[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7798-7799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3231]



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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 the Haddam Neck Technical 
Specifications (TS) to support Cycle 19 operation with the use of 
Westinghouse Vantage 5H fuel assemblies with up to 5.0 weight percent 
(w/o) nominal fuel into the reactor core. The proposed action is in 
accordance with the licensee's amendment request dated May 17, 1994, as 
supplemented September 9, 1994.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Beginning with Cycle 19, the fuel vendor for the licensee will 
change from Babcock & Wilcox Fuel Company (B&WFC) to Westinghouse (W). 
CYAPCO plans to operate Cycle 19 for 490 effective full power days 
(EFPD) with approximately one-third of the core containing Westinghouse 
Vantage 5H fuel assemblies. The use of the Westinghouse fuel will 
require the performance of various analyses to ensure safe operation of 
the plant. The TS change is necessary to allow the Haddam Neck Plant to 
load up to 5.0 weight percent (w/o) nominal fuel into the reactor core 
and to incorporate by reference the appropriate methodologies used for 
the fuel analyses into the TSs.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revision to the TS. The staff has concluded that the proposed TS 
changes involving the change in the linear heat generation rate (LHGR) 
uncertainties, use of the WRB-1 methodology, removal of cycle specific 
references and inclusion of additional references are primarily 
administrative in nature and support the use of the Westinghouse 
Vantage 5H fuel assemblies in the Haddam Neck reactor core. The plant 
will continue to [[Page 7799]] be operated safely with the use of the 
5.0 w/o nominal U-235 fuel with its slightly different length and 
weight and the changes in this package associated with the WRB-1 
correlation, the limitation on void fraction, the uncertainties 
associated with LHGR, or the administrative changes to Section 5.0 and 
6.9, since plant operation and fuel placement are still predicated on 
the limitations contained in the TSs, Technical Report for Supporting 
Cycle Operation and plant procedures. The use of the Westinghouse 
methodologies for Cycle 19 operation are an application of a 
generically approved methodology by the NRC. The staff has reviewed the 
plant specific application to assure that the cycle specific parameters 
have been chosen to ensure the plant is operated safely.
    The proposed 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. Accordingly, 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 does involve 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. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of more highly enriched fuel and extended burnup rates have been 
discussed in the generic stafff assessment entitled ``NRC Assessment of 
the Environmental Effects of transportation Resulting from Extended 
Fuel Enrichment and Irradiation,'' dated July 7, 1988, and published in 
the Federal Register on August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355) as corrected on 
August 24, 1988 (53 FR 32322). As indicated therein, the environmental 
cost contribution of the proposed increase in fuel enrichment and 
irradiation limits are either unchanged or may in fact be reduced from 
those summarized in Table S-4 as set forth in 10 CFR 51.52(c).
    Therefore, the staff concludes that there are no significant 
radiological or 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. As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff 
considered denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application 
would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The 
environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action 
are similar.

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

    In accordance with its stated policy, the 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 letter dated May 17, 1994, as supplemented September 9, 
1994, which are 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 
Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown Connecticut 06547.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of February 1995.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Phillip F. McKee,
Director, Project Directorate I-4, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-3231 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
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