[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70073-70076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32492]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-410]
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation; Nine Mile Point Nuclear
Station, Unit No. 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering the issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License
No. NPF-69 issued to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (the licensee),
for operation of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2 (NMP2),
located in Oswego County, New York.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed amendment will revise the existing, or current,
Technical Specifications (CTS) for NMP2 in their entirety based on the
guidance provided in NUREG-1433 and NUREG-1434, ``Standard Technical
Specifications for General Electric Plants, BWR/4 and BWR/6,'' Revision
1, dated April 1995, and in the Commission's ``Final Policy Statement
on Technical Specifications Improvements for Nuclear Power Reactors,''
published on July 22, 1993 (58 FR 39132). The proposed amendment is in
accordance with the licensee's amendment request dated October 16,
1998, as supplemented by letters dated December 30, 1998; and May 10,
June 15, July 30, August 11, 16, 19, 27, and September 10, 1999.
The Need for the Proposed Action
It has been recognized that nuclear safety in all nuclear power
plants would benefit from an improvement and standardization of plant
Technical Specifications (TS). The ``NRC Interim Policy Statement on
Technical Specification Improvements for Nuclear Power Plants,'' (52 FR
3788) contained proposed criteria for defining the scope of TS. Later,
the Commission's ``Final Policy Statement on Technical Specifications
Improvements for Nuclear Power Reactors,'' published on July 22, 1993
(58 FR 39132), incorporated lessons learned since publication of the
interim policy statement and formed the basis for revisions to 10 CFR
50.36, ``Technical Specifications.'' The ``Final Rule'' (60 FR 36953)
codified criteria for determining the content of TS. To facilitate the
development of standard TS for nuclear power reactors, each power
reactor vendor owners' group (OG) and the NRC staff developed standard
TS. For NMP2, the Improved Standard Technical Specifications (ISTS) are
in NUREG-1433 and NUREG-1434, Revision 1. These documents formed part
of the basis for the NMP2 Improved Technical Specifications (ITS)
conversion. The NRC Committee to Review Generic Requirements (CRGR)
reviewed the ISTS, made note of its safety merits, and indicated its
support of the conversion by operating plants to the ISTS.
Description of the Proposed Change
The proposed changes to the CTS are based on NUREG-1433 and NUREG-
1434, Revision 1, and on guidance provided by the Commission in its
Final Policy Statement. The objective of the changes is to completely
rewrite, reformat, and streamline the CTS (i.e., to convert the CTS to
the ITS). Emphasis is placed on human factors principles to improve
clarity and understanding of the TS. The Bases section of the ITS has
been significantly expanded to clarify and better explain the purpose
and foundation of each specification. In addition to NUREG-1433 and
NUREG-1434, Revision 1, portions of the CTS were also used as the basis
for the development of the NMP2 ITS. Plant-specific issues (e.g.,
unique design features, requirements, and operating practices) were
discussed with the licensee, and generic matters were discussed with
General Electric and other OGs.
[[Page 70074]]
The proposed changes from the CTS can be grouped into the following
four categories: relocated requirements, administrative changes, less
restrictive changes involving deletion of requirements, and more
restrictive changes. These categories are as follows:
1. Relocated requirements (i.e., the licensee's LG or R changes)
are items which are in the CTS but do not meet the criteria set forth
in 10 CFR 50.36. This regulation establishes a specific set of
objective criteria for determining which regulatory requirements and
operating restrictions should be included in the TS. Relocation of
requirements to documents with an established control program,
controlled by the regulations or the TS, allows the TS to be reserved
only for those conditions or limitations upon reactor operation which
are necessary to obviate the possibility of an abnormal situation or
event giving rise to an immediate threat to public health and safety,
thereby focusing the scope of the TS. In general, the proposed
relocation of items from the CTS to the Updated Safety Analysis Report
(USAR), appropriate plant-specific programs, plant procedures, or ITS
Bases follows the guidance of NUREG-1433 and NUREG-1434, Revision 1.
