[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55433-55434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28263]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-255]


Consumers Energy Company Palisades Plant; Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations for Facility Operating License No. DPR-20, issued to 
Consumers Energy Company, (the licensee), for operation of the 
Palisades Plant located in Van Buren County, Michigan.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt Consumers Energy from the 
requirements of 10 CFR 70.24(a), which requires a monitoring system 
that will energize clear audible alarms if accidental criticality 
occurs in each area in which special nuclear material is handled, used, 
or stored. The proposed action would also exempt the licensee from the 
requirements to maintain emergency procedures for each area in which 
this licensed special nuclear material is handled, used, or stored to 
ensure that all personnel withdraw to an area of safety upon the 
sounding of the alarm, to familiarize personnel with the evacuation 
plan, and to designate

[[Page 55434]]

responsible individuals for determining the cause of the alarm, and to 
place radiation survey instruments in accessible locations for use in 
such an emergency.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application for exemption dated July 2, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The purpose of 10 CFR 70.24(a) is to ensure that if a criticality 
were to occur during the handling of special nuclear material, 
personnel would be alerted to that fact and would take appropriate 
action. At a commercial nuclear power plant the inadvertent criticality 
with which 10 CFR 70.24(a) is concerned could occur during fuel 
handling operations. The special nuclear material that could be 
assembled into a critical mass at a commercial nuclear power plant is 
in the form of nuclear fuel; the quantity of other forms of special 
nuclear material that is stored on site in any given location is small 
enough to preclude achieving a critical mass. Because the fuel is not 
enriched beyond 5.0 weight percent Uranium-235 and because commercial 
nuclear plant licensees have procedures and design features that 
prevent inadvertent criticality, the staff has determined that it is 
unlikely that an inadvertent criticality could occur due to the 
handling of special nuclear material at a commercial power reactor. The 
requirements of 10 CFR 70.24(a), therefore, are not necessary to ensure 
the safety of personnel during the handling of special nuclear 
materials at commercial power reactors.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action 
and concludes that there is no significant environmental impact if the 
exemption is granted. Inadvertent or accidental criticality will be 
precluded through compliance with the Palisades Technical 
Specifications (TS), the design of the fuel storage racks providing 
geometric spacing of fuel assemblies in their storage locations, and 
administrative controls imposed on fuel handling procedures. TS 
requirements specify reactivity limits for the fuel storage racks and 
minimum spacing between the fuel assemblies in the storage racks.
    Appendix A of 10 CFR Part 50, ``General Design Criteria for Nuclear 
Power Plants,'' Criterion 62, requires that criticality in the fuel 
storage and handling system shall be prevented by physical systems or 
processes, preferably by use of geometrically safe configurations. This 
is met at Palisades, as identified in the TS and the Final Safety 
Analysis Report (FSAR). Palisades TS section 5.4.1, ``New Fuel 
Storage,'' states that the center-to-center spacing in the new fuel 
storage array is sufficient so that Keff will not exceed 
0.95 where fuel rods of the maximum allowable enrichment are in place 
and optimum moderation is assumed.
    The proposed exemption would not result in any significant 
radiological impacts. The proposed exemption would not affect 
radiological plant effluents nor cause any significant occupational 
exposures since the TS, design controls (including geometric spacing of 
fuel assembly storage spaces), and administrative controls preclude 
inadvertent criticality. The amount of radioactive waste would not be 
changed by the proposed exemption.
    The proposed exemption does not result in any significant 
nonradiological environmental impacts. The proposed exemption involves 
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 that 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 requested exemption. Denial of the request 
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 Palisades Nuclear Generating Plant'' dated June 1972.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on September 18, 1997, the 
staff consulted with the Michigan State official, Dennis Hahn, of the 
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Drinking Water and 
Radiological Protection Division, 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 July 2, 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 Van Wylen Library, Hope College, Holland, 
Michigan 49423.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this day of October 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Robert G. Schaaf,
Project Manager, Project Directorate III-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-28263 Filed 10-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P