[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 5042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2834]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. STN 50-529]


Arizona Public Service Company; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating 
Station, Unit No. 2, Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from Facility Operating License 
No. NPF-51, issued to Arizona Public Service Company (the licensee), 
for operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Unit No. 2, 
located in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The exemption from 10 CFR 50.46; 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix K; and 10 
CFR 50.44 would allow the substitution of up to a total of 80 fuel rods 
clad with advanced zironium-based alloys in two fuel assemblies for in-
reactor performance evaluation purposes during Cycles 7, 8, and 9 for 
PVNGS Unit 2.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated December 20, 1995.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would permit the use of fuel rods clad with 
Zirconium-based alloys other than Zircaloy-4 in PVNGS Unit 2 for Cycles 
7, 8, and 9.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The temporary exemption will not significantly change the 
environmental impact of operating the facility. The analysis generated 
by ABB-Combustion Engineering, Inc. (ABB-CE), demonstrates that the 
predicted chemical, mechanical, and material performance of the 
advanced zirconium-based cladding is within that approved for zircaloy 
under anticipated operational occurrences and postulated accidents. 
Thus, the normal fuel performance characteristics of the advanced 
zirconium-based clad fuel rods will be essentially the same as those 
observed for standard Zircaloy-4 fuel rods. Furthermore, the lead fuel 
assemblies will be placed in nonlimiting core locations which do not 
experience core power density throughout the irradiated periods. The 
current design bases requirements were applied to the proposed advanced 
zirconium-based cladding. Because the expected operating conditions 
(both normal and LOCA) are within those assumed for the fuel rods 
currently licensed for Palo Verde Unit 2, it is concluded that the 
licensing basis will not be compromised by incorporating a limited 
number (40) of advanced zirconium-based clad fuel rods and the 
environmental impacts of operation under the proposed action will be 
similar to those currently experienced at the facility.
    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 offsite, 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 action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action 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 action.

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 the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, 
and 3,'' dated February 1982.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on February 1, 1996, the 
staff consulted with the Arizona State official, Mr. William Wright of 
the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency, 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 December 20, 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 Phoenix Public Library, 1221 N. Central 
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 31st day of January 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Charles R. Thomas,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor Projects 
III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-2834 Filed 2-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P