[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12255-12256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6482]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-271]
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear
Power Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption for Facility Operating License No.
DPR-28, issued to Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (the
licensee), for operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station
(the facility) located in Windham County, Vermont.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Actions
The proposed exemption would grant relief in certain outdoor areas
of the protected area of the facility to allow use of security lighting
for outdoor access and egress and the performance of one specified task
in either of two locations for compliance with Section III.J of
Appendix R to 10 CFR part 50. The exemption would include outdoor
portions of the protected area for access and egress and for supply of
nitrogen from either of two outdoor locations: (1) the 15,000 gallon
liquid nitrogen containment inerting tank located outdoors, east of the
reactor building, or (2) nitrogen storage bottles located on the west
wall of the reactor building equipment air lock.
[[Page 12256]]
The proposed exemption is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated June 17, 1996.
The Need for the Proposed Actions
The need for this action arises for certain Appendix R fire
scenarios whose safe shutdown strategy does not immediately
depressurize the reactor and uses low pressure injections systems, and
thus requires the safety relief valves (SRVs) to be actuated multiple
times during a cooldown. Although each SRV accumulator has capacity for
at least five valve strokes, a long term source of nitrogen, beyond the
capacity of the SRV accumulators is required in order to provide for
additional valve strokes for some scenarios. The nitrogen may be
provided from either of two nitrogen storage locations.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
exemption and concludes that the proposed exemption will provide
sufficient fire protection that there is no increase in the risk of
fires at the facility. Consequently, the probability of fires has not
been increased and the post-fire radiological releases will not be
greater than previously determined, nor does the proposed exemption
otherwise affect radiological plant effluents.
The proposed exemption affects only the source of illumination
credited for safe shutdown functions. No physical change results from
the proposed exemption, and, as discussed above, the probability of
fires has not been increased. Therefore, the 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 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 actions.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
actions involve features located entirely within the restricted area as
defined in 10 CFR part 20. They do not affect nonradiological plant
effluents and have no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed actions.
Alternatives to the Proposed Actions
Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed actions, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be
evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed actions, the staff
considered denial of the proposed actions. Denial of the application
would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The
environmental impacts of the proposed actions and the alternative
action are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
These actions do not involve use of resources not previously
considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Vermont Yankee
Nuclear Power Station.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on February 26, 1997, the
staff consulted with the Vermont State official, Mr. William K. Sherman
of the Vermont Department of Public Service, regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed actions. The State official had no
comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes
that the proposed actions 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 exemption.
For further details with respect to the proposed actions, see the
application dated June 17, 1996, 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 Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street,
Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 5th day of March 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Patrick D. Milano,
Acting Director, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-6482 Filed 3-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
