[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66589-66590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32115]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-305]
Wisconsin Public Service Corp., Wisconsin Power and Light Co.,
Madison Gas and Electric Co., Kewaunee 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 Operating License DPR-43,
issued to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Wisconsin Power and
Light Company, and Madison Gas and Electric Company (the licensee), for
the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant located in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would revise the reactor core power
distribution peaking factor limits and reactor coolant system operating
parameters related to the minimum departure from nucleate boiling ratio
safety limit. These proposed changes are the result of analyses
performed in support of use of new type fuel assemblies. The new fuel
assemblies would be operated within these new thermal-hydraulic and
power distribution limits with potential fuel assembly burnups to 59
GWD/MTU and maximum rod average burnup limited to 60 GWD/MTU. Another
change included in the proposed amendment is the removal, from the
current licensing basis, of the fuel pool turbine missile hazards
analysis.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for amendment dated April 15, 1998, as supplemented by
letters dated July 27 and August 13, 1998, by two different letters
dated September 28, 1998, and by a letter dated November 24, 1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed in order for the licensee to have the
flexibility to use fuel with increased burnup and to revise the plant
safety analyses. The changes in operating parameters and limits will
allow longer operating cycles and result in fewer fuel assemblies being
needed.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The staff has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
made the following findings: (1) The mechanical design of the fuel has
been evaluated and found acceptable for use within the analyzed limits,
(2) although the extended burnup to 60 GWD/MTU may slightly change the
mix of radionuclides that might be released in the event of an
accident, analyses of radiological consequences of accidents confirm
that there is no significant increase in the probability or
consequences of accidents, (3) no significant changes would be made in
the amounts or types of any radiological effluents that may be released
offsite, (4) there is no significant increase in the allowable
[[Page 66590]]
individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure, and (5) the
probability of high trajectory turbine missiles impacting the spent
fuel pool target area has been found to be so insignificant that the
event need not be further considered as a design basis event.
On February 29, 1988 (53 FR 6041), the staff published ``Extended
Burnup Fuel Use in Commercial LWR's; Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact.'' This generic environmental
assessment of extended fuel burnup in light water reactors found that
``no significant adverse effects will be generated by increasing the
present batch-average burnup level of 33 GWD/MTU to 50 GWD/MTU or above
as long as the maximum rod average burnup level of any fuel rod is no
greater than 60 GWD/MTU.'' In addition, the environmental impacts of
transportation resulting from the use of higher enrichment fuel and
extended irradiation were published and discussed in the staff
assessment entitled, ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of
Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and
Irradiation,'' dated July 7, 1988. That assessement was published in
connection with an Environmental Assessment related to the Shearon
Harris Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, which was published in the Federal
Register (53 FR 30355) on August 11, 1988, as corrected on August 24,
1988 (53 FR 32322). In these assessments, collectively, the staff
concluded that the environmental impacts summarized in Table S-3 of 10
CFR 51.51 and in Table S-4 of 10 CFR 51.52 for a burnup level of 33
GWD/MTU are conservative and bound the corresponding impacts for burnup
levels up to 60 GWD/MTU. These findings are applicable to the proposed
action at Kewaunee which will limit burnup to 60 GWD/MTU.
With regard to potential non-environmental impacts, the proposed
action involves components located entirely within the restricted area
as defined by 10 CFR part 20. It does not affect non-radiological plant
effluents and has no other environmental impact. The proposed action
does not involve any of the historic sites located in the vicinity of
Kewaunee as identified in Section II.C of the Kewaunee Final
Environmental Statement. Therefore, there are no significant non-
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any
other alternative would have greater environmental impacts and need not
be evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment.
This would not reduce the environmental impact of plant operations and
would result in reduced operational flexibility.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement which was
issued December 20, 1972.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 19, 1998, the
staff consulted with Sarah Jenkins, an official of the Public Service
Commission of the State of Wisconsin, regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
On the basis of the environmental assessment, the staff concludes
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the staff 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 April 15, 1998, as supplemented by letters
dated July 27, August 13, September 28, and November 24, 1998, which
are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document
Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C., and at
the local public document room located at the University of Wisconsin,
Cofrin Library, 2420 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54311-7001.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of November 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
William O. Long, Sr.
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-32115 Filed 12-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
