[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 141 (Monday, July 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37941-37942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18492]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-369 and 50-370]


Duke Power Company; McGuire Nuclear Station, Unit Nos. 1 and 2 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of amendments to Facility Operating License Nos. 
NPF-9 and NPF-17, issued to Duke Power Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the McGuire Nuclear Station, Units 1 and 2, located in 
Mecklenburg, North Carolina.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    By letter dated March 4, 1996, Duke Power Company (DPC) submitted a 
proposal for amendments to the Facility Operating Licenses that would 
allow the McGuire Units 1 and 2 Containment Airborne Particulate 
Radiation Monitors (CAPRMs, 1/2 EMF38(L)) to be reclassified in the 
Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR) as non-seismic Category I. During a 
DPC engineering review of the seismic classification of these CAPRMs, 
it was determined that these monitors are not seismic Category I. 
Furthermore, DPC had documents that showed that these monitors are not 
required nor were they ever intended to be seismically qualified. Also, 
in a DPC letter to the NRC dated March 25, 1981, DPC further stipulated 
that the CAPRMs were not safety related. However, none

[[Page 37942]]

of this information was reflected in the McGuire FSAR.
    By letter dated March 4, 1996, the licensee stated that the matter 
involved an unreviewed safety question and requested amendments to its 
Facility Operating Licenses including proposed changes to the FSAR, 
which would clarify that the CAPRMs are not designed to remain 
functional following a safe shutdown earthquake (SSE). Further, the 
licensee has proposed an alternative to Position C.6 of Regulatory 
Guide (RG) 1.45, ``Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Leakage Detection 
Systems,'' by showing that adequate instrumentation and procedures will 
be available to assess conditions inside containment following a 
seismic event comparable to an SSE and that, accordingly, the seismic 
qualification requirement for the CAPRMs may be deleted from the FSAR.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is needed so that the appropriate seismic 
qualification for the CAPRMs can be reflected in the FSAR.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revisions to the FSAR. The proposed revisions would permit the 
Containment Airborne Particulate Radiation Monitors (1/2 EMF38(L)) at 
McGuire Units 1 and 2 to be classified as non-seismic Category I. The 
safety considerations associated with this re-classification have been 
evaluated by the NRC staff. The staff has concluded that the licensee 
has demonstrated an acceptable alternative to Position C.6 of RG 1.45 
by showing that adequate instrumentation and procedures will be 
available to assess conditions inside containment following a seismic 
event comparable to an SSE. The proposed changes have no adverse effect 
on the probability of any accident. No changes are 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.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
amendments.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action involves 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. The principal alternative to this action would be to deny 
the requested amendments. 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 the ``Final Environmental Statement Related to the 
Operation of McGuire Nuclear Station Units 1 and 2,'' dated April 1976.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 8, 1996, the NRC 
staff consulted with the North Carolina State official, Mr. J. James of 
the Division of Radiation Protection, Department of Environmental, 
Health and Natural Resources, 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 license amendments.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's 
letter dated March 4, 1996, 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 J. Murrey Atkins Library, University of North Carolina 
at Charlotte (UNCC Station), Charlotte, North Carolina.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of July 1996.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Victor Nerses,
Project Manager, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 96-18492 Filed 7-19-96; 8:45 am]
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