The NRC staff is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed exemptions.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 226 (Monday, November 27, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56060-56062]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25561]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-285; NRC-2017-0223]


Omaha Public Power District; Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; 
issuance.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering 
issuance of exemptions in response to a request from Omaha Public Power 
District (OPPD or the licensee) that would permit the licensee to 
reduce its emergency planning (EP) activities at the Fort Calhoun 
Station, Unit No. 1 (Fort Calhoun). The licensee is seeking exemptions 
that would eliminate the requirements for the licensee to maintain 
formal offsite radiological emergency plans, and reduce some of the 
onsite EP activities, based on the reduced risks at Fort Calhoun, which 
is permanently shutdown and defueled. However, requirements for certain 
onsite capabilities to communicate and coordinate with offsite response 
authorities, in the event of an emergency at Fort Calhoun, would be 
retained. The NRC staff is issuing an environmental assessment (EA) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed 
exemptions.

DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on 
November 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2017-0223 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-2017-0223. Address 
questions about NRC dockets to Carol Gallagher; telephone: 301-415-
3463; email: [email protected]. For technical questions, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this document.
     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]. For 
the convenience of the reader, the ADAMS accession numbers are provided 
in a table in the ``Availability of Documents'' section of this 
document.
     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: James Kim, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-
0001; telephone: 301-415-4125; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    Fort Calhoun is a permanently shutdown and defueled nuclear power 
plant, located in Washington County, Nebraska, which is in the process 
of decommissioning. The licensee is the holder of Renewed Facility 
Operating License No. DPR-40 for operation of Fort Calhoun. Fort 
Calhoun has been shut down since October 24, 2016, and the final 
removal of fuel from its reactor vessel was completed on November 13, 
2016. By letter dated November 13, 2016, OPPD submitted to the NRC a 
certification of the permanent cessation of power operations at Fort 
Calhoun and the permanent removal of fuel from the Fort Calhoun reactor 
vessel. As a permanently shutdown and defueled facility, and pursuant 
to section 50.82(a)(2) of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(10 CFR), Fort Calhoun is no longer authorized to be operated or to 
have fuel placed into its reactor vessel. However, the licensee is 
still authorized to possess and store irradiated nuclear fuel, which is 
currently stored onsite at Fort Calhoun in a spent fuel pool and in an 
independent spent fuel storage installation.
    The licensee has requested exemptions for Fort Calhoun from certain 
EP requirements in 10 CFR part 50, ``Domestic Licensing of Production 
and Utilization Facilities.'' The NRC regulations concerning EP do not 
recognize the reduced risks after a reactor is permanently shut down 
and defueled. As such, a permanently shutdown and defueled reactor such 
as Fort Calhoun must continue to maintain the same EP requirements as 
an operating power reactor under the existing regulatory requirements. 
To establish a level of EP commensurate with the reduced risks of a 
permanently shutdown and defueled reactor, OPPD requires exemptions 
from certain EP regulatory requirements before it can change its 
emergency plans.
    The NRC is considering issuing exemptions from portions of 10 CFR 
50.47, ``Emergency plans,'' and 10 CFR part 50, appendix E, ``Emergency 
Planning and Preparedness for Production and Utilization Facilities,'' 
to OPPD, which would eliminate the requirements for OPPD to maintain 
offsite radiological emergency plans and reduce some of the onsite EP 
activities, based on the reduced risks at Fort Calhoun, due to its 
permanently shutdown and defueled status. 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. Based on the results of 
the EA, which is provided in Section II of this document, the NRC has 
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action, and is issuing a FONSI.

[[Page 56061]]

