[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7799-7800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3232]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co.; Haddam Neck Plant;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
[Docket No. 50-213]
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the ``Commission'') is
considering issuance of an amendment to Facilitate Operating License
No. DPR-61, issued to Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO,
the licensee), for operation of the Haddam Neck Plant, located in
Middlesex County, Connecticut.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specifications (TS)
3.1.1.3, ``Shutdown Margin,'' and TS 3.3.3.9, ``Boron Dilution Alarm,''
and their associated Bases sections and add a new TS 3.1.1.4,
``Shutdown Margin.'' TSs 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.4, and 3.1.2.6, will be revised
to reference TS 3.1.1.3 rather than specify the required shutdown
margin at 200 deg. F. In addition, editorial changes will be made to a
reference on TS pages 3/4 1-13 and 14 to reletter surveillance
specification 4.5.1.c.3 to 4.5.1.b.3. The proposed action is in
accordance with the licensee's amendment request dated September 7,
1994.
The Need for Proposed Action
During the development of the core design for the upcoming Cycle
19, CYAPCO determined that the incore neutron sources would have to be
relocated during the refueling outage due to mechanical considerations
concerning the new fuel design. As part of the determination of the new
locations for these sources, a review of the adequacy of the existing
source locations was made. This review identified that the incore
neutron sources were located too close to the excore detectors. As a
result of the current incore neutron locations, the response of the
excore detectors to a dilution event did not bound the response assumed
in the safety analysis. The time allowed for operator action to
terminate an inadvertent boron dilution event was less than the
required 15 minutes from the time of the alarm to criticality. TS
changes are being proposed to the shutdown margin requirements for
Modes 4 and 5 and the boron dilution setpoint to assure that the
required margin for operator action in a boron dilution accident is
met. The associated Bases sections will be modified to reflect the new
shutdown margin and boron dilution setpoint. In addition, an
administrative change to three TSs will be made to reference the
shutdown margin TS rather than provide the shutdown margin requirements
and two editorial changes to correct two references to surveillance
specifications 4.5.1.c.3 that had been [[Page 7800]] related to
4.5.1.b.3 in a previous TS change.
Environmental Impacts to the Proposed Action
The proposed changes will provide additional time for operator
action in a boron dilution event to assure that there is at least 15
minutes between the time to boron dilution alarm assuming an alarm
penalty of 1.3 and the time to criticality for Modes 1 through 5 and 30
minutes for Mode 6 for operator action. The Commission has completed
its evaluation of the proposed TS changes and concludes that the
combination of the shutdown margin increases and the lower credited
boron dilution alarm setpoint assuming an alarm penalty factor of 1.3
will provide assurance that the criteria for operator action will be
met. In addition, the neutron sources will be moved further away from
the excore detectors for the Cycle 19 startup (approximately March
1995). This will provide additional margin in the alarm setpoint as the
need for any penalty factor will be significantly reduced or completely
eliminated. In addition, the staff agrees that the change in references
in TS 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.4, and 3.1.2.6, and Surveillance Specifications
4.1.2.3.1 and 4.1.2.4.1 are editorial in nature.
The proposed TS change will not increase the probability or
consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of
any effluents that may be released offiste, 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
this proposed TS amendment.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
amendment 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 amendment.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed amendment, 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 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 resources not considered
previously in the Final Environmental Statement for the Haddam Neck
Plant.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, the staff consulted with the
Connecticut State official regarding the environmental impact of the
proposed action. The State official has 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 amendment.
For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated September 7, 1994, 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 Russell Library, 123 Broad Street,
Middletown, CT 06547.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of February 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Phillip F. McKee,
Director, Project Directorate I-4, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-3232 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
