94-25590. Philadelphia Electric Co., Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Delmarva Power & Light Co., and Atlantic City Electric Co.; Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact  

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    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-25590]
    
    
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    [Federal Register: October 17, 1994]
    
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
     
    
    Philadelphia Electric Co., Public Service Electric & Gas Co., 
    Delmarva Power & Light Co., and Atlantic City Electric Co.; Peach 
    Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3; Environmental Assessment 
    and Finding of No Significant Impact
    
        The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
    considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos. 
    DPR-44 and DPR-56, issued to Philadelphia Electric Company (the 
    licensee), for operation of the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station 
    (PBAPS), Units 2 and 3, located in York County, Pennsylvania.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of the Proposed Action
    
        This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address the 
    potential environmental issues related to the licensee's application to 
    amend the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit Nos. 2 and 3 
    operating licenses. The proposed action would increase the licensed 
    thermal power level of the reactors from the current limit of 3293 
    megawatts thermal (MWt) to a revised limit of 3458 MWt. This request is 
    in accordance with the generic boiling water reactor (BWR) power uprate 
    program established by the General Electric Company (GE) and approved 
    by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff in a letter from 
    W. Russell, NRC, to P. Marriotte, General Electric, dated September 30, 
    1991.
        The proposed action involves NRC issuance of a license amendment to 
    uprate the authorized power level by changing the Operating License, 
    Appendices A (``Technical Specifications'') and B (``Environmental 
    Technical Specifications'') to the Operating License. The proposed 
    action is in accordance with the licensee's application for amendment 
    dated June 23, 1993, as supplemented by letters dated April 5, May 2, 
    June 6, June 8, June 29, July 6 (two letters), July 7, July 20, July 28 
    (two letters), September 16 and September 30, 1994.
    
    The Need for the Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action is needed to permit an increase in the licensed 
    core thermal power from 3293 MWt to 3458 MWt and provide the licensee 
    with the flexibility to increase the potential electrical output of 
    PBAPS, Units 2 and 3, providing additional electrical power to the 
    licensees' domestic and commercial service areas.
    
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
    
        The ``Final Environmental Statement (FES) related to operation of 
    Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3'' was issued in April 
    1973. The licensee submitted General Electric (GE) Topical Report, 
    NEDC-32183P, ``Power Rerate Safety Analysis Report for Peach Bottom 2 & 
    3,'' Class III, dated May 1993, as Attachment 3 to the June 23, 1993 
    submittal. NEDC-32183P contains the safety analysis prepared by GE to 
    support this license change request and the implementation of power 
    uprate at PBAPS Units 2 and 3. The analyses and evaluations supporting 
    the proposed license changes were completed using the guidelines in GE 
    Topical Report NEDC-31897P-A, ``Generic Guidelines for General Electric 
    Boiling Water Reactor Power Uprate,'' Class III, dated May 1992, and 
    NEDC-31984P, ``Generic Evaluations of General Electric Boiling Water 
    Reactor Power Update,'' Class III, dated July 1991. The staff reviewed 
    and approved these Topical Reports in the September 30, 1991 letter 
    described above and in a letter from W. Russell, NRC, to P. Marriotte, 
    General Electric, dated July 31, 1992.
        The licensee provided information regarding the non-radiological 
    environmental effects of the proposed action in the June 23, 
    application and supplemental information in the September 30, 1994 
    submittal. The licensee provided information regarding the radiological 
    environmental effects of the proposed action in NEDC-3183P and 
    supplemental information in the September 30, 1994 submittal. The staff 
    has reviewed the potential radiological and non-radiological effects of 
    the proposed action on the environment as described below.
    