II. Environmental Assessment

Description of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt OPPD from meeting certain 
requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.47 and appendix E to 10 CFR part 
50. More specifically, OPPD requested exemptions from: (1) Certain 
requirements in 10 CFR 50.47(b) regarding onsite and offsite emergency 
response plans for nuclear power reactors; (2) certain requirements in 
10 CFR 50.47(c)(2) to establish plume exposure and ingestion pathway 
emergency planning zones for nuclear power reactors; and (3) certain 
requirements in 10 CFR part 50, appendix E, section IV, which 
establishes the elements that make up the content of a licensee's 
emergency plan. The proposed action of granting these exemptions would 
eliminate the requirements for OPPD to maintain formal offsite 
radiological emergency plans, as described in 44 CFR part 350, and 
reduce some of the onsite EP activities at Fort Calhoun, based on the 
reduced risks at the permanently shutdown and defueled reactor. 
However, requirements for certain onsite capabilities to communicate 
and coordinate with offsite response authorities, in the event of an 
emergency at Fort Calhoun, would be retained. Additionally, if 
necessary, offsite protective actions could still be implemented using 
a comprehensive emergency management plan (CEMP) process. A CEMP in 
this context, also referred to as an emergency operations plan, is 
addressed in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Comprehensive 
Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101. The CPG 101 is the foundation for State, 
territorial, Tribal, and local EP in the United States. It promotes a 
common understanding of the fundamentals of risk-informed planning and 
decision making, and helps planners at all levels of government in 
their efforts to develop and maintain viable, all-hazards, all-threats 
emergency plans. An emergency operations plan is flexible enough for 
use in all emergencies. It describes how people and property will be 
protected; details regarding who is responsible for carrying out 
specific actions; identifies the personnel, equipment, facilities, 
supplies, and other resources available; and outlines the process by 
which all actions will be coordinated. A CEMP is often referred to as a 
synonym for ``all-hazards planning.''
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated December 16, 2016, as supplemented by letters dated 
February 10, April 14, and April 20, 2017, in which OPPD provided 
responses to the NRC staff's requests for additional information 
concerning the proposed exemptions.

Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed for OPPD to revise Fort Calhoun's 
Emergency Plan to reflect the permanently shutdown and defueled status 
of the facility. The EP requirements currently applicable to Fort 
Calhoun are for an operating power reactor. There are no explicit 
regulatory provisions distinguishing EP requirements for a power 
reactor that has been permanently shut down and defueled, from those 
for an operating power reactor. Therefore, since the 10 CFR part 50 
license for Fort Calhoun no longer authorizes operation of the reactor 
or emplacement or retention of fuel into the reactor vessel, as 
specified in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), the occurrence of postulated accidents 
associated with reactor operation is no longer credible.
    In its exemption request, the licensee identified the remaining 
possible accidents at Fort Calhoun in its permanently shutdown and 
defueled condition. The NRC staff evaluated these possible radiological 
accidents, as memorialized in the Commission Paper (SECY)-17-0080, 
``Request by the Omaha Public Power District for Exemptions from 
Certain Emergency Planning Requirements for the Fort Calhoun Station, 
Unit No. 1,'' dated August 10, 2017. In SECY-17-0080, the NRC staff 
stated that it had verified that OPPD's analyses and calculations 
provided reasonable assurance that if the requested exemptions were 
granted, then: (1) For a design-basis accident, an offsite radiological 
release will not exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
Protective Action Guides (PAGs) at the exclusion area boundary, as 
detailed in the Environmental Protection Agency ``PAG Manual: 
Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological 
Incidents,'' January 2017; and (2) in the unlikely event of a beyond 
design-basis accident, resulting in a loss of all spent fuel pool 
cooling, there is sufficient time to initiate appropriate mitigating 
actions on site and, if a release is projected to occur, there is 
sufficient time for offsite agencies to take protective actions using a 
CEMP to protect the public health and safety. The Commission approved 
the NRC staff's recommendation to grant the exemptions, based on this 
evaluation in its Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) to SECY-17-0080, 
dated October 25, 2017.
    Based on these analyses, the licensee stated that complete 
application of the EP rule to Fort Calhoun, in its particular 
circumstances as a permanently shutdown and defueled reactor, would not 
serve the underlying purpose of the rule or is not necessary to achieve 
the underlying purpose of the rule. The licensee also stated that it 
would incur undue costs in the application of operating plant EP 
requirements for the maintenance of an emergency response organization 
in excess of that actually needed to respond to the diminished scope of 
credible accidents for a permanently shutdown and defueled reactor.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    Based on the conclusions reached in SECY-17-0080, the NRC staff 
concludes that the exemptions, if granted, would not significantly 
increase the probability or consequences of accidents at Fort Calhoun 
in its permanently shutdown and defueled condition. There would be no 
significant change in the types of any effluents that may be released 
offsite. There would be no significant increase in the amounts of any 
effluents that may be released offsite. There would be no significant 
increase in individual or cumulative 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 have any foreseeable impacts to land, air, or water 
resources, including impacts to biota. In addition, there are no known 
socioeconomic or environmental justice impacts associated with the 
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 action, the NRC staff considered 
the denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' 
alternative). The denial of the proposed action would not result in a 
change to the current environmental impacts. Therefore, the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action 
are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    The proposed action does not involve the use of any different 
resources than those considered in the Final Environmental Statement 
for the Fort

[[Page 56062]]

Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1 dated August 1972 as supplemented through 
the ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of 
Nuclear Plants: Fort Calhoun Station Unit 1--Final Report (NUREG-1437, 
Supplement 12).''

