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{{#Wiki_filter:June 26, 2006 MEM ORAND UM TO: Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules and Directive s Branch Divisi on of Administrati ve Serv ices Office of Administration FROM: Keith I. McConnell  
{{#Wiki_filter:June 26, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO:           Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules and Directives Branch Division of Administrative Services Office of Administration FROM:                     Keith I. McConnell /RA/
/RA/Deputy Direc tor for th e Deco mmissi oning Direc torate Divisi on of Waste Management and Env ironmental Pro tection Office of N uclea r Mat erial Safety   and Safeguards SUB JEC T: NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFI CANT IM PACT R ELATED TO PARTI AL EXE MPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.71, RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS - YANKEE NUCLE AR POWER STA TION Enclo sed, p lease find o ne si gned or igina l, four copie s and an el ectron ic v ersio n on a 3.5 diskette of the subject Federal Regi ster Notice for trans mittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publi cation.ADM/DAS/R DB ha s been give n ow ner's rights to the Notic e in A DAM S (ML060180424). Publicly availa ble U.S. Nu clear Regulato ry Commissio n documents reference d in the No tice have been finalize d in ADAM S and profile d for public re lease. ADA MS acces sion numbers for all such d ocuments are prov ided in th e text unde r Further Information.
Deputy Director for the Decommissioning Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
 
==SUBJECT:==
NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO PARTIAL EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.71, RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS - YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Enclosed, please find one signed original, four copies and an electronic version on a 3.5 diskette of the subject Federal Register Notice for transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.
ADM/DAS/RDB has been given owners rights to the Notice in ADAMS (ML060180424).
Publicly available U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission documents referenced in the Notice have been finalized in ADAMS and profiled for public release. ADAMS accession numbers for all such documents are provided in the text under Further Information.


==Enclosures:==
==Enclosures:==
: 1. Signed original FRN
: 1. Signed original FRN
: 2. 5 copies of FRN
: 2. 5 copies of FRN
: 3. Di skette CONTACT: John B. Hickm an, NMSS/DWMEP (3
: 3. Diskette CONTACT: John B. Hickman, NMSS/DWMEP (301) 415-3017
: 01) 415-3017 June 26, 2006 MEM ORAND UM TO: Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules and Directive s Branch Divisi on of Administrati ve Serv ices Office of Administration FROM: Keith I. McConnell /RA/
 
Deputy Direc tor for th e Deco mmissi oning Direc torate Divisi on of Waste Management and Env ironmental Pro tection Office of N uclea r Mat erial Safety   and Safeguards SUB JEC T: NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFI CANT IM PACT R ELATED TO PARTI AL EXE MPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.71, RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS - YANKEE NUCLE AR POWER STA TION Enclo sed, p lease find o ne si gned or igina l, four copie s and an el ectron ic v ersio n on a 3.5 diskette of the subject Federal Regi ster Notice for trans mittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publi cation.ADM/DAS/R DB ha s been give n ow ner's rights to the Notic e in A DAM S (ML060180424). Publicly availa ble U.S. Nu clear Regulato ry Commissio n documents reference d in the No tice have been finalize d in ADAM S and profile d for public re lease. ADA MS acces sion numbers for all such d ocuments are prov ided in th e text unde r Further Information.
June 26, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO:           Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules and Directives Branch Division of Administrative Services Office of Administration FROM:                     Keith I. McConnell /RA/
Deputy Director for the Decommissioning Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
 
==SUBJECT:==
NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO PARTIAL EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.71, RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS - YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Enclosed, please find one signed original, four copies and an electronic version on a 3.5 diskette of the subject Federal Register Notice for transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.
ADM/DAS/RDB has been given owners rights to the Notice in ADAMS (ML060180424).
Publicly available U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission documents referenced in the Notice have been finalized in ADAMS and profiled for public release. ADAMS accession numbers for all such documents are provided in the text under Further Information.
Attachments:
Attachments:
: 1. Signed original FRN
: 1. Signed original FRN
: 2. 5 copies of FRN
: 2. 5 copies of FRN
: 3. Di skette CONTACT: John B. Hickm an, NMSS/DWMEP (3
: 3. Diskette CONTACT: John B. Hickman, NMSS/DWMEP (301) 415-3017 DISTRIBUTION:
: 01) 415-3017 DISTRIB UTION: DCD r/f Docket File 5 0-29 RidsAcrsAcnw MailC enter RidsOgcMai lCenter KMcConnell CCraig JHickman ML061590347 OFFICE DW MEP:PM DWMEP:LA DW MEP:SC OGC DW MEP:DD NAME JHickman TMixon CCraig STreby KMcConnell DATE     06/08/06 06/08/06 06/16/06 06/20/06 06/22/06 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
DCD r/f         Docket File 50-29     RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter        RidsOgcMailCenter KMcConnell CCraig                     JHickman ML061590347 OFFICE     DWMEP:PM         DWMEP:LA         DWMEP:SC         OGC             DWMEP:DD NAME       JHickman         TMixon           CCraig           STreby           KMcConnell DATE           06/08/06       06/08/06       06/16/06         06/20/06         06/22/06 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
 
