[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40866-40867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19764]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-277 and 50-278]


Peco Energy Co., Public Service Electric & Gas Co., Delmarva 
Power & Light Co., Atlantic City Electric Co., Peach Bottom Atomic 
Power Station, Units 2 and 3; 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-44 and DPR-56, issued to PECO Energy Company, Public Service 
Electric and Gas Company, Delmarva Power and Light Company, and 
Atlantic City Electric Company (the licensee), for operation of the 
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (PBAPS), Units 2 and 3 located in 
York County, Pennsylvania.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would extend the allowed-out-of-service-times 
(AOTs) for the PBAPS Energy Diesel Generators (EDGs) based on the 
availability of an alternate AC (AAC) power source. The AAC is a direct 
tie line between the PBAPS and the Conowingo Hydroelectric Station 
located approximately 9 miles down the Susquehanna River from PBAPS. 
Currently, the AOT for a single inoperable EDG is 7 days. The 
amendments would allow the AOT for a single EDG inoperable to be a 
maximum of 14 days provided the Conowingo line is verified to be 
available. However, under no circumstances will the AOT be more than 7 
days without the Conowingo line being available.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendments dated April 7, 1994, as supplemented by 
letters dated June 2, 1994, September 6, 1994, June 16, 1995 and July 
13, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action will provide increased flexibility in 
scheduling and performing maintenance activities on the EDGs. The 
licensee currently faces significant challenges to complete periodic 
maintenance and modification activities within the existing TS 7-day 
AOT. Expiration of the AOT for EDGs without restoring all EDGs to an 
operable status requires shutting down both Peach Bottom units in 
accordance with the existing TS. In addition, the 7-day maximum EDG AOT 
in the current TS precludes the performance of certain major beneficial 
maintenance activities 

[[Page 40867]]
and modifications without shutting down both Peach Bottom units.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and based on the information presented in the licensee's application, 
concludes that the proposed extension of the EDG's AOT in conjunction 
with the availability of the Conowingo line, will not increase the 
probability of initiating events leading to a design basis accident. 
The additional reliability of the offsite source afforded by the 
Conowingo line would improve the potential for mitigating loss-of-
offsite power events. Consequently, the consequences of accidents would 
not be significantly increased, nor would the post-accident 
radiological releases be greater than previously determined.
    The proposed action would not otherwise affect radiological plant 
effluents. 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 (extending EDG AOTs) 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 the 
Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, dated April 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 24, 1995, the staff 
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Stan Maingi, of the 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, 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 April 7, 1994, as supplemented by letters dated 
June 2, and September 6, 1994, and June 16, and July 13, 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 Government Publications 
Section, State Library of Pennsylvania, (Regional Depository) Education 
Building, Walnut Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Box 1601, Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania.

    Dated at Rockville, MD, this 4th day of August 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John F. Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-19764 Filed 8-9-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M