[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 30120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13976]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-275 and 50-323]:


Pacific Gas and Electric Company Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power 
Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. 
DPR-80 and DPR-82, issued to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the 
licensee), for operation of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 
Nos. 1 and 2, located in San Luis Obispo County, California.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would allow the storage of fuel in new and 
spent fuel racks with enrichments up to and including 5.0 weight 
percent U-235, would clarify that substitution of fuel rods with filler 
rods is acceptable for fuel designs that have been analyzed with 
applicable NRC-approved codes and methods, and would allow the use of 
ZIRLO fuel cladding in the future in addition to Zircaloy-4. The 
proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application for 
amendment dated February 6, 1995, as supplemented by letters dated 
March 23, and May 22, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed so that the licensee can use higher 
fuel enrichment to provide the flexibility of extending the fuel 
irradiation and to permit future operation with longer fuel cycles.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revisions to the technical specifications. The proposed revisions would 
permit storage of fuel enriched to a nominal 5.0 weight percent Uranium 
235. The safety considerations associated with storing new and spent 
fuel of a higher enrichment have been evaluated by the NRC staff. The 
staff has concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant 
safety. The proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability 
of any accident. No changes are being made in the types or amounts of 
any radiological effluents that may be released offsite. There is no 
significant increase in the allowable individual or cumulative 
occupational radiation exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation (an enveloping case 
for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant since burnup remains unchanged) were 
published and discussed in the staff 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 (53 FR 30355) on August 11, 1988, 
as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 32322) in connection with 
Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1: Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact. As indicated therein, the 
environmental cost contribution of the proposed increase in the 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). Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
significant radiological environment impacts associated with the 
proposed amendment.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts of reactor 
operation with higher enrichment, the proposed action 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. 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.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Diablo 
Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on May 22, 1995, the staff 
consulted with the California State official, Mr. Steve Hsu of the 
Department of Health Services, 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 February 6, 1995, as supplemented by letters 
dated March 23, and May 22, 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 California Polytechnic State University, 
Robert E. Kennedy Library, Government Documents and Maps Department, 
San Louis Obispo, California 93407.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of June 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
William H. Bateman,
Director, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-13976 Filed 6-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M