[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10248-10249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5240]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-424 and 50-425]
Southern Nuclear Operating Company; Vogtle Electric Generating
Plant; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from the Final Safety Analysis
Report (FSAR) update requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Section
50.71(e)(4), for Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-68 and NPF-81
issued to Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc., et al. (the
licensee) for operation of the Vogtle Nuclear Generating Plant (VEGP),
Units 1 and 2, located in Burke County, Georgia.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would allow an exemption from the requirements
of 10 CFR 50.71(e)(4) regarding submission of revisions to the VEGP,
Units 1 and 2, FSAR. Under the proposed exemption, the licensee would
submit FSAR updates to the single, unified FSAR for the two units that
comprise VEGP, within 6 months following the VEGP Unit 2 refueling
outage, not to exceed 24 months from the last submittal.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated January 23, 1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action would provide an exemption to the requirements
of 10 CFR 50.71(e)(4), which requires licensees to submit updates to
their FSAR within 6 months after each refueling outage providing that
the interval between successive updates does not exceed 24 months.
Since VEGP, Units 1 and 2, share a common FSAR, the licensee must
update the same document within 6 months after a refueling outage for
either unit. Allowing the exemption would maintain the FSAR current
within 24 months of the last revision and still would not exceed a 24-
month interval for submission of the 10 CFR 50.59 design change report
for either unit.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that issuance of the proposed exemption to 10 CFR
50.71(e)(4) will have no environmental impact. The change will not
increase the probability
[[Page 10249]]
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 action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action 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 action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, 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 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 not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the
VEGP, ``Final Environmental Statement related to the Operation of
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2,'' NUREG-1087, dated
March 1985.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on February 10, 1998, the
staff consulted with the Georgia State official, Mr. J. Setzer, of the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources, regarding the environmental
impact of the proposed action. The State official had 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 action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated January 23, 1998, 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 Burke County Library, 412 Fourth Street,
Waynesboro, Georgia.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of February 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Herbert N. Berkow,
Director, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-5240 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
