[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12729]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 25, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-482]
Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.; Notice of Issuance of
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
part 50, Appendix J, Section III.D.1(a) to Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating
Corporation, (the licensee), for operation of the Wolf Creek Generating
Station, Unit 1, located in Coffey County, Kansas.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
Section III.D.1(a) of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 requires the
performance of three Type A tests, overall integrated leakage rate
tests (ILRTs), at approximately equal intervals during each 10-year
service period with the third test of each set being conducted when the
plant is shutdown for the 10-year plant inservice inspections. Wolf
Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation performed the first two ILRTs for
the first 10-year service period in October 1988 and September 1991.
The licensee proposes to perform the third test during the eighth
refueling outage which coincides with the 10-year plant inservice
inspections. However, the current schedule for the eighth refueling
outage would result in the test being performed approximately six
months beyond the 10-year service period.
Section 50.12(a)(2)(ii) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations provides an example of a special circumstance for which the
NRC will consider granting exemptions that involve cases for which
application of the regulation is not necessary to achieve the
underlying purpose of the rule. The licensee completed ILRTs in October
1988 and September 1991. Strict application of Appendix J would require
performance of another ILRT during the seventh refueling outage in
order to achieve three tests within the 10-year service period and a
subsequent test during the eighth refueling outage in order to perform
an ILRT during the 10-year plant inservice inspections. In order to
avoid performance of the fourth ILRT, the licensee has proposed a one-
time exemption to allow performance of the third ILRT during the eighth
refueling outage. Performance of the third test during the eighth
refueling outage would result in the test being performed approximately
54 months after the second test.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed exemption would extend the performance of the third
ILRT several months beyond the end of the first 10-year service period
in order to preclude the need to perform ILRTs during consecutive
refueling outages. The need for the exemption results from the
requirement to perform the ILRT during refueling outages and the
schedules associated with the seventh and eighth refueling outages.
ILRTs need to be performed during both the seventh and eighth refueling
outages to satisfy both aspects of the Appendix J periodic retest
schedules; three tests during 10-year service intervals with the third
test during 10-year plant inservice inspections.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
exemption and concludes that granting of the one-time relief does not
affect the configuration of plant systems or plant operating practices.
The proposed exemption is limited to the scheduling for the third ILRT
during the first 10-year service interval. Previous testing has
demonstrated the integrity of the containment structure. Leakage
through containment penetrations and valves would continue to be
identified by performance of local leak rate testing (LLRT). Therefore,
no increase in the release of radioactive materials following an
accident would result from the extension of the ILRT testing interval.
The extension of the ILRT interval does not affect the radioactive
effluent releases during normal operation. Accordingly, the Commission
concludes that this proposed action would result in no significant
radiological environmental impact.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
exemption only involves the scheduling of ILRT testing. It does not
affect nonradiological plant effluents and there are no other
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed
exemption.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant
environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be
evaluated. The principal alternative would be to deny the requested
exemption and require the licensee to conduct ILRT during both the
seventh and eighth refueling outages. Denial would not significantly
reduce the environmental impact of plant operation and would result in
lost electrical generation and expense of significant licensee
resources.
Alternate Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Wolf
Creek Generating Station dated June 1982.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and consulted with
the Kansas State official. The State official had no comments regarding
the NRC's proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The NRC staff has determined not to prepare an environmental impact
statement for the proposed exemption.
Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the Commission
concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect
on the quality of the human environment.
For further details with respect to this action, see the request
for exemption dated October 27, 1993, which is 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 Rooms, Emporia State University, William Allen White
Library, 1200 Commercial Street, Emporia, Kansas 66801 and the Washburn
University School of Law Library, Topeka, Kansas 66621.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of May 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James E. Lyons,
Acting Director, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects
III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-12729 Filed 5-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
