[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12729]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 25, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-482]

 

Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.; 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 exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 
part 50, Appendix J, Section III.D.1(a) to Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating 
Corporation, (the licensee), for operation of the Wolf Creek Generating 
Station, Unit 1, located in Coffey County, Kansas.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    Section III.D.1(a) of Appendix J to 10 CFR Part 50 requires the 
performance of three Type A tests, overall integrated leakage rate 
tests (ILRTs), at approximately equal intervals during each 10-year 
service period with the third test of each set being conducted when the 
plant is shutdown for the 10-year plant inservice inspections. Wolf 
Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation performed the first two ILRTs for 
the first 10-year service period in October 1988 and September 1991. 
The licensee proposes to perform the third test during the eighth 
refueling outage which coincides with the 10-year plant inservice 
inspections. However, the current schedule for the eighth refueling 
outage would result in the test being performed approximately six 
months beyond the 10-year service period.
    Section 50.12(a)(2)(ii) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations provides an example of a special circumstance for which the 
NRC will consider granting exemptions that involve cases for which 
application of the regulation is not necessary to achieve the 
underlying purpose of the rule. The licensee completed ILRTs in October 
1988 and September 1991. Strict application of Appendix J would require 
performance of another ILRT during the seventh refueling outage in 
order to achieve three tests within the 10-year service period and a 
subsequent test during the eighth refueling outage in order to perform 
an ILRT during the 10-year plant inservice inspections. In order to 
avoid performance of the fourth ILRT, the licensee has proposed a one-
time exemption to allow performance of the third ILRT during the eighth 
refueling outage. Performance of the third test during the eighth 
refueling outage would result in the test being performed approximately 
54 months after the second test.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemption would extend the performance of the third 
ILRT several months beyond the end of the first 10-year service period 
in order to preclude the need to perform ILRTs during consecutive 
refueling outages. The need for the exemption results from the 
requirement to perform the ILRT during refueling outages and the 
schedules associated with the seventh and eighth refueling outages. 
ILRTs need to be performed during both the seventh and eighth refueling 
outages to satisfy both aspects of the Appendix J periodic retest 
schedules; three tests during 10-year service intervals with the third 
test during 10-year plant inservice inspections.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
exemption and concludes that granting of the one-time relief does not 
affect the configuration of plant systems or plant operating practices. 
The proposed exemption is limited to the scheduling for the third ILRT 
during the first 10-year service interval. Previous testing has 
demonstrated the integrity of the containment structure. Leakage 
through containment penetrations and valves would continue to be 
identified by performance of local leak rate testing (LLRT). Therefore, 
no increase in the release of radioactive materials following an 
accident would result from the extension of the ILRT testing interval. 
The extension of the ILRT interval does not affect the radioactive 
effluent releases during normal operation. Accordingly, the Commission 
concludes that this proposed action would result in no significant 
radiological environmental impact.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
exemption only involves the scheduling of ILRT testing. It does not 
affect nonradiological plant effluents and there are no other 
nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
exemption.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
environmental impacts 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 
exemption and require the licensee to conduct ILRT during both the 
seventh and eighth refueling outages. Denial would not significantly 
reduce the environmental impact of plant operation and would result in 
lost electrical generation and expense of significant licensee 
resources.

Alternate Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Wolf 
Creek Generating Station dated June 1982.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and consulted with 
the Kansas State official. The State official had no comments regarding 
the NRC's proposed action.
Finding of No Significant Impact
    The NRC staff has determined not to prepare an environmental impact 
statement for the proposed exemption.
    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.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the request 
for exemption dated October 27, 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 Local 
Public Document Rooms, Emporia State University, William Allen White 
Library, 1200 Commercial Street, Emporia, Kansas 66801 and the Washburn 
University School of Law Library, Topeka, Kansas 66621.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of May 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James E. Lyons,
Acting Director, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects 
III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-12729 Filed 5-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M