    Non-Radiological Environmental Assessment
    
        Power uprate will not change the method of generating electricity 
    nor the method of handling any influents from nor effluents to the 
    environment. Therefore, no new or different types of environmental 
    impacts are expected.
        The staff reviewed the non-radiological impact of operation at 
    uprated power levels on influents from and effluents to the Conowingo 
    Pond. Peach Bottom has a once-through circulating water system and five 
    mechanical draft cooling towers for dissipating heat from the main 
    turbine condensers. The cooling towers reject heat from the circulating 
    water prior to discharge back to the Conowingo Pond. The cooling towers 
    are operated in accordance with the requirements of the facility's 
    National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, Permit 
    No. PA0009733. The NPDES permit includes a matrix which specifies the 
    number of cooling towers that must be in operation as a function of 
    total station thermal power production, circulating water pumps and 
    average inlet water temperature.
        By letters dated February 24 and March 31, 1994, the licensee 
    provided information to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental 
    Resources (PA DER) regarding the impact of power uprate on cooling 
    tower performance. In the February 24, 1994 letter, the licensee 
    indicated that the uprated power levels would increase the temperature 
    of the circulating water leaving the main condensers by approximately 
    one degree Fahrenheit. Operation at uprated power will cause additional 
    heat to be rejected to the circulating water through the main 
    condensers. The additional heat rejection would occur as a result of 
    operation at slightly higher condenser pressures and discharge of 
    circulating water from the main condenser with slightly higher 
    temperatures as described above. The licensee provided a revised 
    cooling tower matrix to the PA DER which addressed cooling tower 
    operation at uprated power levels. The licensee noted that the lowest 
    7-day moving river temperature average for which cooling tower 
    operation is required dropped from 53 deg.F to 51 deg.F. In general, 
    the effect of operation at uprated power would be to increase the duty 
    cycle of the cooling towers. By letter dated September 27, 1994, the PA 
    DER recommended extension of the thermal variance (Section 316(a) of 
    The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, P.L. 92-
    500, as amended) for the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. The state 
    concluded that an increase in the plant's rated power level will not 
    change the relative abundance, distribution and species composition of 
    fish in the Conowingo Pond provided the station is operated in 
    accordance with the revised matrix. The PA DER indicated that the NPDES 
    permit will be renewed in the near future to include the revised 
    matrix.
        The operating speed and characteristics of the circulating pumps 
    will not be changed for power uprate. Thus, the volumetric flow rate 
    and velocity of intake and outfall from the circulating water system 
    would not be expected to change because of operation at uprated power 
    levels. As stated above, the temperature of the water discharged from 
    the condensers is expected to increase slightly; however, the licensee 
    has determined that the increased heat load is within the capacity of 
    the existing cooling towers. The operating matrix for the cooling 
    towers was revised to maintain the temperature characteristics of the 
    plant discharge plume equivalent to those of the existing plume. 
    Because the flow rate, velocity and temperature of the plume are all 
    not expected to change, no change to the overall thermal plume is 
    expected.
        The licensee does inject sodium hypochlorite into the circulating 
    water system to retard growth of microorganisms with system components. 
    The sodium hypochlorite injection rate is determined by the flow rate 
    through the circulating water system, which will not change as a result 
    of operation at uprated power levels. The licensee indicated the 
    increased heat rejection rate from the cooling towers may lead to an 
    increase in concentration of chemicals and contaminants in the cooling 
    tower. However, the licensee is required by the NPDES permit to sample 
    for residual chlorine in the outfall of the cooling towers on a daily 
    basis and to maintain residual chlorine concentrations within the 
    limits of the permit. The concentrations of residual chlorine are not 
    expected to exceed the existing permit limits. Based on the expected 
    minimal effect of uprated power operation on cooling tower chemical 
    concentrations and the monitoring requirements of the NPDES permit, the 
    staff concludes the impact of any potential increase in cooling tower 
    chemical effluent concentration on the environment is not significant.
        Effluent discharges from other systems were also considered. 
    Effluent limits for systems such as roof drains and yard drains, the 
