[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]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P