[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 232 (Monday, December 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64004-64006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30899]
[[Page 64003]]
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Part IX
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
_______________________________________________________________________
Power Authority of the State of New York
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James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant, Environmental Assessment and
Finding of no Significant Impact
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 232 / Monday, December 2, 1996 /
Notice
[[Page 64004]]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-333]
Power Authority of the State of New York, James A. Fitzpatrick
Nuclear Power Plant, 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 No.
DPR-59, issued to Power Authority of the State of New York (the
licensee), for operation of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power
Plant (JAFNPP), located in Oswego County, New York.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action: This Environmental
Assessment has been prepared to address potential environmental issues
related to the licensee's application to amend the JAFNPP operating
license dated June 12, 1992, as supplemented by letters dated September
17, 1992, March 17, 1993, August 17, 1993, August 18, 1993, December
29, 1993, June 29, 1995, August 15, 1996, October 3, 1996, and October
23, 1996. The proposed amendment would increase the licensed core
thermal power from 2436 MWt to 2536 MWt, which represents an
approximate increase of 4.1% thermal power over the current licensed
power level. This request is in accordance with the generic boiling
water reactor (BWR) power uprate program established by the General
Electric Company (GE) (Reference 1) and approved by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff in a letter from W. Russell, NRC, to
P. Marriotte, GE, dated September 30, 1991 (Reference 2).
Implementation of the proposed power uprate at JAFNPP will result in a
4.8% increase in rated steam flow. New fuel designs are not needed for
power uprate. New fuel designs may be used to provide additional
operating flexibility and maintain fuel cycle length. The higher power
level will be achieved by extending the power/flow map by increasing
core flow along existing flow control lines. The maximum recirculation
flow limit will not be increased. Uprated operation will involve a
slightly higher reactor vessel dome pressure. Implementation of this
proposed power uprate will require minor modifications, such as,
resetting of the low set safety relief setpoints, as well as the
calibration of plant instrumentation to reflect the uprated power.
Plant operating, emergency, and other procedure changes will be made
where necessary to support uprated operation.
The proposed action involves NRC issuance of a license amendment to
uprate the authorized power level by changing the operating license,
including Appendix A of the license (Technical Specifications).
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to allow the licensee to increase the
potential electrical output of JAFNPP by approximately 32 megawatts-
electric. The power uprate program at JAFNPP would provide additional
electric power to service domestic and commercial areas of the
licensee's grid. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action:
The ``Final Environmental Statement (FES) related to operation of
FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant'' issued in March 1973 (Reference 4)
assumed a maximum power level of 2550 MWt in it's analyses. By letter
dated June 12, 1992, the licensee submitted the proposed amendment to
implement power uprate for JAFNPP, which is the subject of this
environmental assessment the uprated power level would be 2536 MWt. The
uprated power level would be within the bounding analysis of the FES.
Section 11.3 of the JAFNPP power uprate licensing topical report (GE
report NEDC-32016P, Revision 1,) which was submitted on August 18,
1993, provided an environmental assessment of the proposed power
uprate. Some environmental effects will remain the same, while power
uprate may nominally increase others. Actual effects are at worst
proportional to the approximately 4.8% increase of original steam flow.
The licensee provided information regarding the nonradiological and
radiological environmental effects of the proposed action in the
licensee's application to amend the JAFNPP operating license dated June
12, 1992, as supplemented by letters dated September 17, 1992, March
17, 1993, August 17, 1993, August 18, 1993, December 29, 1993, June 29,
1995, August 15, 1996 October 3, 1996, and October 23, 1996.
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that there are no significant radiological or non-
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed
amendment. A summary of the nonradiological and radiological effects on
the environment that may result from the proposed amendments is
provided below. Nonradiological 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 evaluation is based upon information provided
by the licensee in an April 1993 GE licensing topical report supporting
the JAFNPP power uprate.