[7590-01-P]
[7590-01-P]
NUCLE AR REGUL AT ORY COM MISSION[Docket No. 5 0-029]Envi ronmen tal A ssess ment an d Find ing of No Sig nifican t Impac t Related to Exe mption from the Re cordkeeping re quirements of T itle 10 of the Code of Fed eral R egulat ions (1 0 CFR) Part 50.71(c); 10 CFR P art 50, A ppend ix A; 10 CFR Part 50, A ppendix B for the Yankee Atomic Electric Company Licen se DP R-003, Rowe, Mas sachu setts AGENCY: U.S. Nucl ear Regulatory Commission ACTION: Enviro nmental Assess ment and Find ing of No Significa nt Impact FOR FU RTHE R INFOR MA TION C ONTA CT: John Hickman, D ivisio n of Waste Management and Envi ronmental Protec tion, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and S afeguards, U.S. Nucl ear Regulatory C ommission, M ail Stop: T7E 18, Washington, DC 20555-00 001. Telephon e: (301)415-301 7; e-m ail: jbh@
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
nrc.g ov.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMA TION: I.Introduction The U.S. Nucle ar Regulatory Commission (N RC) is cons idering granting a partial ex emption from the Recordk eeping requirement s of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
[Docket No. 50-029]
Part 50.71(c); 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A; 10 CFR Part 50, Appen dix B; an d 10 CFR 50.59(d)(3), f or the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) as req uested by Yankee Atomic Electric Co mpany (YAEC or the Licen see) on Februa ry 15, 2006 , as supplemen ted on Ma rch 23, 20 06. An envi ronmen tal as sessme nt (EA) was performe d by the NR C staff i n supp ort of i ts revi ew o f the ex emptio n reque st. II.Environmental Ass essment
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption from the Recordkeeping requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50.71(c); 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A; 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B for the Yankee Atomic Electric Company License DPR-003, Rowe, Massachusetts AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ACTION: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Hickman, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop: T7E18, Washington, DC 20555-00001. Telephone: (301) 415-3017; e-mail: jbh@nrc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering granting a partial exemption from the Recordkeeping requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
Part 50.71(c); 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A; 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B; and 10 CFR 50.59(d)(3), for the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) as requested by Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC or the Licensee) on February 15, 2006, as supplemented on March 23, 2006. An environmental assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of the exemption request.
 