    auxiliary boiler and the sewage treatment plant are established in the 
    NPDES permit. Discharges from these systems are not changed by 
    operation at uprated power. Thus, the impact on the environment from 
    these systems as a result of operation at uprated power levels is not 
    significant.
        Because the flow rate and velocity of influent to and effluent from 
    the circulating water and service water systems will remain unchanged 
    by operation at uprated power levels, no increased entrainment of 
    planktonic organisms and or impingement of fish is expected. As part of 
    the request to update the NPDES permit, the licensee submitted a report 
    of aquatic sampling that was performed in the Conowingo Pond in October 
    and November 1993. The report was provided to the NRC in the June 29, 
    1994 letter. The objective of the study was to ``determine the relative 
    abundance and distribution of fishes in Conowingo Pond, particularly 
    the thermal effluent, and compare the results with the historic 
    record.'' The report concluded that ``No obvious changes in the species 
    abundance, except for the gizzard shad in recent years, were observed 
    between 1993 and the historic record. Changes in the abundance of a 
    particular species has historically been associated with year class 
    strength. Strong year classes are associated with increased abundance 
    of a species.'' Samples of the gizzard shad were generally stronger 
    than the historic record for the various sample locations and methods.
        Operation at uprated power levels will not result in increased 
    noise generation for the majority of plant equipment. Some of this 
    equipment, such as the main turbine and generator will operate at the 
    same speed and thus will not contribute to increased offsite noise. 
    Other equipment, such as reactor feed pumps, will operate at increased 
    speeds; however, the majority of this type of equipment is located 
    within plant structures and will not lead to increased offsite noise 
    levels. The impact of a potential increase in noise from the cooling 
    towers was considered. As described previously, operation of the 
    cooling towers is controlled by the requirements of the NPDES permit. 
    Operation of the facility at uprated power levels is not expected to 
    result in operation of more cooling towers than are operated under 
    current power limits. Thus the existing cooling tower noise levels 
    would not be expected to change. However, the existing cooling towers 
    may be operated for an increased number of days per year. The licensee 
    qualitatively estimated that the cooling tower duty cycle would 
    increase by a small amount (in terms of cooling tower-days per year). 
    Thus, the current cooling tower noise levels would exist for a slightly 
    increased number of days per year and the environmental effect of 
    increased noise would be insignificant.
        The FES described the impact of plant operation on fogging in the 
    vicinity of the facility. Fogging estimates were made for a number of 
    locations near the plant. The FES discussed that the increase in 
    fogging due to plant operation over the natural occurrence of fogging 
    was expected to be minimal and not significant. The staff expects that 
    operation of the plant at uprated power levels will result in only a 
    minimal increase in fogging over that discussed in the FES. Thus, the 
    impact of plant operation on local fogging, including operation at 
    uprated power, remains insignificant.
        Makeup water requirements are not expected to change significantly, 
    if at all, due to operation at uprated power levels. The circulating 
    water system, service water systems and cooling towers are once-through 
    systems and, as such, do not have makeup requirements. The licensee 
    indicated that operation of the reactor at slightly (< 30="" psig)="" higher="" operating="" pressures="" may="" lead="" to="" slightly="" higher="" valve="" packing="" leak="" rates.="" system="" leakage,="" however,="" is="" processed="" through="" the="" liquid="" radwaste="" system="" and="" returned="" to="" the="" condensate="" storage="" tank="" for="" reuse.="" based="" on="" the="" above="" considerations,="" the="" staff="" concluded="" that="" the="" effect="" of="" makeup="" requirements="" at="" uprated="" power="" levels="" on="" the="" environment="" is="" not="" significant.="" radiological="" environmental="" assessment="" the="" licensee="" evaluated="" the="" impact="" of="" the="" proposed="" amendment="" to="" show="" that="" the="" applicable="" regulatory="" acceptance="" criteria="" continue="" to="" be="" satisfied="" for="" the="" uprated="" power="" conditions.="" in="" conducting="" this="" evaluation,="" the="" licensee="" considered="" the="" effect="" of="" the="" higher="" power="" level="" on="" source="" terms="" on-site="" and="" offsite="" doses,="" and="" control="" room="" habitability="" during="" both="" normal="" operation="" and="" accident="" conditions.="" the="" licensee="" provided="" information="" regarding="" the="" radiological="" environmental="" effects="" of="" the="" proposed="" action="" in="" nedc-32183p="" and="" supplemental="" information="" in="" the="" september="" 30,="" 1994="" submittal.