Environmental Impact Statement for an EarlySite Permit (ESP) at the Exelon ESP Site:Main Report (Chapters 1–10)(NUREG-1815, Volume 1)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: July 2006
Date Published: July 2006

Division of New Reactor Licensing
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

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Abstract

This environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared in response to an application submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by Exelon Generation Company, LLC (Exelon) for an early site permit (ESP). The proposed action requested in Exelon's application is for the NRC to (1) approve a site within the existing Clinton Power Station (CPS) boundaries as suitable for the construction and operation of a new nuclear power generating facility and (2) issue an ESP for the proposed site identified as the Exelon ESP site located adjacent to the CPS. In its application, Exelon proposes a plan for redressing the environmental effects of certain site-preparation and construction activities, i.e., those activities allowed by Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 50.10(e)(1), performed by an ESP holder under 10 CFR 52.25. In accordance with the plan, the site would be redressed if the NRC issues the requested ESP (containing the site redress plan), the ESP holder performs these site-preparation and construction activities, the ESP is not referenced in an application for a construction permit or combined operating license, and no alternative use is found for the site. This EIS includes the NRC staff's analysis that considers and weighs the environmental impacts of constructing and operating a new nuclear unit at the Exelon ESP site or at alternative sites, and mitigation measures available for reducing or avoiding adverse impacts. It also includes the staff's recommendation to the Commission regarding the proposed action.

The staff's recommendation to the Commission related to the environmental aspects of the proposed action is that the ESP should be issued. The staff's evaluation of the site safety and emergency preparedness aspects of the proposed action have been addressed in the staff's final safety evaluation report dated May 1, 2006.

This recommendation is based on (1) the application, including the Environmental Report (ER), submitted by Exelon; (2) consultation with Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies; (3) the staff's independent review; (4) the staff's consideration of comments related to the environmental review that were received during the public scoping process and on the draft EIS; and (5) the assessments summarized in this EIS, including the potential mitigation measures identified in the ER and this EIS. In addition, in making its recommendation, the staff determined that there are no environmentally preferable or obviously superior sites. Finally, the staff has concluded that the site-preparation and construction activities allowed by 10 CFR 50.10(e)(1) requested by Exelon in its application would not result in any significant adverse environmental impact that cannot be redressed.