Once these items have been relocated to other licensee-controlled
documents, the licensee may revise them under the provisions of 10 CFR
50.59 or other NRC-approved control mechanisms, which provide
appropriate procedural means to control changes by the licensee.
2. Administrative changes (i.e., the licensee's A changes) involve
the reformatting and rewording of requirements, consistent with the
style of the ISTS in NUREG-1433 and NUREG-1434, Revision 1, to make the
TS more readily understandable to plant operators and other users.
These changes are purely editorial in nature, or involve the movement
or reformatting of requirements without affecting the technical
content. Application of a standardized format and style will also help
ensure consistency is achieved among specifications in the TS. These
changes involve reformatting and rewording; no technical changes
(either actual or interpretational) to the TS will be made with respect
to these changes.
3. Less restrictive changes and the deletion of requirements
involve portions of the CTS (i.e., the licensee's LS and TR changes)
which (1) provide information that is descriptive in nature regarding
the equipment, systems, actions, or surveillances, (2) provide little
or no safety benefit, and (3) place an unnecessary burden on the
licensee. This information is proposed to be deleted from the CTS and,
in some instances, moved to the proposed Bases, USAR, or procedures.
The removal of descriptive information to the Bases of the TS, USAR, or
procedures is permissible because these documents will be controlled
through a process that utilizes 10 CFR 50.59 and other NRC-approved
control mechanisms. The relaxations of requirements were the result of
generic NRC actions or other analyses. They will be justified on a
case-by-case basis for NMP2 and described in the safety evaluation to
be issued with the license amendment.
4. More restrictive requirements (i.e., the licensee's M changes)
are proposed to be implemented in some areas to impose more stringent
requirements than are in the CTS. In some cases, these more restrictive
requirements are being imposed to be consistent with the ISTS. Such
changes have been made after ensuring the previously evaluated safety
analysis for NMP2 was not affected. Also, other more restrictive
technical changes have been made to achieve consistency, correct
discrepancies, and remove ambiguities from the TS. Examples of more
restrictive requirements include: placing a limiting condition for
operation (LCO) on plant equipment which is not required by the CTS to
be operable; more restrictive requirements to restore inoperable
equipment; and more restrictive surveillance requirements.
There are other proposed changes to the CTS that may be included in
the proposed amendment to convert the CTS to the ITS. These are beyond-
scope changes (changes that are not consistent with the CTS and/or
NUREG-1433 and NUREG-1434, Revision 1) in that they are changes to both
the CTS and the ISTS. For the NMP2, these are the following:
1. ITS 3.1.8, changing the Scram Discharge Volume Vent and Drain
Valve ACTIONS to allow continued operation with one valve in a line
inoperable by isolating the penetration within 7 days (ACTION A) and to
allow continued operation with two valves in a line inoperable by
isolating the penetration within 8 hours (ACTION B). The ISTS requires
the valves(s) to be restored to Operable status within 7 days.
2. ITS 3.3.1.1, ITS 3.3.6.1, ITS 3.5.1, and ITS 3.5.2, adding a
Note to the Reactor Protection System (RPS) (Functions 3 and 4) and
Isolation (Main Steam Line Isolation Valve (MSIV) Functions)
Instrumentation Specifications exempting the sensors from response time
testing and a Note to the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS)--
Operating and--Shutdown Specifications exempting the instrumentation
from response time testing.
