[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 12255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6481]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. STN 50-528, STN 50-529, and STN 50-530]


Arizona Public Service Company; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating 
Station, Units Nos. 1, 2, and 3 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-41, NPF-51, and NPF-74, issued to Arizona Public Service Company 
(the licensee), for operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating 
Station, Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, located in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would modify the licenses for Palo Verde 
Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS), Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3, to authorize 
incorporation in the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) a 
revised large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LBLOCA) analysis. The 
revised LBLOCA analysis addresses a previously unanalyzed release path 
through the steam generators to the atmosphere.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated May 2, 1995, as supplemented by letter March 7, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would permit the UFSAR to be revised to address 
a previously unanalyzed release path through the steam generators to 
the atmosphere for the LBLOCA. This would incorporate this release path 
into the licensing basis of the facility.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that there are no significant environmental 
considerations involved with the proposed action. The incorporation in 
the UFSAR for PVNGS Unit Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of the previously unanalyzed 
release path in the LBLOCA does not affect the design or operation of 
the plant, does not involve any modifications to the plant or any 
increase in the licensed power for the plant, does not affect plant 
effluents, does not increase the probability of any postulated accident 
and will not create a new accident, and does not create any new or 
unreviewed environmental impacts that were not considered in the Final 
Environmental Statement (FES).
    The FES did not consider in its evaluation of a LBLOCA, the leakage 
of containment atmosphere through the steam generators and to the 
public. Assessment of environmental impacts of the LBLOCA accounted for 
radiological releases from the containment and emergency core cooling 
system into the environment. For the revised analysis of the LBLOCA, 
atmospheric releases through the steam generators could be considered 
part of the leakage of containment atmosphere into the environment, 
although the location of release is different. The FES analyzed 
radiological releases from the steam generators to the environment in 
the evaluation of the steam generator tube rupture accident. Thus, the 
FES evaluated releases to the environment from steam generators, but 
this release pathway was not included in the LBLOCA analysis. The 
revised LBLOCA analysis does not significantly increase the 
environmental impacts of postulated accidents which are discussed in 
Section 5.9.2 of the FES, and is of no measurable environmental impact.

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 March 7, 1997, 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 May 2, 1995, as supplemented by letter dated 
March 7, 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 Phoenix Public Library, 1221 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 
85004.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 10th day of March 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
James W. Clifford,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-6481 Filed 3-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P