[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17374-17375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-8312]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-410]
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation; Nine Mile Point Nuclear
Station--Unit 2 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of exemptions from Facility Operating License No.
NPF-69, issued to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (the licensee), for
operation of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2 (NMP-2)
located in Oswego County, New York.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address
potential environmental issues related to the licensee's application of
March 9, 1995. The proposed action would exempt the licensee from: (1)
The requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a),
to permit a one-time interval extension between the first and second
Type A test (containment integrated leak rate test) for approximately
24 months from the 1995 refueling outage to the 1997 refueling outage.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to permit the licensee to defer the
Type A test from the 1995 refueling outage to the 1997 refueling
outage, thereby deferring the cost of performing the tests and
eliminating the time required to perform the test from the critical
path schedule during the upcoming spring 1995 refueling outage.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the one-time interval extension between the first
and second Type A tests would not increase the probability or
consequences of accidents previously analyzed and the proposed
exemptions would not affect facility radiation levels or facility
radiological effluents. The licensee has analyzed the results of
previous Type A tests performed at NMP-2 to show good containment
performance and will continue to be required to conduct the Type B and
C local leak rate tests which historically have been shown to be the
principal means of detecting containment leakage paths with the Type A
tests confirming the Type B and C test results. It is also noted that
the licensee, as a condition of the proposed exemption, will perform
the visual containment inspection although it is only required by
Appendix J to be conducted in conjunction with Type A tests. The NRC
staff considers that these inspections, though limited in scope,
provide an important added level of confidence in the continued
integrity of the containment boundary. 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 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 NRC staff
considered denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application
would result in no change in current environmental impacts.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Nine
Mile Point Nuclear Station, Unit 2. [[Page 17375]]
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, the NRC staff consulted with
the New York State official 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 March 9, 1995, 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 Reference and Documents Department,
Penfield Library, State University of New York, Oswego, New York 13126.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of March 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ledyard B. Marsh,
Director, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-8312 Filed 4-4-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