3. ITS 3.3.2.2, allowing the feedwater pump to be removed from
service in lieu of shutting down the unit to <25 percent="" rated="" thermal="" power="" (rtp)="" when="" the="" feedwater="" and="" main="" turbine="" high="" water="" level="" channels="" are="" inoperable="" and="" untripped.="" 4.="" its="" 3.3.3.1,="" its="" 3.3.3.2,="" its="" 3.3.8.2,="" its="" 3.3.8.3="" and="" its="" 3.4.7,="" adding="" a="" note="" to="" allow="" 6="" hours="" to="" do="" surveillance="" testing="" of="" the="" post="" accident="" monitoring,="" remote="" shutdown="" system,="" rps="" logic="" bus="" electrical="" power="" monitoring="" assemblies="" (epas),="" rps="" scram="" solenoid="" bus="" epas="" and="" leak="" detection="" system,="" instrumentation="" channels="" prior="" to="" entering="" actions.="" 5.="" its="" 3.3.4.2,="" adding="" an="" allowance="" to="" only="" remove="" the="" associated="" anticipated="" transient="" without="" scram="" (atws)-recirculation="" pump="" trip="" (rpt)="" breaker="" (fast="" speed="" or="" slow="" speed,="" as="" applicable)="" from="" service,="" in="" lieu="" of="" removing="" the="" entire="" pump="" from="" service.="" 6.="" its="" 3.3.5.1,="" its="" 3.3.8.1,="" its="" 3.3.8.2="" and="" its="" 3.3.8.3,="" changing="" the="" allowable="" values="" for="" (a)="" the="" low-pressure="" cooling="" injection="" (lpci)="" and="" high-pressure="" core="" spray="" (hpcs)="" minimum="" flow="" valves="" instrumentation;="" (b)="" the="" hpcs="" suppression="" pool="" water="" level="" swap="" over="" instrumentation;="" (c)="" the="" loss="" of="" voltage="" and="" degraded="" voltage="" functions,="" including="" time="" delays;="" (d)="" the="" undervoltage,="" overvoltage,="" and="" underfrequency="" functions="" for="" the="" rps="" logic="" bus="" epas;="" and="" (e)="" the="" undervoltage,="" overvoltage,="" and="" underfrequency="" functions="" for="" the="" rps="" scram="" solonoid="" bus="" epas.="" 7.="" its="" 3.3.6.1,="" deleting="" the="" mode="" 1="" and="" 2="" requirements="" for="" certain="" shutdown="" cooling="" isolation="" functions="" (residual="" heat="" removal="" (rhr)="" equipment="" area="" temperature,="" reactor="" building="" pipe="" chase="" temperature,="" reactor="" building="" temperature,="" and="" reactor="" vessel="" water="" level--low,="" level="" 3.)="" 8.="" its="" 3.3.8.1="" and="" its="" 3.3.5.1,="" deleting="" the="" group="" 4="" valves="" from="" isolation="" instrumentation="" requirements.="" 9.="" its="" 3.3.8.1,="" changing="" the="" requirement="" to="" only="" requiring="" 2="" channels="" of="" degraded="" voltage="" and="" loss="" of="" voltage="" in="" lieu="" of="" three="" channels.="" 10.="" its="" sr="" 3.4.1.1="" requiring="" verification="" every="" 12="" hours="" that="" operation="" is="" in="" the="" ``unrestricted="" zone''="" of="" its="" figure="" 3.4.1-1.="" 11.="" its="" 3.4.1,="" changing="" from="" 2="" hours="" to="" 8="" hours,="" the="" frequency="" for="" determining="" the="" average="" power="" range="" monitors="" (aprm)="" and="" low="" power="" range="" monitors="" (lprm)="" baseline="" noise="" level="" the="" first="" time="" the="" unit="" is="" in="" the="" restricted="" zone.="" [[page="" 70075]]="" 12.="" its="" 3.4.5,="" changing="" the="" frequency="" for="" monitoring="" the="" floor="" drain="" leakage="" rate="" from="" 8="" hours="" to="" 12="" hours,="" and="" changing="" the="" airborne="" radioactivity="" monitoring="" surveillance="" to="" be="" every="" 8="" hours.="" 13.