[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45170-45171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21495]
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[[Page 45171]]
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-498 and 50-499]
Houston Lighting & Power Company, City Public Service Board of
San Antonio, Central Power and Light Company, City of Austin, Texas;
South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from the Commission's regulations
at 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J to Houston Lighting & Power Company
(HL&P) acting on behalf of itself and for the City Public Service Board
of San Antonio (CPS), Central Power and Light Company (CPL), and City
of Austin, Texas (COA) (the licensees), for operation of the South
Texas Project, Units 1 and 2, located in Matagorda County, Texas.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would grant an exemption from a requirement of
Section III.D.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50, which requires that
Type C tests shall be performed during each reactor shutdown for
refueling but in no case at intervals greater than 2 years. This
exemption would allow the licensee to perform the required Type C tests
while the plant is at power.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated May 25, 1995.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Section III.D.3 of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 states that Type C
tests shall be performed during each reactor shutdown for refueling but
in no case at intervals greater than 2 years. However, the licensee
states that during shutdown, resources are at a premium. The licensee,
therefore, desires the option to perform Type C testing at times other
than during shutdown. The proposed exemption would allow the option to
perform Type C testing at power. Minimal safety benefit would be
realized by only performing the Type C tests during each reactor
shutdown for refueling because the conditions of the testing are the
same regardless of when it is performed. Without this exemption, the
licensee would not be allowed to reduce an unintentional regulatory
burden that has minimal impact on safety.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the exemption would not significantly increase the
probability or amount of expected containment leakage, and that
containment integrity would thus be maintained.
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 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 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 related to
the operation of South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2,'' dated August
1986.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on July 5, 1995, the staff
consulted with the Texas State official, Arthur C. Tate of the Bureau
of Radiation Control, Texas Department of Health, 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 May 25, 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 Wharton County Junior College, J.M. Hodges
Learning Center, 911 Boling Highway, Wharton, TX 77488.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of August 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Thomas W. Alexion,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-1, Division of Reactor
Projects, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-21495 Filed 8-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