Agencies or Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff did not enter into consultation with any other 
Federal agency or with the State of Nebraska regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. On October 5, 2017, the 
Nebraska state representative was notified of this EA and FONSI.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    The licensee has proposed exemptions from: (1) Certain requirements 
in 10 CFR 50.47(b) regarding onsite and offsite emergency response 
plans for nuclear power reactors; (2) certain requirements in 10 CFR 
50.47(c)(2) to establish plume exposure and ingestion pathway emergency 
planning zones for nuclear power reactors; and (3) certain requirements 
in 10 CFR part 50, appendix E, section IV, which establishes the 
elements that make up the content of a licensee's emergency plan. The 
proposed action of granting these exemptions would eliminate the 
requirements for the licensee to maintain formal offsite radiological 
emergency plans, as described in 44 CFR part 350, and reduce some of 
the onsite EP activities at Fort Calhoun, based on the reduced risks at 
the permanently shutdown and defueled reactor. However, requirements 
for certain onsite capabilities to communicate and coordinate with 
offsite response authorities following declaration of an emergency at 
Fort Calhoun will be retained and offsite ``all hazards'' EP provisions 
will still exist through State and local government use of a CEMP.
    Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC conducted the EA for the 
proposed action, which is included in Section II of this document, and 
incorporated by reference in this finding. On the basis of this EA, the 
NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant 
effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC 
has decided not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 
proposed action.

IV. Availability of Documents

    The documents identified in the following table are available to 
interested persons through one or more of the following methods, as 
indicated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                ADAMS Accession No./Web
                   Document                               link
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Developing and Maintaining Emergency           http://www.fema.gov/pdf/
 Operations Plans, Comprehensive Preparedness   about/divisions/npd/
 Guide (CPG) 101, Version 2.0, November 2010.   CPG_101_V2.pdf.
Docket No. 50-285, Request for Exemptions      ADAMS Accession No.
 from Portions of 10 CFR 50.47 and 10 CFR       ML16356A578.
 Part 50, Appendix E, dated December 16, 2016.
Docket No. 50-285, Supplemental Information    ADAMS Accession No.
 Needed For Acceptance of Requested Licensing   ML17041A443.
 Action RE: Fort Calhoun Station Request for
 Exemptions from Portions of 10 CFR 50.47 and
 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, dated February
 10, 2017.
Docket No. 50-285, Response to Request for     ADAMS Accession No.
 Additional Information, Fort Calhoun           ML17104A191.
 Station, Unit No. 1--Final Request for
 Additional Information Concerning Exemption
 from the Requirements of 10 CFR 50.47 and
 Appendix E, dated April 14, 2017.
Docket No. 50-285, Response to Request for     ADAMS Accession No.
 Additional Information, Fort Calhoun           ML17111A857.
 Station, Unit No. 1--Request for Additional
 Information RE: Defueled Emergency Plan
 Exemption Request, dated April 20, 2017.
PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and       ADAMS Accession No.
 Planning Guidance for Radiological             ML17044A073.
 Incidents, U.S. Environmental Protection
 Agency, January 2017.
SECY-17-0080, ``Request by the Omaha Public    ADAMS Accession No.
 Power District for Exemptions from Certain     ML17116A430.
 Emergency Planning Requirements for the Fort
 Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1,'' dated August
 10, 2017.
Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY-17-      ADAMS Accession No.
 0080, dated October 25, 2017.                  ML17298A976.
Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY-08-      ADAMS Accession No.
 0024, ``Delegation of Commission Authority     ML081400510.
 to Staff to Approve or Deny Emergency Plan
 Changes that Represent a Decrease in
 Effectiveness,'' dated May 19, 2008.
NUREG-1437, Supplement 12, ``Generic           ADAMS Accession No.
 Environmental Impact Statement for License     ML032110191.
 Renewal of Nuclear Plants Regarding Fort
 Calhoun Station Unit 1,'' August 2003.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of November, 2017.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Glenn E. Miller,
Acting Chief, Special Projects and Process Branch, Division of 
Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 2017-25561 Filed 11-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P



