[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 58 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12112-12113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7144]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-483]
Union Electric Company Callaway Plant, Unit 1; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No.
NPF-30 to Union Electric Company (the licensee) for the Callaway Plant,
Unit 1 located in Callaway County, Missouri.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
By letter dated September 6, 1995, (ULNRC-03264) the licensee
proposed to change the Technical Specifications (TSs) to allow an
increase in fuel enrichment (Uranium 235) from 4.45 to 5.0 weight
percent for fuel with integral fuel burnable absorbers (IFBAs) and from
3.85 to 4.10 weight percent for fuel without IFBAs. In addition, the
licensee proposed to change the maximum reference K from
1.455 to 1.480 for storage of fuel in Region 1 of the spent fuel pool
and to change the maximum initial enrichment for fuel storage in Region
2 of the spent fuel pool to 5.0 weight percent.
Need for Proposed Action
The licensee intends to load fuel into the core during Refuel 8 and
subsequent refueling outages which does not currently meet the TSs. By
increasing the fuel enrichment, the licensee will implement the fuel
strategies developed for the Callaway Plant.
Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
revision to the TSs and concludes that storage and use of Vantage 5
fuel enriched with U-235 up to 4.10 weight percent for fuel without
IFBAs and up to 5.0 weight for fuel with IFBAs at the Callaway Plant,
Unit 1 is acceptable. The safety considerations associated with higher
enrichments have been evaluated by the NRC staff and the staff has
concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety.
The proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any
accident. As a result, there is no increase in individual or cumulative
radiation exposure.
The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use
of higher enrichment and extended irradiation are discussed in the
staff assessment entitled ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects
of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and
Irradiation.'' This assessment was published in the Federal Register on
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355) as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR
32322) in connection with the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit
I: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As
indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase
in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and irradiation
limits of up to 60 Gigawatt Days per Metric Ton (GWD/MT) are either
unchanged, or may in fact be reduced from those summarized in Table S-4
as set forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c). These findings are applicable to the
proposed amendment for the Callaway Plant, Unit 1. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no
significant radiological environmental impact.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
changes involve systems located within the restricted area as defined
in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents
and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission
concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental
impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
The Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment to Facility
Operating License, Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration
Determination, and Opportunity for a Hearing in connection with this
action was published in the Federal Register on November 8, 1995 (60 FR
56372).
Alternative to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any
alternative with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment.
This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and
would result in reduced operational flexibility.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Callaway
Plant, Unit 1, dated January 1982 (NUREG-0813).
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on March 18, 1996, the staff
consulted with the Missouri State official, Mr. David A. Shorr,
Director, 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
[[Page 12113]]
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 this action, see the
application for license amendment dated September 6, 1995. Copies are
available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document
Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555,
and at the local public document room located at the Callaway County
Public Library, 710 Court Street, Fulton, Missouri 65251.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of March 1996.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Kristine M. Thomas,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects
III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-7144 Filed 3-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