="" its="" 3.5.1,="" changing="" the="" current="" number="" of="" automatic="" depression="" system="" (ads)="" valves="" required="" to="" operate="" from="" seven="" to="" six.="" 14.="" its="" 3.5.1,="" modifying="" the="" current="" requirement="" of="" manually="" opening="" the="" ads="" valves="" to="" only="" require="" the="" ads="" actuators="" to="" be="" cycled.="" 15.="" its="" 3.6.1.3,="" changing="" the="" current="" requirement="" that="" each="" excess="" flow="" check="" valve="" (efcv)="" must="" ``check="" flow''="" to="" requiring="" each="" efcv="" to="" actuate="" to="" its="" isolation="" position="" on="" an="" actual="" or="" simulated="" instrument="" line="" break="" signal.="" 16.="" its="" 3.6.1.3,="" changing="" the="" evolution="" to="" suspend="" the="" purging="" and="" venting="" lco="" actions="" to="" within="" 1="" hour,="" when="" standby="" gas="" treatment="" (sgt)="" subsystem(s)="" are="" inoperable.="" 17.="" its="" 3.6.1.6,="" its="" 3.6.2.3="" and="" its="" 3.5.2.4,="" deleting="" the="" current="" requirements="" to="" verify="" position="" of="" ``automatic''="" valves="" in="" the="" rhr="" drywell="" spray,="" rhr="" suppression="" cooling,="" and="" rhr="" suppression="" pool="" spray="" systems.="" 18.="" its="" 3.6.1.6="" and="" its="" 3.6.2.4,="" deleting="" the="" current="" requirement="" that="" drywell="" spray="" and="" suppression="" pool="" spray="" flows="" be="" through="" the="" heat="" exchanger.="" 19.="" its="" 3.7.2="" and="" its="" 3.7.3,="" allowing="" a="" 7-day="" restoration="" time="" when="" both="" control="" room="" envelope="" filtration="" (cref)="" subsystems="" are="" inoperable="" and="" a="" 30-day="" restoration="" time="" when="" both="" control="" room="" envelope="" alternating="" current="" (ac)="" subsystems="" are="" inoperable,="" provided="" the="" remaining="" components="" of="" the="" cref="" system="" or="" control="" room="" envelope="" ac="" system="" maintains="" the="" cref="" system="" or="" control="" room="" envelope="" ac="" system="" safety="" function,="" as="" applicable.="" 20.="" its="" 3.8.1,="" its="" 3.8.2,="" and="" its="" 3.8.3,="" changing="" ac="" sources--="" operating,="" ac="" sources--shutdown="" and="" diesel="" fuel="" oil,="" lube="" oil,="" and="" starting="" air="" specifications="" to="" include:="" (a)="" more="" restrictive="" upper="" and="" lower="" voltage="" limits="" for="" various="" diesel="" generator="" (dg)="" surveillances;="" (b)="" increasing="" the="" killowatt="" (kw)="" value="" for="" the="" single="" largest="" load="" surveillance="" requirement="" (sr)="" for="" the="" division="" 3="" dg;="" (c)="" relaxing="" the="" load="" range="" values="" for="" the="" 24-hour="" dg="" run="" to="" be="" consistent="" with="" regulatory="" guide="" (rg)="" 1.9="" revision="" 3="" (ists="" bases="" says="" 100="" percent="" for="" 22="" hours="" and="" 110="" percent="" for="" 2="" hours="" is="" consistent="" with="" rg="" 1.9="" reference="" 3,="" which="" is="" not="" accurate);="" (d)="" increasing="" the="" dg="" start="" time="" in="" the="" event="" of="" a="" loss="" of="" voltage="" signal="" from="" 13="" seconds="" to="" 13.12="" seconds;="" (e)="" adding="" a="" note="" which="" exempts="" surveillances="" pertaining="" to="" a="" dg="" starting="" on="" a="" loss-of-coolant="" accident="" (loca)="" signal="" and="" a="" loca/loss="" of="" offsite="" power="" (loop)="" signal="" while="" in="" modes="" 4="" and="" 5="" and="" during="" handling="" of="" irradiated="" fuel="" in="" the="" secondary="" containment="" when="" the="" eccs="" subsystems="" are="" not="" required="" to="" be="" operable;="" and="" (f)="" increasing="" the="" fuel="" oil="" storage="" tank="" limits="" for="" the="" division="" 1="" and="" 2="" dgs="" as="" well="" as="" the="" 6-="" day="" limits="" for="" all="" three="" dgs.