The nonradiological environmental effects of the uprate will be
controlled at the same levels as for the original analysis except for a
small (<5%) heat="" addition="" to="" lake="" ontario.="" all="" other="" limits="" for="" the="" plant="" environmental="" releases,="" such="" as="" maximum="" lake="" return="" temperature,="" lake="" water="" maximum="" change="" in="" temperature,="" and="" plant="" vent="" radiological="" limits="" will="" not="" be="" increased="" or="" exceeded="" as="" a="" consequence="" of="" uprate.="" nypa="" was="" notified="" by="" the="" new="" york="" state="" department="" of="" environmental="" conservation,="" by="" letter="" dated="" december="" 1,="" 1995,="" that="" the="" state="" pollutant="" discharge="" elimination="" system="" permit="" for="" the="" facility="" was="" modified="" to="" allow="" a="" net="" heat="" addition="" of="" 6.00x109="" btu/hr="" to="" lake="" ontario.="" this="" change="" will="" eliminate="" the="" need="" to="" reduce="" power="" during="" uprate="" operations="" during="" periods="" of="" high="" lake="" temperature.="" the="" vast="" majority="" of="" the="" time="" fitzpatrick="" can="" be="" operated="" at="" full="" uprated="" power="" and="" remain="" within="" pre-uprate="" limits.="" therefore,="" the="" environmental="" impact="" of="" power="" uprate="" is="" not="" significant.="" nonradiological="" effluent="" discharges="" from="" other="" systems="" were="" also="" considered.="" nonradiological="" effluent="" limits="" for="" systems="" such="" as="" floor="" and="" equipment="" drains="" are="" established="" in="" spdes="" permit.="" discharges="" from="" these="" systems="" are="" not="" expected="" to="" change="" significantly,="" if="" at="" all,="" because="" operation="" at="" uprated="" power="" levels="" are="" governed="" by="" the="" limits="" in="" the="" spdes="" permit.="" thus,="" the="" staff="" finds="" that="" the="" impact="" on="" the="" environment="" from="" those="" systems="" as="" a="" result="" of="" operation="" at="" uprated="" power="" levels="" is="" not="" significant.="" with="" regard="" to="" potential="" nonradiological="" impacts,="" the="" proposed="" action="" does="" involve="" features="" located="" entirely="" within="" the="" restricted="" area="" as="" defined="" in="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 20.="" it="" does="" not="" affect="" 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.="" radiological="" environmental="" assessment="" the="" licensee="" evaluated="" the="" impact="" of="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate="" amendment="" to="" show="" that="" the="" applicable="" regulatory="" [[page="" 64005]]="" acceptance="" criteria="" relative="" to="" radiological="" environmental="" impacts="" will="" continue="" to="" be="" satisfied="" for="" the="" uprated="" power="" conditions.="" in="" conducting="" this="" evaluation,="" the="" licensee="" considered="" the="" effect="" of="" the="" higher="" power="" level="" on="" liquid="" radioactive="" wastes,="" gaseous="" radioactive="" wastes,="" and="" radiation="" levels="" both="" in="" the="" plant="" and="" offsite="" during="" both="" normal="" and="" post-accident="" conditions.="" the="" liquid="" radwaste="" treatment="" systems="" receive="" inputs="" from="" a="" variety="" of="" sources="" (e.g.="" leakage="" from="" component="" cooling="" water="" system,="" reactor="" coolant="" system,="" condensate="" and="" feedwater="" system,="" turbine="" plant="" cooling="" water="" system,="" and="" auxiliary="" steam="" system).="" leakages="" from="" these="" systems="" are="" not="" expected="" to="" increase="" significantly="" since="" the="" operating="" pressures="" of="" these="" systems="" are="" either="" being="" maintained="" constant="" or="" are="" being="" increased="" only="" slightly="" due="" to="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate.="" the="" largest="" single="" source="" of="" liquid="" radioactive="" waste="" is="" from="" the="" ultrasonic="" cleaning="" of="" the="" condensate="" demineralizers.="" these="" demineralizers="" remove="" activated="" corrosion="" products="" which="" are="" expected="" to="" increase="" proportionally="" to="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate.