[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53814-53815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25657]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-390 and 50-391]
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment
and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering granting an exemption from certain requirements of its
regulations to Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, located in
Spring City, Tennessee. Operating licenses have not been issued for
Watts Bar; Units 1 and 2 are currently under Construction Permits CPPR-
91 and CPPR-92, respectively.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
By letter dated July 19, 1995, as supplemented by letters of July
26 and September 6, 1995, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) requested an
exemption from the ingestion pathway portion of the requirement in 10
CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Section IV.F.2(a), which states that a full-
participation exercise shall be conducted within 2 years before the
issuance of the initial operating license for full power (authorizing
operation above 5 percent of rated power) of the first reactor and
shall include participation by each State and local government within
the plume exposure pathway emergency planning zone (EPZ) and each State
within the ingestion exposure pathway EPZ. Specifically, TVA requested
relief from the requirement to include participation of each State
within the ingestion exposure pathway EPZ during the Watts Bar exercise
scheduled for November 1995, because in 1992 and 1993 the State of
Tennessee participated in full-participation exercises which included
the ingestion pathway EPZs at Sequoyah and Watts Bar, respectively. The
State of Tennessee supported TVA's request for an exemption because it
would encounter financial hardship if it has to participate.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The NRC may grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR Part
50 which, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), are (1) authorized by law, will
not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and are
consistent with the common defense and security, and (2)
[[Page 53815]]
present special circumstances. Section 50.12(a)(2) of 10 CFR Part 50
describes the special circumstances for an exemption. Special
circumstances are present when the application of the regulation in the
particular circumstances would not serve the underlying purpose of the
rule or is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule
[10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(ii)]. The underlying purpose of Appendix E, Section
IV.F.2(a) is to demonstrate the integrated capabilities of appropriate
local and State authorities and licensee personnel to adequately assess
and respond to an accident at a commercial nuclear power plant within 2
years before the issuance of the initial operating license for full
power (authorizing operation above 5 percent of rated power) of the
first reactor on a site. Special circumstances are also present when
compliance would result in undue hardship or other costs that are
significantly in excess of those contemplated when the regulation was
adopted [10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(iii)]. Additionally, special circumstances
are present when the exemption would provide only temporary relief from
the applicable regulation and the licensee or applicant has made good
faith efforts to comply with the regulation [10 CFR 50.12(a)(2)(v)].
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The applicant's request for exemption involves aspects of the
upcoming full-participation emergency exercise, but does not involve
any design or construction activity. The proposed action will not
increase the probability or consequences of accidents, makes no changes
in the types of any effluents that may be released offsite, and does
not increase the allowable individual or cumulative occupational
radiation exposure. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any activity that results in release of any
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed
action.
Alternative 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. As an alternative to the proposed action, the Commission
considered denial of the proposed action. Denial of the 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 Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement and
Supplement 1 related to operation of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, dated
December 1978 and April 1995, respectively.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with
the Tennessee State official regarding the environmental impact of the
proposed action. The State official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon the foregoing 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 this action, see the request
for exemption dated July 26, 1995, which is available for public
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street NW.,
Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Library, 1101 Broad Street, Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of October 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Peter S. Tam,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-25657 Filed 10-16-95; 8:45 am]
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