[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32354-32355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15142]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-315]
Indiana Michigan Power Company; Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant,
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 Facility Operating License
No. DPR-58, issued to Indiana Michigan Power Company, (the licensee),
for operation of the D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, located in
Berrien County, Michigan.
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
March 17, 1995. The proposed action would exempt the licensee from the
requirements of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a), to
the extent that a one-time interval extension for the Type A test
(containment integrated leak rate test) by approximately 18 months from
the September 1995 refueling outage to the 1997 refueling outage would
be granted.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The proposed action is needed to permit the licensee to defer the
Type A test from the September 1995 refueling outage to the 1997
refueling outage, thereby saving the cost of performing the test and
eliminating test period from the critical path time of the
outage. [[Page 32355]]
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that 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 D.C. Cook Nuclear
Plant to show adequate containment performance and will continue to be
required to conduct the Type B and C local leak rate tests which
historically have been shown to be the principal means of detecting
containment leakage paths with the Type A tests confirming the Type B
and C test results. It is also noted that the licensee would perform
the visual containment inspection although it is only required by
Appendix J to be conducted in conjunction with Type A tests. The NRC
staff considers that these inspections, though limited in scope,
provide an important added level of confidence in the continued
integrity of the containment boundary. The change will not increase the
probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in
the types or amounts 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 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 NRC 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 D.C.
Cook, Units 1 and 2, dated August 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on May 31, 1995, the NRC
staff consulted with the Michigan State official, Dennis Hahn, of the
Michigan Department of Public Health, Nuclear Facilities and
Environmental Monitoring, 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 March 17, 1995, 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 Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library,
500 Market Street, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of June.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John B. Hickman,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-15142 Filed 6-20-95; 8:45 am]
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