II. Environmental Assessment


==Background:==
==Background:==


YNPS is a d eacti vated pressu rize d-wa ter nuc lear r eactor loca ted in northw estern Massachus etts in Frankli n County, n ear the southern Vermont border.
YNPS is a deactivated pressurized-water nuclear reactor located in northwestern Massachusetts in Franklin County, near the southern Vermont border. The YNPS plant was constructed between 1958 and 1960 and operated commercially at 185 megawatts electric (after a 1963 upgrade) until 1992. In 1992, YAEC determined that closing of the plant would be in the best economic interest of its customers. In December 1993, NRC amended the YNPS operating license to retain a possession-only status. YAEC began dismantling and decommissioning activities at that time. Transfer of the spent fuel from the Spent Fuel Pit (SFP) to the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) was completed in June 2003.
The YNPS pl ant was constructed between 1958 and 1960 and operated com mercially at 185 megawatts electric (after a 1963 upgrade) until 1992. In 1992, YA EC determined that closin g of the plant w ould be in the best economic interest of its customers. In December 1993, NRC amended the YNPS operating lic ense to retain a "possessio n-only" statu
With the exception of the greater than class C waste stored at the ISFSI, the reactor and all associated systems and components, including those associated with storage of spent fuel in the SFP, have been removed from the facility and disposed of offsite. In addition, the structures housing these systems and components have been demolished. Physical work associated with the decommissioning of YNPS is scheduled to be completed in 2006.
: s. YAEC be gan dismantlin g and decommissioning activities at that time. Transfe r of the spent fue l from the Spent Fuel Pit (SFP) to the Indepe ndent Spent Fuel Storage Instal latio n (ISFS I) wa s compl eted i n June 2003. W ith the exception of the great er than class C waste stored at the ISFSI, the rea ctor and all associated systems and component s, including those associated with storag e of spent fuel in the SFP, hav e been remov ed from the facility and dispo sed of offsite. In addi tion, the structu res ho using t hese s ystems and c ompone nts ha ve be en demo lish ed. Ph ysic al w ork associated w ith the decommi ssioning of YNP S is schedu led to be c ompleted in 2006.This Envi ronmental Asses sment (EA) has b een devel oped in ac cordance w ith the requirements of 10 CF R Part 51.21.
This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been developed in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51.21.
Proposed Acti on: Yankee Atomic E lectric Compa ny (YAEC) is requesting the followin g exemption, for reco rds pertaining to s ystems, structures, or components (SS Cs) and/or acti vities a ssociated w ith the nuclear pow er generating unit, Spent Fuel Pit, and asso ciated suppo rt systems, from the retention require ments of: (1) 10 CFR 50 Appendi x A Crite rion 1 w hich requires certain records be retained "throughout the li fe of the unit"; (2) 10 CFR 50 App endix B Criterion XVII w hich requires certain records be retai ned consiste nt with re gulatory requireme nts for a duration established by the l icensee; (3) 1 0 CFR 50.59 (d)(3) which requires certain records be maintained u ntil "terminati on of a licen se issued p ursuant to" Part 5 0; and (4) 10 CFR 50.71(c) which requi res records retenti on for the period specified i n the regulatio ns or until license termination.
Proposed Action:
Need for Proposed Action: The requ ested exemp tion a nd app lica tion o f the ex emptio n wi ll el imina te the require ment to maintain reco rds that are no longer necessary due to the p ermanently s hutdown sta tus of the faci li ty an d th ere by red uce the fin anc ia l b urd en on rat epa ye rs a sso cia ted wi th t he sto rag e o f a large volume of records.
Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC) is requesting the following exemption, for records pertaining to systems, structures, or components (SSCs) and/or activities associated with the nuclear power generating unit, Spent Fuel Pit, and associated support systems, from the retention requirements of: (1) 10 CFR 50 Appendix A Criterion 1 which requires certain records be retained "throughout the life of the unit"; (2) 10 CFR 50 Appendix B Criterion XVII which requires certain records be retained consistent with regulatory requirements for a duration
Environmenta l Impacts of the Pro posed Action
 
