[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 77 (Tuesday, April 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19633-19634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10329]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-461]


Illinois Power Company; Clinton Power Station (Unit No. 1); 
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. 
NPF-62, issued to Illinois Power Company (the licensee), for operation 
of the Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1 (CPS), located in DeWitt 
County, Illinois.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed amendment would modify Technical Specification (TS) 
Table 3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power Instrumentation.'' The modification 
requires that interim administrative controls be maintained in order to 
minimize the potential that the Class 1E loads will receive inadequate 
voltage in the event of a degraded voltage condition. These controls 
are to be maintained until the licensee completes planned modifications 
for upgrading the degraded voltage protection instrumentation and 
distribution system for all three divisions of safety-related AC power.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    As described in CPS Licensee Event Report 94-005, the degraded 
voltage relays at CPS, and their setpoints, are not sufficient to 
ensure proper operation of all Class 1E equipment, contrary to the 
current licensing basis for CPS. As interim corrective action, the 
licensee installed an undervoltage alarm for the Division 1, 2, and 3, 
4.16-kV buses and established contingent operator actions in order to 
minimize the potential that the Class 1E loads would receive inadequate 
voltage for proper operation. Subsequent licensee review of these 
interim administrative controls has concluded that, although the use of 
compensatory administrative controls reduces the risk associated with a 
degraded voltage condition, reliance on the interim administrative 
controls can potentially result in a malfunction of equipment important 
to safety of a different type than previously evaluated in the CPS 
Updated Safety Analysis Report and, therefore, constitutes an 
unreviewed safety question. In addition, the licensee has concluded 
that the interim administrative controls can result in a small 
reduction in the margin of safety as defined in the CPS TSs.
    The proposed amendment, requested by the licensee in their letter 
dated April 1, 1997, would modify TS Table 3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power 
Instrumentation.'' The proposed change requires the interim 
administrative controls to be maintained to minimize the potential that 
the Class 1E loads would receive inadequate voltage in the event of a 
degraded voltage condition. These controls are to be maintained until 
the licensee completes planned modifications for upgrading the degraded 
voltage protection instrumentation and distribution system for all 
three divisions of safety-related AC power. The new interim 
administrative controls primarily consist of system planning controls 
on the voltage of the 345-kV offsite grid, notification of plant 
operators under offsite grid conditions that may result in a degraded 
voltage condition if CPS tripped off-line, and utilizing an installed 
degraded voltage alarm that will prompt operators to take action to 
transfer the 4.16-kV buses to their associated diesel generators in the 
event voltage is not adequate to ensure proper operation of the Class 
1E loads.

Description of the Proposed Change

    The licensee proposes to revise footnote (b) associated with TS 
Table 3.3.8.1-1, ``Loss of Power Instrumentation,'' which was 
incorporated by Amendment No. 110 to Facility Operating License No. 
NPF-62 to require use of the revised setpoints for the new relays in a 
particular division based on release for operations (RFO) of the plant 
modification that installs the new undervoltage relays for that 
division. Specifically, the licensee proposes to add to the note a new 
sentence that reads, ``Administrative controls as described in the 
`Administrative Controls' section of Attachment 2 to Illinois Power 
Company's letter U-602714, dated April 1, 1997, shall be maintained 
until RFO of the corresponding plant modifications for Divisions 1, 2, 
and 3.''

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has reviewed the proposed action and concludes that 
there will be no significant changes to the facility or its operation 
as a result of

[[Page 19634]]

the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that there 
are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action will not affect nonradiological plant effluents and will have no 
other environmental impact. Accordingly, the NRC staff concludes that 
there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    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 the 
Clinton Power Station, Unit No. 1, documented in NUREG-0854.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on April 8, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the Illinois state official of the Illinois Department 
of Nuclear Safety, 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 April 1, 1997, 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 Vespasian Warner Public Library, 310 N. 
Quincy Street, Clinton, IL.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 16th day of April 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Gail H. Marcus,
Director, Project Directorate III-3, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-10329 Filed 4-21-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P