ML031610887

Generation Station, Environmental Assessment for an Exemption from 10 CFR 55.59

ML031610887
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	06/24/2003
From:	Tam P NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Skolds J AmerGen Energy Co
References
TAC MB9127
Download: ML031610887 (8)

Text

June 24, 2003 Mr. John L. Skolds Chairman and CEO AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

SUBJECT:

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 55.59 (TAC NO. MB9127)

Dear Mr. Skolds:

Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to your application for exemption dated May 30, 2003. The proposed exemption would extend the current licensed operator requalification program, including both the comprehensive requalification written examinations and the operating tests, for a period up to 90 days following resolution of the current strike but not to exceed six (6) months from the end of the current requalification program, i.e., to December 31, 2003. The requested exemption from the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55.59, Item (c)(1),

applies to both Reactor Operator and Senior Reactor Operator licensed personnel.

The assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Peter S. Tam, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate 1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-219

Enclosure:

Environmental Assessment cc w/encl: See next page

June 24, 2003 Mr. John L. Skolds Chairman and CEO AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 4300 Winfield Road Warrenville, IL 60555

SUBJECT:

OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR AN EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 55.59 (TAC NO. MB9127)

Dear Mr. Skolds:

Enclosed is a copy of the Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact related to your application for exemption dated May 30, 2003. The proposed exemption would extend the current licensed operator requalification program, including both the comprehensive requalification written examinations and the operating tests, for a period up to 90 days following resolution of the current strike but not to exceed six (6) months from the end of the current requalification program, i.e., to December 31, 2003. The requested exemption from the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55.59, Item (c)(1),

applies to both Reactor Operator and Senior Reactor Operator licensed personnel.

The assessment is being forwarded to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Peter S. Tam, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate 1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-219

Enclosure:

Environmental Assessment cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC OGC SRichards PD1-1 R/F GHill (2) RLaufer WBeckner PTam JTappert SLittle ACRS JRogge, RI DMuller ABlamey, R-I Accession Number: ML031610887 OFFICE PDI-1/PM PDI-1/LA RLEP/SC RLEP/SC OGC PD1-1/SC NAME PTam SLittle DTrimble# JTappert SUttal RLaufer DATE 6/11/03 6/11/03 6/12/03 6/17/03 6/19/03 6/23/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

1. Concurrence by e-mail.

7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AMERGEN ENERGY COMPANY, LLC DOCKET NO. 50-219 OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is considering issuance of an exemption from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 55, Section 55.59 for Facility Operating License No. DPR-16, issued to AmerGen Energy Company, LLC (AmerGen or the licensee), for operation of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS), located in Ocean County, New Jersey. As required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:

The proposed action would constitute a one-time exemption to allow the current licensed operator requalification program to exceed 24 months. Specifically, it would extend the current licensed operator requalification program, including both the comprehensive requalification written examinations and the operating tests, for a period up to 90 days following resolution of the current strike but not to exceed six (6) months from the end of the current requalification program, i.e., to December 31, 2003. The next requalification program period would begin upon conclusion of the current program and continue to June 30, 2005, with successive periods

running for 24 months. The requested exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 55.59, Item (c)(1), applies to both Reactor Operator and Senior Reactor Operator licensed personnel.

The proposed action is in accordance with the licensees application for exemption dated May 30, 2003.

The Need for the Proposed Action:

The proposed action would extend the current OCNGS requalification program from June 30, 2003, to 90 days following resolution of the strike, but no later than December 31, 2003. The proposed action is needed to allow for minimal interruption of the licensed personnel based on scheduling difficulties associated with the current labor strike, which commenced on May 22, 2003. The strike involves bargaining unit employees at OCNGS, including Reactor Operator licensed personnel. Since the beginning of the strike, OCNGS has been operated by Senior Reactor Operator licensed personnel. As a result, both types of licensed personnel are unavailable for the requalification written examinations and operating tests until the strike is over.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The NRC completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the extension of the completion date for the operator requalification program from June 30, 2003, to 90 days following resolution of the strike, but no later than December 31, 2003.

The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents, it will make no changes to the types of effluents that may be released off site, and there is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not have a potential to affect 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.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

As an alternative to the proposed action, the NRC staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no-action alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. Thus, the environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources:

The action does not involve the use of any different resources than those previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for OCNGS, dated December 1974.

Agencies and Persons Consulted:

On June 9, 2003, the NRC staff consulted with the State official, Mr. Rich Pinney of the New Jersey Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 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 Commission concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.

Accordingly, the Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.

For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensees letter dated May 30, 2003. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area at O-1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records are accessible

electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)

Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of June, 2003.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Peter S. Tam, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 Project Directorate 1 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:

Chief Operating Officer H. J. Miller Exelon Generation Company, LLC Regional Administrator, Region I 4300 Winfield Road U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Warrenville, IL 60555 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 Senior Vice President - Nuclear Services Exelon Generation Company, LLC Mayor of Lacey Township 4300 Winfield Road 818 West Lacey Road Warrenville, IL 60555 Forked River, NJ 08731 Vice President - Mid-Atlantic Operations Senior Resident Inspector Support U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Exelon Generation Company, LLC P.O. Box 445 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Forked River, NJ 08731 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Director Licensing Senior Vice President - Mid-Atlantic Exelon Generation Company, LLC Regional Operating Group Correspondence Control Exelon Generation Company, LLC P.O. Box 160 200 Exelon Way, KSA 3-N Kennett Square, PA 19348 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Oyster Creek Generating Station Plant John E. Matthews, Esquire Manager Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP AmerGen Energy Company, LLC 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW P.O. Box 388 Washington, DC 20004 Forked River, NJ 08731 Kent Tosch, Chief Regulatory Assurance Manager New Jersey Department of Oyster Creek Environmental Protection AmerGen Energy Company, LLC Bureau of Nuclear Engineering P.O. Box 388 CN 415 Forked River, NJ 08731 Trenton, NJ 08625 Vice President, General Counsel and Vice President - Licensing and Secretary Regulatory Affairs Exelon Generation Company, LLC Exelon Generation Company, LLC 300 Exelon Way 4300 Winfield Road Kennett Square, PA 19348 Warrenville, IL 60555 J. Rogge, Region I Site Vice President U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station 475 Allendale Road AmerGen Energy Company, LLC King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415 P.O. Box 388 Forked River, NJ 08731

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station cc:

Manager Licensing - Oyster Creek and Three Mile Island Exelon Generation Company, LLC Nuclear Group Headquarters Correspondence Control P.O. Box 160 Kennett Square, PA 19348 Correspondence Control Desk Exelon Generation Company, LLC 200 Exelon Way, KSA 1-N-1 Kennett Square, PA 19348