[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 4 (Friday, January 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 422-423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-145]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-155]
Consumers Power Company Big Rock Point Plant; Environmental
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of 10
CFR Part 50, Appendix J, Paragraph III.D.1.(a), Type A Tests, to the
Consumers Power Company (CPCo or the licensee), for operation of the
Big Rock Point Plant (BRP), located in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would allow an exemption from the requirement
of 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, [Option A], Paragraph III.D.1.(a), for a
one-time schedular extension for the Type A test (containment
integrated leak rate test (ILRT)) of approximately 12 months, from the
1996 refueling outage to the 1997 refueling outage.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application for exemption dated November 8, 1995.
The Need for the Proposed Action
The current ILRT requirements for Big Rock Point as set forth in
Appendix J, are that a set of three Type A tests must be performed at
approximately equal intervals during each 10-year period service
period. Also, the third test of each set shall be conducted when the
plant is shut down for the 10-year plant inservice inspections (ISI).
The previous Type A test was performed in Feburary 1992. The first of
the fourth 10-year period Type A tests is currently scheduled to be
performed in January 1996.
The licensee has requested a schedular exemption from the
requirement in 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix J, [Option A], Section
III.D.1.(a) to perform certain Type A tests at ``approximately equal
time intervals.'' Specifically, the proposed exemption would allow CPCo
to delay the Type A test until the January 1997 refueling outage. The
interval between the Type A tests would increase from 47 months to 59
months.
Environment Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the proposed one-time exemption would not increase
the probability or consequences of accidents previously analyzed and
the proposed one-time exemption would not affect facility radiation
levels or facility radiological effluents. The licensee has analyzed
the results of previous Type A tests performed at the Big Rock Point
Plant to show adequate containment performance. The licensee will
continue to be required to conduct Type B and Type C local leak rate
tests which historically have been shown to be the principal means of
detecting containment leakage paths with the Type A tests confirming
the Type B and C tests results. It is also noted that the licensee
would perform a general inspection of accessible interior or exterior
surfaces of the containment structures and components although it is
only required by Appendix J to be conducted in conjunction with Type A
tests. The NRC staff considers that these inspections, though limited
in scope, provide an important added level of confidence in the
continued integrity of the containment boundary.
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 off site, 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
exemption.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
exemption 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 exemption.
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 Related to
the Operation of Big Rock Point Plant.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on November 20, 1995, the
staff consulted with the Michigan State official, Mr. Dennis Hahn of
the Nuclear Facilities and Environmental Monitoring Section, Office of
the Department of Public Health, 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.
[[Page 423]]
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated November 8, 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 North Central Michigan College, 1515
Howard Street, Petoskey, MI 49770.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of December 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Linh N. Tran,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-I, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-145 Filed 1-4-96; 8:45 am]
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