                                                    56060                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2017 / Notices

                                                    licensing actions and related activities,               authorities, in the event of an                       the final removal of fuel from its reactor
                                                    submission dates, and plans for                         emergency at Fort Calhoun, would be                   vessel was completed on November 13,
                                                    construction and inspection activities.                 retained. The NRC staff is issuing an                 2016. By letter dated November 13,
                                                    The overarching goal of this information                environmental assessment (EA) and                     2016, OPPD submitted to the NRC a
                                                    collection is to assist the NRC staff more              finding of no significant impact (FONSI)              certification of the permanent cessation
                                                    effectively and efficiently plan,                       associated with the proposed                          of power operations at Fort Calhoun and
                                                    schedule, and implement activities and                  exemptions.                                           the permanent removal of fuel from the
                                                    reviews in a timely manner.                             DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in                 Fort Calhoun reactor vessel. As a
                                                    III. Specific Requests for Comments                     this document are available on                        permanently shutdown and defueled
                                                                                                            November 27, 2017.                                    facility, and pursuant to section
                                                      The NRC is seeking comments that                                                                            50.82(a)(2) of title 10 of the Code of
                                                                                                            ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID
                                                    address the following questions:                                                                              Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Fort
                                                                                                            NRC–2017–0223 when contacting the
                                                      1. Is the proposed collection of
                                                                                                            NRC about the availability of                         Calhoun is no longer authorized to be
                                                    information necessary for the NRC to
                                                                                                            information regarding this document.                  operated or to have fuel placed into its
                                                    properly perform its functions? Does the
                                                                                                            You may obtain publicly-available                     reactor vessel. However, the licensee is
                                                    information have practical utility?
                                                                                                            information related to this document                  still authorized to possess and store
                                                      2. Is the estimate of the burden of the
                                                                                                            using any of the following methods:                   irradiated nuclear fuel, which is
                                                    information collection accurate?                           • Federal Rulemaking Web Site: Go to
                                                      3. Is there a way to enhance the                                                                            currently stored onsite at Fort Calhoun
                                                                                                            http://www.regulations.gov and search                 in a spent fuel pool and in an
                                                    quality, utility, and clarity of the                    for Docket ID NRC–2017–0223. Address
                                                    information to be collected?                                                                                  independent spent fuel storage
                                                                                                            questions about NRC dockets to Carol                  installation.
                                                      4. How can the burden of the                          Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463;
                                                    information collection on respondents                   email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For                      The licensee has requested
                                                    be minimized, including the use of                      technical questions, contact the                      exemptions for Fort Calhoun from
                                                    automated collection techniques or                      individual listed in the FOR FURTHER                  certain EP requirements in 10 CFR part
                                                    other forms of information technology?                  INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                   50, ‘‘Domestic Licensing of Production
                                                      Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20th day           document.                                             and Utilization Facilities.’’ The NRC
                                                    of November 2017.                                          • NRC’s Agencywide Documents                       regulations concerning EP do not
                                                      For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                Access and Management System                          recognize the reduced risks after a
                                                    David Cullison,                                         (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly-                     reactor is permanently shut down and
                                                    NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief              available documents online in the                     defueled. As such, a permanently
                                                    Information Officer.                                    ADAMS Public Documents collection at                  shutdown and defueled reactor such as
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–25513 Filed 11–24–17; 8:45 am]            http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/                        Fort Calhoun must continue to maintain
                                                    BILLING CODE 7590–01–P                                  adams.html. To begin the search, select               the same EP requirements as an
                                                                                                            ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then                   operating power reactor under the
                                                                                                            select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS                        existing regulatory requirements. To
                                                    NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                      Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS,                    establish a level of EP commensurate
                                                    COMMISSION                                              please contact the NRC’s Public                       with the reduced risks of a permanently
                                                                                                            Document Room (PDR) reference staff at                shutdown and defueled reactor, OPPD
                                                    [Docket No. 50–285; NRC–2017–0223]                      1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by                   requires exemptions from certain EP
                                                    Omaha Public Power District; Fort                       email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. For the                regulatory requirements before it can
                                                    Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1                             convenience of the reader, the ADAMS                  change its emergency plans.
                                                                                                            accession numbers are provided in a
                                                                                                                                                                     The NRC is considering issuing
                                                    AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory                             table in the ‘‘Availability of Documents’’
                                                                                                                                                                  exemptions from portions of 10 CFR
                                                    Commission.                                             section of this document.
                                                                                                               • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and                   50.47, ‘‘Emergency plans,’’ and 10 CFR
                                                    ACTION: Environmental assessment and                                                                          part 50, appendix E, ‘‘Emergency
                                                    finding of no significant impact;                       purchase copies of public documents at
                                                                                                            the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One                       Planning and Preparedness for
                                                    issuance.                                                                                                     Production and Utilization Facilities,’’
                                                                                                            White Flint North, 11555 Rockville
                                                    SUMMARY:   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                  Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852.                      to OPPD, which would eliminate the
                                                    Commission (NRC) is considering                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                                  requirements for OPPD to maintain
                                                    issuance of exemptions in response to a                 James Kim, Office of Nuclear Reactor                  offsite radiological emergency plans and
                                                    request from Omaha Public Power                         Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                   reduce some of the onsite EP activities,
                                                    District (OPPD or the licensee) that                    Commission, Washington, DC 20555–                     based on the reduced risks at Fort
                                                    would permit the licensee to reduce its                 0001; telephone: 301–415–4125; email:                 Calhoun, due to its permanently
                                                    emergency planning (EP) activities at                   James.Kim@nrc.gov.                                    shutdown and defueled status.
                                                    the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                  Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC
                                                    (Fort Calhoun). The licensee is seeking                                                                       has reviewed the requirements in 10
                                                    exemptions that would eliminate the                     I. Introduction                                       CFR 51.20(b) and 10 CFR 51.22(c) and
                                                                                                                                                                  determined that an EA is the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    requirements for the licensee to                           Fort Calhoun is a permanently
                                                    maintain formal offsite radiological                    shutdown and defueled nuclear power                   appropriate form of environmental
                                                    emergency plans, and reduce some of                     plant, located in Washington County,                  review for the requested action. Based
                                                    the onsite EP activities, based on the                  Nebraska, which is in the process of                  on the results of the EA, which is
                                                    reduced risks at Fort Calhoun, which is                 decommissioning. The licensee is the                  provided in Section II of this document,
                                                    permanently shutdown and defueled.                      holder of Renewed Facility Operating                  the NRC has determined not to prepare
                                                    However, requirements for certain                       License No. DPR–40 for operation of                   an environmental impact statement for
                                                    onsite capabilities to communicate and                  Fort Calhoun. Fort Calhoun has been                   the proposed action, and is issuing a
                                                    coordinate with offsite response                        shut down since October 24, 2016, and                 FONSI.


