[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59752-59753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29141]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-302]


Florida Power Corporation; Environmental Assessment and Finding 
of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission or NRC) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations to Florida Power Corporation (the licensee), holder of 
Facility Operating License No. DPR-72 for operation of the Crystal 
River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant (CR3) located in Citrus County, 
Florida.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed

    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated September 5, 1997, for exemption from certain 
requirements of Appendix R, ``Fire Protection Program for Nuclear Power 
Facilities Operating Prior to January 1, 1979,'' to Title 10 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations part 50 (10 CFR part 50), Section III, 
Paragraph O, ``Oil Collection System for Reactor Coolant Pump.'' 
Specifically, the licensee requests an exemption from the Appendix R, 
Section III.O technical requirements for an oil collection system 
capable of collecting all potential leakage for the CR3 Reactor Coolant 
(RCP) Motor Remote Oil Addition Lines (ROALs).

The Need for the Proposed

    10 CFR part 50, Appendix A, ``General Design Criteria for Nuclear 
Power Plants,'' Criterion 3 ``Fire Protection,'' specifies that 
``Structures, systems, and components important to safety shall be 
designed and located to minimize, consistent with other safety 
requirements, the probability and effect of fires and explosions.'' 10 
CFR part 50, Appendix R, sets forth the fire protection features 
required to satisfy the General Design Criterion 3 of the Commission's 
regulations. Pursuant to 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, Section III, 
Paragraph O, ``Oil Collection System for Reactor Coolant Pump,'' the 
RCP shall be equipped with an oil collection system which ``* * * shall 
be capable of collecting lube oil from all potential pressurized and 
unpressurized leakage sites in the reactor coolant pump lube oil 
systems.''
    In 1985, CR3 added ROALs to the original RCP oil fill lines in 
order to eliminate the need to shutdown the reactor, and to reduce 
personnel radiation and heat stress exposure during periodic RCP oil 
additions. At that time, the licensee did not consider the ROALs as a 
part of the RCP lube oil systems and as a result, did not provide a 
lube oil collection system to collect potential leakages. As part of 
its current Appendix R design review project, the licensee has now 
determined the ROALs to be a part of the RCP lube oil systems, 
therefore, requiring a lube oil collection system.
    The licensee states that because the ROALs are of a rugged leak 
tight design and used only periodically in accordance with controlled 
plant procedures, the ROALs do not impact post fire safe shutdown 
capability. As a result, the licensee believes that a lube oil 
collection system for the ROALs is

[[Page 59753]]

not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. Exemption 
from Appendix R, Paragraph O, requirements is needed for the licensee 
to have ROALs without a lube oil collection system for collecting oil 
from potential leak sites.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    With regard to environmental impact, the Commission has evaluated 
the proposed action as described below.
    The proposed action will not result in an increase in the 
probability or consequences of accidents or result in a change in 
occupational or offsite dose. Therefore, there are no radiological 
impacts associated with the proposed action.
    The proposed action will not result in a change in nonradiological 
plant effluents and will have no other nonradiological environmental 
impact.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no 
environmental impacts associated with this action.

Alternative 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 did not involve the use of any resources not previously 
considered in the Final Environmental Statements related to operation 
of CR3, dated May 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 29, 1997 the staff 
consulted with the Florida State Official, Mr. Bill Passetti of the 
Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 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 exemption. Based upon the foregoing 
environmental assessment, the Commission concludes 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 request 
for exemption dated September 5, 1997, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, 
NW., Washington, DC and at the local public document room located at 
Coastal Region Library, 8619 W. Crystal Street, Crystal River, Florida.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of October 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Leonard A. Wiens,
Acting Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-29141 Filed 11-3-97; 8:45 am]
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