: The proposed acti on is purel y adminis trative in nature and w ill not s ignificantly increase the probab ilit y or c onseque nces o f accid ents. No cha nges are bein g made i n the t ypes of effluen ts that may be re leased off site an d there is no significant in crease in the amount of any effluent relea sed offsi te. The re is no si gnifica nt inc rease in oc cupati onal or pub lic r adiat ion e xpos ure. Therefore, there are no significant radi ological en vironmental impacts associ ated with the proposed acti on.With regard to potential nonra diological impacts, the pro posed action does not hav e a potential to affect any histori c sites. It do es not affect nonradio logical pl ant effluents, and i t has no other env ironmental i mpact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiolo gical environmenta l impacts ass ociated w ith the propos ed action.
established by the licensee; (3) 10 CFR 50.59(d)(3) which requires certain records be maintained until "termination of a license issued pursuant to" Part 50; and (4) 10 CFR 50.71(c) which requires records retention for the period specified in the regulations or until license termination.
Accordingly , the NRC co ncludes that the proposed a ction wi ll have no significant effect on the en viro nment.Environmenta l Impacts of the Al ternatives to the Proposed Action: As an altern ative to th e proposed ac tion, the staff consid ered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the "no-acti on" alternativ e). Under thi s alternativ e YNPS w ould contin ue to store the records in questi on until l icense termina tion whi ch woul d result in no change in current environm ental imp acts. The enviro nment al impact s of th e propos ed action and the alt ernative actio n are s imila r. Agencies and Persons Consu lted: None.III. Finding of No Significant Impact Based on thi s review , the NRC sta ff has concluded tha t there are no significant impac ts on the quality of the human env ironment. Accord ingly, the s taff has determined that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statem ent is not warranted, and a Finding of No Signif icant Impact is appropriate.
Need for Proposed Action:
IV. Further Informatio n For further detail s with res pect to the prop osed action, see the li censee's letter dated February 15 , 2006, (ADAM S Accession No. ML060550077) as supplemented o n March 2 3, 2006. (ADAM S Accession No. ML060960065)
The requested exemption and application of the exemption will eliminate the requirement to maintain records that are no longer necessary due to the permanently shutdown status of the facility and thereby reduce the financial burden on ratepayers associated with the storage of a large volume of records.
The NRC Publ ic Documents R oom is loca ted at NRC Headquarte rs in Rockvi lle, MD , and can be contacted at (800) 397-4209. Do cuments may be examine d, and/or copi ed for a fee, at the N RC's Publ ic Document R oom (PDR), loc ated at One W hite Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records wi ll be acce ssible el ectronicall y from the Agency wide Do cuments Access a nd Management Sy stem's (ADAM S) Public Library co mponent on the NRC Web site, http://w ww.nrc.gov (the P ubli c Ele ctroni c Read ing Ro om). Pe rsons w ho do not ha ve ac cess to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents locat ed in ADAMS should contact the NR C PDR Referenc e staff by telepho ne at 1-800-397
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
-4209, or 301-41 5-4737, or by e-mail at pdr@nrc.gov.Dated at Rockv ille, M aryland, th is  22 nd day of June, 2006.FOR THE NUCL EAR R EGULA TORY COM MISS ION/RA/Keith M cConnell, Deputy Di rector Decommi ssion ing Di rectora te Divi sion of Waste Man agement  and Env ironmental Pro tection Office of N uclea r Mat erial Safety and Safeguards}}
The proposed action is purely administrative in nature and will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents. No changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released off site and there is no significant increase in the amount of any effluent released offsite. 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 it has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will have no significant effect on the environment.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no-action alternative). Under this alternative YNPS would continue to store the
 
records in question until license termination which would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
None.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact Based on this review, the NRC staff has concluded that there are no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the staff has determined that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted, and a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate.
IV. Further Information For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated February 15, 2006, (ADAMS Accession No. ML060550077) as supplemented on March 23, 2006. (ADAMS Accession No. ML060960065) The NRC Public Documents Room is located at NRC Headquarters in Rockville, MD, and can be contacted at (800) 397-4209. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System's (ADAMS) Public Library component on the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Public Electronic Reading Room). 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 at pdr@nrc.gov.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of June, 2006.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
                                                    /RA/
Keith McConnell, Deputy Director Decommissioning Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
                                                }}

Revision as of 18:43, 23 November 2019

Notice of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Partial Exemption from 10 CFR 50.71, Recordkeeping Requirements -- Yankee Nuclear Power Station
ML061590347
Person / Time
Site: Yankee Rowe
Issue date: 06/26/2006
From: Mcconnell K
NRC/NMSS/DWMEP/DD
To: Lesar M
Office of Administration
Hickman J, NMSS/DWM/DCB, 301-415-3017
References
Download: ML061590347 (6)
v • d • e


Text

June 26, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO: Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules and Directives Branch Division of Administrative Services Office of Administration FROM: Keith I. McConnell /RA/

Deputy Director for the Decommissioning Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

SUBJECT:

NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO PARTIAL EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.71, RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS - YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Enclosed, please find one signed original, four copies and an electronic version on a 3.5 diskette of the subject Federal Register Notice for transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

ADM/DAS/RDB has been given owners rights to the Notice in ADAMS (ML060180424).

Publicly available U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission documents referenced in the Notice have been finalized in ADAMS and profiled for public release. ADAMS accession numbers for all such documents are provided in the text under Further Information.

Enclosures:

1. Signed original FRN
2. 5 copies of FRN
3. Diskette CONTACT: John B. Hickman, NMSS/DWMEP (301) 415-3017

June 26, 2006 MEMORANDUM TO: Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules and Directives Branch Division of Administrative Services Office of Administration FROM: Keith I. McConnell /RA/

Deputy Director for the Decommissioning Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

SUBJECT:

NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT RELATED TO PARTIAL EXEMPTION FROM 10 CFR 50.71, RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS - YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION Enclosed, please find one signed original, four copies and an electronic version on a 3.5 diskette of the subject Federal Register Notice for transmittal to the Office of the Federal Register for publication.

ADM/DAS/RDB has been given owners rights to the Notice in ADAMS (ML060180424).

