[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3728]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 18, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-336]

 

Northeast Nuclear Energy Co., Millstone Nuclear Power Station, 
Unit No. 2; Notice of Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Operating License No. DPR-65 to 
Northeast Nuclear Energy Company, (the licensee) for Millstone Nuclear 
Power Station, Unit No. 2 located in Waterford, Connecticut.

Identification of Proposed Action

    The amendment would consist of changes to the operating license and 
Technical Specifications (TS). The changes would modify the spent fuel 
pool (SFP) by introducing neutron absorbing (poison) rodlets (pins) 
into the stored fuel and increase the required burnup in Region C to 
permit removal of the cell blockers, thus increasing by 234 fuel 
assemblies the storage capacity of the SFP.
    The amendment to the TS is responsive to the licensee's application 
dated May 14, 1993, as supplemented by letters of July 10, July 16, 
November 30, December 1, 1993, and January 27, 1994. The NRC staff has 
prepared an Environmental Assessment of the proposed action, 
``Environmental Assessment By the Office of Nuclear Rector Regulation 
Relating to the Modification of the Spent Fuel Storage Pool, Operating 
License No. DPR-65, Northeast Nuclear Energy Company, Millstone Nuclear 
Power Station, Unit No. 2. Docket No. 50-336'' dated February 14, 1994.

Summary of Environmental Assessment

    The Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement (FGEIS) on 
Handling and Storage of Spent Light Water Power Reactor Fuel (NUREG-
0575) concluded that the environmental impact of interim storage of 
spent fuel was negligible and the cost of the various alternatives 
reflects the advantage of continued generation of nuclear power with 
the accompanying spent fuel storage. Because of the differences in SFP 
designs, the FGEIS recommended licensing SFP expansion on a case-by-
case basis.
    For Millstone Unit 2, the SFP modification will not create any 
significant additional radiological effects or measurable 
nonradiological environmental impacts. The licensee has evaluated the 
effect of the changes on the calculated consequences of a spectrum of 
postulated design basis accidents and concludes that the effect of the 
proposed TS changes are small and that the calculated consequences are 
within regulatory requirements and staff guideline dose values. The 
total occupational exposure for the modification and the additional 
occupational exposure for subsequent operation of the modified SFP will 
not significantly increase since the radiation fields in the area near 
the pool are not expected to increase during the SFP modification. 
Divers will not be used during the modifications and the licensee will 
prepare and follow specific procedures that are consistent with good 
ALARA principles and practices. Therefore, the staff concludes that the 
exposure to workers is as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA) and 
is acceptable.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The staff has reviewed this proposed facility modification relative 
to the requirements set forth in 10 CFR part 51. Based upon the 
environmental assessment, the staff concluded that there are no 
significant radiological or nonradiological impacts associated with the 
proposed action and that the proposed license amendment will not have a 
significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, 
the Commission has determined, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, not to prepare 
an environmental impact statement for the proposed amendment.
    For further details with respect to this action, see (1) the 
application for the amendment to the Technical Specifications dated May 
14, 1993, as supplemented by letters of July 10, July 16, November 30, 
December 1, 1993, and January 27, 1994, (2) the FGEIS on Handling and 
Storage of Spent Light Power Reactor Fuel (NUREG-0575), (3) the Final 
Environmental Statement for Milestone, Unit No. 2 issued June 1973, and 
(4) the Environmental Assessment dated February 14, 1994. These 
documents are available for public inspection at the Commission's 
Public Document Room, the Gelman Building, 2120 L Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20555, and at the local public document room located at 
the Learning Resource Center, Three Rivers Community-Technical College, 
Thames Valley Campus, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich, Connecticut 
06360.


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of February 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-4, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-3728 Filed 2-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M