[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8693]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 12, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

 

Arizona Public Service Co., et. al.; Palo Verde Nuclear 
Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3, Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

[Docket Nos. 50-528, 50-529, and 50-530]
    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. 
NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74 issued to Arizona Public Service Company, 
et. al., (the licensee), for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station 
(PVNGS) Units 1, 2, and 3 located in Wintersburg, Arizona.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    By letter dated October 26, 1993, the licensee proposed to change 
technical specifications (TS) to allow an increase in fuel enrichment 
(Uranium 235) to a maximum of 4.30 weight percent.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed changes to the TS are required in order to provide the 
licensee with operational flexibility to use fuel enriched with U-235 
up to 4.30 weight percent at PVNGS, Units 1, 2, and 3. The present TS 
permit a maximum of 4.05 weight percent U-235. Thus the change to the 
TS was requested.

Environmental Impact of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revision to the TS and concludes that storage and use of fuel enriched 
with U-235 up to 4.30 weight percent at PVNGS, Units 1, 2, and 3 is 
acceptable. The safety considerations associated with higher 
enrichments have been evaluated by the NRC staff and the staff has 
concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety. 
The proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any 
accident. There will be no change to authorized power level. There was 
no change requested to current 52,000 MWD/MTU burnup. The change in 
fuel enrichment is bounded by NRC staff generic review (discussed 
below). As a result, there is no significant increase in individual or 
cumulative radiation exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment and extended irradiation are discussed in the 
staff assessment entitled ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects 
of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and 
Irradiation.'' This assessment was published in the Federal Register on 
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355) as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 
32322) in connection with the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 
1: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As 
indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase 
in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and irradiation 
limits of up to 60,000 MWD/MTU are either unchanged, or may in fact be 
reduced from those summarized in Table S-4 as set forth in 10 CFR 
51.52(c). These findings are applicable to the proposed amendments for 
PVNGS, Units 1, 2, and 3. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that 
this proposed action would result in no significant radiological 
environmental impact.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
changes involve systems located within the restricted area as defined 
in 10 CFR part 20. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents 
and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission 
concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental 
impacts associated with the proposed amendments.
    The Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment, Proposed No 
Significant Hazards Consideration Determination, and Opportunity for 
Hearing in connection with this action was published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 1994 (59 FR 2860). No request for hearing or 
petition for leave to intervene was filed following this notice.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impacts need not be 
evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the requested 
amendments. The staff considered denial of the proposed action. This 
would not reduce environmental impacts of plant operation and would 
result in reduced operational flexibility.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to operation of 
the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station Units 1, 2, and 3, dated 
February 1982 (NUREG 0841).

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The staff consulted the State of Arizona official regarding 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no 
comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the proposed license amendment.
    Based upon the foregoing 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 license amendments.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the license's 
application for amendment dated October 26, 1993, which is available 
for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555 and at the local 
public document room at the Phoenix Public Library, 12 East McDowell 
Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.


    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6th day of April 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Theodore R. Quay,
Director, Project Directorate IV-3, Division of Reactor Project III/IV, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-8693 Filed 4-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M