[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 241 (Wednesday, December 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 69331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33255]
[[Page 69331]]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-259, 50-260 and 50-296]
Tennessee Valley Authority; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1,
2 and 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, or the Commission) is
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License Nos.
DPR-33, DPR-52 and DPR-68 issued to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA
or the licensee) for operation of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (BFN)
Units 1, 2 and 3, located in Limestone County, Alabama.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action is in response to the licensee's application
dated February 20, 1998, for exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR
50.71(e)(4) regarding submission of revisions to the Updated Final
Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) and design-change reports for facility
changes made under 10 CFR 50.59 for the BFN units. Under the proposed
exemption, the licensee would schedule updates to the single, unified
FSAR for the three BFN units within 6 months following Unit 2 refueling
outages.
The Need for the Proposed Action
10 CFR 50.71(e)(4) requires licensees to submit updates to their
UFSAR within 6 months after each refueling outage provided that the
interval between successive updates does not exceed 24 months. Since
the BFN Units 1, 2, and 3 share a common UFSAR, the licensee must
update the same document within 6 months after a refueling outage for
each of the three units. Allowing the exemption would maintain the
UFSAR current within 24 months of the last revision.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
No changes are being made in the types or amounts of any
radiological effluent that may be released off site. There is no
significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative
occupational radiation exposure. The Commission concludes that granting
the proposed exemption would result in no significant radiological
environmental impact.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
exemption does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no
other environmental impact. The Commission concludes that there are no
significant non-radiological impacts associated with the proposed
exemption.
Alternative to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action (no alternative action). Denial of the
exemption would result in no change in current environmental impacts.
The environmental impacts of the proposed exemption and this
alternative are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement dated
September 1, 1972 for BFN Units 1, 2 and 3.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 20, 1998, the NRC
staff consulted with the Alabama State official, Mr. Kirk Whatley of
the State Office of Radiation Control, regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
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 this action, see the
application for exemption dated February 20, 1998, which is available
for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the
Gelman Building, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC and at the local
public document room located at the Athens Public Library, 405 E. South
Street, Athens, Alabama.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of December 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Frederick J. Hebdon,
Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-33255 Filed 12-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
