[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35755-35756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16903]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Wisconsin Electric Power Co.; Point Beach Nuclear Plant 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

[Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301]
    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain technical 
requirements of Appendix R to 10 CFR part 50 for 

[[Page 35756]]
operation of Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in 
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin (Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-24 and 
DPR-27, respectively, issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, the 
licensee).

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would grant an exemption from Section III.G.2.b 
of Appendix R to 10 CFR part 50, to the extent that it requires the 
separation of redundant trains of safe shutdown cables and equipment by 
a horizontal distance of more than 20 feet, with no intervening 
combustibles, in the auxiliary feedwater pump fire area.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated August 5, 1994, as supplemented by 
letters dated September 9, 1994, October 31, 1994, and February 28, 
1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed to allow three new cable trays, which 
were installed as part of the diesel generator addition project, to 
remain in place in the auxiliary feedwater pump fire area. Intervening 
combustibles in the form of cable fill in these cable trays are located 
within the separation space between redundant trains of cables and 
equipment required to achieve and maintain safe shutdown after a fire.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that the action is acceptable because the plant 
configuration, administrative controls, and the fire protection 
provided for the auxiliary feedwater pump area gives reasonable 
assurance that equipment and cabling required to achieve and maintain 
safe shutdown will remain operable following a fire in the area, as 
required by Appendix R.
    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.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for Point 
Beach.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on May 31, 1995, the staff 
consulted with the Wisconsin State official, Ms. Sarah Jenkins, of the 
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, 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 5, 1994, as supplemented by letters 
dated September 9, 1994, October 31, 1994, and February 28, 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 Joseph P. Mann Library, 
1516 Sixteenth Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241.

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

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Douglas V. Pickett,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-16903 Filed 7-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M