[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17902-17903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9651]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-286]
Power Authority of the State of New York, Indian Point Nuclear
Generating Unit No. 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR
50.60 for Facility Operating License No. DPR-64, issued to the Power
Authority of the State of New York (the licensee), for operation of the
Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3 (IP3) located in Westchester
County, New York.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements
of 10 CFR 50.60 to allow the use of the ABB Combustion Engineering
Nuclear Operations methodology (the CE methodology) for developing
pressure-temperature (P-T) limits.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated January 28, 1998.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.60, all light water nuclear power reactors
must meet the fracture toughness requirements for the reactor coolant
pressure boundary as set forth in 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix G. The
licensee used the methodology by ABB Combustion Engineering Nuclear
Operations (the CE methodology) for constructing its P-T limits in
place of the 1989 ASME Appendix G methodology approved by the staff in
the regulations; therefore, the licensee applied for an exemption to
use the CE methodology.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the CE methodology
for developing P-T limits and concludes that there will be no physical
or operational changes to IP3.
The Commission has evaluated the environmental impact of the
proposed action and has determined that the probability or consequences
of accidents would not be increased by the proposed action, and that
post-accident radiological releases would not be greater than
previously determined. Further, the Commission has determined that the
proposed action would not affect routine radiological 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 would not affect nonradiological plant effluents and would have
no other environmental impact. Therefore, 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 that there are not significant
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be
evaluated.
The principal alternative would be to deny the requested 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 identical.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Indian
Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3, dated February 1975.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on March 19, 1998, the staff
consulted with the New York State Official, Jack Spath, of the New York
State Research and Development Authority regarding the environmental
impact of the
[[Page 17903]]
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 28, 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 White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine
Avenue, White Plains, New York 10610.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of April 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
George F. Wunder,
Project Manager, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-9651 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
