65FR37583 Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
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Posting-number: Volume 65, Issue 116, Page 37583
[Federal Register: June 15, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 116)]
[Notices]
[Page 37583-37584]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jn00-104]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-271]
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear
Power Station Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering
amending, pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002, the previously granted approvals
to dispose of slightly contaminated septic waste and cooling tower silt
on-site by expanding the allowable waste stream to include slightly
contaminated soil generated as a residual by-product of on-site
construction activities as requested by Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power
Corporation (the licensee), for operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear
Power Station (Vermont Yankee), located in Windham County, Vermont.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would amend the previously granted approvals to
dispose of slightly contaminated septic waste and cooling tower silt
on-site by expanding the allowable waste stream to include low-levels
of radioactively contaminated soil generated as a residual by-product
of on-site construction and other activities.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's request
dated June 23, 1999, as supplemented on January 4, 2000.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to dispose of slightly contaminated
soil on-site. The licensee identified 25.5 cubic meters of soil to be
disposed of on-site immediately, and approximately 28.3 cubic meters of
soil/sand material on an annual basis until the expiration of the
plant's operating license in 2013. The 25.5 cubic meters of
contaminated soil was generated as a result of on-site construction
activities. The anticipated 28.3 cubic meters of soil/sand material
will be generated from the annual winter spreading of sand on roads and
walkways at the plant site.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that the proposed action will be bound by the conditions for
the on-site disposals previously reviewed and approved by the NRC. The
licensee will continue to use the designated and approved areas of
their property (approximately 1.9 acres in size) that currently
receives the septic waste and cooling tower silts. Determination of the
radiological dose impact of the new material has been made based on the
same dose assessment models and pathway assumptions used in the
previously approved submittals. The licensee's proposal was evaluated
against the NRC staff's guidelines for on-site disposal and found to be
acceptable. The potential exposure to members of the general public
from the radionuclides in material was determined to be less than 1
mrem/year, and meets the NRC staff's guidelines. Accordingly, the
potential exposures are acceptable.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
any effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no significant
increase in occupational or public radiation
[[Page 37584]]
exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental
impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application would result
in no change in current environmental impacts. As an additional
alternative, the material could be shipped to an off-site low-level
radioactive waste disposal facility. The costs associated with off-site
disposal greatly exceeds the cost of on-site disposal without a
compensating improvement in the environmental impacts. The
environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative
actions are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Vermont
Yankee Nuclear Power Station.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on June 8, 2000, the staff
consulted with the Vermont State Official, William Sherman, of the
Department of Public Service, regarding the environmental impact of the
proposed action. The State official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes
that the proposed action 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.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated June 23, 1999, as supplemented on January 4,
2000, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's
Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW.,
Washington DC. Publicly available records will be accessible
electronically from the ADAMS Public Library component on this NRC Web
site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic Reading Room).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of June 2000.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Richard P. Croteau,
Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of
Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 00-15192 Filed 6-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P