="" 21.="" its="" 3.8.4,="" changing="" the="" dc="" sources--operating="" specification="" by:="" (a)="" revising="" the="" battery="" load="" profile="" to="" be="" consistent="" with="" the="" load="" profile="" specified="" in="" the="" usar;="" and="" (b)="" adding="" an="" allowance="" to="" perform="" a="" modified="" performance="" discharge="" test="" every="" cycle="" in="" lieu="" of="" a="" service="" test.="" 22.="" its="" 3.8.7,="" requiring="" that="" the="" inverters="" be="" capable="" of="" being="" powered="" from="" an="" uninterruptible="" power="" supply="" (direct="" current="" (dc)="" source).="" currently,="" this="" is="" not="" required;="" this="" is="" a="" more="" restrictive="" change.="" 23.="" its="" 3.3.8.3,="" specifying="" an="" allowable="" value="" in="" the="" its="" for="" the="" time="" delay="" setting="" of="" the="" rps="" epa--solenoid="" instrumentation.="" 24.="" its="" 3.3.8.1,="" deleting="" a="" requirement="" in="" the="" ists="" for="" performing="" a="" channel="" check="" on="" undervoltage="" relays;="" the="" status="" of="" relays="" are="" continuously="" monitored.="" 25.="" its="" 3.3.8.2,="" specifying="" allowances="" in="" allowable="" values="" for="" the="" time="" delay="" settings="" of="" the="" rps="" epa="" logic="" instrumentation.="" 26.="" its="" 3.3.4.2,="" adding="" additional="" verification="" of="" atws="" trip="" function="" bypass="" and="" time="" delays.="" 27.="" its="" 3.3.8.1,="" the="" sts="" allows="" a="" 2-hour="" delay="" from="" entering="" into="" the="" associated="" conditions="" and="" required="" actions="" for="" a="" channel="" placed="" in="" an="" inoperable="" status="" solely="" for="" the="" performance="" of="" required="" surveillances,="" provided="" the="" associated="" function="" maintains="" dg="" initiation="" capability.="" this="" is="" changed="" in="" the="" its="" ``provided="" the="" associated="" function="" maintains="" ``lop''="" [loss="" of="" power]="" initiation="" capability.''="" 28.="" its="" 5.5.9.1.a,="" adding="" ``specific="" gravity''="" to="" the="" acceptability="" of="" new="" fuel="" oil="" before="" adding="" to="" the="" dg="" fuel="" tanks.="" 29.="" its="" sr="" 3.6.3.1.2,="" adding="" a="" description="" of="" an="" additional="" requirement="" in="" the="" bases="" sr="" 3.6.3.1.2="" regarding="" when="" to="" perform="" the="" surveillance="" (``within="" 30="" minutes="" following="" heatup="" of="" the="" system="" to="" normal="" operating="" temperature.'')="" 30.="" its="" sr="" 3.3.1.1.16,="" modifying="" the="" response="" time="" testing="" requirement="" for="" function="" 9,="" turbine="" control="" valve="" fast="" closure,="" trip="" oil="" pressure--low="" by="" stating="" that="" the="" response="" time="" is="" measured="" from="" the="" start="" of="" the="" control="" valve="" fast="" closure,="" not="" when="" the="" sensor="" (oil="" pressure="" sensor)="" exceeds="" its="" setpoint.="" 31.="" its="" 3.3.5.1,="" specifying="" an="" ads="" pressure="" setpoint="" of="" 150="" psig,="" implementing="" topical="" report="" nedc-32291,="" and="" making="" other="" changes="" associated="" with="" moving="" group="" 4="" isolation="" valves="" into="" the="" eccs="" ts="" in="" the="" its.="" 32.