="" however,="" the="" total="" volume="" of="" processed="" waste="" is="" not="" expected="" to="" increase="" significantly,="" since="" the="" only="" appreciable="" increase="" in="" processed="" waste="" will="" result="" in="" a="" slight="" decrease="" in="" the="" time="" interval="" between="" ultrasonic="" cleaning="" or="" regeneration="" of="" the="" condensate="" demineralizers.="" the="" reported="" time="" between="" ultrasonic="" cleaning="" or="" regeneration="" is="" 65="" days="" and="" is="" not="" expected="" to="" decrease="" significantly="" at="" uprate.="" based="" on="" a="" review="" of="" plant="" effluent="" reports="" and="" the="" slight="" increase="" expected="" due="" to="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate,="" the="" nrc="" staff="" has="" concluded="" that="" the="" slight="" increase="" in="" the="" processing="" of="" liquid="" radioactive="" wastes="" will="" not="" have="" a="" significant="" increase="" in="" environmental="" impact="" and="" that="" the="" requirements="" of="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 20="" and="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 50,="" appendix="" i,="" will="" continue="" to="" be="" met.="" gaseous="" radioactive="" effluents="" are="" produced="" during="" both="" normal="" operation="" and="" abnormal="" operational="" occurrences.="" these="" effluents="" are="" collected,="" controlled,="" processed,="" stored,="" and="" disposed="" of="" by="" the="" gaseous="" radioactive="" waste="" management="" systems="" which="" include="" the="" various="" building="" ventilation="" systems,="" the="" offgas="" system,="" and="" the="" standby="" gas="" treatment="" system="" (sgts).="" the="" concentration="" of="" radioactive="" gaseous="" effluents="" released="" through="" the="" building="" ventilation="" systems="" during="" normal="" operation="" is="" not="" expected="" to="" increase="" significantly="" due="" to="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate="" since="" the="" amount="" of="" fission="" products="" released="" into="" the="" reactor="" coolant="" (and="" subsequently="" into="" the="" building="" atmosphere)="" depends="" on="" the="" number="" and="" nature="" of="" fuel="" rod="" defects.="" the="" concentration="" of="" activation="" products="" contained="" in="" the="" reactor="" coolant="" is="" expected="" to="" remain="" unchanged,="" since="" the="" linear="" increase="" in="" the="" production="" of="" these="" activation="" products="" will="" be="" offset="" by="" the="" linear="" increase="" in="" steaming="" rate.="" therefore,="" based="" on="" its="" review="" of="" the="" various="" building="" ventilation="" systems,="" the="" nrc="" staff="" has="" concluded="" that="" there="" will="" not="" be="" a="" significant="" adverse="" effect="" on="" airborne="" radioactive="" effluents="" as="" a="" result="" of="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate.="" radiolysis="" of="" the="" reactor="" coolant="" causes="" the="" formation="" of="" hydrogen="" and="" oxygen,="" the="" quantities="" of="" which="" increase="" linearly="" with="" core="" power.="" these="" additional="" quantities="" of="" hydrogen="" and="" oxygen="" would="" increase="" the="" flow="" to="" the="" recombiners="" by="" 4.8%="" during="" uprated="" power="" conditions.="" the="" offgas="" system="" was="" originally="" designed="" for="" 105="" percent="" of="" warranted="" steam="" flow="" which="" would="" not="" be="" exceeded="" during="" operation="" at="" the="" proposed="" uprated="" power="" level.="" therefore,="" no="" changes="" will="" be="" required="" in="" the="" offgas="" system="" since="" the="" offgas="" system="" will="" be="" operated="" within="" the="" original="" evaluated="" design="" condition.="" there="" will="" be="" no="" environmental="" impact="" that="" was="" not="" previously="" evaluated.="" the="" sgts="" is="" designed="" to="" minimize="" offsite="" and="" control="" room="" radiation="" dose="" rates="" during="" venting="" and="" purging="" of="" both="" the="" primary="" and="" secondary="" containment="" atmosphere="" under="" accident="" or="" abnormal="" conditions.