[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16196]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 5, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-213]
Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company; Haddam Neck Plant
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No.
DPR-61, issued to Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO, the
licensee), for operation of the Haddam Neck Plant, located in Middlesex
County, Connecticut.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed amendment will revise Technical Specification (TS)
Section 3/4.5.1, ``ECCS Subsystems--Tavg Greater Than or Equal to 350
deg.F,'' by adding a new ACTION Statement ``a'' which increases the
allowed outage time for the centrifugal charging pumps from 72 hours to
7 days. The Technical Specification changes will reduce the risk of an
unnecessary shutdown to perform charging pump repairs. The proposed
action is in accordance with the licensee's amendment request dated
November 2, 1993, as supplemented February 28, 1994, and May 31, 1994.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The current TS allows a charging pump to be inoperable for a period
of up to 72 hours. Experience at the plant has shown that 72 hours may
not be sufficient to accomplish certain repairs such as rebuilding the
rotating assembly or complete pump replacement. Increasing the allowed
outage time to 7 days provides sufficient time to perform such repairs
without having to shut the plant down.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
revision to the TS. The increase in the core damage frequency due to
internal events as result of the increased allowed outage time is 3.0E-
7 per year or less than 1 percent of the current core damage frequency
of 1.8E-4 per year for internal events. The increase in the core damage
frequency due to external events as result of the increased outage time
has been determined to be insignificant for external events. The
unavailability of the charging pumps has limited effects on the risk
because the charging pumps are not credited for during the injection
phase of a design basis accident and are the backup to the high-
pressure safety injection pumps during the recirculation phase if power
is available. The only use of the charging pumps credited in the safety
analysis is for two path sump recirculation, which is later in the
accident and is manually initiated.
The TS 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.
Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant
radiological environmental impacts associated with this proposed TS
amendment.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
amendment involves 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. Therefore, the
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed amendment, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be
evaluated. The principal alternative to the amendment would be to deny
the amendment request. Such action would not enhance the protection of
the environment and would result in unjustified cost to the licensee.
Alternative Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of resources not considered
previously in the Final Environmental Statement for the Haddam Neck
Plant.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with the Connecticut State official
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 amendment.
For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the
licensee's letters dated November 2, 1993, as supplemented February 28,
and May 31, 1994. These letters are 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 the Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown
Connecticut 06547.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of June 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-4, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-16196 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