="" its="" 3.3.5.1,="" table="" 3.3.5.1-1,="" specifying="" an="" ads="" pressure="" setpoint="" for="" low-pressure="" core="" spray="" (lpcs)="" pump="" discharge="" pressure--="" high="" to="" be="" 150="" psig="" based="" on="" implementation="" of="" topical="" report="" nedc-="" 32291.="" 33.="" its="" 3.3.2.1,="" deleting="" operational="" details="" in="" cts="" table="" 3.3.6-2="" (control="" rod="" block="" instrumentation="" set="" points)="" not="" required="" to="" be="" ts,="" and="" providing="" allowable="" values="" based="" on="" nedo-2411="" which="" is="" not="" referenced="" in="" the="" ists.="" 34.="" its="" 3.3.6.1,="" deleting="" the="" reactor="" core="" isolation="" cooling="" (rcic)="" drywell="" pressure="" high="" isolation="" functions,="" providing="" new="" rcic/rhr="" steam="" flow="" timer="" and="" sgt="" exhaust="" radiation="" high="" isolation="" functional="" allowable="" values,="" and="" deleting="" the="" main="" steam="" line="" (msl)="" radiation="" high="" isolation="" function.="" 35.="" its="" 3.6.1.2,="" changing="" the="" requirement="" to="" verify="" that="" the="" air="" lock="" door="" seal="" leakage="" rate="" is="" within="" limit="" from="" ``once="" per="" 7="" days''="" to="" ``once="" in="" 30="" days.''="" 36.="" its="" 3.6.1.7,="" adding="" a="" note="" to="" allow="" a="" separate="" condition="" entry="" for="" each="" suppression="" chamber-to-drywell="" vacuum="" breaker.="" 37.="" its="" 3.6.1.7,="" changing="" the="" action="" statement="" into="" two="" action="" statements:="" its="" 3.6.1.7="" action="" b="" addresses="" the="" closing="" of="" the="" open="" vacuum="" breaker="" within="" 72="" hours,="" while="" its="" 3.6.1.7="" action="" c="" addresses="" the="" verification/closing="" of="" the="" other="" vacuum="" breaker="" in="" the="" line="" within="" 2="" hours.="" however,="" both="" its="" 3.6.1.7="" conditions="" b="" and="" c="" have="" been="" modified="" such="" that="" the="" words="" ``one="" or="" more="" lines="" with''="" have="" been="" added.="" 38.="" its="" 3.4.4,="" increasing="" the="" lift="" setpoint="" tolerance="" for="" the="" safety/relief="" valves="" to="" 3="" percent.="" 39.="" its="" 3.3.1.1,="" deleting="" the="" msl="" radiation="" monitor="" reactor="" trip="" requirement="" and="" surveillance="" requirement="" based="" on="" the="" application="" of="" nedo-31400a.="" 40.="" its="" 3.7.2,="" sr="" 3.7.2.1,="" deleting="" the="" staggered="" testing="" requirement="" for="" the="" cref="" subsystem.="" 41.="" its="" 3.3.1.2,="" adding="" a="" note="" to="" its="" sr="" 3.3.1.2.5="" that="" defers="" determination="" of="" the="" signal-to-noise="" ratio="" in="" mode="" 5="" if="" less="" than="" or="" equal="" to="" four="" fuel="" assemblies="" are="" adjacent="" to="" the="" source="" range="" monitors="" (srm)="" and="" no="" fuel="" is="" in="" the="" quadrant.="" 42.="" its="" 3.3.1.2,="" changing="" the="" sts="" action="" to="" ``initiate="" action="" to="" insert="" all="" [[page="" 70076]]="" insertable="" control="" rods="" *="" *="" *''="" to="" ``initiate="" action="" to="" ``fully''="" insert="" all="" insertable="" control="" rods="" *="" *="" *''="" 43.="" its="" 3.3.5.1,="" its="" table="" 3.3.5.1-1,="" changing="" footnote="" (a)="" from="" the="" sts="" to="" include="" a="" citation="" of="" lco="" 3.5.2="" which="" amplifies="" the="" eccs="" equipment="" instrumentation="" requirements.="" 44.="" its="" 5.5.2.b,="" adding="" a="" note="" that="" the="" provisions="" of="" sr="" 3.0.2="" apply="" to="" integrated="" leak="" tests="" at="" 24="" months.