[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47402-47403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22613]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-287 and 50-388]


Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, Susquehanna Steam Electric 
Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuing an amendment to Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, 
Units 1 and 2, Technical Specifications to permit the implementation of 
an increase in the allowable exposure of Siemens' 9 x 9-2 fuel from 40 
GWD/MTU to 45 GWD/MTU. Pennsylvania Power and Light Company (PP&L) (the 
licensee), on May 31, 1994, submitted to the Commission for review, 
Topical Report PL-NF-94-005-P, ``Technical Basis for SPC 9 x 9-2 
Extended Fuel Exposure at Susquehanna SES.'' This report provided a 
technical justification for the increased fuel burnup and the staff 
subsequently approved the report as indicated in its letter to PP&L 
dated December 15, 1994.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would amend the Susquehanna Steam Electric 
Station (SSES), Units 1 and 2, Technical Specifications (TS) to permit 
the implementation of an increase in the allowable exposure of Siemens' 
9 x 9-2 fuel from 40 GWD/MTU to 45 GWD/

[[Page 47403]]
MTU. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for amendment dated February 2, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    NRC approval of this TS change, as applied to the Unit 1, Cycle 9, 
and Unit 2, Cycle 8, will establish a new, higher fuel burnup rod-
average limit of 45 MWD/MTU and will permit the licensee to continue to 
operate the plant through the end of each of these specified cycles, 
exceeding the current fuel burnup limit of 40 GWD/MTU, without 
affecting the safe operation of each reactor.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission completed its evaluation of the proposed action and 
the above referenced topical report and found it to be acceptable. In 
addition the TS changes implementing the higher fuel burnup limit have 
also been found to be acceptable. The safety considerations associated 
with extended irradiation of nuclear fuel have been evaluated by the 
NRC staff and the staff has concluded that such changes would not 
adversely affect plant safety. The proposed changes have no adverse 
affect on the probability of any accident. The increased burnup may 
slightly change the mix of fission products that might be released in 
the event of a serious accident, but such changes would not 
significantly affect the consequences of serious accidents. Routine 
radiological effluents are not affected. As a result, there is no 
increase in individual or cumulative radiation exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment and extended irradiation are discussed in the 
staff assessment entitled, ``NRC Assessment of the Environmental 
Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and 
Irradiation.'' This assessment was published in the Federal Register on 
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355), as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 
32322), in connection with the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 
1: Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As 
indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an increase 
in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and irradiation 
limits of up to 60 Gigawatt Days per Metric Ton (GWD/MT) are either 
unchanged, or may in fact be reduced from those summarized in Table S-4 
as set forth in 10 CRF 51.52(c). These findings are applicable to the 
proposed increase in the increase in the allowable exposure of Siemens' 
9 x 9-2 fuel for the Susquehanna units. Accordingly, the Commission 
concludes that this proposed action would result in no significant 
radiological environmental impact.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
change will in no way affect environs located outside the restricted 
area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect nonradiological 
plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed change in the fuel 
exposure limit.

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 
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 7, 1995, the staff 
consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, David Ney of the 
Department of Radiation Protection, 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 February 2, 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 Osterhout Free Library, Reference 
Department, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania 18701.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of September 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John Stolz,
Director, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-22613 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]
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