[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8182]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 6, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-445 and 50-446]

 

Texas Utilities Electric Co.; Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
50.71(e)(3)(i) to Texas Utilities Electric Company (the licensee) for 
the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in 
Somervell County, Texas.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    Section 50.71(e)(3)(i) of title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations requires the licensees of nuclear power reactors to submit 
an Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR). The UFSAR is defined 
as ``a revision of the original FSAR [Final Safety Analysis Report] 
containing those original pages that are still applicable plus new 
replacement pages.'' By letter dated October 14, 1993, the licensee 
requested an exemption from 10 CFR 50.71(e) that would eliminate the 
requirement to resubmit those original pages of the FSAR that are still 
applicable when submitting the UFSAR.
    The licensee has maintained the FSAR current since the original 
FSAR submittal in 1978 to the present by issuing amendments to the 
FSAR, which contain new replacement pages, approximately every three 
months. The licensee has committed to maintain the FSAR using this 
process until the issuance of the UFSAR. The final amendment to the 
FSAR, containing only replacement pages, would convert the FSAR to the 
UFSAR. The amendment to convert the FSAR to the UFSAR would be 
submitted by February 2, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Section 50.71(e) requires that licensee submit, within two years of 
receiving an operating license, a UFSAR that contains the original FSAR 
pages that are still applicable and new replacement pages. The purpose 
of this requirement is to assure that the Final Safety Analysis Report 
is updated to contain the latest material developed.
    The Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station FSAR is approximately 
7,500 to 8,000 pages of text and tables, and 1,500 to 2,000 sheets of 
figures. As the licensee has maintained the FSAR current by frequent 
amendments, the vast majority of this material does not require 
revision and the number of new replacement pages associated with the 
UFSAR submittal would be relatively small. Thus, the CPSES FSAR meets 
the intent of 10 CFR 50.71(e) for issuance of the UFSAR because it 
contains the latest material developed.
    Therefore, an exemption is warranted since the licensee has 
maintained the FSAR in a manner that is consistent with the underlying 
purpose of issuing the UFSAR in accordance with 10 CFR 50.71(e).

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption affects only the size of the UFSAR submittal 
and does not affect the risk of facility accidents. Thus, post-accident 
radiological releases will not differ from those determined previously, 
and the proposed exemption does not otherwise affect facility 
radiological effluents, or any significant occupational exposures. With 
regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed exemption 
does not affect plant nonradiological effluents and has no other 
environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there 
are no measurable radiological or 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 exemption, any 
alternatives either will have no environmental impact or will have a 
greater environmental impact. The principal alternative to the 
exemption would be to require that the licensee submit the original 
FSAR pages that are still applicable with the UFSAR replacement pages. 
Such an action would not enhance the protection of the environment.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not considered 
previously in the Final Environmental Statement for Comanche Peak Steam 
Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, dated September 1981, and Supplement 
dated October 1989.

Agencies and Persons Contacted

    The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request. The staff consulted 
with the State of Texas regarding the environmental impact of the 
proposed action.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the proposed exemption. On the basis of the 
environmental assessment, we conclude that the proposed action will not 
have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated October 14, 1993, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, the Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555 and at the 
University of Texas at Arlington Library, Government Publications/Maps, 
701 South Cooper, P.O. Box 19297, Arlington, Texas 76019.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of March 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Lawrence E. Kokajko,
Acting Director, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects 
III/IV/V, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-8182 Filed 4-5-94; 8:45 am]
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