83_FR_3207 83 FR 3192 - Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation

83 FR 3192 - Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 15 (January 23, 2018)

Page Range3192-3193
FR Document2018-01176

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering an exemption request from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (ENO) to allow the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS) to use a new regionalized loading pattern, load fuel that has been cooled for at least 2 years, and establish a per-cell maximum average burnup limit at 65,000 megawatt days per metric ton of uranium (MWD/MTU) in HI-STORM 100 multi-purpose canister (MPC)-68M using Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1014, Amendment No. 10. The NRC prepared an environmental assessment (EA) documenting its finding. The NRC concluded that the proposed action would have no significant environmental impact. Accordingly, the NRC staff is issuing a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed exemption.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3192-3193]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01176]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 72-1014, 72-59, and 50-271; NRC-2017-0134]


Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power 
Station, Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation

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 an 
exemption request from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (ENO) to allow 
the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VYNPS) to use a new 
regionalized loading pattern, load fuel that has been cooled for at 
least 2 years, and establish a per-cell maximum average burnup limit at 
65,000 megawatt days per metric ton of uranium (MWD/MTU) in HI-STORM 
100 multi-purpose canister (MPC)-68M using Certificate of Compliance 
(CoC) No. 1014, Amendment No. 10. The NRC prepared an environmental 
assessment (EA) documenting its finding. The NRC concluded that the 
proposed action would have no significant environmental impact. 
Accordingly, the NRC staff is issuing a finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI) associated with the proposed exemption.

DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in this document are available on 
January 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID NRC-2017-0134 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 website: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID NRC-2017-0134. 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]. The 
ADAMS accession number for each document referenced in this document 
(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: Yen-Ju Chen, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555; telephone: 301-415-1018; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

    The NRC is reviewing an exemption request from ENO, dated May 16, 
2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17142A358), and supplemented by letters 
dated September 7, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17255A236) and December 
7, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. ML17346A685). ENO is requesting an 
exemption from the requirements of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (10 CFR) Sec. Sec.  72.212(a)(2), 72.212(b)(3), 
72.212(b)(5)(i), 72.214, and the portion of 72.212(b)(11) that requires 
compliance with the terms, conditions, and specifications of the 
Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1014, for spent fuel storage at the 
VYNPS independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI).
    Specifically, ENO is requesting an exemption from certain 
requirements in Amendment No. 10 of the Holtec International (Holtec) 
CoC No. 1014 for the HI-STORM 100 Cask System (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML16144A177) to allow VYNPS to use a new regionalized loading pattern 
as described in Figure 2.4-1 of the exemption request, to load fuel 
that has been cooled for at least 2 years, and to establish a per-cell 
maximum average burnup limit at 65,000 megawatt days per metric ton of 
uranium (MWD/MTU) in a HI-STORM 100 MPC-68M canister. This would allow 
VYNPS to load fuel assemblies which have not been cooled for at least 3 
years, as approved in the current CoC, but have been cooled for 2 
years, into the MPC-68M.

II. Environmental Assessment Summary

    Under the requirements of Sec. Sec.  51.21 and 51.30(a), the NRC 
staff developed an EA (ADAMS Accession No. ML17249A160) to evaluate the 
proposed action, which is for the NRC to grant an exemption to ENO to 
allow the use of a new regionalized loading pattern as described in 
Figure 2.4-1 of the exemption request, to load fuel that has been 
cooled for at least 2 years, and to establish a per-cell maximum 
average burnup limit at 65,000 MWD/MTU in a HI-STORM 100 MPC-68M at the 
VYNPS site.
    The EA defines the NRC's proposed action (i.e., to grant ENO's 
exemption request per 10 CFR 72.7) and the purpose of and need for the 
proposed action. Evaluations of the potential environmental impacts of 
the proposed action and alternatives to the proposed action are 
presented, followed by the NRC's conclusion.
    This EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts of granting 
the exemption to allow the use of a new regionalized loading pattern as 
described in Figure 2.4-1 of the exemption request, loading fuel that 
has been cooled for at least 2 years, and establishing a per-cell 
maximum average burnup limit at 65,000 MWD/MTU in a HI-STORM 100 MPC-
68M at the VYNPS site. The potential environmental impact of using NRC-
approved storage casks was initially analyzed in the EA for the 
rulemaking to provide for the storage of spent fuel under a general 
license on July 18, 1990 (55 FR 29181). The EA for using the HI-STORM 
100, Amendment No. 10, cask system (81 FR 13265) tiers off of the EA 
for the 1990 final rule.
    NRC staff finds that this exemption request is bounded by CoC No. 
1014, Amendment No. 10, and that there will be no significant 
environmental impacts of the proposed action. The proposed action does 
not change the types or quantities of effluents that may be released 
offsite, and it does not increase occupational or public radiation 
exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. There is no 
change to the non-radiological effluents. The proposed action will take 
place within the site boundary, and does not have other environmental 
impacts. Thus, the proposed action will not have a significant effect 
on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, the environmental 
impacts of the proposed

