[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4497-4498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2179]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-352]
Philadelphia Electric Company; Limerick Generating Station, Unit
1 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. NPF-39 issued to
Philadelphia Electric Company (the licensee), for operation of the
Limerick Generating Station (LGS), Unit 1, located in Montgomery and
Chester Counties, Pennsylvania.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The proposed action would exempt Philadelphia Electric Company from
the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24(a), 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 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 December 23, 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(a), therefore, are not necessary to ensure the safety of
personnel during the handling of special nuclear materials at
commercial power reactors. However, an exemption to 10 CFR 70.24(a) is
needed to permit deviation from these requirements.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action
and concludes that the proposed action involves features located
entirely within the protected area as defined in 10 CFR part 20.
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.
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
[[Page 4498]]
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 Statement Related to
the Operation of Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2,'' dated
November 1973.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on January 23, 1998, the
staff consulted with the Pennsylvania State official, Mr. David Ney of
the Bureau of Radiation Protection, Department of Environmental
Protection, 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 December 23, 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 Pottstown Public Library, 500 High Street,
Pottstown, PA 19464.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 23rd day of January 1998.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Bartholomew C. Buckley,
Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate I-2, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 98-2179 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]
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