[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40866-40867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19764]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-277 and 50-278]
Peco Energy Co., Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Delmarva
Power & Light Co., Atlantic City Electric Co., Peach Bottom Atomic
Power Station, Units 2 and 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos.
DPR-44 and DPR-56, issued to PECO Energy Company, Public Service
Electric and Gas Company, Delmarva Power and Light Company, and
Atlantic City Electric Company (the licensee), for operation of the
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (PBAPS), Units 2 and 3 located in
York County, Pennsylvania.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would extend the allowed-out-of-service-times
(AOTs) for the PBAPS Energy Diesel Generators (EDGs) based on the
availability of an alternate AC (AAC) power source. The AAC is a direct
tie line between the PBAPS and the Conowingo Hydroelectric Station
located approximately 9 miles down the Susquehanna River from PBAPS.
Currently, the AOT for a single inoperable EDG is 7 days. The
amendments would allow the AOT for a single EDG inoperable to be a
maximum of 14 days provided the Conowingo line is verified to be
available. However, under no circumstances will the AOT be more than 7
days without the Conowingo line being available.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for amendments dated April 7, 1994, as supplemented by
letters dated June 2, 1994, September 6, 1994, June 16, 1995 and July
13, 1995.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action will provide increased flexibility in
scheduling and performing maintenance activities on the EDGs. The
licensee currently faces significant challenges to complete periodic
maintenance and modification activities within the existing TS 7-day
AOT. Expiration of the AOT for EDGs without restoring all EDGs to an
operable status requires shutting down both Peach Bottom units in
accordance with the existing TS. In addition, the 7-day maximum EDG AOT
in the current TS precludes the performance of certain major beneficial
maintenance activities
[[Page 40867]]
and modifications without shutting down both Peach Bottom units.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and based on the information presented in the licensee's application,
concludes that the proposed extension of the EDG's AOT in conjunction
with the availability of the Conowingo line, will not increase the
probability of initiating events leading to a design basis accident.
The additional reliability of the offsite source afforded by the
Conowingo line would improve the potential for mitigating loss-of-
offsite power events. Consequently, the consequences of accidents would
not be significantly increased, nor would the post-accident
radiological releases be greater than previously determined.
The proposed action would not otherwise affect radiological plant
effluents. 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 (extending EDG AOTs) 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
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, dated April 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on July 24, 1995, the staff
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Stan Maingi, of the
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 the
proposed action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated April 7, 1994, as supplemented by letters dated
June 2, and September 6, 1994, and June 16, and July 13, 1995, which
are 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 Government Publications
Section, State Library of Pennsylvania, (Regional Depository) Education
Building, Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Box 1601, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania.
Dated at Rockville, MD, this 4th day of August 1995.
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. 95-19764 Filed 8-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
