[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15613]
[Federal Register: June 28, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-277]
Philadelphia Electric Company
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of Sections
III.D.2.(a) and III.D.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50, to
Philadelphia Electric Company, Public Service Electric and Gas Company,
Delmarva Power and Light Company, and Atlantic City Electric Company
(the licensee), for the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (PBAPS), Unit
2, located at the licensee's site in York County, Pennsylvania.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant an exemption from10 CFR Part 50,
Appendix J, Sections III.D.2.(a) and III.D.3. Section III.D.2.(a)
states, in part: ``Type B tests, except tests for air locks, shall be
performed during reactor shutdown for refueling, or other convenient
intervals, but in no case at intervals greater than 2 years.'' Section
III.D.3 states: ``Type C tests shall be performed during each reactor
shutdown for refueling but in no case at intervals greater than 2
years.'' The exemption would allow a one-time 60-day extension of the
2-year requirement. Hence, this one-time exemption would allow the
licensee to perform the testing in Sections III.0.2.(a) and III.d.3
during Unit 2's Cycle 10 refueling outage scheduled to begin no later
than September 24, 1994.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated April 18, 1994.
Need for the Proposed Action
BAPS, Unit 2 is utilizing a new core design which allows the
intervals between reactor shutdowns for refueling to extend the maximum
allowable 2-year interval. Prior to the current operating cycle, local
leak rate tests were performed in conjunction with an operating cycle
of 18 months. Use of extended cycle core designs has been recognized as
a growing trend in the industry as discussed in the staff's Generic
Letter 91-04, ``Changes in Technical Specification Surveillance
Intervals to Accommodate a 24-Month Fuel Cycle,'' dated April 2, 1991.
The staff previously granted the licensee license amendments to allow
PBAPS, Unit 2 to perform selected surveillances on a 24-month interval
(see Amendment 169 dated August 19, 1992, and Amendment 179 dated
August 2, 1993). However, the regulations cited by the licensee in the
exemption request have not been revised to reflect the use of a 24-
month operating cycle. Therefore, the licensee has requested an
exemption in order to avoid a premature shutdown which would be needed
to accomplish the testing and to properly schedule the testing during
the refueling outage.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed the evaluation of the proposed
exemption and concludes that this action would not significantly
increase the probability or amount of expected primary containment
leakage; hence, the containment integrity would be maintained.
Based on the information presented in the licensee's application,
the proposed extended test interval would not result in a non-
detectable leakage rate in excess of the value established by 10 CFR
Part 50, Appendix J, or in any changes to the containment structure or
plant systems. Consequently, the probability of accidents would not be
increased, nor would the post-accident radiological releases be greater
than previously determined. Neither would the proposed exemption
otherwise affect radiological plant effluents. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no
significant radiological environmental impact.
With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed
exemption does not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no
other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that
there are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts
associated with the proposed exemption.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission concluded that there are no measurable
environmental effects 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.
This would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and
would result in reduced operational flexibility.
Alternate Use of Resources
This proposed action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the final Environmental Statements for the
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, dated April 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The staff consulted with the State of Pennsylvania regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The Commission 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
application for exemption dated April 18, 1994, 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 room located at Government Publications Section, State
Library of Pennsylvania, (Regional Depository) Education Building,
Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Box 1601, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania 17105.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 17th day of June 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Charles L. Miller,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-15613 Filed 6-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
