[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43364-43365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21360]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301]
Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Point Beach Nuclear Plant,
Units 1 and 2); Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant
Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating Licenses Nos.
DPR-24 and DPR-27, issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, (the
licensee), for operation of the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and
2, located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
By letter dated January 24, 1997, as supplemented by letter dated
May 15, 1997, the licensee proposed to change the technical
specifications (TSs) to allow an increase in fuel enrichment (Uranium
235, U-235) to 5.0 weight percent and to require the use of integral
fuel burnable absorbers for assemblies with enrichments greater than
4.6 weight percent U-235. Point Beach TSs currently limit fuel in the
spent fuel pool and new fuel storage racks to a maximum enrichment of
44.8 grams of U-235 per axial centimeter (approximately 4.0 weight
percent of a standard fuel assembly and 46.8 grams of U-235 per axial
centimeter (approximately 4.75 weight percent) of an Optimized Fuel
Assembly (OFA).
The Need for the Proposed Action
The licensee intends, in the future, to use the more highly
enriched fuel to support longer fuel cycles. Currently, TS 15.5.4
limits the enrichment of fuel assemblies stored in the spent fuel pool
and new fuel storage racks. Before the licensee extends plant operating
cycles, it plans on receiving shipments of 5.0 weight percent fuel.
Thus, the change to the TSs was requested.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed
revision to the TSs and concludes that storage and use of fuel enriched
with U-235 up to 5.0 weight percent at Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units
1 and 2 is acceptable. The safety considerations associated with higher
enrichments were evaluated by the NRC staff and the staff concluded
that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety.
The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use
of higher enrichment are discussed in the staff assessment entitled
``NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Transportation
Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and Irradiation,'' dated July
7, 1988. This assessment was published in the Federal Register on
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355), as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR
32322) in connection with an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact related to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant,
Unit 1. As indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an
increase in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and
irradiation limits of up to 60 gigawatt days per metric ton (GWD/MT)
are either unchanged, or may in fact be reduced from those summarized
in Table S-4 as set forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c). These findings are
applicable to the proposed amendments for Point Beach Nuclear Plant,
Units 1 and 2. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed
action would result in no significant radiological environmental
impact.
The 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, no changes are being made to the authorized
power level, and there is no significant increase in the allowable
individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. 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 does involve 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. 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
[[Page 43365]]
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
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on July 29, 1997, the staff
consulted with the Wisconsin State official, Ms. Sarah Jenkins of the
Wisconsin Public Service Commission, 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 January 24, 1997, as supplemented by letter
dated May 15, 1997, 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
The Lester Public Library, 1001 Adams Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of August 1997.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Linda L. Gundrum,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-21360 Filed 8-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
