ML20199D597
| ML20199D597 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend  |
| Issue date: | 11/13/1997 |
| From: | Clifford J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20199D603 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9711200370 | |
| Download: ML20199D597 (4) | |
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7590-01-P s
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMilSSION ENTERGY GULF STATES. INC. AND CAJUN ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE. INC.
DOCKET NO. 50-458 RIVER BEND STATION. UNIT NO. 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSNEig AND FINDING OF M _5JGNIFICANT IllPK I 1he U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering issuance of an order approving, under 10 CFR 50.80, the transfer of Facility Operating License No. NPF-47, to the extent now held by Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. (Cajun), to Entergy Gulf States, Inc. (EGSI, the licensee) with respect to the River Bend Station, Unit No. 1 (RBS), located in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, and issuance of a conforming amendment under 10 CFR 50.90.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of the Proposed Action:
The proposed action would consent, by the issuance of an order, to the t=ansfer of the 30% minority ownership interest in the facilities for RBS from Cajun to EGSI and approve the issuance of a conforming amendment to the license.
The proposed action is in accordance with the application, endorsed and consented to by EGSI, dated October 15, 1997, filed by Ralph R. Mabey, Trustee for Cajun.
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The Need for the Proposed Action:
The proposed action is required to obtain the necessary consent to the transfer of the license, to the extent now held by Cajun, and approval of the l
amendment discussed above. Cajun is a minority owner of RBS with an ownership 9711200370 971113 PDR ADOCK 05000450 P
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- share of 30%.
In 1994, after a two-year rate investigation, the Louisiana i
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- Public Service Commission disallowed from rate recovery. Cajun's $1.8 billion investment in River Bend.- This action precipitated Cajun's decision on December 21,.1994,-to file a voluntary petition with the United States -
LBankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (the " Bankruptcy Court")
for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Cajun had borrowed the majority of the $1.8 billion to invest in RBS from the Rural-Utilities Service ("RUS") of the United States Department of Agriculture. On August 26, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court approved the terms of a settlement agreement
- between Cajun, EGSI, and the RUS which allows the Trustee to seek authority to transfer Cajun's 30% undivided ownership interest in RBS.
The application dated.0ctober 15, 1997, seeks consent to-transfer Cajun's 30% interest to EGSI and an amendment to the license to reflect that transfer.
Environmental Imoacts ;/ the Fronosed Action:
1 The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that there will be no changes to the facility or its operation as a i
result of the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC staff conludes that there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action will.not affect nonradiological plant effluents and will have no other l
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environmental impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there-are no i
significant nonrsdiological-environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
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3 Alternatives to the Prooosed Action:
Since the Commission has concludert there is no measurable environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be evaleeted. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff consideri denial of the proposed tetton. Denial of tho application would result in no change in current environmental impacts.
The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.
Alternative Use of Resourgal:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the River Bend Station, Unit No. 1, Aaencies and Persons Consulted:
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 13, 1997, the staff consulted with the Louisiana State official, Mr. William Spell of the Department of Environmental Quality, Radiation Protection Division, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no i
comments.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT Based upon 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 proposed action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the application dated October 15, 1997, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, i
4 NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the Government Documents Department Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, lat2d at Rockville, Naryland, this 13th day of November 1997.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMISSION pl//
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ames W. Clifford, Acting Director Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects III/IV Office of Nuclear keactor Regulation l
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