[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-254]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 6, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-293]

 

Boston Edison Co., (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station); Exemption

I

    The Boston Edison Company (BECo, the licensee) is the holder of 
Facility Operating License No. DRP-35, which authorizes the operation 
of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (the facility), at steady state power 
levels not in excess of 1998 megawatts thermal. This facility is a 
boiling water reactor located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The license 
provides, among other things, that Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is 
subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the Commission now or 
hereafter in effect.

II

    BECo is preparing to implement the Final Rule on Standards for 
Protection Against Radiation, 10 CFR part 20, on January 1, 1994. 
Section 20.1902(d) of the Final Rule specifies posting requirements for 
airborne radioactivity areas (ARA) and Sec. 20.1003 defines an ARA 
based on the derived air concentrations (DAC) values of radionuclides 
provided in Table 1 of Appendix B to 10 CFR part 20.

III

    By letter dated September 13, 1993, the licensee requested an 
exemption, pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2301, from the DAC values for Kr-89 
and Xe-137 in Table 1 of appendix B to 10 CFR part 20 and provided 
alternative values in order to use more appropriate specific DAC values 
for these radionuclides. The requested exemption would constitute a 
permanent change to the Final Rule values for Kr-89 and Xe-137 for the 
facility.
    Based on the NRC staff evaluation, it was calculated that the dose 
equivalent, in units of rem, that corresponds to an exposure of 2,000 
hours at the requested DACs of 10-6 uCi/cm for Kr-89 and 10-5 
uCi/cm for Xe-137 is below the limiting dose values used for 
determining the radionuclide-specific DAC values in Appendix B to 10 
CFR 20.001-20.2402 (and in Federal Guidance Report No. 11). Therefore, 
the staff finds the specific DAC values acceptable alternatives for use 
in place of the generic DAC value of 10-7 uCi/ml for these 
radionuclides when determining whether an area is, and requires posting 
as, an airborne radioactivity area.

IV

    Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 
20.2301, the requested exemption from the DAC values for Kr-89 and Xe-
137 in Table 1 of Appendix A to 10 CFR part 20 and use of the values 
specified in the licensee's request is authorized by law, and will not 
result in undue hazard to life or property. The exemption request has 
been evaluated in a Safety Evaluation dated December 29, 1993.
    Therefore, the Commission hereby grants BECo and exemption from the 
values in the Final Rule for Kr-89 and Xe-137 and approves the use of 
the proposed values in their request when determining whether an area 
is, and requires posting as, an airborne radioactivity area. This 
exemption constitutes a permanent change to the applicability of the 
Regulations in this regard for the facility.
    Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the 
granting of this Exemption will have no significant impact on the 
quality of the human environment (58 FR 68672 dated December 28, 1993).
    This exemption is effective upon issuance.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of December 1993.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Jose A. Calvo,
Acting Director, Division of Reactor Projects I/II, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-254 Filed 1-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M