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2017 / Notices                                            56061

                                                    II. Environmental Assessment                            April 20, 2017, in which OPPD                         EP rule to Fort Calhoun, in its particular
                                                                                                            provided responses to the NRC staff’s                 circumstances as a permanently
                                                    Description of the Proposed Action
                                                                                                            requests for additional information                   shutdown and defueled reactor, would
                                                       The proposed action would exempt                     concerning the proposed exemptions.                   not serve the underlying purpose of the
                                                    OPPD from meeting certain                                                                                     rule or is not necessary to achieve the
                                                    requirements set forth in 10 CFR 50.47                  Need for the Proposed Action
                                                                                                                                                                  underlying purpose of the rule. The
                                                    and appendix E to 10 CFR part 50. More                     The proposed action is needed for                  licensee also stated that it would incur
                                                    specifically, OPPD requested                            OPPD to revise Fort Calhoun’s                         undue costs in the application of
                                                    exemptions from: (1) Certain                            Emergency Plan to reflect the                         operating plant EP requirements for the
                                                    requirements in 10 CFR 50.47(b)                         permanently shutdown and defueled                     maintenance of an emergency response
                                                    regarding onsite and offsite emergency                  status of the facility. The EP                        organization in excess of that actually
                                                    response plans for nuclear power                        requirements currently applicable to                  needed to respond to the diminished
                                                    reactors; (2) certain requirements in 10                Fort Calhoun are for an operating power               scope of credible accidents for a
                                                    CFR 50.47(c)(2) to establish plume                      reactor. There are no explicit regulatory             permanently shutdown and defueled
                                                    exposure and ingestion pathway                          provisions distinguishing EP                          reactor.
                                                    emergency planning zones for nuclear                    requirements for a power reactor that
                                                    power reactors; and (3) certain                         has been permanently shut down and                    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed
                                                    requirements in 10 CFR part 50,                         defueled, from those for an operating                 Action
                                                    appendix E, section IV, which                           power reactor. Therefore, since the 10                   Based on the conclusions reached in
                                                    establishes the elements that make up                   CFR part 50 license for Fort Calhoun no               SECY–17–0080, the NRC staff concludes
                                                    the content of a licensee’s emergency                   longer authorizes operation of the                    that the exemptions, if granted, would
                                                    plan. The proposed action of granting                   reactor or emplacement or retention of                not significantly increase the probability
                                                    these exemptions would eliminate the                    fuel into the reactor vessel, as specified            or consequences of accidents at Fort
                                                    requirements for OPPD to maintain                       in 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2), the occurrence of              Calhoun in its permanently shutdown
                                                    formal offsite radiological emergency                   postulated accidents associated with                  and defueled condition. There would be
                                                    plans, as described in 44 CFR part 350,                 reactor operation is no longer credible.              no significant change in the types of any
                                                    and reduce some of the onsite EP                           In its exemption request, the licensee             effluents that may be released offsite.
                                                    activities at Fort Calhoun, based on the                identified the remaining possible                     There would be no significant increase
                                                    reduced risks at the permanently                        accidents at Fort Calhoun in its                      in the amounts of any effluents that may
                                                    shutdown and defueled reactor.                          permanently shutdown and defueled                     be released offsite. There would be no
                                                    However, requirements for certain                       condition. The NRC staff evaluated                    significant increase in individual or
                                                    onsite capabilities to communicate and                  these possible radiological accidents, as             cumulative occupational or public
                                                    coordinate with offsite response                        memorialized in the Commission Paper                  radiation exposure. Therefore, there are