="" in="" sections="" 8.1="" and="" 8.2="" of="" nedc-32183p,="" the="" licensee="" discussed="" the="" potential="" effect="" of="" power="" uprate="" on="" liquid="" and="" gaseous="" radioactive="" waste="" systems.="" sections="" 8.3="" and="" 8.4="" discussed="" the="" potential="" effect="" of="" power="" uprate="" on="" radiation="" sources="" in="" the="" reactor="" core="" during="" operation="" and="" post-operation,="" and="" radiation="" sources="" in="" the="" coolant="" resulted="" from="" coolant="" activation="" products,="" activated="" corrosion="" products="" and="" fission="" products.="" section="" 8.5="" of="" the="" topical="" report="" discussed="" the="" radiation="" levels="" during="" normal="" operation,="" normal="" post-operation,="" post-accident,="" and="" offsite="" doses="" during="" normal="" operation.="" finally,="" section="" 9.2="" of="" nedc-32183p="" presented="" the="" results="" of="" calculated="" whole="" body="" and="" thyroid="" doses="" at="" the="" uprated="" power="" and="" current="" authorized="" power="" conditions="" at="" the="" exclusion="" area="" boundary="" and="" the="" low="" population="" zone="" that="" might="" result="" from="" the="" postulated="" design="" basis="" radiological="" accidents="" [i.e.,="" loss-of-coolant-="" accident="" (loca),="" main="" stream="" line="" break="" accident="" (mslba)="" outside="" containment,="" fuel="" handling="" accident="" (fha)="" and="" control="" rod="" drop="" accident="" (crda].="" in="" section="" 8.1="" of="" nedc-32183p,="" the="" licensee="" stated="" that="" there="" will="" be="" only="" a="" slight="" increase="" in="" the="" liquid="" radwaste="" collection="" as="" a="" result="" of="" operation="" at="" higher="" power="" levels.="" the="" largest="" contributor="" to="" the="" liquid="" waste="" results="" from="" the="" backwash="" of="" the="" condensate="" demineralizers.="" the="" power="" uprate="" will="" increase="" the="" flow="" rate="" through="" the="" condensate="" demineralizers,="" with="" a="" subsequent="" reduction="" in="" the="" average="" time="" between="" backwashing.="" additionally,="" neither="" the="" floor="" drain="" collector="" subsystem,="" nor="" the="" waste="" collector="" subsystem="" is="" expected="" to="" experience="" a="" significant="" increase="" in="" the="" total="" volume="" of="" liquid="" waste="" due="" to="" operation="" at="" the="" uprated="" condition.="" the="" licensee="" stated="" that="" while="" the="" activated="" corrosion="" products="" in="" liquid="" wastes="" are="" expected="" to="" increase="" proportionally="" to="" the="" power="" uprate,="" the="" total="" volume="" of="" processed="" waste="" is="" not="" expected="" to="" increase="" appreciably="" since="" the="" only="" significant="" increase="" in="" processed="" waste="" is="" due="" to="" the="" more="" frequent="" backwashes="" of="" condensate="" and="" reactor="" water="" cleanup="" (rwcu)="" system="" demineralizers.="" the="" licensee="" noted="" that="" backwashing="" is="" normally="" initiated="" as="" a="" result="" of="" high="" differential="" pressure="" rather="" than="" activity="" content="" and="" that="" this="" is="" expected="" to="" remain="" the="" case="" for="" operation="" under="" uprated="" power="" conditions.="" based="" on="" its="" analyses="" of="" the="" liquid="" radwaste="" system,="" the="" licensee="" has="" concluded="" the="" requirements="" of="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 20="" and="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 50,="" appendix="" i,="" will="" be="" met.="" based="" on="" the="" above="" considerations,="" the="" staff="" concluded="" that="" the="" effect="" on="" the="" environment="" of="" operation="" of="" the="" liquid="" radiological="" waste="" stream="" at="" uprated="" power="" levels="" is="" not="" significant.="" the="" gaseous="" waste="" management="" systems,="" collect,="" control,="" process,="" store="" and="" dispose="" of="" gaseous="" radioactive="" waste="" generated="" during="" normal="" operation="" and="" abnormal="" operational="" occurrences.="" the="" gaseous="" waste="" management="" systems="" include="" the="" offgas="" system,="" standby="" gas="" treatment="" system="" (sgts),="" and="" various="" building="" ventilation="" systems.="" the="" systems="" are="" designed="" to="" meet="" the="" requirements="" of="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 20="" and="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 50,="" appendix="" i.="" in="" its="" power="" uprate="" submittal,="" the="" licensee="" has="" stated="" that="" the="" greatest="" contributor="" of="" radioactive="" gases="" are="" the="" non-condensible="" radioactive="" gases="" from="" the="" main="" condenser,="" including="" activation="" gases="" (principally="" n-16,="" o-19,="" and="" n-13)="" and="" radioactive="" noble="" gas="" parents.="" the="" increase="" in="" production="" of="" these="" gases="" is="" expected="" to="" be="" approximately="" proportional="" to="" the="" core="" power="" increase.="" these="" non-="" condensible="" radioactive="" gases,="" along="" with="" nonradioactive="" air="" due="" to="" in-="" leakage="" to="" the="" condenser,="" are="" continuously="" removed="" by="" the="" stream="" jet="" air="" ejector="" from="" the="" main="" condensers,="" and="" discharge="" into="" the="" offgas="" system.="" the="" flow="" of="" these="" gases="" into="" the="" offgas="" system="" are="" included="" with="" the="" flow="" of="">2 and O2 from the recombiner which will 
