[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36276-36277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17605]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]
Turkey Point Plant, Units 3 and 4; Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulation Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its
regulations to Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41 for
the Turkey Point Plant, Units 3 and 4, respectively, issued to the
Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee).
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action is in response to the licensee's application
dated March 5, 1998, for exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR
50.71(e)(4) regarding submission of revisions to the updated Final
Safety Analysis Report (FSAR). Under the proposed exemption, the
licensee would schedule updates to a single, unified FSAR for the two
units based on the refueling cycle of Unit 4 and at intervals not to
exceed 24 months.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 50.71(e)(4), requires
licensees to submit updates to their FSAR annually or within 6 months
after each refueling outage providing that the interval between
successive updates does not exceed 24 months. Since Units 3 and 4 share
a common FSAR, the licensee must update the same document annually or
within 6 months after a refueling outage for either unit. The
underlying purpose of the rule was to relieve licensees of the burden
of filing annual FSAR revisions while assuring that such revisions are
made at least every 24 months. The Commission reduced the burden, in
part, by permitting a licensee to submit its FSAR revisions 6 months
after refueling outages for its facility, but did not provide for
multiple unit facilities sharing a common FSAR in the rule. Rather, the
Commission stated: ``With respect to the concern about multiple
facilities sharing a common FSAR, licensees will have maximum
flexibility for scheduling updates on a case-by-case basis.'' 57 FR
39355 (1992). Allowing the exemption would maintain the updated FSAR
current within 24 months of the last revision.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that it involves administrative activities unrelated to
plant operation.
The proposed action will not result in an increase in the
probability or consequences of accidents or result in a change in
occupational exposure or offsite dose. Therefore, there are no
significant radiological impacts associated with the proposed action.
The proposed action will not result in a change in nonradiological
plant effluents and will have no other nonradiological environmental
impact.
[[Page 36277]]
Accordingly, the Commission concludes there are no significant
environmental impacts associated with this action.
Alternative to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded that there is no significant
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 exemption would
result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental
impacts of the proposed exemption and this alternative are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to
Turkey Point Plant dated July 1972.
Agencies and Persons Contacted
In accordance with its stated policy, on May 28, 1998, the staff
consulted with the Florida State official, Mr. William A. Passetti,
Chief, Office of Radiation Control, regarding the environmental impact
of the proposed action. The State official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
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. 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
request for the exemption dated March 5, 1998, which is available for
public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, Gelman
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public
document room located at the Library, Florida International University,
University Park Campus, Miami, Florida 33199.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of June 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Frederick J. Hebdon,
Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-17605 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-1-M
