[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7824-7825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4682]



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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-309]


Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company, Maine Yankee Atomic Power 
Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. 
DPR-36, issued to Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (the licensee), for 
operation of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, located in Lincoln 
County, Maine.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment would allow the use of fuel having an 
initial composition of natural or slightly enriched uranium dioxide as 
fuel material, consistent with the limitation of NUREG-1432, ``Standard 
Technical Specifications for Combustion Engineering Plants.'' 
Currently, Maine Yankee Technical Specification (TS) 1.3.A, Reactor 
Core, specifies ``The maximum as-fabricated radially-averaged 
enrichment of any axial enrichment zone within a fuel assembly shall be 
3.95 weight percent U-235.'' The proposed action is in accordance with 
the licensee's application for amendment dated August 30, 1995, as 
supplemented by letter dated January 15, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment is needed so that the licensee may use fuel 
having a higher enrichment than currently allowed by its license. 
Higher 

[[Page 7825]]
enrichment fuel would allow extended fuel irradiation and thus achieve 
longer fuel cycles in the future.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revision to the TS. The proposed revision would allow the use of fuel 
having an initial composition of natural or slightly enriched uranium 
dioxide as fuel material, consistent with the limitation of NUREG-1432, 
``Standard Technical Specifications for Combustion Engineering 
Plants.'' In effect, the fuel would be limited to a maximum uranium-235 
enrichment of 4.5 weight percent, as specified in TS 4.3.1.1 and 
4.3.1.2, relating to the spent fuel pool limits for storing new and 
spent fuel. The safety considerations associated with the use of such 
fuel have been evaluated by the NRC staff. The staff has concluded that 
such a change would not adversely affect plant safety. The proposed 
change has no adverse effect on the probability of any accident. No 
change is being made in the types or amounts of any radiological 
effluents that may be released offsite. There is no significant 
increase in the allowable individual or cumulative occupational 
radiation exposure.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation (an enveloping case 
for the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, because fuel burnup remains 
unchanged) were published and discussed in the staff assessment titled, 
``NRC Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Transportation 
Resulting from Extended Fuel Enrichment and Irradiation,'' dated July 
7, 1988, and published in the Federal Register on August 11, 1988 (53 
FR 30355), as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 32322), in connection 
with Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1: Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. As indicated therein, 
the environmental cost contribution of the proposed increase in the 
fuel enrichment and irradiation limits are either unchanged or may, in 
fact, be reduced from those summarized in Summary Table S-4 of 10 CFR 
51.52(c). Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed amendment.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts of reactor 
operation with higher enrichment, the proposed action involves features 
located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 
20. The proposed action 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 for Maine 
Yankee Atomic Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 26, 1995, the 
staff consulted with the Maine State official, Mr. Patrick J. Dostie of 
the Department of Human Services, 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 letters dated August 30, 1995, and January 15, 1996, which 
are 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 Wiscasset Public Library, 
High Street, P.O. Box 367, Wiscasset, ME 04578.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 21st day of February 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John A. Zwolinski,
Deputy Director, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-4682 Filed 2-28-96; 8:45 am]
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