[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-29927]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 6, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-220]

 

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit 
No. 1; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of 10 
CFR part 50. Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a), Type A Tests, issued to 
Facility Operating License No. DPR-63, the Niagara Mohawk Power 
Corporation (the licensee) for operation of the Nine Mile Point Nuclear 
Station Unit No. 1, located in Oswego, New York.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address 
potential environmental issues related to the licensee's application of 
August 26, 1994. The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the 
requirement of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a), to 
the extent that a one-time schedular extension would permit the second 
10-year period for performance of the third Type A test be extended to 
correspond with the end of the current inservice inspection interval 
(ISI).

The Need for the Proposed Action

    During the first 10-year service period (1974-1984) Type A tests 
were conducted as required by 10 CFR part 50 Appendix J. Due to the 
lengthy outage for the replacement of reactor recirculation piping, the 
first ISI 10-year interval was extended to June 1986. In addition, an 
extended refueling outage (January 1987 to July 1990), caused the 
second 10-year ISI interval to be extended to December 1998. These 
actions decoupled the Type A test schedule from the ISI schedule.
    Unlike Section XI of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME Code), Appendix J of 10 CFR part 
50 does not contain any provisions for adjusting the 10-year service 
period for extended outages. Two Type A tests have already been 
performed (May 1990 and April 1993) during the current second 10-year 
service period. The current 10-year service period ends December 1994. 
The next refueling outage (RFO13) is currently scheduled for February 
1995. Performing the Type A test during the 1995 refueling outage would 
result in only 22 months of operation since the last Type A test. 
Appendix J could be interpreted to require another Type A test during 
the last outage in the ISI interval. NMPC has proposed to extend the 
second 10-year service period to correspond with the end of the current 
ISI interval. Due to Nine Mile Point Unit 1's 24-month operating cycle, 
the final refueling outage of the current ISI interval is scheduled for 
1997 (RFO14).
    Granting the proposed Exemption would result in an interval of 
approximately 46 months between successive Type A tests. Such an 
interval would be consistent with the NRC staff's current position (as 
reflected in the NRC's Improved Standard Technical Specifications, 
NUREG-1433) of requiring Type A tests to be performed every 40 
 10 months. It would also bring the Appendix J Type A test 
schedule back into alignment with the 10-year ISI schedule.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The proposed one-time exemption would not increase the probability 
or consequences of accidents previously analyzed and the proposed one-
time exemption would not affect facility radiation levels or facility 
radiological effluents. The licensee has analyzed the results of 
previous Type A tests performed at the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station 
Unit No. 1, and has provided the methodology used in extrapolating the 
previous Type A test data to the proposed one-time increase in the 
surveillance interval. The licensee has provided a sound basis for 
concluding that the proposed one-time extension of the Type A test 
interval would maintain the containment leakage rates within acceptable 
limits while bringing the Type A test schedule back into alignment with 
the 10-year ISI schedule. Accordingly, the Commission has concluded 
that the one-time extension does not result in a significant increase 
in the amounts of any effluents that may be released nor does it result 
in a significant increase in individual or cumulative occupational 
radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed exemption.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
exemption only involves Type A testing on the containment. They do not 
affect nonradiological plant effluents and have no other environmental 
impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed exemption.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed exemption, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. The principal alternative to the action would be to deny the 
request for exemption. Such action would not reduce the environmental 
impacts of plant operations.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the 
Operation of Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station Unit No. 1,'' dated 
January 1974.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with the New York 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 exemption.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
letter dated August 26, 1994, which is available for public inspection 
at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L 
Street, NW., Washington, DC, and at the local public document room 
located at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White 
Plains, New York 10610.

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 30th day of November 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Michael L. Case,
Acting Director, Project Directorate I-I, Division of Reactor Projects-
I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-29927 Filed 12-5-94; 8:45 am]
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