[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72701-72702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33679]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-237 and 50-249]
Commonwealth Edison Company; Dresden Station, Unit Nos. 2 and 3,
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the NRC) is considering
issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations
regarding Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-19 and DPR-25 issued to
the
[[Page 72702]]
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd, the licensee), for operation of the
Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Units 2 and 3, located in Grundy County,
Illinois.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would exempt the licensee from certain
emergency lighting requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, Section
III.J, applicable to Dresden, Units 2 and 3. The exemption will allow
the use of hand-held portable lights to provide lighting for outdoor
access and egress routes between the main power block, the isolation
condenser pumphouse, the cribhouse, the clean demineralized water
storage tank, and for reading the clean demineralized water storage
tank level instrument.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated November 19, 1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Equipment needed for safe shutdown at Dresden, Units 2 and 3, is
maintained inside the main power block and several buildings onsite.
However, access and egress between these buildings, the clean
demineralized water storage tank (CDST), and the main power block
requires walking outdoors. These outdoor areas are normally lit by
outdoor lighting powered by offsite power or emergency power from the
security diesel. This installed outdoor and security lighting does not
meet the Appendix R requirements for an 8-hour battery power supply.
Implementation of outdoor battery powered lighting units to meet
Appendix R requirements would result in expenditure of engineering,
construction, and plant resources for their installation, maintenance,
and operation. The requested exemption from the requirements of
Appendix R, Section III.J, would allow the use of hand-held portable
lights, in the event that sufficient daylight or security lighting is
not available, when transiting access and egress routes between the
main power block, the isolation condenser pumphouse, the cribhouse, and
the CDST, including reading the CDST level instrument. The exemption is
needed to avoid the unnecessary expenditure of resources.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and
concludes that with the availability of hand-held battery-powered
portable lights for use during transit between these site structures
and for reading the CDST level instrument, the installation of
emergency lighting units with at least an 8-hour battery supply for
these transit routes and the CDST level instrument is not necessary to
achieve the underlying purpose of Section III.J of Appendix R to 10 CFR
part 50.
The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability
or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
any effluents that may be released off site, and there is no
significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure.
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect non-
radiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, there are no significant non-radiological environmental
impacts associated with the proposed action.
Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with this action.
Alternative 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 exemption 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 Statements for
Dresden, Units 2 and 3.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on December 8, 1999, the
staff consulted with the Illinois official, Mr. Frank Niziolek of the
Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety, 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 NRC concludes
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined
not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed
exemption.
For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's
letter dated November 19, 1998, which is 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 21st day of December 1999.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Anthony J. Mendiola,
Chief, Section 2, Project Directorate III, Division of Licensing
Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 99-33679 Filed 12-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