="" this="" is="" accomplished="" by="" maintaining="" the="" secondary="" containment="" at="" a="" slightly="" negative="" pressure="" (more="" negative="" than="" or="" equal="" to="" -0.25="" inch="" water="" gauge)="" with="" respect="" to="" the="" outside="" atmosphere="" and="" discharging="" the="" secondary="" containment="" atmosphere="" through="" high-efficiency="" particulate="" air="" (hepa)="" filters="" and="" charcoal="" absorbers.="" the="" capacity="" of="" the="" sgts="" was="" selected="" to="" provide="" one="" secondary="" containment="" air="" volume="" change="" per="" day="" and="" thereby="" maintain="" the="" reactor="" building="" at="" a="" slight="" negative="" pressure.="" this="" capability="" is="" not="" affected="" by="" power="" uprate.="" the="" charcoal="" filter="" beds="" are="" unaffected="" by="" power="" uprate.="" the="" total="" post-loca="" iodine="" loading="" increases="" slightly="" at="" the="" uprated="" conditions,="" there="" are="" no="" radiological="" consequences="" because="" the="" increased="" loading="" remains="" within="" the="" design="" absorption="" capacity="" of="" the="" filter="" beds.="" therefore,="" the="" staff="" finds="" there="" would="" be="" no="" significant="" increase="" in="" environmental="" impact.="" the="" licensee="" has="" evaluated="" the="" effects="" of="" the="" power="" uprate="" on="" in-="" plant="" radiation="" levels="" in="" the="" jafnpp="" facility="" during="" both="" normal="" operation="" and="" post-accident.="" the="" licensee="" has="" concluded="" that="" radiation="" levels="" during="" both="" normal="" operation="" and="" post-accident="" may="" increase="" slightly="" (at="" most,="" proportional="" to="" the="" increase="" in="" power="" level).="" the="" slight="" increases="" in="" in-plant="" radiation="" levels="" expected="" due="" to="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate="" are="" not="" expected="" to="" affect="" radiation="" zoning="" or="" shielding="" requirements.="" individual="" worker="" occupational="" exposures="" will="" be="" maintained="" within="" acceptable="" limits="" by="" the="" existing="" health="" physics="" program="" which="" the="" licensee="" uses="" to="" control="" access="" to="" radiation="" areas.="" therefore,="" the="" nrc="" staff="" has="" concluded="" that="" the="" slightly="" increased="" in-plant="" radiation="" levels="" will="" not="" have="" a="" significant="" environmental="" impact.="" the="" offsite="" doses="" associated="" with="" normal="" operation="" are="" not="" significantly="" affected="" by="" operation="" at="" the="" proposed="" uprated="" power="" level="" and="" are="" expected="" to="" remain="" well="" within="" the="" limits="" of="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 20="" and="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 50,="" appendix="" i.="" these="" limits="" are="" imposed="" by="" technical="" specification="" which="" will="" not="" be="" changed="" by="" the="" proposed="" power="" uprate.="" therefore,="" the="" nrc="" staff="" has="" concluded="" that="" the="" offsite="" doses="" due="" to="" normal="" operation="" at="" the="" proposed="" uprate="" conditions="" will="" not="" result="" in="" a="" significant="" environmental="" impact.="" the="" licensee="" considered="" the="" following="" design="" basis="" accidents="" in="" the="" re-assessment="" of="" the="" radiological="" consequences="" at="" jafnpp="" under="" power="" uprate="" conditions:="" (1)="" loca="" (drywell="" leakage="" and="" esf="" component="" leakage="" pathways),="" (2)="" main="" steam="" line="" break="" (mslb)="" outside="" containment,="" (3)="" control="" rod="" drop="" accident="" (crda),="" and="" (4)="" refueling="" accident="" (ra)="" the="" basic="" data="" and="" assumptions="" in="" each="" of="" the="" four="" accident="" scenarios="" are="" consistent="" with="" the="" current="" licensing="" basis="" and="" the="" models="" in="" the="" standard="" review="" plan="" (us="" nrc="" nureg-0800)="" and="" applicable="" regulatory="" guides.="" the="" highest="" immersion="" dose="" to="" an="" offsite="" receptor="" is="" 11.2="" rem,="" to="" the="" thyroid="" at="" the="" low="" population="" zone="" following="" a="" design="" basis="" loca.