    also increase linearly with core power. Radioactive gases and H2 
    and O2 pass from the recombiner through an adsorber bed, holdup 
    pipe, HEPA filters and exit the facility through the main stack. 
    Gaseous activity effluent release rates are monitored down stream of 
    the adsorber bed and alarms are provided in the control room. The 
    licensee has stated that the operational increases in gases are not 
    significant when compared to the current total system flow.
        The design basis for the offgas system is for activity release 
    rates of 100,000 microcuries per second based on a mixture of 
    activation and fission product gases and fuel leakage and a 30-minute 
    holdup time. The system is designed to met the requirements of 10 CFR 
    Part 20 and 10 CFR part 50, appendix I. Performance of the system at 
    uprated power levels is expected to remain within the system design 
    basis and, thus, to continue to meet the requirements of 10 CFR Part 20 
    and 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix I.
        The contribution of gases to the gaseous waste management system 
    from building ventilation systems is not expected to increase 
    significantly with power uprate because 1) the amount of fission 
    products released into the reactor coolant depends on the number and 
    nature of the fuel rod defects and is not dependent on reactor power, 
    and 2) the concentration of coolant activation products is expected to 
    remain unchanged since the linear increase in the production of these 
    products will be offset by the linear increase in steaming rate.
        Based on its review of the gaseous waste management system, the 
    staff concluded that the effect on the environment of operating the 
    gaseous radiological waste stream at uprated power is not significant.
        The licensee has evaluated the effects of the power rerate on in-
    plant radiation levels in the Peach Bottom 2 and 3 facility during 
    normal conditions. The radiation levels during periods of normal 
    operation and post-operation are expected to increase by no more than 
    the percentage increase in power level. However, because many areas of 
    the plant were designed for higher than expected radiation sources, the 
    small increase in radiation levels expected due to power rerate will 
    not affect radiation zoning or shielding in the plant.
        During periods of normal and post-operation conditions, individual 
    worker exposures will be maintained within acceptable limits by the 
    existing ``as-low-as-reasonably-achievable'' (ALARA) program, which 
    controls access to radiation areas. The ALARA program at Peach Bottom 
    has been instrumental in the lowering of annual collective doses at the 
    plant over the past several years. Since 1985, the three-year average 
    dose at Peach Bottom 2 and 3 has decreased by approximately 70 percent.
        The licensee stated that the original accident radiological 
    consequence analyses could not be exactly reconstituted and, therefore, 
    the reconstituted analyses were performed using methodology described 
    in the updated final safety analysis report (UFSAR) with the original 
    licensing basis assumptions at 3528 MWt (102 percent of the uprated 
    power level). The licensee's reconstituted analyses indicate the 
    calculated offsite radiological consequence doses are within the dose 
    reference values given in 10 CFR Part 100 and also meet the control 
    room operator dose limit given in 10 CFR 50, Appendix A, General Design 
    Criteria (GDC) 19.
        In the Peach Bottom operating license safety evaluation report 
    issued in August 1972 (Safety Evaluation of the Peach Bottom Atomic 
    Power Station Units 2 & 3, Docket Nos: 50-277, 50-278'' issued by the 
    Atomic Energy Commission, dated August 11, 1972), the staff performed 
    an independent radiological consequence analyses at 3440 MWt (105 
    percent of current power level). The staff believes that, in general, 
    offsite and control room operator doses will increase proportionally to 
    the increase in power level. Therefore, the staff did not recalculate 
    the offsite and control room operator doses resulting from a postulated 
    design basis loss of coolant accident (which is the controlling design 
    basis accident (DBA)). Instead, the staff proportionally increased the 
    doses based on power levels using the same licensing basis assumptions 
    used in 1972 and compared them with the licensee's reconstituted 
    calculation (See Table 1 below). Neither the staff nor the licensee 
    included radiation doses resulting from (1) main steam line isolation 
    valve leakages and (2) SGTS fission-product bypass during the reactor 
    building pressure drawdown time following a DBA, since they were not 
    included in the original licensing basis assumptions.
    
