95-20113. Arizona Public Service Company, et al.; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of no Significant Impact  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 15, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 42189-42190]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-20113]
    
    
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    [Docket No. STN 50-530]
    
    
    Arizona Public Service Company, et al.; Palo Verde Nuclear 
    Generating Station, Unit No. 3; Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
    no Significant Impact
    
        The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
    considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of 10 
    CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a), Type A Tests, to the 
    Arizona Public Service Company, et al. (APS or the licensee), for 
    operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), Unit 
    No. 3, located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of the Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action would allow an exemption from the requirements 
    of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a), on a one-time 
    schedular extension which would permit rescheduling the second 
    containment integrated leak rate test (ILRT) in the first 10-year 
    service period from the fifth refueling outage (3R5) currently 
    scheduled for November 1995 to the sixth refueling outage (3R6) planned 
    for April 1997.
        The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
    application for exemption dated June 21, 1995.
    
    The Need for the Proposed Action
    
        The current ILRT requirements for PVNGS, Unit 3, as set forth in 
    Appendix J, are that, after the pre-operational leak rate test, a set 
    of three Type A tests must be performed at approximately equal 
    intervals during each 10-year period. Also, the third test of each set 
    must be conducted when the plant is shut down for the 10-year plant 
    inservice inspection (ISI). The first periodic Type A test was 
    performed in May of 1991 during the second refueling outage in Unit 3 
    (3R2), 40 months from the date of Unit 3 commercial operation. The 
    second periodic test is currently scheduled to be performed in November 
    of 1995 during the fifth refueling outage (3R5), corresponding to an 
    interval of 54 months. The third Type A test is currently planned to be 
    performed during the seventh refueling outage 
    
    [[Page 42190]]
    (3R7) which would coincide with the completion of the first 10-year ISI 
    interval.
        The licensee has requested a schedular exemption from 10 CFR 50, 
    Appendix J, Section III.D.1.(a) in regards to ``approximately equal 
    time intervals.'' Specifically, the proposed exemption would allow APS 
    to delay the Unit 3 second Type A test until the sixth refueling outage 
    (3R6). The Type A test would tentatively be scheduled for April of 
    1997, and would increase the interval between the first and second Type 
    A test from 54 months to 71 months. The third Type A test is not being 
    altered by this exemption request and is scheduled to be performed 
    during the seventh refueling outage (3R7) which would coincide with the 
    completion of the first 10-year ISI interval. This exemption request 
    proposes an increase to the interval between the first and second Type 
    A test but does not alter the frequency of testing (three Type A tests 
    performed in a ten year period) during the first 10 year ISI interval. 
    The visual inspection of the containment is not included in the 
    proposed exemption and will be performed as originally planned during 
    the fifth refueling outage (3R5).
    
    Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
    
        The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
    and concludes that the proposed one-time exemption would not increase 
    the probability or consequences of accidents previously analyzed and 
    the proposed one-time exemption would not affect facility radiation 
    levels or facility radiological effluents. The licensee has analyzed 
    the results of previous Type A tests performed at the Palo Verde 
    Nuclear Generating Station, Unit 3. The licensee has provided an 
    acceptable basis for concluding that the proposed one-time extension of 
    the Type A test interval would maintain the containment leakage rates 
    within 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 on 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 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 not result in any change in current environmental impacts. The 
    environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action 
    are similar.
        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, and there is no significant increase in the 
    allowable individual or cumulative occupation radiation exposure. 
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
    radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
    exemption.
    
    Alternative Use of Resources
    
        This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
    considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the 
    Operation of Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 
    3,'' dated February 1982.
    
    Agencies and Persons Consulted
    
        In accordance with its stated policy, on July 17, 1995, the staff 
    consulted with the Arizona State official, Mr. William Wright of the 
    Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency, 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 June 21, 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 Phoenix Public Library, 1221 N. Central, Phoenix, 
    Arizona 85004.
    
        Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of August 1995.
    
        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Charles R. Thomas,
    Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects 
    III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 95-20113 Filed 8-14-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/15/1995
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-20113
Pages:
42189-42190 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. STN 50-530
PDF File:
95-20113.pdf