[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45499-45500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21619]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-295 and 50-304]


Commonwealth Edison Company; Zion Nuclear Power Station, Unit 1 
and Unit 2 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of exemptions from certain requirements of 10 CFR 
Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III, Leakage Testing Requirements, to 
Commonwealth Edison Company (the licensee), for operation of Zion 
Nuclear Power Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, located in Lake County, 
Illinois, in accordance with Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-39 and 
DPR-48.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    This Environmental Assessment has been prepared to address 
potential environmental issues related to the licensee's application 
dated August 16, 1995. The proposed action would exempt the licensee 
from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, which were 
discussed in the licensee's request for enforcement discretion dated 
August 15, 1995. These exemptions are: (1) Paragraph III.B and 
III.D.2.(a), to the extent that a one-time schedular exemption would 
permit deferral of certain Type B and C tests for Zion Nuclear Power 
Station, Unit 2, until September 15, 1995; (2) Paragraph III.B and 
III.D.2.(a), to the extent that a one-time schedular extension would 
permit deferral of certain Type B and C tests that can only be 
performed with the unit shutdown for Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 
1 and 2, until the next cold shutdown of sufficient duration to perform 
the tests, but in any case, prior to the end of the next refueling 
outage on each unit, currently planned for the fall of 1995 (Unit 1) 
and the fall of 1996 (Unit 2); and (3) Paragraph III.C and III.D, to 
the extent that permanent exemptions would be granted due to system and 
penetration design.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The current Type B containment leak rate test requirements for Zion 
Nuclear Power Station, pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Section 
III.B and III.D.2.(a) are that local leak rate periodic tests shall be 
performed during reactor shutdown for refueling, or other convenient 
intervals, but in no case at intervals greater than 2 years. The 
current Type C containment leak rate test requirements for Zion Nuclear 
Power Station, pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Section III.C 
and III.D.3 are that local leak rate periodic tests shall be performed 
during reactor shutdown for refueling, or other convenient intervals, 
but in no case at intervals greater than 2 years. These requirements 
are reflected in the Zion Technical Specifications (TS), Paragraph 
4.10.1.A.2, as requirements to perform Type B and C containment leak 
rate testing in accordance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J and approved 
exemptions. The required tests have not been performed on the 
penetrations and valves that form the basis for this exemption request. 
If a separate forced outage were imposed to perform the Type B and C 
testing and operation then resumed until the scheduled refueling 
outages, ComEd would be subject to undue hardship or other costs that 
result from increased radiological exposure and unit thermal cycling. 
If the exemptions the licensee requested in its letter dated August 16, 
1995, are granted, the tests would be performed during the upcoming 
fall 1995 Unit 1 refueling outage, or during power operation on Unit 2 
prior to September 15, 1995, or during the Unit 2 refueling outage in 
the fall of 1996, or during any outage of sufficient duration. 
Permanent exemptions from the requirement to perform the tests would be 
granted for others. The exemptions are needed to allow the licensee to 
schedule and perform certain tests and to be permanently exempt from 
performing others, which will result in a considerable cost savings, 
less radiological exposure and fewer unit thermal cycles with no 
adverse impact on public health and safety.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The proposed exemptions would not increase the probability or 
consequences of accidents previously analyzed and would not affect 
facility radiation levels or facility radiological effluents. The 
licensee has analyzed the possible leak paths, availability of 
isolation valve seal water and penetration pressurization systems, 
prior Type A leak test results as they are impacted by leaks from the 
types of penetrations and valves in question and the probability of the 
sequences of events necessary for significant leakage to occur through 
the identified pathways. The licensee discussed these as its basis for 
concluding that in spite of the proposed one time and permanent 
exemptions the containment leak rates would still be maintained within 
acceptable limits. The staff has evaluated the licensee's 
justification, and agrees that the combination of the small leak paths 
and the presence of the isolation valve seal water system and 
penetration pressurization system minimize the probability of a large 
leak from the types of penetrations and valves in question and this is 
shown by the fact that prior Type A leak tests have not been impacted 
by leaks from these types of valves and penetrations. In addition, the 
staff finds that the likelihood of occurrence of the sequence of events 
necessary to cause leaks from the penetrations and valves is very low. 
Accordingly, the Commission has concluded that the exemptions do not 
result in a significant increase in the amounts of any effluents that 
may be released nor do they result in a significant increase in 
individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. Therefore, 
there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed exemption. 

[[Page 45500]]

    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
exemption only involves Type B and C testing of the containment. 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 exemption.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed exemption, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. The principal alternative to this action would be to deny 
the request for exemption. Such action would not reduce the 
environmental impacts of plant operations.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of resources not previously 
considered in connection with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Final 
Environmental Statement dated December 1972, related to the operation 
of the Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on August 18, 1995, the NRC 
staff consulted with the Illinois State Official, Mr. Frank Niziolek; 
Head, Reactor Safety Section; Division of Engineering; Illinois 
Department of Nuclear Safety; 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 exemption.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
letter dated August 16, 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 Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County Street, Waukegan, 
Illinois.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of August 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
George F. Dick,
Acting Director, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-21619 Filed 8-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P