                                     Table 1                                
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
         EABthyroid whole body(rem)           LPZthyroid whole body(rem)    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SER3440 MWt14.01...................  1053(note 1)                       
    3528 MWt14.41......................  1083(note 2)                       
    UFSAR 3440MWt12.5 0.4..............  2011.3                             
    3528 MWt14.8 0.6...................  2393.9                             
    Part 100 Limits300 25..............  30025                              
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        Note 1  Safety Evaluation for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station 
    Units 2 and 3 (August 1972)
    
        Note 2  Uprated based on power ratio
    
        Based on a review of the licensee's major assumptions and 
    methodology used in their reconstituted dose calculations and the 
    staff's original safety evaluation, the staff finds that the offsite 
    radiological consequences and control room operator doses at uprated 
    3528 MWt still remain below 10 CFR Part 100 dose reference values and 
    GDC 19 dose limit and the increase in radiological consequences is very 
    minor.
        It is expected that the increased energy requirements associated 
    with operation at uprated power will require an increase in the reload 
    fuel enrichment and will result in increased burnup. The NRC previously 
    evaluated the environmental impacts associated with burnup values of up 
    to 60,000 MWd/MT with fuel enrichments up to 5% 235U (published in 
    the Federal Register, 53 FR 6040 dated February 29, 1988). The staff 
    concluded that the environmental impacts associated with Table S-3 of 
    10 CFR 51.51, ``Uranium Fuel Cycle Environmental Data,'' and Table S-4 
    of 10 CFR 51.52, ``Environmental Effects of Transportation of Fuel and 
    Waste,'' are conservative and bound the corresponding impacts for 
    burnup levels of up to 60,000 MWd/MtU and 235U enrichments up to 5 
    percent by weight. In the September 30, 1994 submittal, the licensee 
    indicated that while fuel burnup and enrichment levels may increase as 
    a result of operation at uprated power, the burnup and enrichment will 
    remain within the 5% enrichment and 60,000 MWd/MT value previously 
    evaluated by the staff. Based on the above cited environmental 
    assessment and the licensee's statements regarding expected burnup and 
    enrichment values, the staff concludes that the environmental effects 
    of increased fuel cycle and transportation activity as a result of 
    operation at uprated power levels are not significant.
        The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's re-evaluation of the 
    potential radiological and non-radiological environmental impacts for 
    the proposed action. On the basis of the review described above, the 
    NRC staff finds that the radiological and non-radiological 
    environmental impacts associated with the proposed small increase in 
    power are very small and do not change the conclusion in the FES that 
    the operation of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, 
    would cause no significant adverse impact upon the quality of the human 
    environment.
        Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action 
    would result in no significant radiological or non-radiological 
    environmental impact.
    
    Alternatives to the Proposed Action
    
        Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
    environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any 
    alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
    evaluated.
        The principal alternative to the action would be to deny the 
    request. Such action would not significantly reduce the environmental 
    impact of plant operation but would restrict operation of Peach Bottom 
    Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 to the currently licensed power 
    level and prevent the facility from generating the additional 60 MWe 
    that is obtainable from the existing plant design.
    
    Alternative Use of Resources
    
        This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
    previously considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement related to 
    the operation of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3,'' 
    dated April 1973.
    
    Agencies and Persons Consulted
    
        The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's request and consulted 
    with the Bureau of Radiation Protection, Pennsylvania Department of 
    Environmental Resources, regarding the environmental impact of the 
    proposed action. The State official had no comments regarding NRC's 
    proposed action.
    
    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 the 
    proposed action.
        For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
    licensee's letter dated June 23, 1993, as supplemented by letters dated 
    April 5, May 2, June 6, June 8, June 29, July 6 (two letters), July 7, 
    July 20, July 28 (two letters), September 16, 1994 and September 30, 
    1994, which are available for public inspection at the Commission's 
    Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., 
    Washington, DC 20555, and at the local public document room located at 
    the State Library of Pennsylvania, Government Publications Section, 
    (REGIONAL DEPOSITORY) Education Building, Walnut Street and 
    Commonwealth Avenue, Box 1601, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.
    
        Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of October 1994.
    
        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    John Stolz,
    Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
    Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 94-25590 Filed 10-14-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/17/1994
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Document Number:
94-25590
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: October 17, 1994