[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43364-43365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21360]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-266 and 50-301]


Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Point Beach Nuclear Plant, 
Units 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 Licenses Nos. 
DPR-24 and DPR-27, issued to Wisconsin Electric Power Company, (the 
licensee), for operation of the Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 
2, located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    By letter dated January 24, 1997, as supplemented by letter dated 
May 15, 1997, the licensee proposed to change the technical 
specifications (TSs) to allow an increase in fuel enrichment (Uranium 
235, U-235) to 5.0 weight percent and to require the use of integral 
fuel burnable absorbers for assemblies with enrichments greater than 
4.6 weight percent U-235. Point Beach TSs currently limit fuel in the 
spent fuel pool and new fuel storage racks to a maximum enrichment of 
44.8 grams of U-235 per axial centimeter (approximately 4.0 weight 
percent of a standard fuel assembly and 46.8 grams of U-235 per axial 
centimeter (approximately 4.75 weight percent) of an Optimized Fuel 
Assembly (OFA).

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The licensee intends, in the future, to use the more highly 
enriched fuel to support longer fuel cycles. Currently, TS 15.5.4 
limits the enrichment of fuel assemblies stored in the spent fuel pool 
and new fuel storage racks. Before the licensee extends plant operating 
cycles, it plans on receiving shipments of 5.0 weight percent fuel. 
Thus, the change to the TSs was requested.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed 
revision to the TSs and concludes that storage and use of fuel enriched 
with U-235 up to 5.0 weight percent at Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 
1 and 2 is acceptable. The safety considerations associated with higher 
enrichments were evaluated by the NRC staff and the staff concluded 
that such changes would not adversely affect plant safety.
    The environmental impacts of transportation resulting from the use 
of higher enrichment are 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 the Federal Register on 
August 11, 1988 (53 FR 30355), as corrected on August 24, 1988 (53 FR 
32322) in connection with an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No 
Significant Impact related to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, 
Unit 1. As indicated therein, the environmental cost contribution of an 
increase in fuel enrichment of up to 5 weight percent U-235 and 
irradiation limits of up to 60 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 amendments for Point Beach Nuclear Plant, 
Units 1 and 2. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed 
action would result in no significant radiological environmental 
impact.
    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, no changes are being made to the authorized 
power level, 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 action.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
action does involve 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. As an alternative to the

[[Page 43365]]

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 
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on July 29, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the Wisconsin State official, Ms. Sarah Jenkins of the 
Wisconsin Public Service Commission, 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 January 24, 1997, as supplemented by letter 
dated May 15, 1997, which are 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 Lester Public Library, 1001 Adams Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 7th day of August 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Linda L. Gundrum,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-21360 Filed 8-12-97; 8:45 am]
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