[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10528]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-272 and 50-311]
Public Service Electric and Gas Co.; Issuance of Environmental
Assessment Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating Licenses No.
DPR-70 and DPR-75, issued to Public Service Electric and Gas Company
(the licensee), for the operation of Salem Nuclear Generating Station,
Units 1 and 2.
Identification of Proposed Action
The amendments would consist of changes to the Technical
Specifications (TS) that would authorize an increase to the storage
capacity of the spent fuel pools (SFP) from 1170 fuel assemblies to
1632 fuel assemblies at each Salem unit.
The amendments to the TS are responsive to the licensee's
application dated April 28, 1993, as supplemented by letters of August
12, 1993, November 7, 1993, February 2, 1994, and April 7, 1994. The
NRC staff has prepared an Environmental Assessment of the proposed
action, ``Environmental Assessment by the Office of Nuclear Reactor
Regulation Relating to the Expansion of the Spent Fuel Pools, Public
Service Electric and Gas Company, Facility Operating License No. DPR-70
and DPR-75, Salem Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1 and 2, Docket
Nos. 50-272 and 50-311,'' dated April 25, 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 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 Salem Units 1 and 2, the SFP modification will not create any
significant additional radiological effects or measurable
nonradiological environmental impacts.
In the event of a fuel handling accident, the whole body dose and
thyroid dose that might be received by an individual at the site
boundary is well within regulatory requirements. It is not expected
that an increase in the occupational radiation dose will result from
the operation of the expanded spent fuel pools. For the modification of
the pools, the occupational exposure is estimated to be less than 4% of
the total annual occupational exposure at the facility. To assure as
low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) goals are met, during the SFP
expansion activities, work, personnel traffic and movement of equipment
will be monitored and controlled. Therefore, the staff concludes that
the exposure to workers is ALARA and is acceptable.
The only nonradiological impact affected by the expansion of the
spent fuel pools is the waste heat rejected. The increase in total
plant waste heat is insignificant (less than 0.05% of the total plant
heat loss to the environment). There is no significant environmental
impact attributed to the waste heat from the plant because of the
expansion of the spent fuel pools.
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 on this
assessment, the staff concludes that there are no significant
radiological or nonradiological impacts associated with the proposed
action and that the issuance of the proposed amendments to the licenses
will have no significant impact 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 amendments.
For further details with respect to this action, see (1) the
application for amendments to the Technical Specifications dated April
28, 1993, as supplemented by letters of August 12, 1993, November 17,
1993, February 2, 1994, and April 7, 1994, (2) the FGEIS on Handling
and Storage of Spent Light Water Power Reactor Fuel (NUREG-0575), (3)
the Final Environmental Statement for Salem Nuclear Generating Station,
Units 1 and 2, issued April 1973, and (4) the Environmental Assessment
dated April 25, 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 in the Salem Free Public Library, 112 West
Broadway, Salem, New Jersey 08079.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of April 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Charles L. Miller,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-10528 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M