[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9254]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 18, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251]

 

Florida Power and Light Co.; Issuance of Environmental Assessment 
and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or the 
staff) is considering the issuance of proposed amendments which would 
change the expiration date for Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-31 
and DPR-41 issued to Florida Power and Light Company (the licensee), 
for operation of the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Units 3 and 4, 
(Turkey Point or the facility) located in Dade County, Florida. The 
proposed amendments would extend the operating license (OL) terms for 
Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 from April 27, 2007 to July 19, 2012 and to 
April 10, 2013, respectively.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The currently-licensed term for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 is 40 
years commencing with the issuance of the construction permits (April 
27, 1967). The operating licenses expire on April 27, 2007. Accounting 
for the time that was required for plant construction, this represents 
an effective operating license term of approximately 34 years for each 
unit. By application dated February 25, 1992, the licensee requested 
recapture of the construction period in the 40-year OL term, thus 
extending the operating license terms for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 to 
July 19, 2012 and April 10, 2013, respectively. The granting of the 
proposed license amendments would allow the licensee to operate Turkey 
Point Units 3 and 4 for an addition 5.25 years and 6 years, 
respectively, beyond the current expiration dates. Additional 
information in support of the request is provided by the licensee's 
letters of June 22 and July 13, 1993.

Summary of Environmental Assessment

    The Commission has reviewed the potential environmental impact of 
the proposed change and issued ``Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact by the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 
Related to the Change in Expiration Dates of Facility Operating License 
Nos. DPR-31 and DPR-41, Florida Power and Light Company, Turkey Point 
Nuclear Generating Units 3 and 4, Docket Nos. 50-250 and 50-251'' dated 
April 7, 1994. This review considered both the radiological and non-
radiological impacts of extended operation compared with those 
projected in the Turkey Point Final Environmental Statement (FES) dated 
July 1972. This review evaluated the historical annual collective dose 
at the facility, dose reduction measures implemented by the licensee, 
and more recent Commission policy contained in a memorandum from the 
Executive Director for Operations to the Commission dated August 19, 
1982.

Radiological Impacts

    The staff considered potential radiological impacts on the general 
public residing in the vicinity of the facility and workers at the 
plant due to normal radiological releases, potential accidents, the 
uranium fuel cycle, and the transportation of fuel and waste.
    The 1990 U.S. Government Census population update shows that the 
nearest population centers to Turkey Point, all to the west and north 
beyond a 5-mile radius from the facility, are lower than the population 
projections in the FES. The FES conservatively estimated a population 
of 170,000 in the year 1986 within the 10-mile emergency planning zone 
(EPZ) compared to the U.S. Government Census population update of 
105,679 for the year 1990 and projected population of 144,638 for the 
year 2013. The exclusion area and nearest population center, and local 
land usage, are not changed. The site will continue to meet the 
requirements of 10 CFR part 100. Station radiological effluents to 
unrestricted areas during normal operation have been well within 
Commission regulations relating to as-low-as-reasonably-achievable 
(ALARA) limits, and are indicative of future releases. As a result of 
low radiological exposure from plant releases during normal operation, 
low public risk from accidents, and conservative population estimates 
within the EPZ, the environmental impact findings in the FES are not 
affected. With regard to station personnel, the licensee complies with 
Commission guidance and requirements for keeping radiation exposures 
ALARA for occupational exposures. The licensee will continue to comply 
with these requirements during the additional years of facility 
operation and apply advanced technology when available and appropriate. 
Accordingly, radiological impacts on individuals, both onsite and 
offsite, are not significantly changed from those previously estimated 
in the FES and its conclusions remain valid.
    The net annualized environmental effects associated with the 
uranium fuel cycle, which form the basis for Table S-3, ``Table of 
Uranium Fuel Cycle Environmental Data'' of 10 CFR 51.51, remain 
essentially unchanged from those addressed in the FES. The 
environmental impacts attributable to the transportation of spent fuel 
and waste from the Turkey Point site with respect to the normal 
conditions of transport and possible incidents in transport would 
continue to be as set forth in Summary Table S-4, ``Environmental 
Impact of Transportation of Fuel and Waste to and from One Light Water-
Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor'' of 10 CFR part 51.52. The combined 
storage capacity of the two spent fuel pools is 2808 fuel cells and, 
based upon the licensee's current projections, this capacity will 
accommodate spent fuel discharges throughout the recaptured operating 
period for Turkey Point Units 3 and 4.
    The estimated additional volume of low-level radioactive waste 
(LLRW) that would be generated and would require disposal during the 
approximately 11.25 additional reactor-years of operation is a small 
fraction of the volume of LLRW that will be produced by the facility 
during the current authorized operating period. The staff, therefore, 
concluded that conditions of 10 CFR 51.52(c) will be met and that no 
new analysis of the environmental effects of transportation of fuel and 
waste to and from the reactor is necessary.

Non-Radiological Impacts

    The FES evaluated the non-radiological impacts associated with 40-
year facility operation. The assumptions and bases for the FES 
assessments have not changed and have remained valid throughout the 
operating period of the facility. The licensee will continue to submit 
annual non-radiological environmental reports concerning unusual or 
important events impacting the environment and comply with applicable 
Federal, State and local agency requirements relating to environmental 
protection. Compliance with these requirements will preclude any 
significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed action.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action. The denial alternative is, in effect, 
the same as the ``no-action'' alternative. Denial of the application 
would result in no change in current environmental impacts since the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action are insignificant.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action did not involve the use of any resources not previously 
considered in the FES dated July 1972, related to operation of the 
facility.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with the State of Florida regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State of Florida had 
no comments on the proposed action.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has reviewed the FES and the additional information 
provided by the licensee to determine the environmental impact of 
operation of the facility for the proposed additional 11.25 reactor-
years. 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. Therefore, 
the Commission has determined, pursuant to 10 CFR 51.31, not to prepare 
an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.
    For further details with respect to this action, see (1) the 
application for amendments dated February 25, 1992, and additional 
information provided by the licensee's letters of June 22, and July 13, 
1993, (2) ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the Operation of 
Turkey Point,'' Florida Power and Light Company, Docket Nos. 50-250 and 
50-251 dated July 1972, and (3) the Environmental Assessment dated 
April 7, 1994. These documents are available for public inspection at 
the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, 
DC and at the local public document rooms located at Florida 
International University, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199 and at 
Indian River Community College, Ft. Pierce, Florida.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of April 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Herbert N. Berkow,
Director, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-9254 Filed 4-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M