[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34305-34306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16110]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-295]
Commonwealth Edison Company; Zion Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1;
Environmental Assessment and Findings of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption to Facility Operating License No.
DPR-39, issued to Commonwealth Edison Company (the licensee), for
operation of Zion Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 1, located in Lake
County, Illinois.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address
potential environmental issues related to the licensee's application
dated May 12, 1995. The proposed action would exempt the licensee from
the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a),
to the extent that a one-time schedular extension would permit
rescheduling of the next Type A test for Zion Nuclear Power Station,
Unit 1, to the refueling outage currently scheduled to start in March
1997. Appendix J is undergoing revisions and if the revised Appendix J
requirements are approved and issued prior to the March 1997 refueling
outage, the next Unit 1 Type A test will be performed in accordance
with the revised requirements.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The current containment integrated leakage rate testing
requirements, pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Section
III.D.1.(a), are that after the preoperational leak rate test, a set of
three Type A tests must be performed at approximately equal intervals
during each 10-year inservice inspection period. Furthermore, the third
test of each set must be conducted when the plant is shut down for the
10-year inservice inspection. The most recent Type A test was conducted
in March 1992, approximately 40 months ago. On March 31, 1993, Zion,
Unit 1, was granted an exemption from the requirement of 10 CFR Part
50, Appendix J, that the third Type A test for the second 10 year
inservice inspection interval be conducted while shutdown for the 10
year inservice inspections. That one-time exemption effectively
decoupled the Type A testing frequency from the 10 year inservice
inspection interval and allowed the next Type A test to be scheduled
independent of the end of the second 10 year interval. As a result of
that exemption, Zion Unit 1 was to perform its next Type A test during
the September 1995 refueling outage (RFO). The exemption is needed to
allow a longer interval between the Zion, Unit 1, Type A tests, which
will result in a considerable cost-savings to the licensee.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The proposed one-time exemption would not increase the probability
or consequences of accidents previously analyzed that affect facility
radiation levels or facility radiological effluents. The licensee has
analyzed the results of previous Type A tests performed at Zion Nuclear
Power Station, Unit 1, and has provided an acceptable basis for
concluding that, with the proposed one-time extension of the Type A
test interval, the containment leakage rates will still be maintained
within
[[Page 34306]]
acceptable limits. Accordingly, the Commission has concluded that the
one-time extension does not result in a significant increase in the
amounts of any effluents that may be released nor does it result in a
significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational radiation
exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
exemption only involves Type A testing of the containment. 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 exemption.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed exemption, 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 resources not previously
considered in connection with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Final
Environmental Statement dated December 1972, related to the operation
of the Zion Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on June 7, 1995, the NRC
staff consulted with the Illinois State Official, Mr. Frank Niziolek;
Head, Reactor Safety Section, Division of Engineering; 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 exemption.
For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's
letter dated May 12, 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 Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County Street, Waukegan,
Illinois 60085.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of June 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Clyde Y. Shiraki,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-16110 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