                                                    authorities, in the event of an                         (SECY)–17–0080, ‘‘Request by the                      no significant radiological
                                                    emergency at Fort Calhoun, would be                     Omaha Public Power District for                       environmental impacts associated with
                                                    retained. Additionally, if necessary,                   Exemptions from Certain Emergency                     the proposed action.
                                                    offsite protective actions could still be               Planning Requirements for the Fort                       With regard to potential non-
                                                    implemented using a comprehensive                       Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1,’’ dated                  radiological impacts, the proposed
                                                    emergency management plan (CEMP)                        August 10, 2017. In SECY–17–0080, the                 action does not have any foreseeable
                                                    process. A CEMP in this context, also                   NRC staff stated that it had verified that            impacts to land, air, or water resources,
                                                    referred to as an emergency operations                  OPPD’s analyses and calculations                      including impacts to biota. In addition,
                                                    plan, is addressed in the Federal                       provided reasonable assurance that if                 there are no known socioeconomic or
                                                    Emergency Management Agency’s                           the requested exemptions were granted,                environmental justice impacts
                                                    Comprehensive Preparedness Guide                        then: (1) For a design-basis accident, an             associated with the proposed action.
                                                    (CPG) 101. The CPG 101 is the                           offsite radiological release will not                 Therefore, there are no significant non-
                                                    foundation for State, territorial, Tribal,              exceed the U.S. Environmental                         radiological environmental impacts
                                                    and local EP in the United States. It                   Protection Agency’s Protective Action                 associated with the proposed action.
                                                    promotes a common understanding of                      Guides (PAGs) at the exclusion area                      Accordingly, the NRC concludes that
                                                    the fundamentals of risk-informed                       boundary, as detailed in the                          there are no significant environmental
                                                    planning and decision making, and                       Environmental Protection Agency ‘‘PAG                 impacts associated with the proposed
                                                    helps planners at all levels of                         Manual: Protective Action Guides and                  action.
                                                    government in their efforts to develop                  Planning Guidance for Radiological
                                                    and maintain viable, all-hazards, all-                  Incidents,’’ January 2017; and (2) in the             Environmental Impacts of the
                                                    threats emergency plans. An emergency                   unlikely event of a beyond design-basis               Alternatives to the Proposed Action
                                                    operations plan is flexible enough for                  accident, resulting in a loss of all spent               As an alternative to the proposed
                                                    use in all emergencies. It describes how                fuel pool cooling, there is sufficient time           action, the NRC staff considered the
                                                    people and property will be protected;                  to initiate appropriate mitigating actions            denial of the proposed action (i.e., the
                                                    details regarding who is responsible for                on site and, if a release is projected to             ‘‘no-action’’ alternative). The denial of
                                                    carrying out specific actions; identifies               occur, there is sufficient time for offsite           the proposed action would not result in
                                                    the personnel, equipment, facilities,                   agencies to take protective actions using             a change to the current environmental
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                                                    supplies, and other resources available;                a CEMP to protect the public health and               impacts. Therefore, the environmental
                                                    and outlines the process by which all                   safety. The Commission approved the                   impacts of the proposed action and the
                                                    actions will be coordinated. A CEMP is                  NRC staff’s recommendation to grant the               alternative action are similar.
                                                    often referred to as a synonym for ‘‘all-               exemptions, based on this evaluation in
                                                    hazards planning.’’                                     its Staff Requirements Memorandum                     Alternative Use of Resources
                                                       The proposed action is in accordance                 (SRM) to SECY–17–0080, dated October                    The proposed action does not involve
                                                    with the licensee’s application dated                   25, 2017.                                             the use of any different resources than
                                                    December 16, 2016, as supplemented by                      Based on these analyses, the licensee              those considered in the Final
                                                    letters dated February 10, April 14, and                stated that complete application of the               Environmental Statement for the Fort


