[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59907-59908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29245]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 50-275 AND 50-323]


Pacific Gas and Electric Company; Diablo Canyon Power 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 an exemption from certain requirements of its 
regulations for Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-80 and DPR-82, 
issued to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP), Units 1 and 2, 
located in San Luis Obispo County, California.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action would exempt Pacific Gas and Electric Company 
from the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24, which requires in each area in 
which special nuclear material is handled, used, or stored, a 
monitoring system that will energize clear audible alarms if accidental 
criticality occurs. 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

[[Page 59908]]

sounding of the alarm, to familiarize personnel with the evacuation 
plan, and to designate 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 April 3, 1997, as supplemented by 
letter dated August 4, 1997.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    The purpose of 10 CFR 70.24 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 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, 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 inadvertent or accidental criticality will be 
precluded through compliance with the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, Units 
1 and 2 Technical Specifications, 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.
    The proposed exemption would not result in an increase in the 
probability or consequences of accidents, affect radiological plant 
effluents, or cause any significant occupational exposures. Therefore, 
there are no radiological impacts associated with the proposed 
exemption.
    The proposed exemption does not result in a change in non-
radiological effluents and will have no other non-radiological 
environmental impact.
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant 
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 exemption, 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 Statements for the 
Diablo Canyon Power Plant dated May 1973.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    In accordance with its stated policy, on October 6, 1997, the staff 
consulted with the California State official, Mr. Steve Hsu of the 
Radiologic Health Branch of the State Department of Health Services, 
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 3, 1997, and supplemental letter dated 
August 3, 1997, which are available for public inspection at the 
Commission's Public Document Room, which is located at The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC., and at the local public 
document room located at the California Polytechnic State University, 
Robert E. Kennedy Library, Government Documents and Maps Department, 
San Luis Obispo, California 93407.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of October 1997.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Steven D. Bloom,
Project Manager, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-29245 Filed 11-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P