[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24980-24981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11832]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-387 and 50-388]
Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, Allegheny Electric
Cooperative, Inc. (Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2);
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption to Facility Operating License Nos.
NPF-14 and NPF-22, issued to Pennsylvania Power & Light Company (the
licensee), for operation of the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station,
Units 1 and 2, located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from the
requirements of 10 CFR 50.71(e)(4).
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would allow exemption from the requirements of
10 CFR 50.71(e)(4) regarding the submission of revisions to the Final
Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) and safety evaluation summary reports for
facility changes made under 10 CFR 50.59 for Susquehanna Steam Electric
Station (SSES). Specifically, the exemption requests that Pennsylvania
Power & Light Company be allowed to schedule updates to both units of
the SSES FSAR and submit safety evaluation summary reports based upon
the refueling cycle frequency for Unit 2. The proposed action is in
accordance with the licensee's application for exemption dated
September 6, 1996.
The Need for the Proposed Action
It is required in 10 CFR 50.71 (e)(4) that licensees are to submit
the updates
[[Page 24981]]
to their FSAR within 6 months after each refueling outage provided that
the interval between successive updates does not exceed 24 months.
Since SSES Units 1 and 2 share a common FSAR, the licensee must update
the same document within 6 months after a refueling outage for either
unit. The proposed action would maintain the SSES FSAR current within
24 months of the last revision and would not exceed the 24-month
interval for submission of the 10 CFR 50.59 design change report for
either unit.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that 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 there is no significant
increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational
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 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
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, dated June 1981.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on March 24, 1997, the staff
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Mr. David Ney of the
Bureau of Radiation Protection, Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental 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
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
proposed action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated September 6, 1996, 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 Osterhout Free Library, Reference
Department, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 2nd day of May 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-11832 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