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                                                    56062                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2017 / Notices

                                                    Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1 dated                       reactors; (2) certain requirements in 10              Calhoun will be retained and offsite ‘‘all
                                                    August 1972 as supplemented through                     CFR 50.47(c)(2) to establish plume                    hazards’’ EP provisions will still exist
                                                    the ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact                      exposure and ingestion pathway                        through State and local government use
                                                    Statement for License Renewal of                        emergency planning zones for nuclear                  of a CEMP.
                                                    Nuclear Plants: Fort Calhoun Station                    power reactors; and (3) certain                         Consistent with 10 CFR 51.21, the
                                                    Unit 1—Final Report (NUREG–1437,                        requirements in 10 CFR part 50,                       NRC conducted the EA for the proposed
                                                    Supplement 12).’’                                       appendix E, section IV, which
                                                                                                                                                                  action, which is included in Section II
                                                                                                            establishes the elements that make up
                                                    Agencies or Persons Consulted                                                                                 of this document, and incorporated by
                                                                                                            the content of a licensee’s emergency
                                                                                                                                                                  reference in this finding. On the basis of
                                                      The NRC staff did not enter into                      plan. The proposed action of granting
                                                                                                                                                                  this EA, the NRC concludes that the
                                                    consultation with any other Federal                     these exemptions would eliminate the
                                                                                                            requirements for the licensee to                      proposed action will not have a
                                                    agency or with the State of Nebraska
                                                                                                            maintain formal offsite radiological                  significant effect on the quality of the
                                                    regarding the environmental impact of
                                                                                                            emergency plans, as described in 44                   human environment. Accordingly, the
                                                    the proposed action. On October 5,
                                                    2017, the Nebraska state representative                 CFR part 350, and reduce some of the                  NRC has decided not to prepare an
                                                    was notified of this EA and FONSI.                      onsite EP activities at Fort Calhoun,                 environmental impact statement for the
                                                                                                            based on the reduced risks at the                     proposed action.
                                                    III. Finding of No Significant Impact                   permanently shutdown and defueled                     IV. Availability of Documents
                                                      The licensee has proposed                             reactor. However, requirements for
                                                    exemptions from: (1) Certain                            certain onsite capabilities to                          The documents identified in the
                                                    requirements in 10 CFR 50.47(b)                         communicate and coordinate with                       following table are available to
                                                    regarding onsite and offsite emergency                  offsite response authorities following                interested persons through one or more
                                                    response plans for nuclear power                        declaration of an emergency at Fort                   of the following methods, as indicated.

