[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]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M