[[Page 3193]]

action are no greater than those described in the EA for the rulemaking 
to add the HI-STORM 100, Amendment No. 10, cask system to 10 CFR 
72.214.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact

    The NRC staff has prepared an EA and associated FONSI in support of 
the proposed action. The NRC staff has concluded that the proposed 
action, for the NRC to grant the exemption requested for VYNPS, 
allowing the use of a new regionalized loading pattern as described in 
Figure 2.4-1 of the exemption request, and to load fuel that has been 
cooled for at least 2 years, and establishing a per-cell maximum 
average burnup limit at 65,000 MWD/MTU in a HI-STORM 100 MPC-68M, will 
not significantly impact the quality of the human environment, and that 
the proposed action is the preferred alternative. The environmental 
impacts are bounded by the previous NRC EA for the rulemaking to add 
the HI-STORM 100, Amendment No. 10, cask system to 10 CFR 72.214.
    The NRC provided the Vermont Department of Health with a draft copy 
of the EA for a 30-day review on October 16, 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML17289A422).
    The NRC staff has determined that this exemption would have no 
impact on historic and cultural resources or ecological resources and 
therefore no consultations are necessary under Section 7 of the 
Endangered Species Act and Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, respectively.
    Therefore, the NRC finds that there are no significant 
environmental impacts from the proposed action, and that preparation of 
an environmental impact statement is not warranted. Accordingly, the 
NRC has determined that a FONSI is appropriate.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 16th day of January, 2018.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Meraj Rahimi,
Acting Chief, Spent Fuel Licensing Branch, Division of Spent Fuel 
Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
[FR Doc. 2018-01176 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

