[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 237 (Monday, December 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 63549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30253]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-295 and 50-304]


Commonwealth Edison Company; Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 
and 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 
Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-39 and DPR-48, issued to 
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd, the licensee), for operation of the 
Zion Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located in Lake County, 
Illinois.

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 November 28, 1995, as supplemented on December 6, 1995. The 
proposed action would exempt the licensee from the requirements of 10 
CFR part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.C and III.D, to the extent that 
exemptions would be granted due to system and penetration design.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The current Type C containment leak rate test requirements for Zion 
Nuclear Power Station, pursuant to 10 CFR part 50, Appendix J, Sections 
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. ComEd has 
determined that the required tests have not been performed previously 
on the penetrations that form the basis for this exemption request. The 
exemptions are needed to allow the licensee to use an alternate testing 
method and thereby realize 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 the 
isolation valve seal water system, prior Type A leak test results as 
they are impacted by leaks from the types of valves in question and the 
probability of the sequences of events necessary for significant 
leakage to occur through the identified pathways. The licensee has 
provided an acceptable basis for concluding that in spite of the 
proposed exemptions the containment leak rates would still be 
maintained within acceptable limits.
    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.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
exemptions only involve Type C testing of the containment. They do not 
affect nonradiological plant effluents and have no other environmental 
impact. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed exemptions.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed exemptions, 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 exemptions. 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 November 28, 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 
letters dated November 28, 1995, as supplemented on December 6, 1995, 
which are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public 
Document Room, 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 60085.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of December 1995.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Clyde Y. Shiraki,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-30253 Filed 12-8-95; 8:45 am]
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