="" the="" worst="" case="" offsite="" dose="" with="" respect="" to="" the="" regulatory="" limits="" is="" the="" post-loca="" whole="" body="" dose="" at="" the="" site="" boundary,="" which="" amounts="" to="" 8.5%="" of="" the="" limit.="" for="" the="" control="" room,="" the="" worst="" case="" immersion="" dose="" is="" to="" the="" thyroid="" following="" a="" crda.="" it="" amounts="" to="" approximately="" 77%="" of="" the="" regulatory="" limit.="" the="" licensee's="" analyses="" indicate="" that="" the="" calculated="" offsite="" radiological="" consequences="" doses="" for="" all="" dbas="" are="" within="" the="" dose="" acceptance="" criteria="" stated="" in="" the="" nrc's="" srp="" and="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 100="" and="" also="" comply="" with="" the="" dose="" acceptance="" criteria="" for="" control="" room="" operators="" given="" in="" general="" design="" [[page="" 64006]]="" criteria="" (gdc)="" 19="" of="" appendix="" a="" to="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 50.="" the="" staff="" concludes="" that="" the="" offsite="" radiological="" consequences="" and="" control="" room="" operator="" doses="" for="" all="" dbas="" at="" the="" uprated="" power="" level="" will="" continue="" to="" meet="" the="" acceptance="" criteria="" of="" the="" srp,="" 10="" cfr="" part="" 100,="" and="" gdc="" 19.="" the="" power="" uprate="" will="" not="" increase="" the="" probability="" or="" consequences="" of="" accidents,="" no="" changes="" are="" being="" made="" in="" the="" types="" of="" any="" effluents="" that="" may="" be="" released="" offsite,="" and="" there="" is="" no="" significant="" increase="" in="" 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.="" 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.="" as="" an="" alternative="" to="" the="" proposed="" action,="" the="" staff="" 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="" for="" the="" james="" a.="" fitzpatrick="" nuclear="" power="" plant.="" agencies="" and="" persons="" consulted="" in="" accordance="" with="" its="" stated="" policy,="" on="" april="" 22,="" 1996,="" the="" staff="" consulted="" with="" the="" new="" york="" state="" official,="" f.="" william="" valentino="" of="" the="" new="" york="" state="" energy,="" research="" and="" development="" authority,="" 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="" the="" proposed="" action,="" see="" the="" licensee's="" letter="" dated="" june="" 12,="" 1992,="" as="" supplemented="" by="" letters="" dated="" september="" 17,="" 1992,="" march="" 17,="" 1993,="" august="" 17,="" 1993,="" august="" 18,="" 1993,="" december="" 29,="" 1993,="" and="" june="" 29,="" 1995,="" which="" are="" 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="" reference="" and="" documents="" department,="" penfield="" library,="" state="" university="" of="" new="" york,="" oswego,="" new="" york="" 13126.="" references="" 1.="" ge="" nuclear="" energy,="" ``generic="" guidelines="" for="" general="" electric="" boiling="" water="" reactor="" power="" uprate,''="" licensing="" topical="" report="" nedo-="" 31897,="" class="" 1="" (non-proprietary),="" february="" 1992;="" and="" nedc-31897p-a,="" class="" iii="" (proprietary),="" may="" 1992.="" 2.="" w.t.="" russell,="" u.s.="" nuclear="" regulatory="" commission,="" letter="" to="" p.w.="" marriott,="" general="" electric="" company,="" ``staff="" position="" concerning="" general="" electric="" boiling="" water="" reactor="" power="" uprate="" program,''="" september="" 30,="" 1991.="" 3.="" final="" environmental="" statement="" related="" to="" operation="" of="" james="" a.="" fitzpatrick="" nuclear="" power="" plant,="" march="" 1973.="" dated="" at="" rockville,="" maryland,="" this="" 26th="" day="" of="" november="" 1996.="" for="" the="" nuclear="" regulatory="" commission="" s.="" singh="" bajwa,="" acting="" director,="" project="" directorate="" i-1="" division="" of="" reactor="" projects-="" i/ii="" office="" of="" nuclear="" reactor="" regulation="" [fr="" doc.="" 96-30899="" filed="" 11-29-96;="" 2:16="" pm]="" billing="" code="" 7590-01-p="">