[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12255-12256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6482]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-271]


Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation; Vermont Yankee Nuclear 
Power Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption for Facility Operating License No. 
DPR-28, issued to Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (the 
licensee), for operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station 
(the facility) located in Windham County, Vermont.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Actions

    The proposed exemption would grant relief in certain outdoor areas 
of the protected area of the facility to allow use of security lighting 
for outdoor access and egress and the performance of one specified task 
in either of two locations for compliance with Section III.J of 
Appendix R to 10 CFR part 50. The exemption would include outdoor 
portions of the protected area for access and egress and for supply of 
nitrogen from either of two outdoor locations: (1) the 15,000 gallon 
liquid nitrogen containment inerting tank located outdoors, east of the 
reactor building, or (2) nitrogen storage bottles located on the west 
wall of the reactor building equipment air lock.

[[Page 12256]]

    The proposed exemption is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated June 17, 1996.

The Need for the Proposed Actions

    The need for this action arises for certain Appendix R fire 
scenarios whose safe shutdown strategy does not immediately 
depressurize the reactor and uses low pressure injections systems, and 
thus requires the safety relief valves (SRVs) to be actuated multiple 
times during a cooldown. Although each SRV accumulator has capacity for 
at least five valve strokes, a long term source of nitrogen, beyond the 
capacity of the SRV accumulators is required in order to provide for 
additional valve strokes for some scenarios. The nitrogen may be 
provided from either of two nitrogen storage locations.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Actions

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
exemption and concludes that the proposed exemption will provide 
sufficient fire protection that there is no increase in the risk of 
fires at the facility. Consequently, the probability of fires has not 
been increased and the post-fire radiological releases will not be 
greater than previously determined, nor does the proposed exemption 
otherwise affect radiological plant effluents.
    The proposed exemption affects only the source of illumination 
credited for safe shutdown functions. No physical change results from 
the proposed exemption, and, as discussed above, the probability of 
fires has not been increased. Therefore, 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 actions.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
actions involve features located entirely within the restricted area as 
defined in 10 CFR part 20. They do not affect nonradiological plant 
effluents and have no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed actions.

Alternatives to the Proposed Actions

    Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable 
environmental impact associated with the proposed actions, any 
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be 
evaluated. As an alternative to the proposed actions, the staff 
considered denial of the proposed actions. Denial of the application 
would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The 
environmental impacts of the proposed actions and the alternative 
action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    These actions do not involve use of resources not previously 
considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Vermont Yankee 
Nuclear Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on February 26, 1997, the 
staff consulted with the Vermont State official, Mr. William K. Sherman 
of the Vermont Department of Public Service, regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed actions. The State official had no 
comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes 
that the proposed actions 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 exemption.
    For further details with respect to the proposed actions, see the 
application dated June 17, 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 Brooks Memorial Library, 224 Main Street, 
Brattleboro, VT 05301.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 5th day of March 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Patrick D. Milano,
Acting Director, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-6482 Filed 3-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P