[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 15546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8206]



[[Page 15546]]

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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-286]


Power Authority of the State of New York (Indian Point Nuclear 
Generating Unit No. 3); 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-64 issued to the Power Authority of the State of New York (the 
licensee) for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3, located 
in Westchester County, New York.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment would include provisions in Technical 
Specifications (TS) 5.3 and 5.4 which allow for the storage of fuel 
with an enrichment not to exceed 4.95 + 0.05 weight percent (w/o) 
Uranium 235 (U-235) in the new and spent fuel storage racks and would 
revise requirements governing the placement of fuel assemblies in the 
fuel storage pit. The proposed action is in accordance with the 
licensee's application for amendment dated November 22, 1996.

The Need for Proposed Action

    The proposed changes are needed so that the licensee can use higher 
fuel enrichment to provide the flexibility of extending the fuel 
irradiation and to permit operation for longer fuel cycles.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revisions to the TS. The proposed revisions would permit use of fuel 
enriched to a nominal 5.0 w/o U-235. The safety considerations 
associated with reactor operation with higher enrichment and extended 
irradiation have been evaluated by the NRC staff. The staff has 
concluded that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety. 
The proposed changes have no adverse effect on the probability of any 
accident. The higher enrichment, with increased fuel burnup, may 
slightly change the mix of fission products that might be released in 
the event of a serious accident, but such small changes would not 
significantly affect the consequences of serious accidents. 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.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment fuel and extended irradiation were published and 
discussed in the staff assessment entitled, ``NRC Assessment of the 
Environmental Effects of Transportation Resulting from Extended Fuel 
Enrichment and Irradiation,'' dated July 7, 1988. This assessment was 
published in connection with an Environmental Assessment related to the 
Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, which was published in the 
Federal Register (53 FR 30355) on August 11, 1988, as corrected on 
August 24, 1988 (53 FR 32322). As indicated therein, the environmental 
cost contribution of an increase in the fuel enrichment of up to 5 
weight percent U-235 and irradiation limits of up to 60,000 gigawatt 
days per metric ton (GWD/MT) are either unchanged or may, in fact, be 
reduced from those summarized in Table S-4 as set forth in 10 CFR 
51.52(c). These findings are applicable to the proposed increase at 
Indian Point given that the proposal involves 5% and burnup of less 
than 60,000 gigawatt days per metric ton (GWD/MT). Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed amendment.
    With regard to potential non-radiological impacts of reactor 
operation with higher enrichment and extended irradiation, the proposed 
action involves features located entirely within the restricted area as 
defined in 10 CFR Part 20. It does not affect non-radiological plant 
effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that there are no significant non-radiological 
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    Since the Commission concluded that there are no significant 
environmental effects that would result from the proposed action, any 
other alternative would have equal or greater environmental impacts and 
need not be evaluated.
    The principal alternative would be to deny the requested amendment. 
This would not reduce the environmental impact of plant operations and 
would result in reduced operational flexibility.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to 
operation of Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 3.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on December 12, 1996, the 
staff consulted with the New York State official, Heidi Voelk, of the 
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority regarding the 
environmental impact of the proposed action. The state official had no 
comments.

Finding of No Significant Impact

    The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the proposed license amendment.
    Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, we conclude that 
the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality 
of the human environment.
    For further details with respect to this action, see the 
application for amendment dated November 22, 1996, that 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 for the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No. 
3, at White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, 
New York.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of March 1997.

    For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
George F. Wunder,
Project Manager, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor Projects 
I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-8206 Filed 3-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P