[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71659-71660]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34437]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-413 and 50-414]
Duke Energy Corporation; Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of exemptions from Facility Operating Licenses
Nos. NPF-35 and NPF-52, issued to Duke Energy Corporation, et al. (the
licensee), for operation of the Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2
located in York County, South Carolina.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would exempt Catawba Nuclear Station, Units 1
and 2, from certain requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (10 CFR) Section 50, Appendix A, General Design Criterion
(GDC) 57, regarding isolation of main steam branch lines penetrating
the containment. The proposed action is in response to the licensee's
application dated September 2, 1997.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The licensee requested an exemption from GDC 57 for Containment
Penetrations M261 and M393 (erroneously stated as M363 in the
submittal). GDC 57 imposes isolation requirements on lines that
penetrate primary reactor containment and are neither part of the
reactor coolant pressure boundary nor connected directly to the
containment atmosphere. These are penetrations on main steam branch
lines. These lines penetrate the containment and are not part of the
reactor coolant pressure boundary or connected directly to the
containment atmosphere. Outside of containment, these lines branch into
various separate, individual lines before reaching the respective main
steam isolation valves. From each of these main steam lines, one branch
supplies main steam to the turbine-driven auxiliary feedwater pump
(CAPT, using the licensee's abbreviation).
Valves SA-1 and SA-4 are manual gate valves located in the Interior
Doghouse immediately downstream of the respective main steam piping.
These valves are locked open (with break away locks) and capable of
local manual operation only. These valves are required to be open by
Technical Specifications to supply steam to the CAPT, which is part of
the engineered safety features. To comply literally with GDC 57, the
licensee would have to add motor operators to SA-1 and SA-4 such that
they become automatic or capable of remote operation.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that there is no significant environmental impact if the
exemptions are granted. No changes will be made to the as-built design,
and existing applicable procedures at the two units at Catawba Nuclear
Station will remain the same.
The proposed action 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 public radiation exposure.
Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action does not involve any historic sites. It does not affect
nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact.
Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological 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
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 did not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Impact Statement
related to the Catawba Nuclear Station.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on April 1, 1998, the staff
consulted with the South Carolina State official, Virgil Autrey, of the
Bureau of Land and Waste Management Department of Health and
Environmental Control, 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 Commission
concludes that the proposed exemptions 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 request for the exemptions dated September 2, 1997, 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 York County Library, 138
East Black Street, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of December 1998.
[[Page 71660]]
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Peter S. Tam,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-34437 Filed 12-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
