[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7800-7801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3233]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Northeast Nuclear Energy Company; Millstone Nuclear Power 
Station, Unit No. 3; 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. 
NPF-49, issued to Northeast Nuclear Energy Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3, located 
in New London County, Connecticut.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would revise Technical Specification (TS) 
3.5.2.a by granting a one-time extension of the allowable Residual Heat 
Removal (RHR) pump outage time for mechanical seal replacement and 
related modifications from 72 hours to 120 hours. This exception would 
only be used one time per pump and expire on April 30, 1995. The 
amendment would clearly define the times in which each RHR pump and 
associated RHR heat exchanger must be restored to an operable state.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated August 16, 1994, as supplemented by 
letter dated January 10, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would reduce the potential for an unnecessary 
plant shutdown, thus, eliminating a source of unnecessary challenges to 
the plant's safety systems.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that one-time extension of the RHR pump outage time from 
72 hours to 120 hours to acceptable.
    The 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 the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action 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 action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, 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. [[Page 7801]] 

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
Millstone Nuclear Power Station, Unit No. 3.

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 action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated August 16, 1994, as supplemented by letter 
dated January 10, 1995, 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 Learning Resource Center, Three Rivers Community-
Technical College, Thames Valley Campus, 574 New London Turnpike, 
Norwich, CT 06360.

    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. 95-3233 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M