="" 45.="" its="" 3.8.8,="" incorporating="" changes="" to="" condition="" a,="" b="" and="" c="" of="" the="" sts="" applicable="" to="" ``one="" or="" more''="" divisions="" and="" to="" ``one="" or="" both.''="" 46.="" its="" 3.6.4.1,="" incorporating="" wording="" changes="" that="" alter="" the="" meaning="" of="" containment="" operability="" with="" respect="" to="" meeting="" surveillance="" requirements="" which="" relates="" to="" whether="" the="" inoperability="" of="" the="" standby="" gas="" treatment="" system="" constitutes="" a="" failure="" of="" the="" surveillance="" of="" the="" secondary="" containment="" integrity="" test.="" environmental="" impacts="" of="" the="" proposed="" action="" the="" commission="" has="" completed="" its="" evaluation="" of="" the="" proposed="" conversion="" of="" the="" cts="" to="" the="" its="" for="" nmp2,="" including="" the="" beyond-scope="" issues="" discussed="" above.="" changes="" which="" are="" administrative="" in="" nature="" have="" been="" found="" to="" have="" no="" effect="" on="" the="" technical="" content="" of="" the="" ts.="" the="" increased="" clarity="" and="" understanding="" these="" changes="" bring="" to="" the="" ts="" are="" expected="" to="" improve="" the="" operators'="" control="" of="" nmp2="" in="" normal="" and="" accident="" conditions.="" relocation="" of="" requirements="" from="" the="" cts="" to="" other="" licensee-="" controlled="" documents="" does="" not="" change="" the="" requirements="" themselves.="" future="" changes="" to="" these="" requirements="" may="" then="" be="" made="" by="" the="" licensee="" under="" 10="" cfr="" 50.59="" and="" other="" nrc-approved="" control="" mechanisms="" which="" will="" ensure="" continued="" maintenance="" of="" adequate="" requirements.="" all="" such="" relocations="" have="" been="" found="" to="" be="" consistent="" with="" the="" guidelines="" of="" nureg-1433="" and="" nureg-1434="" and="" 10="" cfr="" 50.36="" does="" not="" require="" that="" the="" requirements="" be="" included="" in="" the="" ts.="" changes="" involving="" more="" restrictive="" requirements="" have="" been="" found="" to="" enhance="" plant="" safety.="" changes="" involving="" less="" restrictive="" requirements="" have="" also="" been="" reviewed.="" when="" requirements="" have="" been="" shown="" to="" provide="" little="" or="" no="" safety="" benefit,="" or="" to="" place="" an="" unnecessary="" burden="" on="" the="" licensee,="" their="" removal="" from="" the="" ts="" was="" justified.="" in="" most="" cases,="" relaxations="" previously="" granted="" to="" individual="" plants="" on="" a="" plant-specific="" basis="" were="" the="" result="" of="" a="" generic="" action,="" or="" of="" agreements="" reached="" during="" discussions="" with="" the="" og,="" and="" found="" to="" be="" acceptable="" for="" the="" plant.="" generic="" relaxations="" contained="" in="" nureg-1433="" and="" nureg-1434,="" revision="" 1,="" have="" been="" reviewed="" by="" the="" nrc="" staff="" and="" found="" to="" be="" acceptable.="" in="" summary,="" the="" proposed="" revisions="" to="" the="" ts="" were="" found="" to="" provide="" control="" of="" plant="" operations="" such="" that="" reasonable="" assurance="" will="" be="" provided="" that="" the="" health="" and="" safety="" of="" the="" public="" will="" be="" adequately="" protected.