[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52310-52311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26206]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]
Florida Power and Light Company, Turkey Point Unit 3 and Unit 4;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or NRC) is
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its
regulations to Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee), holder
of Facility Operating Licenses Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41 for operation of
Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, respectively.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated December 12, 1996, as supplemented July 31, October
31, and December 17, 1997, and June 2 and August 4, 1998, for exemption
from certain requirements of Appendix R, ``Fire Protection Program for
Nuclear Power Facilities Operating Prior to January 1, 1979,'' for
Turkey Point Units 3 and 4. Specifically, the licensee requested an
exemption from the requirements of Appendix R, Subsection III.G.2.a,
for raceway fire barriers in outdoor fire zones, excluding the Open
Turbine Building. On February 24, 1998, the staff issued a partial
exemption for fire zones 47, 54,113, 114, 115, 116 ,118, 119, 120, and
143, and denied the exemption request for fire zone 106R. The current
exemption request covers fire zones 79--partial, 81, 84--partial, 86,
88--partial, and 89-partial. Fire zone 131 will be addressed
separately.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The Thermo-Lag fire barriers installed at Turkey Point Units 3 and
4 were found to have a rating of 25-minutes, which does not meet the
requirements specified in Subsection III.G.2.a. The proposed exemptions
are needed because compliance with the regulation would result in
significant additional costs.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the proposed action involves features located
entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.
The proposed action will not result in an increase in the
probability or consequences of accidents or result in a change in
occupational or offsite dose. Therefore, there are no radiological
impacts associated with the proposed action.
The proposed action will not result in a change in nonradiological
plant effluents and will have no other nonradiological environmental
impact.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no
environmental impacts associated with this action.
Alternative to the Proposed Action
As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered
denial of the proposed action (no-action alternative). 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 did not involve the use of any resources not previously
considered in the Final Environmental Statements related to operation
of Turkey Point Units 3 and 4, dated July 1972.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on September 17, 1998, the
NRC staff consulted with the Florida State official, Mr. William
Passetti of the Bureau of Radiation Control, 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 December 12, 1996, as supplemented on July 31,
October 31, and December 17, 1997, and June 2 and August 4, 1998, 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 Florida International
University, University Park, Miami, Florida.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of September 1998.
[[Page 52311]]
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Frederick J. Hebdon,
Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-26206 Filed 9-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