                                                                                                       Document                                                            ADAMS Accession No./Web link

                                                    Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans, Comprehensive Preparedness                            http://www.fema.gov/pdf/about/divisions/npd/
                                                      Guide (CPG) 101, Version 2.0, November 2010.                                                                  CPG_101_V2.pdf.
                                                    Docket No. 50–285, Request for Exemptions from Portions of 10 CFR 50.47 and 10 CFR Part                      ADAMS Accession No. ML16356A578.
                                                      50, Appendix E, dated December 16, 2016.
                                                    Docket No. 50–285, Supplemental Information Needed For Acceptance of Requested Licensing                     ADAMS Accession No. ML17041A443.
                                                      Action RE: Fort Calhoun Station Request for Exemptions from Portions of 10 CFR 50.47 and
                                                      10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, dated February 10, 2017.
                                                    Docket No. 50–285, Response to Request for Additional Information, Fort Calhoun Station, Unit                ADAMS Accession No. ML17104A191.
                                                      No. 1—Final Request for Additional Information Concerning Exemption from the Require-
                                                      ments of 10 CFR 50.47 and Appendix E, dated April 14, 2017.
                                                    Docket No. 50–285, Response to Request for Additional Information, Fort Calhoun Station, Unit                ADAMS Accession No. ML17111A857.
                                                      No. 1—Request for Additional Information RE: Defueled Emergency Plan Exemption Re-
                                                      quest, dated April 20, 2017.
                                                    PAG Manual: Protective Action Guides and Planning Guidance for Radiological Incidents, U.S.                  ADAMS Accession No. ML17044A073.
                                                      Environmental Protection Agency, January 2017.
                                                    SECY–17–0080, ‘‘Request by the Omaha Public Power District for Exemptions from Certain                       ADAMS Accession No. ML17116A430.
                                                      Emergency Planning Requirements for the Fort Calhoun Station, Unit No. 1,’’ dated August
                                                      10, 2017.
                                                    Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY–17–0080, dated October 25, 2017 ..........................             ADAMS Accession No. ML17298A976.
                                                    Staff Requirements Memorandum to SECY–08–0024, ‘‘Delegation of Commission Authority to                       ADAMS Accession No. ML081400510.
                                                      Staff to Approve or Deny Emergency Plan Changes that Represent a Decrease in Effective-
                                                      ness,’’ dated May 19, 2008.
                                                    NUREG–1437, Supplement 12, ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal                      ADAMS Accession No. ML032110191.
                                                      of Nuclear Plants Regarding Fort Calhoun Station Unit 1,’’ August 2003.



                                                      Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day           NUCLEAR REGULATORY                                    collection is entitled, ‘‘Voluntary
                                                    of November, 2017.                                      COMMISSION                                            Reporting of Performance Indicators.’’
                                                      For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.                                                                      DATES: Submit comments by December
                                                                                                            [NRC–2017–0069]
                                                    Glenn E. Miller,                                                                                              27, 2017.
                                                    Acting Chief, Special Projects and Process              Information Collection: Voluntary                     ADDRESSES: Submit comments directly
                                                    Branch, Division of Operating Reactor                   Reporting of Performance Indicators                   to the OMB reviewer at: Brandon F.
                                                    Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor                                                                          DeBruhl, Desk Officer, Office of
                                                    Regulation.                                             AGENCY:  Nuclear Regulatory
                                                                                                            Commission.                                           Information and Regulatory Affairs
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–25561 Filed 11–24–17; 8:45 am]                                                                  (3150–0195), NEOB–10202, Office of
                                                                                                            ACTION: Notice of submission to the
                                                                                                                                                                  Management and Budget, Washington,
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                                                    BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
                                                                                                            Office of Management and Budget;                      DC 20503; telephone: 202–395–0710,
                                                                                                            request for comment.                                  email: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
                                                                                                            SUMMARY:   The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                            Commission (NRC) has recently                         David Cullison, NRC Clearance Officer,
                                                                                                            submitted a request for renewal of an                 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
                                                                                                            existing collection of information to the             Washington, DC 20555–0001; telephone:
                                                                                                            Office of Management and Budget                       301–415–2084; email:
                                                                                                            (OMB) for review. The information                     Infocollects.Resource@nrc.gov.


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Document Created: 2017-11-25 01:09:03
Document Modified: 2017-11-25 01:09:03
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionEnvironmental assessment and finding of no significant impact; issuance.
DatesThe EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on November 27, 2017.
ContactJames Kim, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555- 0001; telephone: 301-415-4125; email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 56060 

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