3192 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (ADAMS): You may obtain publicly- current CoC, but have been cooled for 2 Russell E. Chazell, available documents online in the years, into the MPC–68M. Advisory Committee Management Officer. ADAMS Public Documents collection at II. Environmental Assessment [FR Doc. 2018–01139 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/ Summary BILLING CODE 7590–01–P adams.html. To begin the search, select ‘‘ADAMS Public Documents’’ and then Under the requirements of §§ 51.21 select ‘‘Begin Web-based ADAMS and 51.30(a), the NRC staff developed NUCLEAR REGULATORY Search.’’ For problems with ADAMS, an EA (ADAMS Accession No. COMMISSION please contact the NRC’s Public ML17249A160) to evaluate the proposed Document Room (PDR) reference staff at action, which is for the NRC to grant an [Docket Nos. 72–1014, 72–59, and 50–271; exemption to ENO to allow the use of 1–800–397–4209, 301–415–4737, or by NRC–2017–0134] a new regionalized loading pattern as email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The ADAMS accession number for each described in Figure 2.4–1 of the Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; exemption request, to load fuel that has Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power document referenced in this document (if that document is available in been cooled for at least 2 years, and to Station, Independent Spent Fuel establish a per-cell maximum average Storage Installation ADAMS) is provided the first time that a document is referenced. burnup limit at 65,000 MWD/MTU in a AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory HI–STORM 100 MPC–68M at the • NRC’s PDR: You may examine and Commission. VYNPS site. purchase copies of public documents at The EA defines the NRC’s proposed ACTION: Environmental assessment and the NRC’s PDR, Room O1–F21, One action (i.e., to grant ENO’s exemption finding of no significant impact; White Flint North, 11555 Rockville request per 10 CFR 72.7) and the issuance. Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. purpose of and need for the proposed SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yen- action. Evaluations of the potential Commission (NRC) is considering an Ju Chen, Office of Nuclear Material environmental impacts of the proposed exemption request from Entergy Nuclear Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear action and alternatives to the proposed Operations, Inc. (ENO) to allow the Regulatory Commission, Washington, action are presented, followed by the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station DC 20555; telephone: 301–415–1018; NRC’s conclusion. (VYNPS) to use a new regionalized email: Yen-ju.Chen@nrc.gov. This EA evaluates the potential loading pattern, load fuel that has been environmental impacts of granting the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: cooled for at least 2 years, and establish exemption to allow the use of a new a per-cell maximum average burnup I. Introduction regionalized loading pattern as limit at 65,000 megawatt days per described in Figure 2.4–1 of the The NRC is reviewing an exemption exemption request, loading fuel that has metric ton of uranium (MWD/MTU) in request from ENO, dated May 16, 2017 been cooled for at least 2 years, and HI–STORM 100 multi-purpose canister (ADAMS Accession No. ML17142A358), establishing a per-cell maximum (MPC)-68M using Certificate of and supplemented by letters dated average burnup limit at 65,000 MWD/ Compliance (CoC) No. 1014, September 7, 2017 (ADAMS Accession MTU in a HI–STORM 100 MPC–68M at Amendment No. 10. The NRC prepared No. ML17255A236) and December 7, the VYNPS site. The potential an environmental assessment (EA) 2017 (ADAMS Accession No. environmental impact of using NRC- documenting its finding. The NRC ML17346A685). ENO is requesting an approved storage casks was initially concluded that the proposed action exemption from the requirements of title analyzed in the EA for the rulemaking would have no significant 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations to provide for the storage of spent fuel environmental impact. Accordingly, the (10 CFR) §§ 72.212(a)(2), 72.212(b)(3), under a general license on July 18, 1990 NRC staff is issuing a finding of no 72.212(b)(5)(i), 72.214, and the portion (55 FR 29181). The EA for using the HI– significant impact (FONSI) associated of 72.212(b)(11) that requires STORM 100, Amendment No. 10, cask with the proposed exemption. compliance with the terms, conditions, system (81 FR 13265) tiers off of the EA DATES: The EA and FONSI referenced in and specifications of the Certificate of for the 1990 final rule. this document are available on January Compliance (CoC) No. 1014, for spent NRC staff finds that this exemption 23, 2018. fuel storage at the VYNPS independent request is bounded by CoC No. 1014, ADDRESSES: Please refer to Docket ID spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI). Amendment No. 10, and that there will NRC–2017–0134 when contacting the Specifically, ENO is requesting an be no significant environmental impacts NRC about the availability of exemption from certain requirements in of the proposed action. The proposed information regarding this document. Amendment No. 10 of the Holtec action does not change the types or You may obtain publicly-available International (Holtec) CoC No. 1014 for quantities of effluents that may be information related to this document the HI–STORM 100 Cask System released offsite, and it does not increase using any of the following methods: (ADAMS Accession No. ML16144A177) occupational or public radiation • Federal Rulemaking website: Go to to allow VYNPS to use a new exposure. Therefore, there are no http://www.regulations.gov and search regionalized loading pattern as significant radiological environmental for Docket ID NRC–2017–0134. Address described in Figure 2.4–1 of the impacts associated with the proposed questions about NRC dockets to Carol exemption request, to load fuel that has action. There is no change to the non- Gallagher; telephone: 301–415–3463; been cooled for at least 2 years, and to radiological effluents. The proposed sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES email: Carol.Gallagher@nrc.gov. For establish a per-cell maximum average action will take place within the site technical questions, contact the burnup limit at 65,000 megawatt days boundary, and does not have other individual listed in the FOR FURTHER per metric ton of uranium (MWD/MTU) environmental impacts. Thus, the INFORMATION CONTACT section of this in a HI–STORM 100 MPC–68M canister. proposed action will not have a document. This would allow VYNPS to load fuel significant effect on the quality of the • NRC’s Agencywide Documents assemblies which have not been cooled human environment. Therefore, the Access and Management System for at least 3 years, as approved in the environmental impacts of the proposed VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices 3193 action are no greater than those SUMMARY: As required by Section 701 of Dated: January 18, 2018. described in the EA for the rulemaking the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Martha P. Rico, to add the HI–STORM 100, Amendment entitled the Federal Civil Penalties Secretary to the Board. No. 10, cask system to 10 CFR 72.214. Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements [FR Doc. 2018–01144 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] Act of 2015, the Railroad Retirement III. Finding of No Significant Impact BILLING CODE 7905–01–P Board (Board) hereby publishes its 2018 The NRC staff has prepared an EA and annual adjustment of civil penalties for associated FONSI in support of the inflation. OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND proposed action. The NRC staff has FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: TECHNOLOGY POLICY concluded that the proposed action, for the NRC to grant the exemption Marguerite P. Dadabo, Assistant General Counsel, Railroad Retirement Board, National Nanotechnology Initiative requested for VYNPS, allowing the use Meetings of a new regionalized loading pattern as 844 North Rush Street, Chicago, IL described in Figure 2.4–1 of the 60611–2092, (312) 751–4945, TTD (312) ACTION: Notice of public meetings. exemption request, and to load fuel that 751–4701. has been cooled for at least 2 years, and SUMMARY: The National Nanotechnology SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf establishing a per-cell maximum 701 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of average burnup limit at 65,000 MWD/ of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, 2015, Public Law 114–74 (Nov. 2, 2015), and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee MTU in a HI–STORM 100 MPC–68M, entitled the Federal Civil Penalties will not significantly impact the quality of the Committee on Technology, Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements National Science and Technology of the human environment, and that the Act of 2015 (the 2015 Act), amended the proposed action is the preferred Council (NSTC), will facilitate Federal Civil Penalties Inflation stakeholder discussion of targeted alternative. The environmental impacts Adjustment Act of 1990 (28 U.S.C. 2461 are bounded by the previous NRC EA nanotechnology topics through note) (Inflation Adjustment Act) to workshops, webinars, and Community for the rulemaking to add the HI– require agencies to publish regulations STORM 100, Amendment No. 10, cask of Interest meetings between the adjusting the amount of civil monetary publication date of this Notice and system to 10 CFR 72.214. penalties provided by law within the The NRC provided the Vermont December 31, 2018. jurisdiction of the agency not later than Department of Health with a draft copy DATES: The NNCO will hold one or more July 1, 2016, and annual adjustments of the EA for a 30-day review on workshops, webinars, networks, and thereafter. October 16, 2017 (ADAMS Accession Community of Interest teleconferences No. ML17289A422). For the 2018 annual adjustment for between the publication date of this The NRC staff has determined that inflation of the maximum civil penalty Notice and December 31, 2018. this exemption would have no impact under the Program Fraud Civil ADDRESSES: Attendance information, on historic and cultural resources or Remedies Act of 1986, the Board applies including addresses, will be posted on ecological resources and therefore no the formula provided by the 2015 Act nano.gov. For information about consultations are necessary under and the Board’s regulations at title 20, upcoming workshops and webinars, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act Code of Federal Regulations, part 356. please visit http://www.nano.gov/ and Section 106 of the National Historic In accordance with the 2015 Act, the meetings-workshops and http:// Preservation Act, respectively. amount of the adjustment is based on www.nano.gov/PublicWebinars. For Therefore, the NRC finds that there the percent increase between the CPI–U more information on the Communities are no significant environmental for the month of October preceding the of Interest, please visit http:// impacts from the proposed action, and date of the adjustment and the CPI–U www.nano.gov/Communities. that preparation of an environmental for the October one year prior to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For impact statement is not warranted. October immediately preceding the date information regarding this Notice, Accordingly, the NRC has determined of the adjustment. If there is no increase, please contact Marlowe Newman at that a FONSI is appropriate. there is no adjustment of civil penalties. info@nnco.nano.gov or (202) 517–1050 Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 16th day The percent increase between the CPI– ext. 107. of January, 2018. U for October 2017 and October 2016, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. as provided by Office of Management public meetings address the charge in and Budget Memorandum M–18–03 the 21st Century Nanotechnology Meraj Rahimi, (December 15, 2017) is 1.02041 percent. Research and Development Act for Acting Chief, Spent Fuel Licensing Branch, Therefore, the new maximum penalty NNCO to provide ‘‘for public input and Division of Spent Fuel Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. under the Program Fraud Civil outreach . . . by the convening of Remedies Act is $11,181 (the 2017 regular and ongoing public [FR Doc. 2018–01176 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] maximum penalty of $10,957 multiplied discussions’’. Workshop and webinar BILLING CODE 7590–01–P by 1.02041, rounded to the nearest topics may include technical subjects; dollar). The new minimum penalty environmental, health, and safety issues under the False Claims Act is $11,181 related to nanomaterials (nanoEHS); RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD (the 2017 minimum penalty of $10,957 business case studies; or other areas of multiplied by 1.02041, rounded to the potential interest to the nanotechnology sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation nearest dollar), and the new maximum community. Areas of focus for the Adjustment penalty is $22,363 (the 2017 maximum Communities of Interest may include penalty of $21,916 multiplied by research on nanoEHS; nanotechnology AGENCY: Railroad Retirement Board. 1.02041, rounded to the nearest dollar). education; nanomedicine; ACTION: Notice announcing updated The adjustments in penalties will be nanomanufacturing; or other areas of penalty inflation adjustments for civil effective January 23, 2018. potential interest to the nanotechnology monetary penalties for 2018. For The Board. community. For example, the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1


Document Created: 2018-01-23 01:08:48
Document Modified: 2018-01-23 01:08:48
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 January 23, 2018.
ContactYen-Ju Chen, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555; telephone: 301-415-1018; email: Yen- [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 3192 
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