Publicly available U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission documents referenced in the Notice have been finalized in ADAMS and profiled for public release. ADAMS accession numbers for all such documents are provided in the text under Further Information.

Attachments:

1. Signed original FRN
2. 5 copies of FRN
3. Diskette CONTACT: John B. Hickman, NMSS/DWMEP (301) 415-3017 DISTRIBUTION:

DCD r/f Docket File 50-29 RidsAcrsAcnwMailCenter RidsOgcMailCenter KMcConnell CCraig JHickman ML061590347 OFFICE DWMEP:PM DWMEP:LA DWMEP:SC OGC DWMEP:DD NAME JHickman TMixon CCraig STreby KMcConnell DATE 06/08/06 06/08/06 06/16/06 06/20/06 06/22/06 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

[7590-01-P]

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-029]

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Related to Exemption from the Recordkeeping requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 50.71(c); 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A; 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B for the Yankee Atomic Electric Company License DPR-003, Rowe, Massachusetts AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ACTION: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Hickman, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop: T7E18, Washington, DC 20555-00001. Telephone: (301) 415-3017; e-mail: jbh@nrc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering granting a partial exemption from the Recordkeeping requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)

Part 50.71(c); 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A; 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B; and 10 CFR 50.59(d)(3), for the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) as requested by Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC or the Licensee) on February 15, 2006, as supplemented on March 23, 2006. An environmental assessment (EA) was performed by the NRC staff in support of its review of the exemption request.

II. Environmental Assessment

Background:

YNPS is a deactivated pressurized-water nuclear reactor located in northwestern Massachusetts in Franklin County, near the southern Vermont border. The YNPS plant was constructed between 1958 and 1960 and operated commercially at 185 megawatts electric (after a 1963 upgrade) until 1992. In 1992, YAEC determined that closing of the plant would be in the best economic interest of its customers. In December 1993, NRC amended the YNPS operating license to retain a possession-only status. YAEC began dismantling and decommissioning activities at that time. Transfer of the spent fuel from the Spent Fuel Pit (SFP) to the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) was completed in June 2003.

With the exception of the greater than class C waste stored at the ISFSI, the reactor and all associated systems and components, including those associated with storage of spent fuel in the SFP, have been removed from the facility and disposed of offsite. In addition, the structures housing these systems and components have been demolished. Physical work associated with the decommissioning of YNPS is scheduled to be completed in 2006.

This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been developed in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51.21.

Proposed Action:

Yankee Atomic Electric Company (YAEC) is requesting the following exemption, for records pertaining to systems, structures, or components (SSCs) and/or activities associated with the nuclear power generating unit, Spent Fuel Pit, and associated support systems, from the retention requirements of: (1) 10 CFR 50 Appendix A Criterion 1 which requires certain records be retained "throughout the life of the unit"; (2) 10 CFR 50 Appendix B Criterion XVII which requires certain records be retained consistent with regulatory requirements for a duration

established by the licensee; (3) 10 CFR 50.59(d)(3) which requires certain records be maintained until "termination of a license issued pursuant to" Part 50; and (4) 10 CFR 50.71(c) which requires records retention for the period specified in the regulations or until license termination.

Need for Proposed Action:

The requested exemption and application of the exemption will eliminate the requirement to maintain records that are no longer necessary due to the permanently shutdown status of the facility and thereby reduce the financial burden on ratepayers associated with the storage of a large volume of records.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:

The proposed action is purely administrative in nature and will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents. No changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released off site and there is no significant increase in the amount of any effluent released offsite. 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 it has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Accordingly, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will have no significant effect on the environment.

Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:

As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the no-action alternative). Under this alternative YNPS would continue to store the

records in question until license termination which would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Agencies and Persons Consulted:

None.

III. Finding of No Significant Impact Based on this review, the NRC staff has concluded that there are no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the staff has determined that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted, and a Finding of No Significant Impact is appropriate.

IV. Further Information For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated February 15, 2006, (ADAMS Accession No. ML060550077) as supplemented on March 23, 2006. (ADAMS Accession No. ML060960065) The NRC Public Documents Room is located at NRC Headquarters in Rockville, MD, and can be contacted at (800) 397-4209. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRCs Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System's (ADAMS) Public Library component on the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov (the Public Electronic Reading Room). 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 at pdr@nrc.gov.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of June, 2006.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

/RA/

Keith McConnell, Deputy Director Decommissioning Directorate Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

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