="" the="" proposed="" amendment="" will="" not="" increase="" the="" probability="" or="" consequences="" of="" accidents,="" will="" not="" change="" the="" quantity="" or="" types="" of="" any="" effluent="" that="" may="" be="" released="" offsite,="" and="" will="" not="" significantly="" increase="" the="" occupational="" or="" public="" radiological="" exposure.="" also,="" these="" changes="" do="" not="" increase="" the="" licensed="" power="" and="" allowable="" effluents="" for="" the="" plant.="" the="" changes="" will="" not="" create="" any="" new="" or="" unreviewed="" environmental="" impacts="" that="" were="" not="" considered="" in="" the="" final="" environmental="" statement="" (fes)="" related="" to="" the="" operation="" of="" nmp2,="" (nureg-="" 1085,="" dated="" may="" 1985).="" therefore,="" there="" are="" no="" significant="" radiological="" impacts="" associated="" with="" the="" proposed="" amendment.="" with="" regard="" to="" potential="" non-radiological="" impacts,="" the="" proposed="" amendment="" involves="" features="" located="" entirely="" within="" the="" restricted="" area="" for="" the="" plant="" defined="" in="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 20="" and="" does="" not="" involve="" any="" historical="" sites.="" they="" do="" not="" affect="" non-radiological="" plant="" effluents="" and="" have="" no="" other="" environmental="" impact.="" they="" do="" not="" increase="" any="" discharge="" limit="" for="" the="" plant.="" therefore,="" there="" are="" no="" significant="" non-="" radiological="" environmental="" impacts="" associated="" with="" the="" proposed="" amendment.="" accordingly,="" the="" commission="" concludes="" that="" there="" are="" no="" significant="" environmental="" impacts="" associated="" with="" the="" proposed="" amendment.="" 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).="" 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="" for="" nmp2,="" dated="" may="" 1985.="" agencies="" and="" persons="" consulted="" in="" accordance="" with="" its="" stated="" policy,="" the="" staff="" consulted="" with="" the="" new="" york="" state="" official,="" jack="" spath,="" of="" the="" new="" york="" energy="" and="" research="" authority="" on="" november="" 4,="" 1999,="" regarding="" the="" environmental="" impact="" of="" the="" proposed="" amendment.="" the="" state="" official="" had="" no="" comments.="" finding="" of="" no="" significant="" impact="" on="" the="" basis="" of="" the="" environmental="" assessment,="" the="" commission="" concludes="" that="" the="" proposed="" amendment="" will="" not="" have="" a="" significant="" adverse="" 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="" application="" dated="" october="" 16,="" 1998,="" as="" supplemented="" by="" letters="" dated="" december="" 30,="" 1998;="" and="" may="" 10,="" june="" 15,="" july="" 30,="" august="" 11,="" 16,="" 19,="" 27,="" and="" september="" 10,="" 1999,="" which="" are="" available="" for="" public="" inspection="" at="" the="" commission's="" public="" document="" room,="" the="" gelman="" building,="" 2120="" l="" street,="" nw.,="" washington,="" dc.="" publically="" available="" records="" will="" be="" accessible="" electronically="" from="" the="" adams="" public="" library="" component="" on="" the="" nrc="" web="" site,="">http://www.nrc.gov (the Electronic
Reading Room).
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of December 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Alexander W. Dromerick,
Acting Chief, Section 1, Project Directorate I, Division of Licensing
Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-32492 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
