[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16196]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 5, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-213]

 

Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company; Haddam Neck Plant 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
DPR-61, issued to Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCO, the 
licensee), for operation of the Haddam Neck Plant, located in Middlesex 
County, Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment will revise Technical Specification (TS) 
Section 3/4.5.1, ``ECCS Subsystems--Tavg Greater Than or Equal to 350 
deg.F,'' by adding a new ACTION Statement ``a'' which increases the 
allowed outage time for the centrifugal charging pumps from 72 hours to 
7 days. The Technical Specification changes will reduce the risk of an 
unnecessary shutdown to perform charging pump repairs. The proposed 
action is in accordance with the licensee's amendment request dated 
November 2, 1993, as supplemented February 28, 1994, and May 31, 1994.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The current TS allows a charging pump to be inoperable for a period 
of up to 72 hours. Experience at the plant has shown that 72 hours may 
not be sufficient to accomplish certain repairs such as rebuilding the 
rotating assembly or complete pump replacement. Increasing the allowed 
outage time to 7 days provides sufficient time to perform such repairs 
without having to shut the plant down.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revision to the TS. The increase in the core damage frequency due to 
internal events as result of the increased allowed outage time is 3.0E-
7 per year or less than 1 percent of the current core damage frequency 
of 1.8E-4 per year for internal events. The increase in the core damage 
frequency due to external events as result of the increased outage time 
has been determined to be insignificant for external events. The 
unavailability of the charging pumps has limited effects on the risk 
because the charging pumps are not credited for during the injection 
phase of a design basis accident and are the backup to the high-
pressure safety injection pumps during the recirculation phase if power 
is available. The only use of the charging pumps credited in the safety 
analysis is for two path sump recirculation, which is later in the 
accident and is manually initiated.
    The TS change will not increase the probability or consequences of 
accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that 
may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in the 
allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. 
Therefore, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
radiological environmental impacts associated with this proposed TS 
amendment.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
amendment involves features located entirely 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 amendment.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed amendment, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. The principal alternative to the amendment would be to deny 
the amendment request. Such action would not enhance the protection of 
the environment and would result in unjustified cost to the licensee.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not considered 
previously in the Final Environmental Statement for the Haddam Neck 
Plant.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

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

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the 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 amendment.
    For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the 
licensee's letters dated November 2, 1993, as supplemented February 28, 
and May 31, 1994. These letters 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 at the Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown 
Connecticut 06547.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 27th day of June 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-4, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-16196 Filed 7-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M