[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19633-19634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10329]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-461]
Illinois Power Company; Clinton Power Station (Unit No. 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-62, issued to Illinois Power Company (the licensee), for operation
of the Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1 (CPS), located in DeWitt
County, Illinois.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed amendment would modify Technical Specification (TS)
Table 3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power Instrumentation.'' The modification
requires that interim administrative controls be maintained in order to
minimize the potential that the Class 1E loads will receive inadequate
voltage in the event of a degraded voltage condition. These controls
are to be maintained until the licensee completes planned modifications
for upgrading the degraded voltage protection instrumentation and
distribution system for all three divisions of safety-related AC power.
The Need for the Proposed Action
As described in CPS Licensee Event Report 94-005, the degraded
voltage relays at CPS, and their setpoints, are not sufficient to
ensure proper operation of all Class 1E equipment, contrary to the
current licensing basis for CPS. As interim corrective action, the
licensee installed an undervoltage alarm for the Division 1, 2, and 3,
4.16-kV buses and established contingent operator actions in order to
minimize the potential that the Class 1E loads would receive inadequate
voltage for proper operation. Subsequent licensee review of these
interim administrative controls has concluded that, although the use of
compensatory administrative controls reduces the risk associated with a
degraded voltage condition, reliance on the interim administrative
controls can potentially result in a malfunction of equipment important
to safety of a different type than previously evaluated in the CPS
Updated Safety Analysis Report and, therefore, constitutes an
unreviewed safety question. In addition, the licensee has concluded
that the interim administrative controls can result in a small
reduction in the margin of safety as defined in the CPS TSs.
The proposed amendment, requested by the licensee in their letter
dated April 1, 1997, would modify TS Table 3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power
Instrumentation.'' The proposed change requires the interim
administrative controls to be maintained to minimize the potential that
the Class 1E loads would receive inadequate voltage in the event of a
degraded voltage condition. These controls are to be maintained until
the licensee completes planned modifications for upgrading the degraded
voltage protection instrumentation and distribution system for all
three divisions of safety-related AC power. The new interim
administrative controls primarily consist of system planning controls
on the voltage of the 345-kV offsite grid, notification of plant
operators under offsite grid conditions that may result in a degraded
voltage condition if CPS tripped off-line, and utilizing an installed
degraded voltage alarm that will prompt operators to take action to
transfer the 4.16-kV buses to their associated diesel generators in the
event voltage is not adequate to ensure proper operation of the Class
1E loads.
Description of the Proposed Change
The licensee proposes to revise footnote (b) associated with TS
Table 3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power Instrumentation,'' which was
incorporated by Amendment No. 110 to Facility Operating License No.
NPF-62 to require use of the revised setpoints for the new relays in a
particular division based on release for operations (RFO) of the plant
modification that installs the new undervoltage relays for that
division. Specifically, the licensee proposes to add to the note a new
sentence that reads, ``Administrative controls as described in the
`Administrative Controls' section of Attachment 2 to Illinois Power
Company's letter U-602714, dated April 1, 1997, shall be maintained
until RFO of the corresponding plant modifications for Divisions 1, 2,
and 3.''
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has reviewed the proposed action and concludes that
there will be no significant changes to the facility or its operation
as a result of
[[Page 19634]]
the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that there
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
action will not affect nonradiological plant effluents and will have no
other environmental impact. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
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
Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1, documented in NUREG-0854.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on April 8, 1997, the staff
consulted with the Illinois state official of the Illinois Department
of Nuclear Safety, 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 April 1, 1997, 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 Vespasian Warner Public Library, 310 N.
Quincy Street, Clinton, IL.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 16th day of April 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gail H. Marcus,
Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-10329 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
